Skyrim Sidelines- The Blessings of Nature: A Very Green Cavern

Stay on the road until you find yourself crossing the river again on a stone bridge.  Once you finish this crossing, you’ll want to turn left and start traveling alongside the river rather than on the road.  You’ll spot a waterfall that the river heads down before passing some ruins on the far side of the water- this is the Abandoned Prison, and while it may not mean anything to you now, it can’t hurt to have the location on your map.

Passing between the Abandoned Prison and Fort Amol, you’ll find a cobble road that runs around the fort to the bridge you’re coming up on.  Rather than cross it, though, you should continue straight, fording the water towards a partially-buried mammoth skeleton.  Continue in a mostly Eastward direction, making note of the giants’ camp to the South of you, opposite Mixwater Mill to the North.

Once you’re past Broken Limb Camp, or alternately through it if you think you can handle the giants there, turn in a more Southwards direction to head towards the Eldergleam Sanctuary.    It should show up on your compass very quickly, and even if it doesn’t, there is a large and very obvious stand of pine trees in the middle of the sulfur-springs area that makes the location plain to see.  Head for the middle of the grove and you’ll find a cave whose entrance is littered with bones, dragon’s tongue, and jazbay.

The cave is at first bland and barren, a winding downwards tunnel that switchbacks much like a mountain trail.  After a bit, though, you will reach an underground chamber with snowy ground and small plants everywhere.  The path towards the Eldergleam is marked by both its construction of logs laid into the earth and the low wooden fence that borders it.  Following the path will bring you to a bridge across a small stream, where a man named Sond is likely to be sitting- he will welcome you and tell you to speak to Asta if you have any questions.  Following the path will bring you to an upslope leading towards the tree- to the right are a corundum ore vein and a chest hidden behind a stump on a ledge, and to the left is a low area where the water pools, overhung with hanging moss and with a woman sitting at the water’s edge, contemplating the large tree overhead.

This is Asta, and she sits here to consider the tree and the blessings of Kynareth.  When you ask her about the tree, she points out how incredible it is that a place like this can exist in the chill tundra of Skyrim.  The tree is, naturally, the Eldergleam, and she goes on to explain that none have reached the tree itself in a long time- the roots of the great plant block all access to the area around it.  There are rumors, though, of a blade that the tree will shy away from and withdraw its roots.  This is supposed to be out of fear rather than from respect, though.