Troubleshooting Boethiah’s Calling: A Comprehensive Guide to Fixing Glitches in Skyrim’s Daedric Quest
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So, you’re ready to prove your worth to the Daedric Prince of deceit and treachery, but Boethiah’s Calling quest is throwing you for a loop? Fear not, adventurer! Glitches are a common plague in the world of Skyrim, but they are often curable. The primary way to fix glitches in Boethiah’s calling is to reload a previous save. If this does not work, slay all cultists and Boethiah will start talking to you and give you the next part of the quest. Here’s a deep dive into tackling these pesky issues, ensuring you can claim your Ebony Mail.
Diagnosing and Resolving Common Glitches
Glitches in Boethiah’s Calling can manifest in several ways, usually blocking progress and leaving you frustrated. Here’s a breakdown of the most common problems and how to address them:
- Boethiah Doesn’t Speak After Killing Cultists: As stated above, this is a frequently encountered glitch. Despite clearing the cultists at the designated location, Boethiah refuses to initiate the next stage of the quest. The most reliable fix is to methodically kill every single cultist in the area. Sometimes, one might be hidden or stuck. If this fails, try reloading a save from before you entered the cultist camp. Another potential solution is waiting for several in-game days (7-10) away from the quest location, which sometimes resets the quest trigger.
- Follower Won’t Interact with the Pillar of Sacrifice: This is perhaps the most infuriating glitch, as the quest cannot progress without a follower meeting their demise on the pillar. There are a few solutions to explore. First, ensure you’ve removed any mods that might affect follower behavior or immortality. Some mods can unintentionally make followers unkillable. Second, try putting your weapon away and waiting for your follower to do the same before commanding them to interact with the pillar. Third, try using a different follower. Some followers are simply buggier than others.
- Quest Marker Disappears: Sometimes the quest marker vanishes, leaving you wandering aimlessly. This can often be resolved by reloading a save, consulting an online walkthrough to pinpoint the exact quest location, or checking your quest log to ensure you haven’t missed a step.
- General Quest Freezing/Progress Issues: In rare cases, the entire quest may freeze, preventing any further progression. This is often caused by corrupted save data. In such cases, reloading an earlier save is your best bet. If that fails, you might consider starting the quest again from a clean save.
Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques
If the above solutions don’t work, you might need to delve into more advanced techniques:
- Console Commands (PC Only): If you’re playing on PC, the console commands can be a lifesaver. Use the command “
setstage DA02 stage” to manually advance the quest. Replace “stage” with the specific quest stage number you need to reach. Consult a Skyrim wiki for a list of quest stages for Boethiah’s Calling. Be careful using console commands, as they can sometimes introduce new bugs if used incorrectly. - Mod Conflicts: If you’re using mods, especially those that alter follower behavior, quest mechanics, or combat, a conflict could be the culprit. Try disabling your mods one by one until you locate the offending mod.
- Verify Game Files (PC Only): Sometimes, corrupted game files can cause glitches. Verify the integrity of your game files through Steam to ensure everything is in order.
Choosing Your Sacrifice
While fixing the glitch is paramount, a key part of Boethiah’s Calling is the sacrifice itself.
- Ralis Sedarys: The “Justifiable” Choice: Ralis, from the Kolbjorn Barrow excavation in Solstheim, is often cited as a morally justifiable sacrifice. His actions warrant punishment, making him a popular choice for players seeking to maintain some semblance of moral consistency.
- Cosnach: The Easy Option: Found in Markarth, Cosnach can be easily persuaded to become a follower after a simple fistfight. His relatively low-impact status makes him a popular choice for those who don’t want to sacrifice a valued companion.
- Other Followers: You can sacrifice virtually any follower, so consider your options carefully. Remember that some followers are more useful than others, and some may have personal quests you haven’t completed.
Stealth vs. Brute Force
Boethiah requests that you use stealth to eliminate the initial group of cultists. However, the article states that you do not need to use stealth. Even if you do not use stealth, she will chastise you for using brute force, but this has no impact on the quest.
Avoiding Future Glitches
While there’s no foolproof way to prevent glitches entirely, here are some tips to minimize their occurrence:
- Save Frequently: This is gaming 101, but it’s especially important in Skyrim. Save often, especially before and after significant quest milestones.
- Keep Your Game Updated: Ensure your game is updated with the latest patches and bug fixes.
- Be Mindful of Mods: Use mods responsibly and ensure they are compatible with your game version.
- Avoid Overloading Your System: Running Skyrim on a low-spec system can increase the likelihood of glitches.
Additional Resources
For further information on resolving glitches in Skyrim and the GamesLearningSociety.org, consider consulting the following resources:
- UESP (Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages): This wiki is a treasure trove of information on all things Elder Scrolls, including detailed quest walkthroughs and bug fixes.
- Skyrim Forums: Numerous forums dedicated to Skyrim can provide assistance with specific glitches and modding issues.
- Games Learning Society: Explore resources on how games can be tools for learning and research. This organization explores the educational potential of games, and understanding game mechanics can help you better troubleshoot issues. Games Learning Society focuses on the innovative ways that games can be utilized to create opportunities for education and innovation.
By following these steps, you should be well-equipped to tackle any glitches that Boethiah’s Calling throws your way and successfully complete the quest. Now, go forth and claim your Ebony Mail!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you fail Boethiah’s Calling?
Yes, you can fail Boethiah’s Calling. After that, you can recruit her ex-champion.
2. Why won’t my follower use the Pillar of Sacrifice?
This is a common bug. Try removing any mods affecting follower behavior. Also, put your weapon away and wait for your follower to do the same before commanding them to activate the pillar.
3. How do you get someone to touch the pillar of sacrifice?
Simply look at the shrine, and it should say “Activate sacrificial altar” or something along those lines. An animation should show your follower walking to it, and then being attached to it. From there, simply kill them by any means.
4. Where is the blessing of Boethiah?
In Raven Rock’s temple, shrines to the Dunmer gods (and Daedric Princes) Azura, Mephala, and Boethiah can be found. They grant 10% magic resistance, 10% more damage with one-handed weapons, and 10% better prices respectively.
5. How do I get Sven as a follower?
Should you end the love triangle in his favor, he can become a follower and later be recruited to the Blades.
6. How is Boethiah good?
Boethiah taught Veloth and the Chimer of the Psijic Endeavour, Lorkhan’s test, and is at the key of the Velothi idea that one should constantly challenge oneself to endure and surpass hardship.
7. Where does Eola live?
Eola is a Breton nightblade initially found in the Hall of the Dead in Markarth where she reluctantly resides to satisfy a very special hunger.
8. Who is the best follower in Skyrim?
While subjective, Serana is widely considered the best follower in Skyrim due to her compelling backstory and unique abilities.
9. Where can I find hired help in Skyrim?
You can find hirelings like Jenassa in Whiterun, Stenvar in Windhelm, and Marcurio in Riften. Vigilance, a war dog, can be found in Markarth.
10. Can you get Serana back after dismissing her?
After you talk to Gelebor, Serana will start following again but you’ll retain the services of whoever you traveled away to get. However, dismissing her after the Dawnguard questline can sometimes lead to a bug where she can’t be re-recruited.
11. Who are the enemies of Boethiah?
Boethiah is said to be an ally of Temple of Stendarr and enemy of Ebonarm, Molag Bal, and Peryite. Molag Bal is often considered Boethiah’s arch-enemy.
12. Do Dark Brotherhood initiates respawn?
Strangely, both of the initiates are marked to respawn if killed. However, due to being marked as Essential, they can never die and will never utilize this function.
13. Is Cosnach a good follower?
Cosnach is a drunken Breton found in the Warrens or Silver-Blood Inn in Markarth. He’s easy to recruit, but his stats aren’t particularly impressive.
14. Is Boethiah a Daedric Prince?
Yes, Boethiah is the Daedric Prince of treason, usurpation, and deceit.
15. Who is stronger, Molag Bal or Boethiah?
Molag Bal generally possesses more raw power. Boethiah might be able to manipulate situations to undermine him, but in a direct confrontation, Molag Bal would likely win.