Fortress of Ice (Quest)

The Fortress of Ice is a maze-like dungeon in. It is one of the locations the Eternal Champion has to visit in Arena, to rebuild the Staff of Chaos.

Journal
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Logbook
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Quick walkthrough

 * Travel to the city of Winterhold.
 * Go to the Mages Guild and talk to the mage Thelen Kaarn.
 * Recover the missing Tablet from the Fortress of Ice.
 * Give the Tablet to the Thelen Kaarn.

Ria Silmane
After recovering the First Piece piece of the Staff of Chaos (after Jagar Tharn tries to kill the Champion). Ria Silmane appears to the Eternal Champion again and congratulates them. She will then proceed to tell them that the second piece is in the deep depths of the Labyrinthian. The Champion then will have to ask around, which will eventually lead them to the province of Winterhold, in Skyrim.

Winterhold
Asking citizens around Skyrim will eventually direct the Eternal Champion to the Mages Guild of Winterhold, which had a recent complication with Knights.

The Mage attendant at the Mages Guild, Thelen Kaarn, will happily receive the Eternal Champion and inform them that a caravan destined to their guild in Winterhold was ambushed and attacked by Knights from the Fortress of Ice. He asks them to go to the fortress and retrieve the tablet, which will decipher a part of the Elder Scrolls that will reveal the location of the Labyrinth.

After agreeing with the Mage to recover the Tablet, the Eternal Champion shall be directed to the Fortress of Ice, where the missing Tablet remains. Before traveling to the dungeon, it is advisable to buy at least three Potions of Resist Ice; these potions will ease the exploration on the Fortress of Ice. Alternatively, Mages can use the spell Resist Cold, because Snow Wolves use a powerful ball of ice that can quickly kill an opponent in seconds. It is also recommended to obtain a lot of healing potions as the Fortress has nowhere safe to rest (unless the Champion chooses the floor).

Fortress of Ice
The Fortress of Ice is smaller than Stonekeep and Fang Lair. However, it is still difficult to find the way to the second level without getting lost. Fortunately, the door for the Second Level is located in close proximity with the first door. If the Champion looks at their map, they will see that they are at four squares on the first level. The green square is the entrance, and the blue door is the door to the second level.

If the Eternal Champion looks at their map, the green and blue squares are in the same square. An easy way to reach the second level is to first, from the entrance, go to the left side. But before the Champion even moves, drinking a Potion of Resist Cold is advised as there will be snow wolves waiting for them. Fighting them can be easy as long as the Champion has Potions of Resist Cold as they heavily rely on their ice ball attack rather than their bite. After the Eternal Champion has disposed of the wolves, they should walk down the corridor until they come to a crossroad with a river. The Champion should then proceed to turn right, where there will be two snow wolves waiting for them. After that, they will be forced to turn right and go down the corridor only to turn right yet again. The Champion will then be greeted by Knights. They can be dangerous opponents and should be taken with caution. When they finally reach the end of that corridor, they will again turn right (going in a rectangle shape) and after disposing the Knights, will have to turn left at the end of the hallway, then follow the hall, then turn left again. The Eternal Champion should then proceed to open the door which will lead them to a large room. Just turn right, follow the wall, then right again. They should come to a room with two hallway choices, one of which contains the door to the second level (the Champion can refer to the map for a visual reference).

In the Second Level, the way to the Tablet is more linear, though that does not mean that it is easy to find it. It is very easy to get lost and go to corridors that lead nowhere. It is better for the Champion to refer to the map for an easy way to get to the tablet. However, they should beware of the numerous Ice Golems and Snow Wolves on the way there. Both can take the Eternal Champion down in seconds if they are not prepared. After reaching the door which guards the Tablet, the Champion will be given a riddle to open it:



I touch your face,
 * Riddle

I'm in your words,

I'm lack of space,

And beloved of birds...

What am I?

The answer is "Air" or "Wind."

Once the riddle is answered, the Tablet can be taken from the room after the Ice Golems are defeated. It should be delivered to Thelen Kaarn in Winterhold. For obvious reasons, the Eternal Champion should be careful while backtracking their way out of the dungeon.

Thelen Kaarn
After giving the Tablet to the Mage on the Mages Guild, the location of Labyrinthian shall be revealed and Thelen will scribe it on the Champion's map. It is located close to the village of Dunpar Wall. Labyrinthian is a dangerous dungeon, so the Champion should be equipped with good equipment and potions are essential.