In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, "Forbidden Legend" proves to be one of the more drawn-out quests in the game. It consists of multiple stages and takes a deep dive into Skyrim's ancient history. The player uncovers the dark mysteries of the Gauldur brothers, who murdered their father for his legendary amulet.
There are a couple of different ways to initiate this quest. Following this guide will ensure the player doesn't miss a beat regarding this quest's story. Some useful tips for tangling with the evil Gauldur brothers will also be beneficial, especially for new players. With the right preparation, this marathon of a quest can be completed in no time.
Reading The Book Of Lost Legends
Players who want to get the most out of this quest should start with the book "Lost Legends." Copies of the book are fairly common. Perhaps the easiest one to find is located underneath a flagon in Farengar Secret-Fire's room in Dragonsreach. The quest is initiated once the book is opened.
The book tells the story of the Gauldurson brothers, who purportedly murdered their father for his amulet. They divided it into three pieces and went their separate ways. The goal of the quest is to reunite all three fragments of the amulet. Although cryptic, the author does mention where one of the brothers went into hiding. The only clue leads the player to the Nordic tomb of Folgunthur, just south of Solitude.
Folgunthur & Mikrul Gauldurson
Outside the entrance to Folgunthur lies an abandoned camp. A journal written by Daynas Valen reveals that the Dragonborn isn't the only one investigating the legend. Inside, the player will have to contend with the usual traps and draugr that always infest Nordic tombs. Keep following the linear path until the corpse of Daynas Valen is discovered. On his body is an Ivory Dragon Claw and some important notes. Take and read everything and the quest objectives will update. Unlock the nearby door with the newly acquired dragon claw.
The player will need to defeat a few more traps and draugr before arriving at the main burial chamber. Mikrul Gauldurson will burst from his coffin, along with a handful of weaker allies to help him. He likes using Frost-based attacks and his blade possesses an Absorb Health enchantment. Prioritize Mikrul and the fight shouldn't be too difficult. Once he's defeated, loot his body for a writ of sealing and a Gauldur Amulet Fragment.
Join The College Of Winterhold
The next amulet fragment can be found within the depths of Saarthal. Retrieving it, however, requires joining the College of Winterhold first. Gaining admittance to the College is pretty straightforward. Faralda, the gatekeeper, will ask the player to cast a random spell. The spellbook itself can always be purchased from her if the player doesn't know it yet. If the main quest "Elder Knowledge" is active the player may also tell Faralda that he/she is a Dragonborn. Perform a Shout to prove it.
After the player has gained admittance the wizard Tolfdir should be sought out next. After a few introductory lessons the quest "Under Saarthal" will trigger. The player, along with Tolfdir and the other students, will travel to Saarthal to do some archaeological work. Jyrik Gauldurson's amulet fragment will be found there.
Saarthal & Jyrik Gauldurson
Travel to the ruins of Saarthal and follow the associated quest objectives. Exploring the interior of the tomb with Tolfdir will yield the Saarthal Amulet, a necessary item that needs to be equipped in order to overcome certain obstacles. Leveled draugr will be an annoyance along the way, but with Tolfdir's help they shouldn't be much of a problem. Eventually, the player will come to a room with a huge glowing orb. It's here that the battle with Jyrik Gauldurson will begin.
Initially, Jyrik will be invincible for a few moments. Tolfdir will realize that the glowing orb is protecting the villain and will start to cast lightning at it. Jyrik will now be vulnerable to the player's attacks, although it's worth keeping in mind his rotating elemental shield. When Jyrik is bathed in a particular element, whether it be fire, frost, or shock, he will be immune to it for several seconds. Players utilizing a mage-build will have to vary their attacks as a result. When Jyrik is dead, retrieve his Gauldur Amulet Fragment.
Geirmund's Hall & Sigdis Gauldurson
The last stop for the final piece of the fragment is Geirmund's Hall outside Ivarstead. The interior contains a familiar assortment of draugr, traps, and puzzles. Players should follow the linear path until they come across the skeleton of the Archmage Geirmund. Take the key laying next to him in order to unlock the next door. The final resting place of Sigdis Gauldurson awaits.
The fight with Sigdis may seem challenging at first, but the secret is knowing his tricks ahead of time. Sigdis will conjure clones of himself in order to confuse the player. Killing the illusions does nothing as Sigdis will simply create more. The real Sigdis can be identified in several ways. One is that Sigdis will not glow blue like his clones. Also, the horns on the real Sigdis' helmet are curved downwards, while those belonging to the imposters are curved upwards. Killing him yields the final Gauldur Amulet Fragment.
Reachwater Rock & The Final Showdown
The conclusion of this quest takes place at Reachwater Rock, southeast of Markarth. Once inside, take the Emerald Dragon Claw and insert it into the nearby door. The next door needs to be unlocked with the Ivory Dragon Claw that was found inside Folgunthur. Inside the last room, place the amulet fragments on each of the three pedestals. Doing so will summon the ghostly shades of the three Gauldurson brothers, who will need to be defeated again in turn.
The fight with each brother is much the same as before. Mikrul will summon allies to help him. Sigdis will conjure various clones to confuse the player. Lastly, Jyrik will teleport around the room, also summoning allies as he goes. Once all three have been defeated the spirit of Gauldur himself will arrive and obliterate the remains of his treacherous sons. The player will be rewarded with the reforged Gauldur Amulet, which increases Health, Stamina, and Magicka by 30 points. Congratulations!