Northwatch Keep

Northwatch Keep is a partially-ruined fortress where the Thalmor are keeping Thorald Gray-Mane prisoner.

The road to Volskygge (south of Northwatch Keep) leads to a seemingly dead end; however, there is an obscure path down the cliff, but it is easy to miss and will still need the Dragonborn to swim across an inlet; so the best route to get to Northwatch Keep is by following the shore from either the West or East. If traveling by means of the path, the Illusion spell Clairvoyance is helpful.

When the Dragonborn arrives there, he or she is greeted outside by a Thalmor. He will state that the Dragonborn must be a member of the Imperial Legion to enter. If the Dragonborn is not an Imperial soldier, the Dragonborn may enter anyway, but will still be attacked. The Dragonborn will then have to battle through the fort to free Thorald.

The other prisoners can be 'freed' by picking Master locks, or flipping the levers in the room. However once freed, they just stand there. Attempts to speak with them end with rude generic replies, which is probably an oversight on the developers' behalf.

In the DLC, the Icewater Jetty is located to the North-West of the keep.

Missing in Action
Release Thorald Gray-Mane from Thalmor custody.

Characters

 * Northwatch Archer
 * Northwatch Guard
 * Northwatch Interrogator
 * Northwatch Prisoner
 * Thorald Gray-Mane
 * Northwatch Mage

Notable items

 * 2920, vol 01 - Morning Star can be found behind the bar, One-Handed skill book.
 * The Legendary Sancre Tor can be found in the bedroom, directly across from the bed next to the table, sitting on a box, Two-Handed skill book.
 * A glass mace can be found in the room with Thorald in it.

Trivia

 * If one retreats far enough back after attacking the guards, they will cease to be hostile.
 * After clearing the keep in the quest Missing in Action, citizens will comment about the Thalmor having been "taken down a notch."
 * The guards will not attack those in Beast Form. However, once inside, Thorald will attack anyone in beast form. for this reason, it is best to wait it out and revert to normal before making the final assault on the prison cell.
 * After completing "Missing In Action", Vidrald and Geirlund may be found in the courtyard.
 * If one visits Northwatch Keep before the quest Missing in Action is acquired, then Thorald Gray-Mane will not be in the prison where the Dragonborn can find him in the quest.
 * If the Civil War questline has been completed while siding with the Stormcloaks, the Thalmor seems to use this as a hidden retreat within Skyrim. They will prevent the Dragonborn from entering or even asking about Northwatch, claiming it to be "priviledged information."

Bugs

 * If the Dragonborn goes with Thorald's brother to the keep they do not seem to recognize each other and continue on as if one another is not there.
 * If the prisoners are killed, they may disappear through the floor.

Appearances


Северная сторожевая крепость Festung Nordwacht Bastión de la Guardia del Norte