Evette San’s House

Octieve San

This is the middle terraced house, flagged with a Shadowmark. Evette San the street vendor lives here with her invalid father, Octieve San. It’s not a hovel, but it wouldn’t have to fall apart much more to become one. Open the door (Novice): Inside is another cheese stockpile and a knapsack in the storage area to the rear. There are two chests upstairs in the balcony bedroom.

Shadowmark: “Loot”
Marriage Prospect: Octieve San [5/62]
Chest (2)
Knapsack
Loose gear

Jala’s House

Jala the street vendor lives here with her friend and lover, Ahtar. It’s a poor home, reflecting her lack of wealth. There’s a pile of Iron Ingots to steal on the ground floor and two chests upstairs.

Shadowmark: “Empty”

Skill Book [Two-Handed]: Song of Hrormir [C1/10]

Chest (2)
Knapsack

Bard’s College

Viarmo
Giraud Gemane
Inge Six-Fingers
Pantea Ateia
Jorn
Aia Arria
At-Af-Alan
Illdi
Bendt
Giraud Gemane

A large building where bards come from all parts of Skyrim and beyond to learn how to sing and play instruments. There are two entrances, and all are welcome. Outside is a large stone courtyard where the Burning of Old King Olaf festival was historically held. Each student works with all the different teachers during the course of a week. However, each has preferred instruments or instructors.

Cellar (Lower Floor)

This contains a sleeping area with four beds for the current students. There is a common area, Brendt’s small bedroom, and a kitchen here too.

Main Entrance Hall (Main Floor)

The main entrance here is made to receive guests and is built to impress. Giraud Gemane and Viarmo are usually here. Nearby is a well-stocked library and a bar. If you are on Favor: Rare Item Hunt for Lami in Morthal, you can find a skill book on the counter in the library.

Skill Book [Alchemy]: Song of the Alchemists [E1/10]

Bedrooms (Main Floor)

There are four bedrooms here, each with a variety of books and instruments, and a bed for each of the teachers.

Classrooms (Upper Floor)

The top floor of the College has two large classrooms filled with more books and instruments. Find another Skill Book secreted among a stack of common tomes on the top tier of a tall metal shelf up here.

Skill Book [Speech]: The Buying Game [E1/10]

Erikur’s House

Erikur
Melaran

Erikur is a Thane of Solitude, and his house is a large, grand structure. Notice the Shadowmarks near the entrances. Inside, the cellar has little more than barrels and some stocked food. The main floor is dominated by the Arcane Enchanter, various potions, and a few ingredients. Upstairs is a balcony running around the entire perimeter, a small library, and a single bedroom with a long chest to steal from.

Shadowmark: “Protected”

Crafting: Arcane Enchanter

Trainer (Alteration: Journeyman): Melaran [1/3]

Chest
Potions aplenty

Bryling’s House

Bryling
Irnskar Ironhand

Bryling is an important Thane, and the house reflects this, although her treasury is getting empty. Irnskar Ironhand is her retainer and likely to be guarding inside this place. The wine cellar has a knapsack and some scattered weaponry and clothes. The main floor has an extensive library and a variety of food. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, one with a chest.

Shadowmark: “Loot”

Chest
Loose gear

Blue Palace

Jarl Elisif the Fair
Falk Firebeard
Bolgeir Bearclaw
Sybille Stentor
Odar
Erdi
Una

The following leaders of Solitude are loyal to the Imperials at the start of the Civil War. They remain in place, even if Solitude falls to the Stormcloaks, at the end of the Civil War Quests.

Jarl Elisif the Fair

With the recent death of Jarl Torygg, his beautiful widow, Elisif, rules Solitude for now. She is a young Nord woman, wholly unsuited to rule. The real power lies with General Tullius, technically an Imperial advisor. Personally, Elisif is sympathetic to the Imperial cause. She has a personal hatred for the Stormcloak leader Ulfric, who killed her husband, Torygg, and is just politically savvy enough to realize that her rule, and probably her head, are in place only so long as she is useful to the Empire. She believes that should the Empire regain control of Skyrim, she would be made High Queen.

Falk Firebeard (Steward)

Falk also serves as treasurer when necessary. He is a skilled bureaucrat, despite his years as a member of the Companions. He is loyal to Elisif but frequently gets frustrated at her foolishness. His hair is bright red, although shot with gray, hence his name.

Unique Item: Shield of Solitude [3/112]

Bolgeir Bearclaw (Housecarl)

Jarl Elisif never goes anywhere without Bolgeir. He is utterly loyal and highly competent. What he lacks in creativity and social sensitivity, he makes up for in ferociousness. As a youth, he hunted bears. Once, when a bear turned on him, he cut its paw off with a single blow of his axe.

Sybille Stentor (Court Wizard)

Although she has served the Jarls of Solitude for over 20 years, Sybille looks no more than 18. Palace gossip has a multitude of theories for her unnatural youth. The one about her being a vampire may hold most credence. Her role as Court Wizard is a convenience.

Trainer (Spell Vendor): Sybille Stentor [1/12]

Solitude’s other awe-inspiring landmark is its ornate palace, where the newly appointed Jarl Elisif the Fair resides. It is built on the ruins of the old palace, which was burned to the ground when Queen Potema was finally defeated in the War of the Red Diamond. There is only one entrance: from the cloisters at the end of the Avenues District.

Entrance Staircases (Ground Floor)

Through the Receiving Hall is a pair of impressive curved staircases and guards dotted around. To the right (southwest) is a chest and a door to the Pelagius Wing, which is firmly sealed. To the left (northeast) is a corridor to the kitchens and private staircase.

Kitchens (Ground Floor)

A large array of food is stocked here, presided over by Odar the chef. There’s a storage corridor to the northwest leading to wine barrels and a servants’ bedroom.

Large Bedroom (Ground Floor)

Close to the private steps, there are two large beds in here but little to steal.

Cellar (Lower Floor)

Head down the private steps to a chamber of beds and a chest.

Chest

Jarl’s Throne Room (Upper Floor)

Atop the curved stairs (or the private ones) is the main chamber where Jarl Elisif the Fair resides and listens to the news of the day and any worries her subjects may have. She is guarded by Bolgeir Bearclaw, her Housecarl. She is flanked by Sybille Stentor (Court Wizard), Falk Firebeard (Steward), and the two Thanes Erikur and Bryling.

Northeast Corridor (Upper Floor)

To the left (northeast) is a corridor where you’ll find a book named Lost Legends on a low table (read it to start a quest). The corridor leads to the Court Wizard’s bedroom. There’s an Arcane Enchanter and some impressive staffs, potions, and books on show here. To the north is Falk’s small bedroom and the Jarl’s bedchamber. This impressive room has a small alcove with a Skill Book and an Unusual Gem on the bedside cabinet.

Crafting: Arcane Enchanter

Skill Book [Speech]: Biography of the Wolf Queen [D1/10]

Unusual Gem: Stone of Barenziah [2/24]

Chest
Potions aplenty
Pelagius Wing (Ground Floor)

This part of the palace is sealed off and uninhabited. This wing is where Pelagius the Mad lived before becoming Emperor and is said to be cursed. No one will set foot in there. If you begin Daedric Quest: The Mind of Madness and obtain the key from Falk Firebeard, you can journey into the depths of the long-dead ruler’s mind itself!