Embershard mine

Embershard Mine is a small iron mine between Helgen  and Riverwood  It is the mine location that appears on the compass when the player escapes in the opening quest,

Exterior
There is a slightly hidden path that leads from the banks of the White River to Embershard Mine. It's recognizable by the wooden slats that lead up towards it. As you approach the mine itself, a bandit will rush to attack you. There's a wheelbarrow, a wood chopping block , and woodcutter's axe  by the barrels, just outside of the entrance.

Interior


The mine itself is fairly well lit, but a light source will definitely come in handy. There are lots of Fly Amanita to harvest through out the mine. As you descend down into the mine there is a falling rock trap that can do a fair amount of damage to very low level players. If you sneak in, you'll hear two bandits mentioning the guard outside and the trap. There is a pickaxe next to their cooking fire in case you need one to start harvesting iron ore. Further down is an intersection that will lead you a collapsed tunnel section and a tattered journal. Going to the left will lead to a small drinking area and a lever which will lower the bridge. If the two bandits have been killed,

this alerts two more bandits who will charge at you immediately. If you manage to remain hidden from them, they will split up and become easy targets to kill.

After crossing the newly opened bridge will be a dark tunnel. There is a coin purse above you near the base of the bridge. It can be snagged manually with a little careful maneuvering, shot down, or, with some luck, you can activate the lever to raise the bridge, and then attempt to cross it as it raises—it will propel you upwards and place you atop the entrance to the dark tunnel. If you look to your left you will see a coin purse containing a varying amount of gold. As you pass a small window to another area on your right another bandit will come at you that has the Emvbershard mine key on him. The nearby prison cell is empty, but where the bandit came running from contains an augmented loot chest, several sacks, and a Spell Tome. Further into the mine,

the main living area of the bandits is found. Three more bandits will attack including an archer. The room has three levels, a cooking fire, and lots of good loot to be found. The bottom floor contains a smithing area, several iron ingots, and the smithing skill book, Light Armor Forging. The mid-level contains a kitchen and pantry section with lots of food items, a chest, and several gems. A path behind the kitchen leads to yet another chest nestled next to the waterfall. The top path will lead out to another pathway filled with bone rattle alarms and the exit back outside just southwest of Riverwood.

Notable Loot

 * Spell Tome: Clairvoyance
 * Light Amor Forging

Alchemy Ingredients

 * Charred Skeever Hide
 * Fly Amanita
 * Hanging Moss
 * Salt Piles

Related Quest

 * Kill The Bandit Leader
 * Amulet of The Moon: Random locations given by a Khajo
 * Dungeon Delving: Random