Legacy of the Dragonborn
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Legacy of the Dragonborn
SSE Version


The Excavation of Windcaller Pass is the first quest in which the members of the Explorer's Society leave the museum together for an excavation. During the quest you will dig through and investigate Windcaller Pass.

Requirements 

The quest starts when you have reached a display count of 400 and have completed the quests Shadows of One's Past and Digging Up Explorers. It starts by speaking to Prof. Patero Marassi. In addition to the mod's requirements, you also need to complete the quest Dragon Rising.

Please note that Night at the Museum will start independently. As far as we know, the quests can be active at the same time.

Objectives

[Show]
  • Meet up with the excavation at Windcaller Pass
  • Clear the area inside Windcaller Pass
  • Report back to Marassi
  • Return to the dig in a few days or help dig
  • Check on the progress of the excavation
  • Investigate the clearing in Windcaller Pass
  • Find what the Dragons were guarding
  • Return to Marassi before continuing
  • Find where the puzzle door key goes
  • Search the chamber
  • Show Marassi the Windcaller relics
  • Continue to explore Windcaller Pass
  • Check back with the expedition in a few days or help dig
  • Check back with the excavation
  • Clear the next section of the pass
  • Return to Marassi and report the barrier
  • Return in a few days to check up on the excavation or help with the dig
  • Check back with the excavation
  • Talk to Marassi
  • Find the terrible creature that stole the windcaller relics
  • Continue through Windcaller Pass
  • Escape the gated passage
  • Watch the raccoon
  • Continue through the passage
  • Rejoin the excavation team

Walkthrough

The Entrance to Windcaller Pass

North windcaller pass branching ways

Branching paths

Go to the entrance of North Windcaller Pass. A fast travel point should be available after Shadows of One's Past. When talking to Prof. Marassi, he will tell you that they started digging but came across some wild animals. He will ask you to clear the passage. After entering the passage you will be attacked by wolves. An area that was blocked until now will be opened. Go through it and you'll find a Nordic Excavation Site, an ancient tablet, and face a choice of going left or right. The paths differ by the type of enemies you will encounter. However, both paths lead to the same location so you can choose one direction and circle around. The ancient tablet is a suggestive remark to the things you are about to encounter:

WINDCALLER'S EMBLEM

Those to your right crawl in the dark
Those to your left... [The rest of the tablet
is broken and the writing is unrecognizable]

If you choose the right path you will reach a big cave with multiple Frostbite Spiders, including a Giant Frostbite Spider named Eyha. In the cave, you can find a couple of chests. If you choose the left side you will be attacked by leveled animals. In addition, upon entering a room with a bridge you would see a big Icy Shard in front of you. Make your way across the gap and pick it up to start Eternal Ice. The second shard can be found in the next large room, right before you go down the circular path. If you opted to go right don't forget to collect them on your way back.

North windcaller pass first blockade

First blockade

At the end of the paths, you will find a collapsed pile of rubble that needs clearing. Return to Marassi and tell him about the blocked passage. He will give you the option to wait 3 in-game days or help to dig. The latter is a faster option. Make your way back to the blocked area and start digging. A message will inform you that 12 hours have passed and the passage will be cleared.

Windcaller's Retreat

Hurraka

Hurraka

After clearing the blocked passage, talk to Kyre Oldenson who will inform you that two dragons are waiting ahead. Continue to the cave, pass several bodies of wolves and bears, and you will encounter a troll named Hurraka. After killing him, collect its key from its body and use it to open the master-locked door on the left. In the room, you can find different loot and the third icy shard. Some might find this shard first. If so, don't forget to go back and collect the two shards you forgot. Continue up. Before exiting the cave you will find an etched tablet:

WINDCALLER'S EMBLEM

I, Jurgen Windcaller,
Dedicate this Temple
To Ice and Time,
For they had forged my Land

TEoWP secondCamp

Camp in Windcaller's Retreat

Upon exiting the cave, you will find the two dragons, Izvenyah and Kreindeinvith, atop of inactive word of power walls. After defeating them, make sure to loot their unique scales for the dragon display in the Gallery of Natural Sciences. In a former age, as the tablet indicates, the word wall on the left used to teach the Frost Breath shout, while the right teached Slow Time. However, those walls are now inactive, but there's a Nordic Excavation Site at the left wall. Then, collect the Jade Claw from the chest behind the trees in the middle of the area. Afterward, you can fast travel to North Windcaller Pass and talk with Marassi at the excavation's base camp.

The Chamber Behind the Puzzle Door

TEoWP puzzelRoom

Puzzle Room

Fast travel back to Windcaller's Retreat, the whole gang will follow you. Continue south, enter South Windcaller Pass and open the iron door on your left. At the end of the corridor you will find a puzzle door. Use the symbols on the Jade Claw (Bear - Whale - Snake) to open the chamber. At the foot of the staircase, on your left, behind a shrub, you can find a chest with random loot. On an altar you can find the fourth icy shard and an expert-locked old strongbox. Open the box and take the artifacts Windcaller's Ring and Windcaller's Talisman. Before the staircase to the altar, on the right side, there is a chest. Show the relics to Marassi. He will give them to Latoria who will take them to Auryen.

South Windcaller Pass

TEoWP digSite

Excavation Site

Go back and continue exploring the cave. On your left you can find another etched tablet with the same message as the previous tablet. Then, you will enter a room with three frost trolls. On the left side of the room, there is a chest and a Nordic Excavation Site. On the right side you will find a blocked passage. You can help digging or return after three in-game days. Speak to Kyre. If he is not next to you then go back to Windcaller's Retreat; you will find that the team has relocated the camp to this location.

Upon passing the blocked area you will again be faced with the option to go left or right. Once again this is a circular path. If you chose one direction you can return from the other. If you choose the left pass you will find a half-buried chest, and you will be attacked by wolves. If you choose the right pass you will be attacked by Ice Wraiths. The fifth icy shard is located in this room, on your left, inside an alcove. Regardless of the direction you chose, you will end up in a blocked room. Stand next to the blocked passage to update the quest objective. In the room you can find a stone tablet that tells you about the two passages you just passed:

WINDCALLER'S EMBLEM

Those to your left are made of ice
They do not fear those to your right

The Terrible Creature

TEoWP lastshard

Last Icy Shard

Go back to the excavation camp in Windcaller's Retreat and talk to Marassi. You will once again be given the choice to wait three in-game days or help to dig. After the pass is clear, return to the camp. Latoria will come running towards you and tell you that a terrible creature has stolen the Windcaller relics. Talk to Marassi and he will ask you to retrieve the relics.

TEoWP beast2

The terrible beast

Continue deeper into South Windcaller's Pass, and past the last blockage. In the room beneath you will encounter two trolls and a troll offspring. After murdering this lovely family you can loot the chest behind the tree and collect the last icy shard. Continue forward to the next room. In the corner on your right you will find the terrible creature: a raccoon that has its hand stuck between the rocks. Approach it, free its legs and retrieve the relics.

TEoWP savedByRaccoon

Life Saver

Return to the previous room, the raccoon will follow you. A new passage has opened up to the right, you will encounter two troll offspring along the way. Then, you will reach a passage with two open gates and a chest. Upon entering the passage the gates will close and lock you in, while a deadly gas starts killing you slowly. Use spells or potions to stay alive. Another option is to stand in front of the entrance gate while facing the gate; this will stop the poison from reducing your health. While looking through the gate you will see the raccoon approaching the gate. It will pull the chain and set you free. It saved your life! Continue through the last tunnel until you exit the cave near Ivarstead.

TEoWP ending

Back at the camp

Return to the excavation team in Windcaller's Retreat. A cutscene will play where the team makes some jokes about the "terrible beast" and names it after a greedy dragon named Fafnir. The quest then will conclude.

Epilogue

After three days the team will return to the Explorer's Society Guild House. Fafnir will join the team and could be found in wandering the guild house. After finishing this quest, be sure to also complete the quest Eternal Ice before leaving Windcaller's Retreat.

Quest Stages

The Excavation of Windcaller Pass (DBM_Excavation01)
Stage Journal Entry
5, 10 The explorers are underway with an excavation of Windcaller Pass north of the great mountain. I should travel there and meet up with the team at the base camp to see what I can do to help out.

Objective: Meet up with the excavation at Windcaller Pass

20 I've met up with the expedition at the north passage of Windcaller Pass. They have opened the sealed passage but were met with hostile creatures. I should clear the way for them to continue the dig and see what I can discover inside.

Objective: Clear the area inside Windcaller Pass

30 I've cleared the way within the pass but come to a collapsed tunnel that bars the way. I should let Marassi know that they can continue with the dig.

Objective: Report back to Marassi

35 The team is back on the job. I should check back in a few days and see how the progress is coming or I can assist in the dig to continue pressing onward.

Objective: Return to the dig in a few days or help dig

40 I should check back with the Windcaller Pass excavation and see how the things are progressing.

Objective: Check on the progress of the excavation

I've helped break through the rocks blocking our progress. I should see what's next.

Objective: Check on the progress of the excavation

45 The excavation has hit a dead stop due to the presence of two dragons in an open clearing within the pass. I should deal with them and investigate what they may be guarding.

Objective: Investigate the clearing in Windcaller Pass

47 I have slain the two dragons of Windcaller Pass. I should investigate and see what they were guarding.

Objective: Find what the Dragons were guarding

50 I've recovered a puzzle door claw from Windcaller Pass. I should return to Marassi before proceeding.

Objective: Return to Marassi before continuing

60 The explorers will accompany me to find where the claw key fits in the next section of the pass.

Objective: Find where the puzzle door key goes

61 We've discovered a locked chamber in Windcaller Pass. I should see what is there.

Objective: Search the chamber

62 I've found an ancient amulet and ring inside a lockbox in Windcaller Pass. I should show Marassi and see what he thinks.

Objective: Show Marassi the Windcaller relics

65 We've sent Latoria back to Auryen at the base camp with the Windcaller relics for him to investigate while we press onward.

Objective: Continue to explore Windcaller Pass

80 We've hit another stone wall, literally. It will take the team a few days to get through to the next chamber. I should check back in a few days or help them to clear the pillar

Objective: Check back with the expedition in a few days or help dig

90 It's been a few days and the explorers should be through the rocks blocking our way. I'll check back in with them.

Objective: Check back with the excavation

We've managed to clear the rubble blocking the next passage in southern Windcaller pass.

Objective: Check back with the excavation

100 The group has once again broken through into a new area of Windcaller Pass but were fended off by the denizens. They're preparing in the clearing while I make the next passage safe.

Objective: Clear the next section of the pass

We've worked together to clear the pillar blocking our further progress but there appears to be more danger ahead. The others will regroup at the camp in the pass while I look into clearing out the caves.

Objective: Clear the next section of the pass

110 I've cleared out the next section of the passage and come to another barrier blocking our progress. I'll let Marassi know about it.

Objective: Return to Marassi and report the barrier

120 The excavation crew continue their dig. I should give them some more time to work and check back later or help them to clear the way.

Objective: Return in a few days to check up on the excavation or help with the dig

130 I should return to the excavation.

Objective: Check back with the excavation

We've cleared the next passage in south Windcaller Pass. I should see if the others are ready to progress.

Objective: Check back with the excavation

131 Some terrible creature apparently stole the Windcaller relics from Latoria inside the Pass. I should see what Marassi knows about it.

Objective: Talk to Marassi

140 Marassi has told me that the excavation crew is leery about continuing in the pass until this unknown creature is dealt with. I will delve back into the pass and find what it is, and hopefully recover the lost relics.

Objective: Find the terrible creature that stole the windcaller relics

141 I've discovered the "terrible creature" who stole the Windcaller relics, and it's turned out to be a raccoon of all things. Its hand was stuck as it tried to stash the relics and now that I've freed it, it seems to want to follow me around. I'll just keep exploring.

Objective: Continue through Windcaller Pass

142 I've gotten locked in a caged passage and gas is starting to build up. I better find a way out fast!

Objective: Escape the gated passage

143 The raccoon is apparently going for a switch to open the gate!

Objective: Watch the raccoon

144 That little thief raccoon has just saved my life! After getting trapped in a gas-filled passage, he climbed up and hit the switch to disable it. I think I can feel the cool wind from outside. There must be an exit around here.

Objective: Continue through the passage

145 I've found the exit from Windcaller Pass. A large boulder was blocking the exit but I was able to push it enough that it rolled free of the entrance. I should return to the clearing and rejoin the excavation.

Objective: Rejoin the excavation team

150 We've successfully excavated Windcaller Pass and made away with a nice haul of artifacts and other antiquities as well as a furry mascot we named Fafnir. The explorers will break down the camp and I can rejoin them at a later time back at the Guildhouse.



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