Bthardamz Bthardamz is an ancient Dwemer Ruin in . It is the largest ruin in the game . The entire ruin is inaccessible unless the quest " The Only Cure " has been started . Background . Although Dwemer in origin and still harboring the creations of its original inhabitants , the Dwarven Automaton guardians , the site now primarily serves as the sanctum to Peryite ' s Afflicted and their leader , Orchendor . The exterior appears much like any other Dwemer Ruin in Skyrim and is guarded by two of the Afflicted . Walkthrough . The exterior buildings cascade down towards a recessed rock face , where the entrance to the ruins ' interior can be found . There are two levers near the entrance . The lever by the stairs activates a trap and the lever by the door lowers the bars which block the entrance . Beyond the lever - controlled gate is a door that leads to another room . On the left ( south ) side are two chests with leveled loot . Straight ahead ( west ) is the door to the Bthardamz Upper District , the first part of the interior . The Bthardamz Interior is a winding collection of districts and small connecting areas . There are three major districts , the Upper and Lower Districts and the main Arcanex . Three much smaller areas serve as thoroughfares or small alcoves , the Workshop , Dwelling and Study . Bthardamz Upper District . This is perhaps the largest section of Bthardamz and appears to function as the living quarters for Peryite ' s Afflicted . Upon entering , the Dragonborn will see Dwemer pots that have been filled with a curious green liquid , not unlike the vomit that spews forth from the Afflicted themselves . The district has a heavy population of Afflicted mages , fighters , and archer s that patrol the ruins . There are several chests scattered throughout the district , but approach with care , as one may set loose a few leveled Dwarven Spheres or spiders . The district is separated into two distinct areas and is bisected by the Bthardamz Workshop . The first area of the Upper District is quite straightforward . There ' s a chest on one of the tables in the first room . Immediately after turning right ( north ) , there is an intersection . Straight ahead is a novice - locked gate , while an open door leads to the left . The door leads to sleeping quarters of the Afflicted . The couple of Afflicted residing in these can be bypassed by going through the locked gate , or if the Dragonborn has a high Sneak skill , they can assassinate them , quietly . Beyond the gate are more Dwemer pots , and the hall turns left ( west ) . An open door to the right ( north ) leads to a room with an adept - locked gate with a chest behind it . Back in the hall , the hallway turns right ( north ) , descends a ramp and finally opens up to a large hall . Entering the room , one of the first large chambers , one can overhear a prayer circle of three Afflicted calling out to their patron Peryite . A hallway to the left ( west ) leads to the next large hall , which contains four Afflicted , some of which are patrolling . There are two spiral ramps and two sets of stairs leading up from this room . The stairs both lead to the same ledge overlooking the room , with a lever in the center that opens a spike gate on the other side . The ramps both lead to the gate . Near the bottom of the left ( south ) ramp going up to the next room is a gold ore vein , on the floor of the rocky area to the right of the ramp . Beyond the gate is a short passageway ( south southwest ) that leads to another room with a walkway to the left ( east southeast ) . At the end of the walkway , it is possible to make a right - hand U - turn and head down to an area where the only notable item is a chest on the wall . Through the next door , the hallway slopes down to the east and comes to an intersection . Straight ahead is a dead - end room with a couple of Dwarven Spheres and a wall chest . The Spheres will appear when the chest is approached . To the right ( south ) of the intersection the hallway slopes down to another Afflicted and a helicopter blade trap which is activated by the pressure plate in front of the blades ' channel . At the bottom of the ramp is a closed but unlocked gate . Behind the gate , the path slopes further down to an area with three more Afflicted . Against the left ( south ) wall , a set of steps leads to a ledge with a short , squat pedestal with a potion on it . A set of steps leads up from the bottom of the room to the west to Bthardamz Workshop . Bthardamz Workshop . The Workshop is a fairly small section of the ruins . If the Dragonborn stops to listen , two Afflicted will be heard discussing Orchendor ' s request for " more ichor " to be sent to him in the Arcenex . This area seems to serve as resting quarters . On the right ( north ) side , an unlocked gate leads to one bedroom . To the left ( south ) is another bedroom with the Afflicted ' s Note on a table . Directly across to the north is another larger sleeping area . The hallway turns left ( south ) to an open door that leads to another room , this one with three Dwarven Spiders who will drop down from the nearby pipes when approached . There ' s a chest and another hidden Spider behind the pipes against the north wall . The nearby east stairway leads up to a balcony in the Upper District with a chest and a good vantage point from which to fire on enemies in the district ' s as yet unexplored section . Returning to the workshop , the path to the south turns east , where two more Afflicted can be found . A chest is on the left ( east ) side . The path turns left ( ( east ) , then a door on the left ( north ) side leads to the second Upper District section . Bthardamz Upper District revisited . Next is the area viewed from the balcony . The path takes an immediate U - turn to the right , then leads to a pair of stairs . The short stairs to the right ( southeast ) lead to the Dwelling ( see below ) . To the left ( north ) , a narrow path leads to a chest as the walls narrow to a dead end . Going straight up the first two stairways to the east and then to the left around the corner , there ' s a second chest tucked next to a balcony - type platform against the north wall . Staying at this height in the chamber , to the right ( west ) of the final set of stairs , a gold ore vein can be found against the south wall . Further on against that same south wall , after jumping across to the roof tops , is another chest . Back at the final stairs , the path leads to another set of ramps which lead to the door to the Lower District . Bthardamz Dwelling . The dwelling can be reached through the second section of the Upper District . Upon entering , the Dragonborn might be able to overhear a curious speech of one of the Afflicted . The Dwelling consists of a single room with two Afflicted , a chest , and an apprentice locked gate with the Speech skill book " Biography of the Wolf Queen " and another chest . Leaving the dwelling and following the stairway up will lead to the Lower District entrance . Bthardamz Lower District . The Lower District commons are heavily patrolled by Afflicted as well as a few Dwemer automatons . Again , the Lower District is divided into two distinct areas by the Bthardamz Study . The path starts out west , turns right ( north ) , and leads to a room where a gate on the left side leads to a chest . The path continues to the north ( where a few Spiders suddenly appear ) , then east , to a door . Behind that door , the Lower District opens up into an amphitheater with an Afflicted mage performing for his compatriots . Flipping the lever directly in front of the Dragonborn releases a set of helicopter blade traps that kills the mage , leaving his audience the only ones left to deal with . There is a very visible chest in the center of the room which can be reached easily as long as the blades are turned back off . The path leads east , then north , to another large room with three sets of stairs . The left and right stairs lead to nothing but an empty ledge . The middle ( northwest ) steps lead to an open gate . The next point of interest is a large cavern with a river . Numerous Afflicted will be patrolling the bridges which crisscross over the river . Again , this is a great spot for a sneaky archer . There ' s a small chest and a skeleton which can be found by jumping up the rocks to the left of the waterfall . It is possible to climb up the rocks to reach the walkway around the waterfall , but there are a couple of suddenly appearing Dwarven Spheres on the walkway . The yellow glowing bulbs growing on the plants will explode when struck by arrow , but have no other effect . A set of stairs leads down to the east , then turns south to get to a gold - colored path . To the right ( south ) on the path is a trap , but to the left of the trap is a small room with a chest . Continuing that way leads back to the river , along with a chest and lootable skeleton . Going the other way leads to a gold ore vein on the left ( against the north wall ) , then stairs leading up to the right ( south ) . Across a small walkway is a hallway that leads south , then east to the study . Bthardamz Study and Lower District upper levels . The study is a very hallway - like area with a few enemies , chests and little else . With a sneaky character , it is actually possible to sneak through the Study without alerting a single enemy . At one point , there is a set of shallow steps leading up to the left ( ( east ) that contain a spinning blade trap whose trigger is right at the bottom . Exiting the other side will lead to the upper tiers of the Lower District . Traversing the catwalks starting to the right ( north ) , the Dragonborn will encounter more Afflicted . Behind a gate at the dead end to the right ( east , then south ) is a chest with leveled loot . Up to the right ( north ) , a ramp curls up to an area where three more mages are sitting . Continuing along the catwalk and hallways leads to the entrance to the Arcanex . Bthardamz Arcanex . The Arcanex serves as the inner chambers and stronghold for the Afflicted Priest of Peryite , Orchendor . He is guarded by a formidable force of Dwemer Automatons , ranging from spiders to the ever - imposing Dwarven Centurion . Upon entering , a cavern - like room is seen with a few Dwarven Spiders and Spheres patrolling the bottom . After winding along walkways along the bottom , a long spiral ramp leads up to the higher levels . Before going up the set of stairways , a quick left ( east ) leads to a nearby chest . At the top of the second set of stairs , where the Centurion patrols , a quicksilver ore vein can be found to the left ( east ) . The hallway leads south , turns left , then left again to another set of stairs up . The path turns left ( west ) then left again ( south ) where several Spiders are on guard . The hallway turns right ( west ) , then leads to a room with two sets of steps down to the right ( north ) . Directly ahead is a large column that can be passed on either side . Orchendor is on the other side of the column . Orchendor is in a large chamber past the Centurion . He is a highly skilled mage who deals considerable Destruction damage . In addition , Orchendor is completely immune to fire , frost , and shock spells , as well as absorption effects ; physical weapons are recommended . He is capable of teleporting and will often do so onto the upper tiers of the room , thus raining down fire and frost . Archery is a good choice because it can follow him as he teleports around the room . Once he is defeated , the key to the Bthardamz Elevator can be looted from his corpse to exit . The exit is beyond his room on the left side ( against the west wall ) , then up stairs to the east , over the walkway / bridge to the west , then to the right ( ( north ) , where the key opens the door to the elevator . And in Bthardamz Workshop : Trivia . In Bthardamz Dwelling , if sneaking and undetected , a female Afflicted can be heard talking to a male Afflicted , who is sleeping :