Skyrim:Orphan Rock

Landmark: Orphan Rock (view on map)
Clearable	Yes
Dungeon	Yes
Respawn Time	10 days or 30 days
Occupants
Witches or Hags, Hagraven
Important Treasure
Nettlebane
Console Location Code(s)
OrphanRockExterior01, OrphanRockExterior02, OrphanRockExterior03
Region
Falkreath Hold
Location
Northeast of Helgen South of North Skybound Watch
Special Features
# of Arcane Enchanters	1

Orphan Rock

Orphan Rock is a wooded valley with a central rock plateau northeast of Helgen containing witches or hags led by a hagraven.

This location shows no sign of habitation and the rock plateau is not easily accessible until you are sent to retrieve Nettlebane during the quest The Blessings of Nature.

Related Quests

• The Blessings of Nature: Restore the Gildergreen for Danica Pure-Spring.

Walkthrough

The path leading up to the rock runs north from the road between Helgen and Ivarstead. Caution is advised when exploring the area, as four elemental rune traps, two bear traps, and two sets of sharpened stakes similar to those at the bottom of a spike pit trap are in the vicinity. A dead bandit is near one of the sets of sharpened stakes. Many purple mountain flowers and a few patches of mora tapinella fungus grow nearby. As you approach from the south, an iron ore vein is behind a dead tree stump to the west. Farther north is a fallen tree next to a spike with wolf heads on it. The western end of the tree is hollow, with a lootable skeleton next to a coin purse and a random helmet inside.

The first tent

Two witches or hags are on the valley floor, and another two rest near the tent by the path at the top of the slope. All four will attack on sight using low-level Destruction spells and daggers. The large central rock is accessed by crossing a fallen tree trunk over a small chasm near the tent. The plateau is guarded by a single hagraven wielding more powerful fire spells. It is possible to fight the first pair of witches or hags without alarming the pair on the upper level and the hagraven.

On the near side of the fallen tree, a tent to the right contains two unowned bedrolls, an adept-locked chest, and a food sack. To the right of the tent are several barrels and sacks, most of which contain food, though one barrel contains ingredients and has a lockpick on top. In front of these is a campfire and a wooden table holding a skeleton that can be looted for a few coins.

The hagraven

The most notable loot is Nettlebane, found on the body of the hagraven. A chest and an unowned hay pile are in the hagraven's tent on the central rock. To the left of the tent is an arcane enchanter holding a random filled soul gem, a deathbell flower, a hagraven claw, and a sample of hagraven feathers. In front of the enchanter is a large bowl on a stand with the body of a dead spriggan lying on top; this can be harvested for a taproot. A silverside perch and a river betty lie on a rock among some blood splatters in front of the tent.

Notes

• A moonstone ore vein is to the north-northeast, toward North Skybound Watch.

Bugs

• Southeast of the hagraven's tent, past the dead spriggan, are two rubies suspended in the air over the peak of a rock.
  • The Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch, version 4.2.5, addresses this issue. The rubies have been placed on the arcane enchanter.