The Midden The Midden is a dungeon found beneath the College of Winterhold . Trap doors leading to The Midden can be found just north of the door to the Hall of the Elements in the College ' s courtyard , and under the stairs in the Hall of Countenance . Sublocations . The Midden . Whichever way the Midden is entered , there will be a room with four openings on a wall ( in a two by two arrangement ) . The bottom right opening is clear , while the others are barred with iron grates . However , the opening leads to a long drop to a room with a waterfall that can be reached in another way . To the northeast is a passage that leads to a split . The right side ( which leads to the east ) leads to a single empty jail cell . The left ( north ) passage leads to a snow - covered room that joins on to a low - ceilinged room with many pillars with two exits . An exit path to the east northeast leads to a large room with an attached room straight across to the southeast that contains the Atronach Forge . A passageway to the southwest leads to a cell door , with a room beyond that has a bench containing some alchemy ingredients . Further southwest is the floor of the waterfall room seen before . The stairs on the left side lead to a ledge with nothing but a Draugr . Instead , continuing along the path under the ledge to the southwest leads to The Midden Dark . The Midden Dark . Upon entering , after walking across a short passageway , there is an ice cave with a bridge across it . After crossing the bridge , a path to the left ( still inside the ice cave ) leads down to a ledge with a chest with some gold in it . Returning to the bridge level from the ledge is possible ( by jumping on top of the chest , then hugging the wall to the left and jumping while moving forward ) . However , upon dropping further down into the depths of the cave from the ledge , it will be impossible to climb back up . However , proceeding through the cavern as described below will eventually lead back to the bridge . At the bottom of the cave , one passage leads west that eventually leads outside . Another passage leads east to what appear to be sewers . In the first room ( one with columns spread throughout ) are a skeleton , the corpses of Frostbite Spiders , and some low - level weapons and armor . Against the north wall of the room is a passage to the east that is blocked by spider webs that can be cut with a blade . The passage turns to the north northwest and leads to another ice cave , where steps lead up to what appears to be the remains of someone attempting to cook . Further up the steps is a circular room with a table to the left that has a copy of the " Midden Incident Report " and an Investigator ' s Key . The report speaks of a group of students who were killed while attempting a summoning ritual , and a strange sculpture from which four rings were pried ( which are now supposedly stored in The Arcanaeum ) . To the south southwest is an alcove with ingredients . In the center of the room is a sculpture of a hand for the quest " Forgotten Names " . Up a set of steps to the northwest is a door that leads to a room with a pit containing a large number of skeletons and two Draugr . Up a short set of steps is an alchemy lab , with the alchemy the skill book " De Rerum Dirennis " is on the left side . From there , the path leads up stairs to the south , then it leads down another set of stairs to another ice cave . This has passages to the west northwest and southeast . The southeast passage leads back to the first ice cave encountered in this cavern . The other leads to stairs down to a locked door , where the Augur of Dunlain can be found . Quests . Forgotten Names . Summon the Dremora Pirate . Good Intentions . Consult with the Augur of Dunlain about the Eye of Magnus . Illusion Ritual Spell . Find 4 " Master Illusion Text s " for Drevis Neloren . Restoration Ritual Spell . Colette Marence sends the Dragonborn to the Augur of Dunlain to learn more about Restoration magic .