Tolfdir the Absent-Minded

Tolfdir the Absent-Minded
Tolfdir's missing alembic.
Quest Giver	Tolfdir
Location	College of Winterhold
Prerequisite	Hitting the Books
Reward	30 Random Soul Gem
Type	College of Winterhold miscellaneous quest
Quest ID	MGR01

Tolfdir the Absent-Minded is a quest available in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This quest can be done multiple times after the quest "Hitting the Books." If Tolfdir appears to be looking for something, ask what it is he is missing. This quest can be repeated once more after it is first completed.

Background

This is rather embarrassing, but it seems I've misplaced my something. I can't find my Alembic. I suppose I could use another one, but... well, it sounds silly, but mine has sentimental value.

Objectives

1. Find Tolfdir's Alembic
2. Return Tolfdir's Alembic to him

Walkthrough

Upon returning from the quest to recover the books from Fellglow Keep ("Hitting the Books"), Tolfdir may ask the Dragonborn to recover his misplaced alembic:

You look like you could use a hand. "Well, yes. This is rather embarrassing, but it seems I've misplaced my something. I can't find my Alembic. I suppose I could use another one, but... well, it sounds silly, but mine has sentimental value. If you happen to see it, would you mind bringing it to me?"

What did you say you were missing? "My Alembic. I need to for some research, and can't seem to find it."

I found what you were looking for. "Ah, yes! There it is! Thank you so much."

Possible locations

The alembic will appear in one of three randomly-selected locations in the Hall of Countenance:

• On the top floor: in the northern room, atop a barrel to the right of the central table.
• On the top floor: underneath the left display case in the enchanting room.
• On the bottom floor: on a crate in the eastern room.

First possible location.

Second possible location.

Third possible location.

Journal

Tolfdir the Absent-Minded – MGR01
ID	Journal Entry
10	Player has accepted quest
200	Quest complete

Trivia

• The quest was originally going to include Tolfdir missing a book he was reading as the second repeat but was removed and the Alembic is the missing item both times. The original dialogue for Tolfdir missing book is still included in the game, but is inaccessible:

You look like you could use a hand. "Well, yes. This is rather embarrassing, but it seems I've misplaced my something. I seem to have misplaced the book I was reading."

What did you say you were missing? "A book of mine. I was at least half way through., and wanted to finish it, but apparently I put it down somewhere."

I found what you were looking for. "Ah, yes! There it is! Thank you so much."

Bugs

This section contains bugs related to Tolfdir the Absent-Minded. Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following: Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening. 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. 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.

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PC   360   PS3   The quest does not seem to appear on the quest log, nor does it generate a normal quest message upon completion. However, bringing the alembic to Tolfdir will grant you the reward (some gold and a soul gem).  PC   Even when the quest has been started, the alembic may not appear anywhere in the College of Winterhold.  PC (Fix)   A possible fix for this bug is adding the item with the console using marked ID 00026C31. It is also possible that the alembic will stay in your inventory even though you completed the quest and received the reward. It is impossible to remove from your inventory due to the fact that it is a quest item. As a quest item, though, it will not weigh you down.  PC   Multiple alembics may be generated at once, sometimes even next to each other in the same spawning spot. Picking more than one alembic, Tolfdir will still take only one. The rest will be stuck in the inventory forever and will not be counted as "the alembic he needs" the next time he asks for. Keeping at least one of duplicates in the inventory may prevent further duplicate spawning. If the alembic is picked up before asking Tolfdir for the quest, the objective "Find Tolfdir's Alembic" will be stuck in the Misc. Quest menu. To avoid this use the console to drop the alembic before asking Tolfdir for the quest then pick it up after it appears in your log. This will cause the quest log to update normally. In the console type "player.drop 00026c31 1"  360   The alembic may only spawn on the second floor of the Hall of Countenance under the soul gem cabinet.

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim