Skyrim talk:Hitting the Books

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Leveled[edit]

When I arrived in Fellglow Keep at level 38, the vampires were "ancient" rather than "fledgling", and when released, started a fight with the remaining mages. I'm not sure whether the latter is scripted, but it seems that the vampires are leveled while the mages - still novices - are not, or at least weren't during my visit.

(Whoops. Didn't realize that this would not include line wraps!)

174.4.166.247 05:16, 16 November 2011 (UTC)

I was level 53 but didn't see Ancient Vampires, only Fledglings. 71.132.201.220 08:12, 27 December 2011 (UTC)
Level 46 here (PC), plain old non-adjective Vampires. Dr. Memory 23:26, 28 December 2011 (UTC)
Level 40, and all were Blooded Vampires (Xbox 360). On release, they attacked the mages, which hasn't happened on other playthroughs Echo 19:34, 11 February 2012 (UTC)
I decapitated her on the first strike and she ran around headless, still fighting... — Unsigned comment by 97.191.240.6 (talk) at 03:58 on 25 February 2012

Fun glitch when fighting the Caller[edit]

I entered the Hitting the Books quest with my character a meek level 8. The majority of the quest was fairly difficult due to the low level. Once I reached the battle with the Caller I found that regardless of what i attempted she was becoming impossible to defeat. As a last ditch effort after dying multiple times I discovered a nifty glitch. At the very beginning of the battle(the second the conversation was at an end) I poisoned my Great Steel Longsword(Fine) with a weak poison of paralysis(paralyze target for 3 seconds). I immediately ran up to the Caller behind the center podium and struck her twice before she was was able to vanish. Running from the flame atronach and healing myself i realized the atronach was the only character in the room. I dispatched the atronach and began looking for the Caller. Almost 2 minutes later she reappeared, still paralyzed, in front of the top left podium. I was unable to strike her with any weapon and was unable to pickpocket her. I became worried due to the fact that she carried the only key out of the room. Finally I equipped my Firebolt spell and was able to inflict a bit of damage, however she vanished again. After waiting a further 2 minutes or so she reappeared once again near the right side podium, still paralyzed. Once again I struck her a few times with firebolt before she disappeared. Once again she popped up by the left podium. I continued the process, waiting for her to reappear between blows, until finally she was dispatched and i was able to search the corpse and retrieve the key. As a curiosity after saving i reloaded a previous save state and attempted to duplicate the silly battle and, sure enough, the results were the same. This was done on the Xbox 360 version of the game. I thought this info may be useful to low level players that got into the same predicament as myself or to the folks out there that enjoy glitches. It is most definitely time consuming however in my case was a happy accident. — Unsigned comment by 24.119.57.213 (talk) at 07:08 on 19 November 2011

The Caller disappeared semi-permanently for me as well. After the blue cloud animation she vanished and did not reappear but her red dot was still on the radar and Orthorn was firing spells at that location. This happened 4-5 times, me restarting the fight every time and getting frustrated because I could not kill her and get the key to exit the room and finish the quest. Finally after she vanished I entered the menu and exited, and she reappeared where she should be. This is the same behavior the missing targets exhibited in High Hrothgar while demonstrating my shout. This glitch is irritating but actually makes the fight rather easy since you know exactly where she will rematerialize and have time to heal and prepare. (This is on Xbox 360.)
71.191.31.176 22:47, 21 November 2011 (UTC)
Similar glitch on PS3. Immediately before her first "teleportation" I was able to use my ice thuum to freeze her. She then kept reappearing still frozen and I was able to dispatch of her quite easily — Unsigned comment by 74.198.150.211 (talk) at 18:33 on 30 November 2011
PC version shows the same bug. I noticed that, although I could not hurt her, I still gained XP for my actions eg. slashing at her with daggers — Unsigned comment by 98.223.204.216 (talk) at 20:22 on 17 January 2012

Reward[edit]

Is everybody getting a different reward? I got:

  • 2920, Hearth Fire, v9
  • Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments*
  • Daughter of the Niben*
  • Racial Phylogeny
  • Response to Bero's Speech
  • The Black Arts on Trial

Also, I read the ones with the * before --Ji e toy 23:25, 1 December 2011 (UTC)

I'm pretty certain that's exactly what I got as well; I'm virtually positive that I didn't get a copy of The Doors of Oblivion, which had been listed as a reward. Since it's also a conjuration book, I'll assume that it was listed in error, remove it, leaving a {{verification needed}} behind. --DryHumour 06:59, 25 December 2011 (UTC)
In the game data for this quest, two books are listed for each skill (with the exception of Alteration). The first set of books includes Doors of Oblivion, and also happens to match the list of books in the Prima guide. I haven't actually tested what triggers whether you get the first book or the second book, but it seems most likely to be determined by whether or not you've read the book. --NepheleTalk 18:07, 25 December 2011 (UTC)
Nice job! (Particularly the surgery to the walkthrough: I didn't feel brave enough to take the scissors to it, but it definitely needed it.) However, could it be that you've inadvertently reversed the sense of the flag? I got all of the books from the second set although I haven't read any books at all. (I'm saving them until my skills are in the nineties.) I assume that the data format is similar enough to one of the earlier games that an older editor works with Skyrim? (I haven't been terribly proactive about checking into that: too many other things demanding my attention and not enough hours in the day so I was just waiting for the official kit to come out in January.) --DryHumour 20:09, 26 December 2011 (UTC)
I'm with DryHumour here: Although I finished Hitting the Books quite some time ago (and can't exactly remember which books I got...), I just found Horror of Castle Xyr somewhere else and it was new for me as I got the skill increase. So either the likelyhood of getting a certain book/set of books as quest reward is random (which I don't believe) or the order of the sets might be reversed.--95.113.223.87 15:37, 18 January 2012 (UTC)
I received the second options for Illusion and Conjuration, and those were the only two that didn't provide skillups. --Theothersteve7 19:03, 13 February 2012 (UTC)
I received the aforementioned six books as a reward from Urag. I found The Doors of Oblivion on a pedestal in Fellglow Keep while completing the quest. Arbitrator 07:54, 26 December 2011 (UTC)
I don't know if it was just luck, but I already had read all the 11 possible books before this quest, and Urag gave me all the second ones... PS3/lvl 56 DuckmanBR 22:40, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Fighting The Caller Inevitable or Not?[edit]

At this point, the walkthrough appears contradictory: It seems to say that you must fight The Caller no matter what, but also that you can agree with her to peacefully swap Orthorn for the books. A future editor might also help by explaining various contingencies more thoroughly. For example, I did not have Orthorn with me when I reached The Caller, as there is a dialogue option when you meet him that tells him to go away. Jreynolds2 04:01, 21 December 2011 (UTC)

I chose the persuade option and didn't have to fight her. She just says you've taken what you needed, now leave. Couldn't exit same room as door required key, tried to pickpocket her but the Caller had nothing in her inventory. So had to exit a different way. - viet. — Unsigned comment by 120.147.4.67 (talk) at 10:44 on 22 December 2011
The key does not show up in inventory for pickpocket,article still incorrect a year later? 71.35.151.112 20:53, 4 December 2012 (GMT)
Ditto what Viet said, I also persuaded her and escaped without a fight (much to my annoyance, so I reloaded and killed her ;)). If you walk away peacefully you miss out on looting a chamber off the room she's in. (Haven't double-checked that you can't access it wihout killing her, but she holds the key). So it's definitely possible to avoid the fight, and someone should edit the main page to say so. Modified Speech score was 53 when I passed the persuade option, by the way. - Luke — Unsigned comment by 80.167.163.237 (talk) at 20:59 on 23 December 2011
I tried pickpocketing her with 100 Pickpocket after successfully using the persuasion option, but the Fellglow Ritual Chamber Key was not listed as one of the items. This is contrary to the assertion that "you must [...] pick her pocket to get the key to open the exit door" within the article. Presumably, you have to kill her if you want access to the loot in the Ritual Chamber. Arbitrator 07:31, 26 December 2011 (UTC)
Agree, she doesn't have the key unless you do away with her (PC). I Persuaded her, grabbed the books, then backstabbed her for a OHK. Felt dirty, but hey, they were torturers. Dr. Memory 23:26, 28 December 2011 (UTC)
I think the key to the chamber is on a Mage right outside of the chamber. --Joshua.yathin.yu 06:39, 3 January 2012 (UTC)
The Fellglow Ritual Chamber Key can also be obtained in the Fellglow Keep Dungeons if you have the lockpick perk Wax Key. The cells that the vampires are in can be opened via lockpicking instead of using the levers and with the wax key perk you get the ritual chamber key by doing so. 124.184.252.10 14:02, 30 August 2012 (UTC) Darth Overkill

() I confirm what was said before, if you persuade & don't kill the caller you won't be able to open the door which leads to a more direct exit & also contains loot, therefore you will have to backtrack a bit, but the final exit door is the same either way. So in conclusion, one can still say that the caller is not a forced kill since the loot behind doesn't contain anything unique... 84.101.149.153 09:58, 14 September 2012 (GMT)

I also just tested the wax key perk and it really gives you a copy of the Fellglow Ritual Chamber Key 84.101.149.153 10:04, 14 September 2012 (GMT)

Caller never showed in Fellglow Keep quest:Hitting the Books[edit]

When I went thru the Fellglow Keep and got to the round room, My follower killed 2 mages and I was waiting for THE CALLER... Well... she never popped and if she vanished, she never reappeared. So, I suggest going alone because he fight was over before I got a chance and there was no way to get a key. I ran thru that whole Keep over and over and finally Igot frustrated and used the ~ and code to get out :(-Carolyn — Unsigned comment by 24.101.230.114 (talk) at 08:03 on 24 December 2011

Follower[edit]

After you choose to make an arrangement but before you answer The Caller, you can ask your follower (not Orthorn) to pick up the books, exit the chamber, then trade to advance the quest, thereby not having to fight The Caller or lose Orthorn. You don't get the loots this way, though. 71.132.201.220 08:07, 27 December 2011 (UTC)

Talk then kill[edit]

It is also possible to talk her out of the books, loot the room, then sneak behind her and one-shot kill her from stealth. She is fixated on the book she was reading, or the door, and will not turn around so it is easy to do this. I do not know if she is leveled or what, but I would bet a low 30's player with a 15x hit from a moderately improved glass dagger could do it, for example. — Unsigned comment by 66.18.49.84 (talk) on January 9, 2012 13:02

Ridiculously easy kill[edit]

Level 16 with an Orcish bow and Nord arrows. Shot The Caller once before she vanished, and then immediately after she reappeared. Everything she conjured vanished and that was that! Two arrows. How disappointing! Obviously a couple of stealth and archery perks but still... — Unsigned comment by 15.203.169.126 (talk) at 13:21 on 20 January 2012

Tip[edit]

If you go in the water when you fight with a computer then he will mess up and run out of if you have a bow then you can kill hem from it just mack sure you are far enuf back in where he cant kill you . — Unsigned comment by 165.248.247.135 (talk) at 19:31 on 24 January 2012

Easy Kill - After persuading her to give me the books - I collected TWO of the books - before she could tell me anything - Shot her while in sneak mode with one arrow, killed her and then collected the last book - I then searched her and took the key needed for the exit -
The first time I took all three books and the key wasn't on her after killing her again, with one arrow. (Glass arrow +bow of 38 damage) Sneak is 100 though -
Orth is still alive as well -
Hope that helps - — Unsigned comment by 216.26.190.222 (talk) at 07:31 on 29 February 2012

doable lvl 7, fair fight no glitch[edit]

I killed the caller in fair fight on level 7, lvl 38ish destro. I did not have the option to trade the imprisoned dude for the books cause he died along the way.

Fight went as this :

Freeze the caller with my 2nd dragon ability, than kill the flame guy with double frostbite spell. After he dies heal up, at that time caller will come after you. I used potion of fire resist on myself and potion of resistance for magicka lowered by 40% on random weapon. Strike the caller once, than start the paintrain. Off course dodging his spells by strafing etc helped, also popped few health and magicka potions. Its doable! Fun fight — Unsigned comment by 84.241.204.246 (talk) at 09:37 on 29 January 2012

Workaround for Loading Screen Crash Bug[edit]

You have listed the following bug:

"If you've cleared Fellglow Keep prior to starting "Hitting the Books" your game will remain at the loading screen indefinitely. There is no known workaround."

I cleared Fellglow Keep before and I also had this bug. (Skyrim crashed at the loading screen) Actually I found a working workaround.

At first I sat the quest stage to 60 (I was at stage 55, which means that I saved Orthorn).

After that I added the 3 books to my inventory.

The following item id you need:

4D249 (Night of Tears) 1AD06 (Fragment: On Artaeum) 1AD09 (The Last King of the Ayleids)

Then I went to Urag gro-Shub and I gave him the books, so the quest finished.

It would be nice if someone could post this workaround. Thank you — Unsigned comment by 90.146.94.37 (talk) at 20:52 on 29 January 2012

Hitting the Books[edit]

Okay can anyone help on the PC version please ? I've just started the Mage Missions at winterhold and am level 33. the only reason I started it was to unlock saathal to complete the legend of gauldur quest. Anywho now I'm doing the hitting the books mission and when i get to fellglow keep Which i had previously cleared, Regardless of which door i enter the game just crashes I have done a couple of other side quests but whenever i return to the keep and try one of the entrances it starts to load and then just crashes back to my desktop :¬(. I'm not too worried about doing the quest again but would at least like to get the items so I can continue the storyline ? any suggestions please ! — Unsigned comment by Dextornator (talkcontribs) at 08:27 on 30 January 2012

Reanimated "The Caller" Turns Hostile[edit]

Initially, the zombie created by using Reanimate Corpse on The Caller acted as one would expect. However, as soon as I picked up one of the three quest books, it gave a groaning "Must...Killl", turned hostile, and proceeded to fire off Sparks at me. When re-slain it enacted The Caller's teleport and reappeared at the center dais fully clothed (I had looted the robe previously), immediately launched into a normal death animation, and disintegrated into an ash pile that could not be interacted with (though it still displayed the standard [E] to activate message).

I recreated the same scenario successfully but let the spell expire while it attacked me and the zombie disintegrated into a normal, usable pile of ash.

98.244.190.78 03:47, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

3 Books[edit]

I've killed the Caller but can only find 2 of the 3 books. Another Glitch? — Unsigned comment by 86.25.166.107 (talk) at 13:42 on 12 February 2012

Which two have you found? Just looking in the Creation Kit (I haven't done this quest yet myself), I see one under the chandelier and then if you look towards the door, there should be one in the rooms on each side of the door. Robin Hoodtalk 04:48, 5 March 2012 (UTC)

Loading screen crash bug[edit]

I had previously cleared the keep, but was able to re-enter and do the quest with no problem. Perhaps the latest patch (1.4) fixed the glitch? (PS3 user) - Marcus 71.224.13.163 02:39, 16 February 2012 (UTC)

[XBOX360] I had cleared the dungeon prior to starting the quest. I have this infinite loading screen on patch 1.2 and 1.3. Now with 1.4 i was able to proceed and finish it! For me it's fixed! --189.101.239.106 01:49, 13 March 2012 (UTC)

MISSING A BOOK[edit]

i defeated the caller. before the battle there is supposed to be three books, after the battle there was only two books on the pedestals and the third one is missing..... i have looked all over and cant find it anywhere. any suggestions? — Unsigned comment by 98.155.175.140 (talk) at 10:05 on 23 February 2012

The books can get scattered by the fight. Activate the quest in your journal and an arrow should show them on the map. Mine however got stuck behind a pillar I can not reach... Solved the problem with the no clip command TCL. — Unsigned comment by 83.163.38.90 (talk) at 23:30 on 28 February 2012

Quest Giver[edit]

1.) Talking to Arch-Mage Savos Aren ends the quest "Under Saarthal" and initiates "Hitting the Books". Shouldn't he be the quest giver instead of Urag gro-Shub?

2.) Even though Savos Aren asks you to talk to Urag gro-Shub, the journal entry (stage 20) states that "I've been asked by Mirabelle Ervine". Should it be mentioned under Notes or Bugs? Is there any way to get to quest stage 10 at all and to receive the quest from her so that the text of quest stage 20 is correct?

Holomay 21:04, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

I believe Savos Aren rewards the quest "Under Saarthal" and then asks you to gain the relatively few texts that may aid him as he goes to see the Eye of Magnus. Because of the way Urag gro-Shub reacts when inquiring about his books it becomes clear that while he lends texts out such as the ones deemed necessary for retrieval that HE will protect them and they are, in a way, his. As far as the Mirabelle Ervine, it may be because of her role in later quests and that somewhere between the development of the series of quests and the games release they let Savos live longer than originally intended. In fact its entirely possible they intended her to take Savos' place for whatever reason. Just my two centsChronic 21:35, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

Quest Fails to start[edit]

The quest didn't start after I talked to the Archmage, tried using the console to start the quest but for some reason it didn't work. Help? — Unsigned comment by 24.8.29.251 (talk) at 03:45 on 24 July 2012

Suffering of the same problem: Skyrim patch version 1.7.7.0.6, Dawnguard installed. Yunvich 21:28, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

Funny thing about the key missing on the caller for pickpocket[edit]

I believe all agree is a confirmed bug. Was it fix in some update and I missed that info (USKP doesn't mention a fix)? (Don't have a proper save to test). If it was fixed that info should make it to this wiki. If it wasn't fixed the funny thing is in the story that made it to Steam News for Skyrim: http://store.steampowered.com/news/externalpost/kotaku/1531474070571075145 LukeH 12:25, 2 August 2012 (UTC)

Hostile College Members[edit]

Have got the books and killed the caller now gone to return them to the college and everyone wants to kill me - no matter where I go, Why??? — Unsigned comment by 95.148.20.133 (talk) at 18:20 on 18 August 2012

Level 6, pretty easy..Here's how![edit]

I entered this dungeon at L6 without a walkthrough. The Caller was clearly going to give me trouble after I'd decided to fight her, so I ran past and used a Summon Storm Atronach scroll which I'd picked up somewhere in the past couple of days. The atronach wasted her in seconds... — Unsigned comment by 80.229.157.122 (talk) at 16:38 on 10 September 2012 (GMT)

An even easier way for low level Imperial race + no killing + rewards (need confirmation)[edit]

First push Orthorn close to the locked door, doesn't have to be very close, but closer than the other door. Then use the voice of the emperor power, get the books, talk to Orthorn, and he will unlock the door on his way out. Then get out of there before the voice power expires and don't talk to the Caller about giving her Orthorn, because she will attack regardless. 50.0.25.231 06:15, 27 December 2012 (GMT)

I tried again and it didn't work anymore. Orthorn still disappeared through the locked door but the door wouldn't open. It worked the first time. Maybe I was just lucky or the save was bugged? 50.0.25.231 06:32, 27 December 2012 (GMT)
Orthorn opened the locked door today after I killed the Caller, before I looted the key. But this time he initiated the dialog after I got all the books. 50.0.25.231 19:10, 27 December 2012 (GMT)

Ignoring Ancano[edit]

After I talked to Urag, Ancano was waiting at the entryway to the library. I decided to mess with him, and got him to follow me into the library a bit without actually getting close enough for his dialogue to start. Then I jumped into the middle and whirlwind sprinted past him and out the door before he ever got a chance to be his usual, loving self. I completed the rest of the quest without any issues, I was just wondering if it affects anything else later, since it's going to be a while before I proceed with the College questline again. Agmen (talk) 05:00, 11 February 2013 (GMT)

Well, you're going to find out. :D Anyway, I don't think it's that important to talk to him - it's merely just part of the story and I have ignored him as wwll, without anything breaking. --Krusty (talk) 06:29, 11 February 2013 (GMT)

Bugs[edit]

The following text was originally added to the Bugs section of the page:

"On the PC versions, all quests containing Urag gro-Shrub has been bugged, and Fellglow Keep doesn't activate properly." — Unsigned comment by 174.31.179.248 (talk) at 02:25 on 19 March 2014‎

This sounds like a faulty installation to me, rather than a game bug. Urag and Fellglow are both moderately high visibility; if there'd been something that wrong with them, I think it would've been reported previously. Robin Hood  (talk) 03:53, 19 March 2014 (GMT)

The Callers locked door loot room work around[edit]

If you persuade the Caller to allow you to get the books without fighting but the back door leading to the loot room says it "requires key" I found a work around to enter the loot room going in the opposite way. There's only one door that has a wooden bar locking it and if you place the crosshairs along where the bar would be and move your guy around it says "activate bar" real quick and if you continuously move around it will keep showing up but just for a quick second so you need to repeatedly press the action button and it will eventually activate the bar allowing you entry and to go up the ladder and into the loot room. Cjesseg (talk) 01:14, 1 July 2014 (GMT)

Ritual Chamber Trapdoor Crash[edit]

After killing the Caller and getting the books I get a strange crash to desktop when trying to use the trapdoor near the large chest with loot.

I did clear Fellglow Keep before acquiring "Hitting the Books", but when I returned I didn't experience any problem.

After 3 crashes trying to use the trapdoor I finally just tried to use the normal door (the one you use to get inside the Ritual Chamber) and it worked fine, not sure why using the trapdoor crashed my game to desktop.

I also use the 2.0.7 Unofficial patches, just for further info. — Unsigned comment by 84.120.10.37 (talk) at 11:57 on 20 November 2014 (GMT)

Hitting the Books quest[edit]

I can't get into the Keep on the quest Hitting the Book each time I try to enter the Keep my game crashes to Desktop and then I have to re-Launch it every time Is their a command or a way to fix this issue? Please advise.174.207.20.39 03:36, 17 March 2019 (UTC)

Orthorn freed before entering Fellglow Keep[edit]

I received the quest then put it off for a time; it may have happened even earlier, but I first noticed the quest update that I had "freed" Orthorn once inside. As I approached the prison where Orthorn was kept, I heard a taunt and the sound like his cell opening before a fight between him and the nearby mage broke out while I was still out of range. After killing the mage, I returned to find the cell door open and Orthorn dead before even being in the room to pull the release lever 172.56.11.98 14:32, 30 May 2020 (UTC)

Orthorn Reaction Bug[edit]

After persuading the Caller via speech check, without trading Orthorn, he still reacts as though I gave him to her and repeats his line "how could you just leave me here?"--24.55.23.234 03:41, 21 September 2021 (UTC)