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Prerequisites To Complete
Exploring Castle Volkihar
Fixing The Moondial
Inside The Castle Volkihar Ruins
Valerica's Study
Entering the Soul Cairn Portal
After completing Prophet in Skyrim, you will learn about two Elder Scrolls that need to be located. In the quest Chasing Echoes, you will begin your journey to find the Blood Elder Scroll, located in the Soul Cairn. Before entering inside, you will first need to explore Castle Volkihar.
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In this guide, we are going to take a look at how to complete Chasing Echoes. This quest can be completed regardless of whether you are a vampire or not. If you are a member of the Dawnguard, you will also have the option to become a vampire near the end of the quest. First, let's take a look at quests that you will need to complete before starting Chasing Echoes.
Prerequisites To Complete
Below, you can find every quest that you need to complete before accepting Chasing Echoes.
Quest | NPC To Speak With |
|---|---|
Dawnguard | Agmaer
Alternatively, you just need to be level 10 and this quest will automatically be accepted. |
Awakening | Isran
|
Bloodline | Serana
|
A New Order
| Isran
|
The Bloodstone Chalice
| Garan Merethi
|
Prophet | Harkon (if vampire).
Isran (if Dawnguard).
|
Seeking Disclosure
| Harkon (if vampire).
Isran (if Dawnguard).
|
Accepting Chasing Echoes
To accept Chasing Echoes, speak with Serana. After completing Prophet, you will either be in Castle Volkihar or Fort Dawnguard. Fortunately, Serana will be nearby regardless of where you are. Approach and speak with her to begin Chasing Echoes.
Exploring Castle Volkihar
Upon speaking with Serana, she will inform you that her mother, Valerica, has information on the Elder Scroll. To obtain this information, the two of you will need to explore Castle Volkihar searching for any clues.
To start searching, head to a hidden entrance on the back of the castle that is guarded by skeletons. This is the way into the Volkihar Undercroft. Slay these enemies and proceed inside until you come to several other enemies, including a feral Vampire and Death Hounds.
Once these enemies have been dealt with, head up the staircase in the room that leads to a lever.
Pulling this lever will lower a bridge in the lower portion of the room. With the lever pulled, proceed through the passage that opened and take a left on the raised bridge into a large room filled with more Death Hounds.
In this area, you will find another lever that is guarded by a frostbite spider. Slay this spider and pull the lever, which will reveal a door leading to the courtyard. Kill any enemies that stand in the way, and then proceed into the courtyard.
Fixing The Moondial
In the courtyard, you will find a broken moondial. Serana will mention how beautiful this area used to be before her mother left, and you will be tasked with fixing the moondial.
There are three missing pieces that need to be retrieved from the area. Below, you can find the location of each crest that is missing.
Crest | Location |
|---|---|
Half Moon | This crest is in a small body of water located near the moondial. |
Crescent Moon | On the east of the courtyard, you can find a balcony that contains this crest. |
Full Moon | Below the balcony mentioned above, you will find a fenced-off garden that holds this crest. |
Gather all three crests and place them around the moondial. Doing so will cause a secret stairway to appear, leading to the Castle Volkihar Ruins.
Inside The Castle Volkihar Ruins
The castle ruins are separated from the rest of the main castle and are filled with enemies such as skeletons and gargoyles. Within the ruins, you will find rooms similar to the main castle, however, it will be a bit more run down. Follow the main path through the ruins, taking the stairway into a dining room. Here, kill all the enemies that stand in your way and then continue to the south balcony until you come to a room with traps and a gargoyle.
Continue forward and head through the ruins, avoiding any traps and slaying enemies that appear. Serana will be at your side, providing occasional directions and slaying enemies.
Eventually, you will come to a room with a fireplace. This fireplace is a secret entrance (Serana will tell you this as well), and you need to find how to enter. This can be done by either turning a candlestick near the fireplace or pulling a chain found behind a gargoyle. Both options will open the fireplace, revealing a hidden study.
Valerica's Study
In Valerica's study, you will be instructed to find her journal, which can be found in a bookcase to the right of the entrance. Serana will read this, and then tell you to gather three ingredients.
Below, you can find the location of all three ingredients around the study. Each ingredient will be in a large silver bow.
Ingredient | Location |
|---|---|
Finely Ground Bone Meal | This is located on a table by the entrance, near a mammoth skull. |
Soul Gem Shards | This is located on the first wardrobe after heading up the staircase. |
Purified Void Salts | This is located on an ingredient shelf, located on a balcony above the entrance. |
After gathering all the ingredients, place them in front of the portal that Serana is standing near. Once placed, Serana will add her blood and the Soul Cairn portal will start to open. Once it's fully glowing purple with a pathway exposed, you can enter.
Entering the Soul Cairn Portal
If you are a vampire, you can proceed into the Soul Cairn portal and finish Chasing Echoes.
If you are not a vampire yet, you will have two options. To enter the Soul Cairn, you must be dead, so you can either accept Serana's offer to transform you into a vampire, or have her trap part of your soul in a soul gem.
When Serana turns you into a vampire, you will gain all the powers of a Vampire Lord, and will no longer be accepted by the Dawnguard. If your soul is trapped in the soul gem, you will remain human but have less health, stamina, and magicka, as well as reduced regeneration rates while in the Soul Cairn. These stats will return to normal once you leave the Soul Cairn after completing Beyond Death.
You do not have to be a Vampire Lord to enter the Soul Cairn without using a soul gem. If you are affected by the normal vampirism disease, you can still enter. This is helpful if you want to remain aligned with the Dawnguard. After exiting the Soul Cairn, locate an innkeeper or member of the Dawnguard, who will give you instructions to curing your vampirism.
Choose one of these options and then proceed into the Soul Cairn. Once you enter, Beyond Death will begin, tasking you with finding the Elder Scroll and confronting Durnhviir.
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