Summary

Explore the Squandered Mine’s 3 zones. Find everything within the Snakeworks and Wind Holes

Find the hidden Grand Soul Gem tied to the quest “Vampire Cure.”

Location

Walkthrough

Entrance

The entrance of the Squandered Mine sits to the East of the Reed River in the Valus Mountains. You can expect to encounter a hostile animal meandering around the entrance. The entrance itself sits on a ledge with a staircase, set in the dirt, leading down to it. It is easily found to the Northeast of Drakelowe.

Squandered Mine

Once inside the Squandered Mine, head forward to where the tunnel levels out.

There’s a wood board nearby the ceiling. Be careful as you approach here because there’s a Tripwire stretched across the tunnel. Carefully jump over it or activate it and immediately start moving backwards. Activating the tripwire has 2 spiked balls swing toward the middle of the tunnel from the ceiling just past the board.

Take a moment to go to the middle of the Western wall. You will find a section you can interact with. Do so to break through the wall. This will show a small alcove. Explore it to find a hidden chest in the back of it.

The tunnel will then have a walled section. Toward the back of it you can find a Chest that you can loot. It’s just to the left of the back support pillar in the middle of the tunnel.

After all that, head through the turns to the East. Approach and up to the door. Open it to enter the next tunnel. Inside this next tunnel, you will need to deal with a Bandit that’s patrolling the area. Slip up behind them for a sneak attack or just charge in. Continue to the Northeast and head down the slope. Open the door at the bottom of it.

Inside the first chamber of the Mine, there are a few more bandits. 1 is nearby a camp fire. An animal is patrolling the chamber. Look to the center of the chamber after that. You’ll see a stone column with a Locked Chest (Average) sitting on its Eastern side. There are a few barrels around to loot as well. There are 2 paths out of this chamber. 1 goes to the East, the other goes to the Southeast.

Start by going to the East. There’s a short tunnel that leads to a door. Open the door and deal with the few Bandits on the other side. They do small patrols, given the chance. Head to the Southern side of this chamber.

This leads to a small tunnel and a small chamber. This chamber has another pair of Bandits inside it. Defeat them and look to the small alcove in the Southeastern corner. You can find a Locked Chest (Average) sitting there. Go back to the larger chamber with the two exits.

If you go to the Southeast, you need to follow the short tunnel to a door. Opening the door you’ll find a small chamber with an animal inside. Inside here, go over to the West and look behind the large wood support there. You’ll find a Chest sitting against the support on its backside. Go to the Eastern side of the chamber to find the door that leads to the Snake Works.

Snake Works

Once inside the Snake Works, you can see a Chest just ahead of you on the right. Loot it then head to the East. Follow it around the turns and into the first chamber.

Inside this first chamber, be on guard for the Bandit moving around through it. Defeat them then look to the stone column toward the middle of the Southern area. You can find a Chest nearby the column and broken crates. Be wary since there’s another Bandit patrolling the adjacent Eastern passage and will occasionally duck into this chamber. Deal with them and head into the Eastern passage.

Head down this Eastern Passage as it goes into a small chamber. In this chamber, look for the campire and the square support pillar. Circle to the back of the pillar to find a Locked Chest (Average) sitting there. After that, head to the East and to the door there.

Go along the passage to the East. This leads to a longer, walled section of tunnel. There’s a Bandit that will wander through it. Look to the right-hand (Southern) side where you can find a Chest. Head to the Northeast after that and into the next chamber.

This next chamber is massive. Be careful as you enter it because there is tripwire. If you activate it, move back since 2 swinging logs will come smashing down. This massive chamber has a pair of bandits patrolling in the lower area. Drop down into the pit is because in the Southeastern corner of it to find a Chest. Next go to the Northern part of the room to find a Chest.

Head to the Northwest and head down the tunnel there. This will bring you into the next chamber. There’s another Bandit and an animal inside this chamber. Head to the Northern portion of the chamber. You can find a Chest sitting a short distance South of the rise and the next door. The door to the North will lead you into the Wind Holes.

Wind Holes

Entering this area, you start down in a pit with a few Bandits. 1 is down in the pit. 1 is up along the edge of the pit.

Start by dealing with any bandits that come after you. Look to the right of the entrance (South) to find a Chest. Another Chests sits along the Northeastern side of the pit. Climb out of the pit and head to the South.

Getting to the South, you will find a tunnel leading to the West. There can be an Undead fighting a Bandit here.

This part will open happen when you have begun the “Vampire Cure” Quest: When you get tot he Western part of the first chamber, you can find a newly opened passage here. Go through to the area that doesn’t appear on the map. Head to the Southwest. You’ll see a large boulder there. Look there to find the Empty Grand Soul Gem. Grab the gem, head back tot he main path and head to the Northwest.

Heading through the tunnel to the Northwest, you will find a tripwire sitting in the middle of the upslope. Jump over it to avoid the logs that will roll down from a trap just ahead of you. Go up to the top and enter the chamber at the top.

Look around the room to find the Bandit who’s wandering around the area. Go to the eastern side to find a rise with a Chest on it. The chests are nearby some mushrooms. Now, head to the West and down the next chamber.

Inside this chamber, expect a few animals. After that, look to the Eastern side. You can find a Locked Chest (Average). This is the final chamber of the mines. So head on out of the mines after that.

Video Walkthrough