You’re standing in Gallows Hall, staring at a bunch of torches and feeling like an idiot. Don't worry. We’ve all been there. The Dreams of the Dead Skyrim quest is basically a giant riddle wrapped in a necromancer’s fever dream, and it’s easily one of the most atmospheric—and frustrating—additions from the Anniversary Edition’s Creation Club content. Most people just want the Bloodworm Helm or the Staff of Worms, but the game makes you work for them through a series of environmental puzzles that aren't exactly intuitive.
It starts at Mara's Eye Pond. You find a corpse. You read a diary. Suddenly, you're a part of Naaslaarum’s legacy.
Honestly, the sheer amount of lore packed into this tiny necromancer’s lair is staggering. You aren't just looting a cave; you’re stepping into the workspace of someone who was obsessed with the King of Worms, Mannimarco. If you've played Oblivion, you know that name carries a lot of weight. But in Skyrim, it’s mostly about the loot. Let’s get into how you actually finish this thing without wandering in circles for an hour.
Finding the Entrance to Gallows Hall
First off, getting there is half the battle if you aren't familiar with the marshes of Eastmarch. You need to head southwest of Windhelm. Look for Mara’s Eye Pond. It looks like a peaceful little fishing spot until you see the dead body of a researcher near the water's edge.
Read the journal. Seriously. I know most players just spam the "Take All" button, but the Archivist’s Journal is the only reason any of the upcoming puzzles make sense. Once you enter the trapdoor on the small island in the pond, you're in Gallows Hall. The vibe changes immediately. It’s dark, it’s cramped, and there’s a massive bone altar in the middle of the room that screams "bad news."
The quest Dreams of the Dead Skyrim officially kicks off once you realize the door is locked behind you. You’re trapped. The only way out is to complete the rituals left behind by the previous inhabitant.
The Torch Puzzle: A Lesson in Reading Comprehension
The first real roadblock is the pillars and the torches. You’ll see several pillars around the room, each with a torch you can interact with. If you just click them randomly, nothing happens. Or worse, you just waste time.
Here is the trick: read the Sinner's Confessions.
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The book mentions four specific stages of a soul's journey or, more accurately, the crimes of a necromancer. You have to light the torches in the order described in the text. Look at the symbols on the pillars. You’re looking for the Mankar Camoran references and the depictions of the soul's path.
- Torch of Father: This is usually the first one.
- Torch of Mother: Follow the lineage.
- Torch of Child: The progression of the "sins."
- Torch of Sage: The final realization.
If you mess up the order, the torches reset. It’s a bit finicky. I’ve seen some players report that the prompts don't show up immediately—if that happens, just back away from the pillar and approach it again slowly. Once you get the sequence right, the central altar will react. A skeleton will appear, or rather, the remains of the former master. Loot it. You need that hood.
Using the Altar of Revenant
Now things get weird. You have the Bloodworm Helm, which is a legendary artifact that makes your conjuration spells cheaper and your weapon enchantments stronger against undead. It's a top-tier item for any necromancy build. But you aren't done.
The quest Dreams of the Dead Skyrim then asks you to "find a way to use the Altar of the Revenant."
You’ll see a dream state or a blurred vision. This is where the "Dreams" part of the title actually kicks in. You need to find a way to soul trap yourself, basically. Look for a Soul Gem on the table nearby. It’s not just any soul gem; it’s a specific quest item. You have to place a Black Soul Gem on the altar, but the game won't let you just do it. You need to pray at the altar while carrying the proper materials.
Wait. Actually, before that, check the corners of the room. There are notes tucked away that explain the "Master's" failure. He couldn't bridge the gap between life and death because he lacked the conviction. You, being the Dragonborn, apparently have plenty of that.
The Final Ritual and the Staff of Worms
The climax of the quest involves a bit of a "dream" sequence where the room shifts. You have to interact with the bedroll to enter a sleep state. This is a mechanic Bethesda doesn't use often in Skyrim outside of the Dark Brotherhood intro, so it catches people off guard.
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While "dreaming," you'll see the room in a different light. You need to collect the lingering echoes of the past. It sounds complicated, but it’s mostly just clicking on the glowing quest markers while avoiding the "shades" of the dead.
Once you wake up, the Staff of Worms is yours.
This staff is the real prize. It allows you to reanimate almost any corpse permanently (or at least until it's destroyed). Unlike the standard "Raise Zombie" spells that turn your thralls into ash piles when the timer runs out, the Staff of Worms keeps the body intact. For a high-level necromancer, this is the holy grail. You can keep your favorite named NPCs as bodyguards forever.
Why This Quest Is Buggy (and How to Fix It)
Skyrim wouldn't be Skyrim without a few glitches. In Dreams of the Dead Skyrim, the most common issue is the "Dream" sequence failing to trigger when you click the bed.
If you find yourself stuck:
- Check your inventory. Make sure you actually picked up the notes and the hood. The script often won't advance if the "Read" flag hasn't been triggered.
- Wait 24 hours. Sometimes the cell needs to reset its lighting state.
- Leave and re-enter. If the door is locked, you might have to reload a save from right before you entered Mara's Eye Pond.
It’s also worth noting that if you have certain lighting mods installed, the "Torch" symbols can be nearly impossible to see. Turn your brightness up or use a magelight spell to see the carvings on the stone pillars. The symbols are etched into the wood/stone near the base of the torches.
Beyond the Quest: Living in Gallows Hall
One of the coolest parts about finishing this quest is that you get a new player home. Gallows Hall is a "Necromancer’s Paradise."
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It has the Bone Forge. This is a unique crafting station you won't find anywhere else in the game. You can use it to create permanent skeleton followers. You’ll need specific ingredients:
- Ancient Traveler's Skull
- Corrupted Fragments
- Bone Meal
By combining these at the forge, you can summon a Skeleton Man-at-Arms, a Skeleton Archer, or even a Skeleton Mage. These don't count toward your summon limit in the same way regular spells do, meaning you can essentially walk around with a small undead army. It makes the whole "Master of the Dead" fantasy feel real.
The home also features an altar that can turn Greater or Grand Soul Gems into Black Soul Gems. In the base game, you have to find a specific spot in the Soul Cairn (from the Dawnguard DLC) to do this. Having a way to manufacture Black Soul Gems in your basement is an absolute game-changer for enchanting.
Actionable Steps for Your Necromancer Build
If you’ve just finished Dreams of the Dead Skyrim, don't just put the items in a chest. You have the tools to become the most powerful mage in the game.
- Equip the Bloodworm Helm immediately. It has a hidden interaction with the "Necromage" perk in the Restoration tree. If you are a Vampire, the helm’s buffs to your own stats are magnified because the game considers you to be undead.
- Farm the Bone Forge. Go to the Soul Cairn or various Draugr ruins to stock up on bone meal and skulls. Build your three skeleton followers before you go out adventuring.
- Upgrade the Staff of Worms. While you can't "improve" it at a grindstone, you should ensure you have a steady supply of soul gems to keep it charged. Use the altar in Gallows Hall to turn your cheap Grand gems into Black ones so you can trap the souls of bandits to fuel your staff.
- Check the bookshelves. There are several unique spells and notes in Gallows Hall that teach you more about the lore of Mannimarco. They don't give you quest markers, but they add a lot of flavor to the roleplay.
This quest isn't just a gear drop. It’s a total overhaul of how you can play a conjurer. The puzzles are a pain, sure, but the reward of a custom necromancy base and the most iconic staff in Elder Scrolls history is well worth the twenty minutes of confusion in the dark.
Make sure you've saved before starting the ritual at the altar. If the game crashes during the transition to the dream world, you'll be glad you have a backup. Now, go back to Mara's Eye Pond and get started.