Unearthed (Dragonborn)

Unearthed is a quest that takes place in Kolbjorn Barrow, given to the Dragonborn by Ralis Sedarys. Ralis tells the Dragonborn that he has an investor who wants the relics of Ahzidal, but they are buried deep within Kolbjorn Barrow. Multiple investments and many days will be required in order for Kolbjorn Barrow to be excavated.
==Background==
Outside Kolbjorn Barrow, I met Ralis Sedarys, an explorer who came to Solstheim in search of relics within the barrow. But when he arrived, he found it buried by the ash. He had all but given up on excavating it, but if I can supply the funds, he offered to make me a partner in his expedition.
==Objectives==
#Fund the excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow (1000 gold)
#Wait for a message from Ralis
#Visit the Kolbjorn Barrow Excavation
#Clear the Draugr from Kolbjorn Barrow
#Find a way deeper into the Barrow
#Speak to Ralis
#Fund the next phase of the excavation (2000 gold)
#Wait for a message from Ralis
#Return to Kolbjorn Barrow
#Clear the Draugr from Kolbjorn Barrow
#Search for the missing miners
#Clear the Draugr from Kolbjorn Barrow
#Speak to Ralis
#Fund the next phase of the excavation (3000 gold)
#Wait for a message from Ralis
#Return to Kolbjorn Barrow
#Clear the Draugr from Kolbjorn Barrow
#Speak to Ralis
#Fund the next phase of the excavation (5000 gold)
#Wait for a message from Ralis
#Return to Kolbjorn Barrow
#Locate Ralis
#Defeat Ahzidal
#Confront Ralis
#Kill Ralis (optional)
==Walkthrough==
The quest can be activated by speaking to Ralis Sedarys, who can be found at the ruins of Kolbjorn Barrow.
===First Investment===
After speaking with Ralis, he will ask to help fund his excavation. This will cost 1,000 . After a few days a letter from Ralis will be delivered by a courier asking for help back at the ruins. Speaking with Ralis will reveal that draugr have been awakened and the workers have been killed.
In order to continue the excavation, the draugr must be neutralized. Ralis also requests scouting for a passage deeper into the ruins.
Beyond the door to the barrow, the path heads generally northwest and is guarded by a draugr. Eventually, a room is found defended by leveled draugr. A large table in the center of the room contains a strangely marked skull. Removing it activates a mechanism which opens a door straight ahead to a large chamber filled with dust. Ahzidal's Boots of Waterwalking are in this chamber, on a pedestal. Otherwise, just beyond the table is an adept-locked chest up some steps against the left (southwest) wall. Once the draugr are killed and the door opened, the quest is continued by returning to Ralis.
===Second Investment===
After the ruin has been cleared, Ralis will request more money to recommence his investigation. This time he will ask for 2,000 gold. After some time has passed, a courier will deliver another letter asking the Dragonborn to return to the ruin. It turns out all the miners were again killed as they dug deeper into the ruin. Ralis requires the draugr to be killed again so that the exploration can continue.
This time, upon entering the barrow, a staircase on the right side is now open, with a novice-locked chest at the bottom. Otherwise, it is a dead end. A dead miner is at the top of the left side steps.
In the first main room are four new draugr, plus several dead miners and chests to be looted. The room beyond the doorway to the northwest has been further excavated. A leveled draugr is on a catwalk surrounding a central pillar, which can be reached by jumping from a pile of ash near the doorway on the northwest side to a ledge just below the catwalk, then up to the catwalk itself. A doorway to the northwest is blocked by a gate that cannot yet be opened. The faint chanting of a nearby Word Wall can be heard, but it is buried under the rubble and cannot be reached yet.
Below that doorway is an open doorway leading to a crypt area protected by two draugr, that contains the corpse of Bradyn. Another draugr and a pull chain that opens a door to the right (northeast) are in the second room. Behind that door is another crypt with a draugr and a pull chain that, when activated, opens a door to the southwest from the previous room. Behind that door is another chamber with another draugr and a Dwarven Greatsword. A passageway leads to the left (southeast), but is protected by a floor trigger to a soul gem trap.
There is a doorway to the left (northeast) blocked by three gates with four handles on the right-hand side. Do not pull the third (from the top), as it releases a dart trap. Pull the switches in the following order: first, second, fourth, first.
The corpse of Mireli lies in the center of the next room, as well as four draugr. Once they are killed, the gate to the right (southeast) is opened (this was the one that was seen to be locked earlier). In an alcove to the left of Mireli, a leveled battle axe can be found. Proceeding further northeast, on the right side behind a wall is a handle that, when activated, opens a secret area further to the northeast. Ahzidal's Ring of Necromancy is here on a pedestal.
===Third Investment===
Once the search is complete, upon returning to Ralis and informing him the miners are dead, he will explain that the next stage of the excavation will cost 3,000 gold as he plans to hire some mercenaries to protect the miners.
After some time has passed, a courier will deliver a third letter asking the Dragonborn to return to the ruin. Much like last time, more draugr awakened as the miners dug deeper into the barrow, but thanks to the mercenaries that Ralis hired, at least some of the miners escaped with their lives. Ralis asks that the draugr be killed so that the digging can continue.
This time, the steps on the right (northeast) side are opened all the way, although this just leads to the same set of stairs used before. Several draugr appear when descending them, and while moving deeper into the barrow. In addition to dead miners, there are several Kolbjorn guard corpses scattered about.
Much more of the ruin has been dug out at this point. A wooden bridge has been installed crossing from the second room's entrance to the central column, and a set of ramps now lead to the bottom of the room. At the bottom of the ramp, the chanting of the word wall is even louder, and on the left (southwest) side of the room, there is a point where the edges of the word wall animation can be seen - however, the wall remains buried. Also, on the right (northeast) wall is a drawbridge that cannot yet be opened, with a gate behind it.
Across the catwalk to the northwest, through the doorway that was opened the last time, to the left (southwest) is an expert-locked iron door. Beyond that door are two albino spiders and a poisonous cloaked spider. There is also an emerald geode to the right (northwest), a trapped chest straight ahead, and shelves on the left containing random potions and soul gems.
Back in the previous room, a doorway to the right (northwest) is rigged with a floor trigger for a swinging log trap. In the room beyond is another draugr. The path turns right (northeast), leading down a few steps and through doorways that were opened the last time (pull chains on the right, then left, open the doors if they are closed). Proceeding past the second pull chain is a dead end room, with another pull chain that opens and closes the door between the first and second pull chains.
Back at the second pull chain, turning to the southeast leads to another opening into the large room with the central column and the wooden ramps. An alcove on the right (southwest) has a leveled axe lying on the ground. To the left (northeast) is another room with two more draugr, an iron door that leads straight ahead, and another pull chain on the right. The pull chain opens a hidden door to the northeast in the previously seen "dead end" room. Behind it are Ahzidal's Gauntlets of Warding on a pedestal. Taking them off the pedestal unleashes a poison dart trap.
Back at the room with the door, beyond it the path slopes sharply downward, and there is a falling rock trap. There are numerous leveled draugr. If the quest is active in the quest log, these draugr will be marked with quest markers. After they are all killed, the objective to clear out the barrow is complete, and it's now possible to return to Ralis. However, proceeding on, the path turns right (southeast) and proceeds up a set of stairs to a large room with several dead miners and Kolbjorn guards.
In the center of the room is a strange series of pressure pads that emit a blue glow when stood upon, however the light fades after a few seconds. Lighting all of the plates at once will open the gate on the left, where Ahzidal's Ring of Arcana lies on a pedestal. This can be done by running across all the plates quickly before their lights go out, which is most easily achieved with the Whirlwind Sprint or Slow Time shouts. Having the Sneak perk Light Foot does not interfere with triggering the plates. Alternatively, casting Telekinesis on the ring, it may be retrieved through the closed gate without solving the floor puzzle.
At the southeast side end of the room is an embalming table with random loot. Up the wooden ramp to the right are several soul gems, and a gate with a chain to its left. Activating the chain opens the gate, but also triggers a swinging axe trap ahead. A short path forward leads to a set of stairs up to the right (northwest), then turns left, where the swinging axes protect the other side of the gate with the drawbridge that was seen earlier. A pull chain is directly above the gate which, when activated, stops the axes, opens the gate, and drops the drawbridge, providing a shortcut to get back out of the barrow.
===Fourth Investment===
Once the draugr are defeated, upon returning to Ralis and informing him of the situation, he will mention that the next step of investment will cost 5,000 as they have gained quite a reputation. He plans to hire some stronger mercenaries this time.
After some time has passed, a courier will deliver a final letter requesting a return to the ruin. Upon arrival at the campsite outside the ruin it appears there has been some sort of massacre as the corpses of several miners and guards are strewn about. Reading Ralis' journals, volumes 19-23, found on a table in a tent, reveals the chilling fate of the miners and Ralis' true intention all along; Ralis had been manipulated by the voice of Ahzidal since the beginning. The Dragon Priest had been talking to Ralis, controlling him, driving him to madness and forcing him to sacrifice the miners for his resurrection. The hired guards were just a bonus.
The first part of the barrow appears unchanged, but there are ugly scenes like a miner's body on the first table. However, the second major room has been excavated to the floor. This has exposed the once buried Word Wall. A word of the Cyclone shout can be learned from it. The quest marker to locate Ralis is straight ahead to the northwest, but it is not reachable via that path. Instead, the path from the second room to the right (northeast) across the dropped drawbridge needs to be followed. There are several draugr along the way. In the room with the pressure plates, the staircase to the northwest leads down to a newly excavated area straight ahead.
This next room contains three sleeping draugr on thrones and a pillar puzzle. Upon entering the room, a gate immediately closes behind the Dragonborn, which can lock out a follower (the gate does not close until the Dragonborn enters). Once the draugr are defeated, there are two gates to be opened: one on the floor in the middle of the room, and the other in the south corner. The chains on the opposite walls (southwest and northeast) each control a rotating stone with a hole that, once visible, reveals a pillar that provides a clue to the puzzle (each shows a whale). The south corner gate can be opened by aligning both pillars behind the throne to the whale totem, then activating the lever between the pillars. The gate will raise to reveal Ahzidal's Armor of Retribution sitting on a pedestal.
The clues to open the gate on the floor are on the shields visible across the room from the thrones, near the ceiling near the southeast wall. The gate opens when both pillars behind the thrones are turned to the hawk and the lever activated again. At the bottom of the spiral stairway are a table with various potions, and then down more stairs to the northwest, more draugr, a stalhrim deposit (in the alcove to the northwest), and another pillar puzzle to the right (northeast). Pulling the chain with the incorrect symbols will send flames out of the wall that may ignite the oil on the floor. The correct alignment is two snake symbols. The gate will open to reveal Ahzidal's Helm of Vision sitting on a pedestal, but there is a floor trigger for a spear trap just beyond the gate. Taking the helm will cause the pedestal to shoot out a powerful jet of fire from the bottom of the pedestal.
Back at the bottom of the stairs, there is a tomb to the left (southwest) at the bottom of the ramp up to the southwest that contains a valuable weapon. However, there is a floor trigger for a poison dart trap directly in front. At the top of the ramp is an iron door, at which Ralis can be heard repeatedly saying, "It is time," and "Ahzidal - awaken!"
===A Rude Awakening===
Ralis will be found in the middle of a large room. He is standing on top of a circular stone structure, which is inscribed with similar runes as seen in the room where the Bloodskal Blade is found. The edges of the structure are filled with a large pool of blood, and the area is littered with sacrificed miners. Ralis is attempting to summon the Dragon Priest Ahzidal using the energy from the miners' blood. He is successful; the ground shakes and he is flung to one side of the room. Ralis is knocked unconscious as Ahzidal emerges and battle begins.
During the battle several draugr burst out of the surrounding sarcophagi to aid Ahzidal. If the draugr are killed, others will awaken to take their place. He may also raise the corpses of defeated draugr and miners lying in the chamber. Ahzidal primarily uses fire based Destruction spells including a unique pulse of fire similar to Fire Breath that cause large amounts of damage. Once he has been defeated his ash pile can be searched for his mask.
Ralis will wake up at this point and seems confused by what has happened:
"Oh, gods... what happened? What have I done?"
What's going on here? "I...I don't remember. Ever since I got here... to Kolbjorn... I've heard whispers. Voices. Thoughts. Imaginings. They've only gotten louder since I've stayed. Pounding, driving. A couple of times I blacked out. It was... It was just before the draugr woke up."
Did you... kill the miners? "I don't know. I... maybe? It's what he wanted. He just needed their energy. I don't know! I hope I didn't. But... maybe I... please, you have to believe me?"
:I believe you. Just... don't come back here. "Of course. I don't even want to hear the word "barrow" again. Ever. I'll go to Raven Rock and you... you won't mention this to anyone. If you see me there, just... give a nod and I'll lend a hand if you need it. It's... it's the least I can do. Just... keep this quiet."
:I can't let you go unpunished. "What? No! You can't... I have his will on my side! He will command all of us!"
Choosing to kill Ralis will result in him becoming hostile and fighting back. Choosing to spare Ralis will cause him to run out of the ruin and back to The Retching Netch in Raven Rock. Either option completes the quest.
Once Ahzidal is defeated, a tunnel opens at the southwest end of the room. Beyond the opening, the tunnel curves left (southeast). There is a chest with leveled loot, then there is a gate opened by a chain. The circular room beyond contains the Black Book: Filament and Filigree, as well as a chest with leveled loot to the right (southwest).
Continuing on the path left (northeast) of the room with the Black Book, at the end of the short tunnel, there is a stalhrim deposit in a sarcophagus behind the spiral staircase opened by the lever (which is to the right as the Dragonborn enters; the deposit is to the left). The stairs lead up to the second large room in the barrow.
Upon exiting the ruins, the entire campsite will be gone.
==Reward==
Along with finding a word for the Cyclone shout, and obtaining the Ahzidal's Armor set and Ahzidal's mask, should Ralis be spared he will offer his services as a follower.
Assuming he is killed, the only notable item he carries is a unique Ancient Nordic Pickaxe called Hoarfrost. However this weapon can still be acquired from him by sharing inventory items while he is a follower, if he is spared.
This quest will cost 11,000 altogether. One may be able to find a few septims on looted bodies or loot bodies and sell the items in order to recover some of the cost. The relics themselves are worth 9,430 .
==Journal==
UNearthed – DLC2dunKolbjornQST	UNearthed – DLC2dunKolbjornQST
ID 	Journal Entry
40 	Outside Kolbjorn Barrow, I met Ralis Sedarys, an explorer who came to Solstheim in search of relics within the barrow. But when he arrived, he found it buried by the ash. He had all but given up on excavating it, but if I can supply the funds, he offered to make me a partner in his expedition.
*Objective 40: Fund the excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow (1000 gold)
75 	Ralis Sedarys came to Solstheim in search of the Relics of Ahzidal, powerful items said to have been sealed in Kolbjorn Barrow, but found it buried by ash. I agreed to fund his expedition to excavate the Barrow. He set to work, saying he'd send a courier when he had progress to report.
*Objective 75: Wait for a message from Ralis
100 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow. I should visit the site and see how the work is going.
*Objective 100: Visit the Kolbjorn Barrow Excavation
110 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but work on the dig has come to a halt. The excavation had reached a dead end when Draugr within the tomb awoke, killing several miners and causing the rest to flee.
*Objective 130: Clear the Draugr from Kolbjorn Barrow
*Objective 140: Find a way deeper into the Barrow
130 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but work on the dig has come to a halt. The excavation had reached a dead end when Draugr within the tomb awoke, killing several miners and causing the rest to flee. I defeated the Draugr, but now need to find a way past the dead end.
140 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but work on the dig has come to an halt. The excavation site had reached a dead end when Draugr within the tomb awoke, killing several miners and causing the rest to flee. I found a way past the dead end, but must deal with the Draugr before work can continue.
150 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but work on the dig has come to a halt. At his request, I defeated the Draugr and found a way past the dead end.
*Objective 150: Speak to Ralis
160 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but in order to continue, he needs more gold to hire replacements for the workers that have been killed.
*Objective 160: Fund the next phase of the excavation (2000 gold)
175 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow. He told me to return in a few days to see how work was progressing.
*Objective 175: Wait for a message from Ralis
200 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow. I should return and see how the work is going.
*Objective 200: Return to Kolbjorn Barrow
210 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but work on the site has stopped. Most of the miners were killed by another wave of Draugr attacks, and two more are unaccounted for.
*Objective 230: Clear the Draugr from Kolbjorn Barrow
230 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but work on the site has stopped. Most of the miners were killed by another wave of Draugr attacks, and two more are unaccounted for. I dealt with the Draugr, but still need to locate the missing miners.
*Objective 230: Search for the missing miners
240 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but work on the site has stopped. Most of the miners were killed by another wave of Draugr attacks, and two more were unaccounted for. I found the bodies of the missing miners, but still need to deal with the Draugr threat.
*Objective 240: Clear the Draugr from Kolbjorn Barrow
250 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but work on the site has stopped. At his request, I dealt with the Draugr and found the bodies of the missing miners.
*Objective 250: Speak to Ralis
260 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but the ongoing Draugr attacks means he needs more gold in order to hire more miners and guards to protect them.
*Objective 260: Fund the next phase of the excavation (3000 gold)
275 	I agreed to continue funding Ralis Sedarys' excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow. He told me to return in a few days to see how work was progressing.
*Objective 275: Wait for a message from Ralis
300 	I agreed to continue funding Ralis Sedarys' excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow. I should return and see how the work is going.
*Objective 300: Return to Kolbjorn Barrow
330 	I agreed to continue funding Ralis Sedarys' excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow, but Draugr have attacked the miners again, and only a few managed to escape. Ralis asked if I could wipe them out so the excavation could continue.
*Objective 330: Clear the Draugr from Kolbjorn Barrow
350 	I agreed to continue funding Ralis Sedarys' excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow, but Draugr again attacked the miners. Once again, I slew the Draugr so work could proceed.
*Objective 350: Speak to Ralis
360 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' expedition to excavate Kolbjorn Barrow, but once again, he needs more gold to hire increasingly reluctant miners and guards to work on the site.
*Objective 360: Fund the next phase of the excavation (5000 gold)
375 	I agreed to continue funding Ralis Sedarys' excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow. He told me to return in a few days to see how work was progressing.
*Objective 375: Wait for a message from Ralis
400 	I agreed to continue funding Ralis Sedarys' excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow. I should return and see how the work is going.
*Objective 400: Return to Kolbjorn Barrow
410 	I agreed to continue funding Ralis Sedarys' ill-fated excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow, but when I returned to his mining camp, I found only blood and corpses. Ralis himself was nowhere to be seen.
*Objective 410: Locate Ralis
449 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' ill-fated excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow, but when I returned to his mining camp, I found only blood and corpses. Deep within the barrow, sound Ralis performing a ritual to release Ahzidal, the Dragon Priest that had been sealed there.
450 	
*Objective 450: Defeat Ahzidal
475 	I agreed to fund Ralis Sedarys' ill-fated excavation of Kolbjorn Barrow, but when I returned to his mining camp, I found only blood and corpses. Deep within the barrow, I found Ralis performing a ritual that released Ahzidal, a powerful Dragon Priest I fought and defeated.
*Objective 475: Confront Ralis
480 	Kill Rallis: Ralis Sedarys came to Solstheim hoping to find the Relics of Ahzidal and release their maker from his imprisonment in Kolbjorn Barrow. When he found the barrow buried by the ash, he convinced me to fund its excavation, using the miners as blood sacrifices for his rituals. I saw through his lies and decided to kill him for his crimes.
*Objective 480: Kill Ralis
485 	Kill Rallis: Ralis Sedarys came to Solstheim hoping to find the Relics of Ahzidal and release their maker from his imprisonment in Kolbjorn Barrow. When he found the barrow buried by the ash, he convinced me to fund its excavation, using the miners as blood sacrifices for his rituals. I saw through his lies and killed him for his crimes.
*Quest complete
490 	Spare Ralis: Ralis Sedarys came to Solstheim hoping to find the Relics of Ahzidal, but fell under the spell of their maker, a powerful Dragon Priest entombed in the barrow. He convinced me to fund its excavation, but was compelled by Ahzidal to use the miners as ritual sacrifices. Ralis had no control over his actions, so I allowed him to live and depart the barrow in peace.
*Quest complete
==Trivia==
*Talking to the miners or mercenaries after the fourth investment before they are killed will all have them say the same foreboding words: "We're doomed."
==Bugs==
Click to show
*If the cave is left in the middle of the quest, it may not be completely cleared.
*The gate in front of the Ahzidal's Armor of Retribution may not open if the spiral stairway is open.
**Fixed by saving and exiting the game and then reloading.
* After making the second investment and receiving the letter to return to Kolbjorn Barrow the game may freeze when getting close to the area. Clearing the system cache fixes the problem.
*After the first investment, if the skull is moved (e.g. shouted) off the table while fighting the draugr, the door in the room sometimes cannot be opened.
**A possible solution is to move anything else on the table.
**Another solution is to exit and re-enter Kolbjorn Barrow.
*After making the third investment, Ahzidal's Ring of Arcana might spawn on the floor near the wall on the right side of the pedestal.
*If the black book is entered and any of the shadowed areas stepped on, the hissing sound may continue after leaving the book.
**The hissing can be stopped by fast traveling to a random location, then reloading a save.
* Sneak attacking Ahzidal with a bow before he is fully awake can cause his body to fall through the floor rendering the mask unattainable.
*Sometimes, after Ahzidal is killed, Ralis will attack for no reason.
*Sometimes when the skull is removed from the pedestal the door does not open.
**This can be fixed by making sure there are no miners dead on top of the altar.
* Sometimes upon getting the last letter, Ralis will be swimming underwater. With any attempt to try to talk to him, he will say "Ugh...".
**A solution is to reload the game at the point when the letter was obtained and wait for one hour in-game time.
* Azhidal may be dead before Ralis is found (there will be an ash pile with gold and Azhidal's Mask) so the part where Ralis revives Azhidal may never happen, instead confronting Ralis as he is trying to wake up Azhidal.
* After defeating Azhidal the tunnel to the southwest may not open.
**After leaving and reentering the ruins, if Ralis is not alive in the antechamber, the console command resurrect can be used on him. Then the console command Setstage DLC2dunKolbjornQST 475 will reset him to the point just before he was confronted. Once he is confronted, the crypt at the back of the chamber will open.
* Azhidal's Boots will be seen but cannot be interacted with (selected, moved, taken)
** Leave the barrow and waiting for Ralis' next message. Upon returning to the barrow more of the dungeon will be excavated and the boots can be interacted with.
* The panels to the ring may not work.
* After making the third investment, if one stands close enough to the Word Wall, it is still possible to learn the shout, despite the fact that the wall is still submerged.
* After the fourth investment, the hall leading into the room with the pillar puzzles and the thrones with Sleeping Draugr may not be excavated, which makes difficult to continue.
** It may be fixed by reloading to a saved game before reading Ralys's notes and/or before entering the tomb.
==Appearances==
*
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ru:Раскопки
Category:Dragonborn: Side Quests