Look, if you’ve spent more than five minutes in Solitude, you’ve probably heard about the Bards College. It’s that fancy building where people go to learn how to rhyme "dragon" with "wagon" while getting looked down upon by the local guards. But tucked away inside is Inge Six-Fingers, and honestly, she’s having a rough time. She lost something. Well, it was stolen. Specifically, Finn's Lute.
Most players stumble onto this item by accident. You’re clearing out a cave, you see a chest, and suddenly you’re carrying a quest item that weighs four units and won't leave your inventory. It’s annoying. But if you actually do the quest intentionally, it’s one of the most efficient ways to power-level a stealth build in the entire game. No joke.
Where to Find Finn's Lute in Skyrim
You don't need to be a member of the Bards College to find the instrument, but you do need to talk to Inge if you want the reward. The lute is sitting in a chest inside Stony Creek Cave.
Getting there is easy enough. It’s located in the southeastern corner of Eastmarch, right at the edge of the mountains near the border of the Rift. If you’ve found Kagrenzel, you’re close. The cave itself is tiny. It’s basically a single corridor with some water and a handful of bandits who clearly didn't think through their security system.
The Stony Creek Cave Walkthrough
Walk in. Kill the bandits. Follow the water.
There is a small offshoot path to the right, near where a bandit is usually sitting by a campfire. If you head up there, you’ll find a boss-level chest. That’s where Finn's Lute is hiding. While you’re in there, keep an eye out for a Stone of Barenziah and the Illusion skill book 2920, Sun's Dawn, v2. It’s a high-value room for such a cramped little cave.
Why You Should Care About the Reward
Inge Six-Fingers isn't just going to give you a pat on the back. Once you return the instrument to her in Solitude, she grants you a "gift" that is basically a masterclass in being a nuisance to society.
She increases all of your Stealth skills by one point.
We aren't just talking about Sneak. This covers:
- Light Armor
- Sneak
- Lockpicking
- Pickpocket
- Speech
- Alchemy
Think about that for a second. If you wait until these skills are at level 90 or higher, this quest effectively saves you thousands of gold in training costs. It’s a free level-up across the board for the entire Thief constellation. Most people finish this quest at level 10 and waste the potential. Don't be that person.
The Glitch That Ruins Everything
Skyrim is a masterpiece of bugs held together by duct tape and hope. The Bards College quests—specifically Finn’s Lute, Pantea’s Flute, and Rjorn’s Drum—are notorious for breaking.
The biggest issue? If you pick up the lute before talking to Inge, the quest might not trigger correctly. You’ll hand it over, she’ll give you the reward, but the quest stays in your journal forever. Or worse, the lute stays in your inventory, taking up space like a cursed heirloom you can't throw away.
If you're on PC, you can fix this with the console command player.removeitem 000DABAB 1. If you’re on console... well, I hope you like carrying a lute for the next 200 hours of gameplay. It supposedly has zero "actual" weight even though the menu says 4, but it’s the visual clutter that really hurts.
Real Talk on Quest Timing
Honestly, the best way to handle this is to wait. Don't go to Stony Creek Cave early. Avoid it like the Chaurus-infested nightmare it isn't.
Wait until your Sneak or Alchemy is hitting that wall at level 90. Then, go to the Bards College, talk to Inge, get the quest, and go straight to the cave. This ensures the script triggers properly and you get the maximum value out of the skill boosts.
Quick Facts for the Completionists:
- Item ID: 000DABAB
- Value: 25 Gold (not that you can sell it)
- Weight: 4
- Quest Giver: Inge Six-Fingers
- Prerequisite: None (but joining the college is recommended for flavor)
If you've already messed up and the quest is stuck, check if you have the Unofficial Skyrim Patch installed. It fixes the flag that keeps the item in your bag. If you're playing vanilla on a Switch or a PS5, you're basically stuck with it. Just pretend your Dragonborn is a part-time musician.
To make the most of your trip to the eastern side of the map, you should pair this run with a visit to Ansilvund nearby. It’s a much longer dungeon, but it’s in the same neighborhood. You’re already out there in the marshes; you might as well make the carriage ride worth it.
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Make sure you have at least one empty soul gem and a decent bow before entering Stony Creek. The bandits aren't tough, but the narrow corridors make them easy targets for a quick Snipe. Once you grab the lute, head back to Solitude immediately. Don't let it sit in your bag and risk the script bugging out during a different quest.
Go talk to Inge. Get those levels. Move on to the next instrument.