Prerequisites: Complete Thieves Guild Quest: Scoundrel’s Folly

Intersecting Quests: Thieves Guild Quest: Additional Jobs, Thieves Guild Quest: Larceny Targets, Thieves Guild Quest: Hard Answers

Locations: Riften, Cistern, Ratway, The Ragged Flagon, Snow Veil Sanctum,Snow Veil Catacombs

Characters: Karliah, Mercer Frey

Enemies: Draugr

Objectives: Meet Mercer Frey outside Snow Veil Sanctum, Enter Snow Veil Sanctum, Find Karliah, Speak to Karliah

A Crypt of Snares and Traps

Objective: Meet Mercer Frey outside Snow Veil Sanctum

Objective: Enter Snow Veil Sanctum

Target: Mercer Frey, outside Snow Veil Sanctum

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You commence this quest with the previous objective already active. Travel to the icy Tundra and locate Mercer standing outside the cairn entrance to the Sanctum.

He wants you to lead him into the underground catacombs.

Before you head inside, speak to Mercer to gain more information about how Gallus died, about Karliah, and about other matters that are informative but not critical to this quest.

After you drop into the circular depression, wait for Mercer to open the door into the Snow Veil Catacombs.

Objective: Find Karliah

Target: Karliah, in Snow Veil Sanctum

Please click to enlarge

Ready your favored offensive equipment or magic, and venture into the vast connecting crypts filled with burial urns and intermittent Draugr attacks.

Be constantly on the lookout for traps, such as the swinging gate just to the right of the first portcullis chain in the first coffin chamber.

As the Draugr dislodge from the wall, you may also rely on Mercer to follow up with his own (exceptional) strikes; he appears to be supremely adept at bladed combat.

Deeper into this dungeon, beware of bear traps, a hanging oil lamp with which to burn Draugr (but hopefully not yourself), and a trip wire to trigger further Draugr incursions.

Watch for the rattling bone chimes; brushing against them summons more Draugr. When you reach the upper caged stone paths, you’re close to entering the actual Sanctum...