This is 1 of 7 Quests that you need to complete in order to join the Mages Guild and gain access to the Arcane University

Skingrad Mages Guild

This Mages Guild is specialized in the Destruction School of Magic. This Guild Hall is just across the street from Colovian Traders. It’s just next door to the Skingrad Fighters Guild.

There are quite a few trainers in this Guild Hall. Adrienne Berene has a lot of Expert (and a few Master) Destruction Spells. Druja offers a variety of spells across Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Mysticism, and Restoration.

Sulinus Vassinus has Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Mysticism, and Restoration. Vigge the Cautious offers mostly Destruction Spells, but also the very useful Summon Storm Atronach spell.

Walkthrough

Talk to Adrienne Berene

Make your way into the Mages Guild. You will want to find and talk with the Head of the Guild Hall, Adrienne Berene. She’ll explain that she’s busy, with most of her time going into research.

When she hears that you want the recommendation for the Arcane University, she’ll be sending you off to find a Guild Member who’s apparently gone missing: Erthor. He hasn’t shown up to collect his supplies (roughly) on time. Adrienne asks you to go see what’s happened with him. Agree and it’s time you talk with Adrienne one more time.

Talking with Adrienne, ask her about “Bleak Flats Cave,” and she’ll finally remember that that’s where she sent Erthor. To help you, she’ll give you a spell “Weak Fireball.” This is a terrible spell. 10 Magicka, it does 5 points of Fire Damage, burst of 10 feet, and the damage is done over 3 seconds.

Locate Erthor

To find Erthor, you need to know where to go. Adrienne won’t be any help here, so you need to talk with the other Guild Members. Specifically, talk with Vigge the Cautious. He’ll remark that Erthor normally stays in Bleak Flats Cave. You can get additional information on where Bleak Flats Cave is by talking with Druja. Talking with her about “Bleak Flats Cave” will give you the location.

You have your destination: Bleak Flats Cave. It’s time to get traveling.

Bleak Flats Cave

It’s time for a little bit of travel to reach the Cave that Erthor has been doing his own research in. You need to leave Skingrad and go to the North of it. It doesn’t take long to reach thankfully.

Locate Erthor within Bleak Flats Cave

Getting inside the Cave, just start by going down the hallway into the first chamber. You’ll encounter a Deranged Zombie. These are somewhat unique in that they are leveled, and they will have Bonemeal as their loot. There are 7 total to be found throughout the whole of this cave.

Go to the Northern exit of this chamber and start down the slope there.

The second chamber isn’t anything too bad. There’s a pit that likely has a deranged zombie inside it. There’s also another Deranged Zombie milling about the area as well. To go forward, head to the North and take the Northeastern passage deeper in.

This third chamber only has another passage leading away. There’s another Deranged Zombie meandering throughout this chamber. Head to the South and through the corridor to reach the next chamber.

Getting into the fourth chamber, you will find a few more Deranged Zombies. Go to the Southwestern corridor and follow that forward.

This will bring you into the final chamber. Inside there is Ethor. Just approach and talk with him. He’ll ask if he can follow you back to Skingrad. Agree and Erthor will become your follower for now.

Return Erthor to Skingrad

The good news is you just need to get Erthor out of Bleak Flats Cave alive. Head to the Northwestern corner of the Erthor’s Chamber and take that slope upwards to the rock at the top. You can open this wall by interacting with the lever just to the left of it. It’s a great shortcut out.

Turn to the South, follow that hallway, then turn to the West. Take the slope up and you’ll find the door back outside.

Once you’re back outside the Cave, you can either Fast Travel or just run back to Skingrad. Erthor will safely make it either way.

Report to Adrienne Berene

Once inside Skingrad, just return to the Mages Guild. Find and talk with Adrienne once again. She and Erthor will talk some then part. Talk with her after that and ask about the “Recommendation” to secure it.

Video Walkthrough