Online:The Thunder Breaks

Drive the undead out of Fullhelm for good. Zone: The Rift Objective: Fullhelm Fort — Recover the axe shard from Fullhelm. Quest Giver: Hallfrida Location(s): Fullhelm Fort Prerequisite Quest: Approaching Thunder Reward: Bonebane Average Leveled Gold XP Gain: Standard XP ID: 4173

Unfurl Fullhelm's banners

Preparations were completed just in time - the undead are attacking Fullhelm Fort! Hallfrida has asked me to help defeat the attack.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Talk to Hallfrida.
2. Raise banners at the four strategic guard posts.
3. Talk to Sergeant Sjarakki at the keep.
4. Defeat the invaders in the storage tunnel.
5. Talk to Hallfrida.
6. Save Thane Unnvald or kill Thorulf.

Detailed Walkthrough

Raise the Banners

Talk to Hallfrida on the second floor of Fullhelm Fort. She will tell you that the fort is being invaded by an unstoppable tide of risen corpses. The dead could keep coming, and they need to be pushed back to reopen the roads to Riften and Stonefalls. She tells you four guard posts were lost during the first attack, and that you should take them back to pave the way forward for Fullhelm's soldiers, who have been daunted by the invasion. You've retrieved Bonebane, which they'll recognize upon sight. This will give them hope and the motivation to fight on.

"We'll deal with Thorulf later. In the meantime, I know our soldiers can hold the walls.
Still. Dark Elves defend. Nords attack."

What do you have in mind?

"The dead could throw themselves at the walls for weeks. What we need to do is push them back. Reopen the roads to Riften and Stonefalls.
Are you up for an assault? Show the men that Bonebane sings again!"

Just tell me what I need to do.

"Lead us. The soldiers here will all know Bonebane by sight, and they'll rally behind you.
When the undead attacked, we lost four guardposts in the first attack. Take them back. Show the men we won't be intimidated!"

Consider it done.

When you go outside, you'll find the place swarmed by the undead. There are soldiers and archers holding the defenses. Go to each of the four spots marked on the map. The easiest order to do them in is Stonefalls gate, Stendarr's Ridge, Forelhost Slope, and finally Black Briar Ridge. It is impossible to climb the cliffs at Forelhost Slope, so the only way to access that banner is via Stendarr's Ridge.

At each post, two guards that die the instant you arrive may be present. Kill the skeletons and raise the banner at each post. Two Fullhelm Soldiers will arrive to protect the post after the banner is raised; after you've reclaimed all four posts, return to the keep.

Defeat the Invaders in the Storage Cellar

When you return to the keep, you'll find that the storage room is on fire. Talk to Sergeant Sjarakki, who will tell you the soldiers set the storage room on fire themselves. Apparently, the undead were entering the keep from a tunnel beneath the storage cellar while they were defending the hall. The fire is keeping them at bay, but it won't last. She'll be elated when you volunteer to enter, and suggests that if you kill enough undead, the Worm Cultist behind the attack may reveal themselves.

"Glad you're back. We've got a little problem."

The undead set your storage shed on fire?

"No. We did that. The bastards tunneled up from below, into an old cave we used for storage. While we were defending the walls, they went under us. The fire's keeping them down, but that won't last."

Then we need to go in.

"I was hoping the hero of Bal Foyen, Ash Mountain, and elsewhere might volunteer. If you smash enough of them, maybe the Worm behind this will appear. Good luck."†

Go into the trapdoor that leads to the storage cellar. You'll come upon a Nordic ruin which has collapsed in the first room. Two guards will follow shortly after you to help. After killing a few waves of undead, Falkyn Milkeye appears. Kill her and leave the cellar.

Save Thane Unnvald or kill Thorulf

Outside, Hallfrida will come out shouting there is something wrong with her grandfather. She'll tell you that while everyone was fending off the dead, Thorulf raised a skeleton in the manor and told Thane Unnvald that they're all going to die. This stirred the old thane into a frenzy, and Hallfrida worries he might kill himself. However, Hallfrida will also tell you Thorulf fled after hearing you were taking care of the undead in the storage cellar. At this point, you need to choose if you want to save Thane Unnvald Ironhand or go after Thorulf. If you save Unnvald, Thorulf will get away. Similarly, if you go after Thorulf, Unnvald will die.

"Please! I couldn't stop him!"

What's happened?

"Thank Kyne you're back! While everyone was fighting off the attack. Thorulf raised a skeleton in the manor. He told grandfather the undead had broken in, that we were all going to die."

The Thane believed him?

"More than that. He went mad, raving! I think me might kill himself! Then Sjarakki came in and said you were turning back the skeletons in the shed. When Thorulf heard, he got wild-eyed and bolted."

The Thane's in the manor and Thorulf is fleeing?

Saving Thane Unnvald Ironhand

Go into the keep, and you'll find Unnvald hiding upstairs. Talk to him. He tells you that he plans to burn himself to death to prevent the necromancers from raising his corpse. When you try to tell him that it's unnecessary, you'll find that Thorulf's influence on the thane is stronger than you may have thought. Unnvald believes that you're the necromancer, that all his soldiers are dead and the fort is lost. Tell him there is proof that Thorulf is the necromancer instead, and he insists that such a thing is impossible, as Thorulf gave him a token of his faith. As it turns out, this "token" is a shard of Wuuthrad. Thorulf did something to the shard that allowed him to influence the thane's mind. Unnvald will tell you he'll take care of Thorulf, and that Hallfrida will keep the shard safe until you need it again, after which you are given a reward.

"Stay back. I know what I have to do."

What's the torch for?

"Hah! I won't let a damn necromancer use me! I'll burn. Just like my daughter, all those years ago. I will not be raised!"

There's no need to do this.

"Liar! Thorulf warned me you'd say such things. My soldiers are dead, my fort lost. I won't let you raise me as a puppet of your dark magic!"

Thorulf's the necromancer, not me. We have evidence. Ask Hallfrida.

"What? No! Thorulf has been my Housecarl for - I would have known! Just a few weeks ago, he gave me a token of his faith."

A token?

"See for yourself! Part of a weapon. Said it came over with Ysgramor. Had been in his family for generations. No faithless Nord would give such a boon."

This is a shard of Wuuthrad. It's what I came here for!

"My mind ... everything seems so much clearer now. It had some sort of hold on me. Shor's bones.
What was I thinking? What have I done?"

Thorulf did something to the shard. He used it to muddle your mind.

"Right. He's mine to deal with, and I will. As for you, you saved my hall. I owe you.
I want you to keep Bonebane, use it as I did. My adventuring days are over. As for this cursed shard, Hallfrida will keep it safe until you need it again."

Going after Thorulf

Go to the southeast road, where you will find Thorulf. Kill him. Just before he dies, he will shout that he has "waited years to have her", implying that his unrequited love for Hallfrida was part of his motive. When you return to the keep, you'll find that the undead are gone and peace has returned to the fort. Head on inside, and you'll be informed that Hallfrida is now the thane and Sjarakki is her housecarl. Tell her Thorulf is dead, and Hallfrida reveals that Thorulf left a shard of Wuuthrad behind in his haste. When you ask if the shard's magic may have been used to weaken Thane Unnvald's mind, Hallfrida doesn't seem to care much for the answer to that. The only thing she knows is that her grandfather died because he listened to Thorulf. Hallfrida vows to keep her grandfather's legacy alive as the new Thane, and tells you that she'll keep the shard of Wuuthrad safe until you need it. She then gives you a reward for saving the fort.

"Were you able to catch Thorulf?"

Yes. He's dead now.

"Thorulf left this behind in his haste. A shard. This would be the shard of Wuuthrad you sought?"

Yes. The shards are magic. Could Thorulf have used it to weaken Thane Unvald's mind?

"All we know is my grandfather died because he listened to that skeever's lies.
I am Thane now. I will lead as my grandfather showed me long ago, before he left his senses. With a strong hand and sharp mind. I'll keep his legacy alive."

What of the shard?

"I'll keep it safe until you need it. You have my word as Thane of Fullhelm.
If not for you, we'd all be dead. It's a debt I can't repay, but you can start by keeping Bonebane. Use it like my grandfather did. Make these Worm Cult bastards bleed"

Quest Stages

The Thunder Breaks
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	The garrison is holding the keep, but the undead must be pushed back on all quarters. I need to raise banners at four tactically important points around the fort. This will signal the troops to attack and hold that area. Objective: Raise Banner at Stonefalls Gate Objective: Raise Banner at Stendarr's Ridge Objective: Raise Banner at Forelhost Slope Objective: Raise Banner at Black Briar Ridge
	While I was defeating the undead attack, something went wrong at the keep - the storage house is on fire! I should return quickly to see what can be done. Objective: Return to the Keep
	Sergeant Sjarakki is just outside the burning shed. She'll know what's going on. Objective: Talk to Sergeant Sjarakki
	The undead tunneled into an underground storage space beneath the fort. I need to enter the area and defeat the invaders. Objective: Defeat the Invaders
	The invaders are defeated. I should exit the storage shed as soon as possible to see why Lady Hallfrida is calling for me. Objective: Talk to Hallfrida
	There is enough time to either save Thane Unnvald or make Thorulf pay for his actions. I can't do both. Complete one: Save Unnvald or Stop Thorulf
	Thorulf is dead, but Thane Unnvald has certainly killed himself by now. I should make sure Hallfrida is all right. Objective: Talk to Hallfrida
Finishes quest	Hallfrida, now the Thane of Fullhelm, is waiting to speak with me in the manor hall. Objective: Talk to Hallfrida (If you killed Thorulf)
	While I spoke to Thane Unnvald, he was afflicted by an intense head pain. I should speak to him again. Objective: Talk to Unnvald
Finishes quest	Thane Unnvald Ironhand believes the shard of Wuuthrad that Thorulf gave him was somehow cursed - as soon as he gave it to me his fears of the Jarls passed. He'd like to speak to me again. Objective: Talk to Unnvald (If you saved Unnvald)

Notes

* Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the game and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.