The Midden is a mysterious location found beneath the College of Winterhold in Skyrim. Hidden from plain sight, it holds secrets, dangers, and the potential to uncover ancient knowledge and powerful relics. Starting The Midden questline is not straightforward, as it isn’t triggered in the usual fashion through quest givers. Instead, players must explore and interact with key objects to initiate it. If you want to start The Midden quest and unlock everything this eerie underground offers, understanding how to find it and what steps to take is crucial.
Finding The Midden in Skyrim
Location and Access
The Midden is located beneath the College of Winterhold. To access it, players need to be inside the college itself. You don’t have to be very far into the college’s main questline, but you do need access to the college’s premises. If you haven’t joined the College of Winterhold yet, speak with Faralda at the bridge and demonstrate a spell or pay 30 gold to enter.
There are two primary entrances to The Midden:
- From the Hall of Countenance: Use the trapdoor located in the northern section of the hall.
- From the Hall of Attainment: A side passage near the back of the hall also leads into the underground area.
Either entrance will take you into the same general area of The Midden. Prepare yourself with weapons, spells, and healing items, as hostile creatures can be found below.
What Triggers The Midden Quest?
The Midden quest doesn’t begin with a traditional quest prompt. Instead, it starts when you interact with certain items or structures in the area. The two main paths often referred to as Midden quests are:
- The investigation related to theAtronach Forge
- TheForgotten Names questinvolving the Daedric Gauntlet
Both are found in different areas of The Midden and can be explored simultaneously. There is no official Midden Quest title in your journal; progress is based on player action and discovery.
Exploring the Atronach Forge
Finding the Forge
The Atronach Forge is located in the lower section of The Midden, known as The Midden Dark. Once you descend past the initial tunnels and passages, look for a room with a large circular platform and glowing blue symbols. This is the Atronach Forge.
How to Use the Forge
To use the forge, you’ll need specific items placed in the offering box. Recipes for summoning various items, including Daedric gear, scrolls, or atronachs, can be found in the area or discovered through experimentation.
Some examples include:
- Flame Atronach Scroll: Requires Fire Salts + Roll of Paper + Empty Soul Gem
- Random Daedric Weapon: Requires Sigil Stone (acquired later) + Ebony Ingot + Daedra Heart + Soul Gem
To get the Sigil Stone needed for higher-level recipes, you must complete the Conjuration Ritual Spell quest offered by Phinis Gestor after reaching 90 Conjuration skill. This unlocks full potential for the Atronach Forge.
The Midden Daedric Gauntlet Quest (Forgotten Names)
Discovering the Relic
Deep in The Midden Dark, you’ll find a curious scene: a black Daedric gauntlet on a pedestal surrounded by four outstretched hands. This starts the Forgotten Names quest. Though not named in your quest log, it involves solving a puzzle and using enchanted rings to complete the ritual.
Steps to Begin the Forgotten Names Quest
- Find the relic in The Midden Dark (usually near the end of the tunnels)
- Collect the four missing rings: Katarina’s Ring, Treoy’s Ring, Balwen’s Ring, and Pithiken’s Ring
- The rings are located in a locked chest nearby or spread throughout the college, often in the Arcanaeum or student quarters
- Equip the rings onto the corresponding fingers of the gauntlet
When all rings are placed correctly, the hand glows, and a Dremora named Velehk Sain appears. He tells you he was betrayed and imprisoned. You’ll be offered a choice to either release or destroy him.
Choices and Rewards
- Release Velehk Sain: He will vanish and give you a map to a hidden treasure on the north shore near Winterhold
- Destroy Velehk Sain: You fight him and can loot his Daedric scimitar, which is a unique weapon
This choice is entirely up to the player, but many prefer to release him for the reward and avoid combat.
Important Tips for Navigating The Midden
- Bring a torch or use Candlelight: The tunnels are dim, and visibility can be poor
- Beware of Frostbite Spiders: They often attack in groups
- Save frequently: Since the area isn’t tied to major quests, it’s easy to forget to save during exploration
- Explore thoroughly: Several locked chests, journals, and notes offer lore and clues about The Midden’s secrets
Additional Lore and Mysteries
The Midden contains elements of forbidden magic and hidden history. Notes found throughout hint at previous students and mages who explored the area. The Relic Hand and the forge both indicate that powerful arcane rituals were performed below the college some of which the current professors no longer discuss.
There’s a strong theme of secrecy and experimentation within The Midden. Those who dig deeper will find connections to Daedric influences, forbidden summoning rituals, and relics that hint at ancient struggles.
Benefits of Completing The Midden Quests
While The Midden’s quests aren’t part of the main storyline, they offer several benefits:
- Unique gear: Including Daedric weapons and the Velehk Sain scimitar
- Rare loot: Including treasures found from the hidden map
- Gameplay variety: Unlocks alternative methods to obtain items and practice Conjuration
- Increased immersion: Deepens the mystery and lore of the College of Winterhold
The Midden is a rewarding side area in Skyrim that offers dark secrets, challenging decisions, and valuable rewards. Starting The Midden quest requires initiative and curiosity, as no quest marker will guide you there. Whether you’re using the Atronach Forge to create powerful items or solving the Daedric hand puzzle to choose between mercy and battle, The Midden stands out as one of Skyrim’s most atmospheric and intriguing locations. Take your time exploring, follow the clues, and enjoy the hidden depth beneath the college’s hallowed halls.