Elder Scrolls
Register
Advertisement
Elder Scrolls

For other uses, see Compelling Tribute.

Compelling Tribute is a quest available in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. After a successful campaign in Falkreath, Ulfric offers a covert mission to gain leverage in the Reach by using blackmail. Note that this quest can be impossible if the quest The Forsworn Conspiracy is completed and the bug which makes the guards and Raerek hostile has become prevalent. This quest can be skipped if before its start, Markarth was surrendered to the Stormcloaks during the peace treaty of "Season Unending."

Background[]

Galmar Stone-Fist has sent me to investigate the possibility of blackmailing Raerek. As Igmund's Steward, he might be able to provide important information and assets.

Objectives[]

  1. Find evidence
  2. Blackmail Raerek
  3. Report to Galmar Stone-Fist
  4. Meet the men
  5. Follow Ralof and ambush the enemy scout
  6. Take over the caravan
  7. Report back to Ralof
  8. Report success to Galmar Stone-Fist

Walkthrough[]

"Rumor has it the Jarl's Steward, Raerek, is a faithful Talos worshiper, if not a true son of Skyrim - he still supports the Empire, after all. But, if confronted with proof of his belief, you might be able to "persuade" him to aid our cause, indirectly of course."
Galmar Stone-Fist[src]

After a successful campaign in Falkreath Hold, Ulfric Stormcloak indicates that he needs every able bodied man to bolster his operations in the Reach. The new base of operations is where Galmar Stone-Fist is awaiting with new orders. Upon reporting to Galmar, the Dragonborn is offered a covert mission of subterfuge and blackmail in Markarth as a means to gain leverage in The Reach. Rumor has it that Raerek, Jarl Igmund's uncle and Steward, is a faithful Talos worshiper but not at all a true Son of Skyrim. If a way can be found to confront him with his belief, he may be persuaded to aid the cause.

Finding evidence[]

The seat of power in Markarth is Understone Keep, hewn into the rock to the city's southwest. Raerek's quarters are located in the northwestern wing of the keep and secured by an adept lock. Guards frequently patrol the halls at all hours, however Raerek will be attending to the Jarl throughout most of the day. Sneaking into the room and searching the dresser will reveal Raerek's Inscribed Amulet of Talos.

Accosting him regarding his resistance to The Cause will garner his feelings that Ulfric is a dangerous man and that he is no friend of the Markarth to which Raerek is so unyieldingly loyal. However, threatened with the prospect of having his faith in Talos made public, Raerek bends his knee to demand as otherwise the Thalmor would imprison him and forever besmirch the Jarl's family name. Reluctantly, Raerek tells of a large, heavily guarded wagon filled with silver and weapons headed to Solitude. It is possible to aquire a leveled amount of septims out of Raerek by choosing the persuasion option, which does not require a high level in Speech.

Back at the Reach Stormcloak Camp, Galmar is pleased to hear of such a lucrative target and indicates that he has a scouting party already out in the field near the area the wagon should be located. 

Securing the wagon[]

A small scouting party led by Ralof can be located by heading east up the road and past Broken Tower Redoubt. Ralof indicates that they have actually been tracking the wagon for some time and that it has recently had an "accident" which has stopped the wagon in its tracks and will allow for an ambush.

The Dragonborn has the choice to stick to Ralof's plan or take on the operation in their own fashion. If one chooses to stick to the plan, then the Dragonborn will go in and distract the Imperials while Ralof and his men follow the road to the southeast so that the Stormcloaks take down the enemy scout. After neutralizing the scout, Ralof and his men will head to the top of the ridge to act as fire support, raining arrows down upon the Imperial guards and leaving them easy pickings for an assault if the Dragonborn chooses to engage them directly.

Conclusion[]

Once all the Imperials have been killed, Ralof will indicate that Galmar should be notified of the success and that a new wagon should be sent for the loot. Opening the chest in the back of the wagon will net a dozen or so silver ingots as well as other miscellaneous items and swords. After returning to the camp with the good news, Galmar will provide coin for a job well done and new orders. The Battle for Fort Sungard is brewing and needs fresh support to commence.

Journal[]

Compelling Tribute (Stormcloaks) – CWMission07
ID Journal Entry
10 Galmar Stone-Fist has sent me to investigate the possibility of blackmailing Raerek. As Igmund's Steward, he might be able to provide important information and assets.
  • Objective 10: Find evidence
20
  • Objective 20: Blackmail Raerek
30 Igmund gave me information about a delivery of weapons and coin headed toward the enemy capital. I should return to camp and inform Galmar Stone-Fist.
  • Objective 30: Report to Galmar Stone-FIst
40 Galmar Stone-Fist has sent me to meet with a scouting party that should be in the area of the enemy shipment. Together we will over power the enemy and secure the weapons and coin.
  • Objective 40: Meet the men
50
  • Objective 50: Follow Ralof and ambush enemy scout
60
  • Objective 60: Take over the caravan
65
  • Objective 60: Take over the caravan
90
  • Objective 90: Report back to Ralof
  • Objective 100: Report success to Galmar Stone-Fist
200 I have successfully blackmailed Raerek and captured a shipmen of enemy weapons and coin.
  • Quest completed
205
  • Quest failed

Bugs[]

This section contains bugs related to Compelling Tribute (Stormcloaks). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

  1. Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
  2. If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template  360  /  XB1  ,  PS3  /  PS4  ,  PC  /  MAC  ,  NX  /  PS5  ,  XS  , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
  3. Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.
Click to show
  •  360   It may be impossible to complete the quest if the Dragonborn experiences a bug in which it is impossible to get rid of a bounty in the Reach, as guards will attack or attempt to arrest the Dragonborn on sight making it difficult to blackmail Raerek without being seen by guards.
    •  360 (Fix)   This can be fixed if the Dragonborn owns Vlindrel Hall in Markarth. By entering the city and going directly to Vlindrel Hall while sneaking will make the guard no longer hostile. After waiting or sleeping, guards may be talked to as normal.
  • Once at the wagon, attacking the Imperials may give the Dragonborn a bounty. This can cause further complications by preventing the quest from later ebing completed when returning to Galmar.confirmation needed
    • This may be fixed by reloading a save prior to attacking the Imperials.
  • When returning to report to Ralof after raiding the wagon, it may not be possible to speak to him.confirmation needed
    • This may be fixed by attacking Ralof once. He will not retaliate and a bounty will not be incurred.
    • If "Season Unending" has not be completed, doing so and giving the Stormcloaks control of Markarth will complete the objective "Liberate the reach," allowing the quest to be bypassed.
  • When attempting to complete the objective "Meet the men," they may not appear and the quest marker points in the opposite direction.confirmation needed
    • This may be fixed by walking along the path and killing one of the Imperial soldiers, triggering the next objective.
  •  PC   PS3   When the Dragonborn first approaches Galmar Stone-Fist, there may be no dialogue option to begin the quest.
    •  PC (Fix)   PS3 (Fix)   This may be fixed by loading a previous save from before entering the camp.
  • There may be two amulets inside the dresser. Taking both will continue the quest as normal.confirmation needed
  • The amulet may not appear in the dresser.confirmation needed

Appearances[]


Advertisement