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How to Recruit Farkas in Skyrim: A Comprehensive Guide

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Farkas, the not-so-bright but fiercely loyal Nord warrior, is a member of The Companions in Whiterun. To recruit Farkas as a follower in Skyrim, you must first join The Companions and then complete their main questline. Once you’ve proven yourself and risen through the ranks, Farkas becomes available as a follower and even a potential spouse! This guide will walk you through the process, answering all your burning questions along the way.

Joining The Companions: Your First Step

To even think about having Farkas as your trusty companion, you need to get in with his crew! Here’s how:

Travel to Whiterun: Head to Whiterun, one of the first major cities you’ll encounter on your Skyrim journey.
Locate Jorrvaskr: Jorrvaskr, the mead hall and headquarters of The Companions, is located in the northeast part of Whiterun. It’s hard to miss, looking like an upside-down ship hull!
Speak to Kodlak Whitemane: Once inside Jorrvaskr, seek out Kodlak Whitemane, the Harbinger (leader) of The Companions. He can usually be found in his quarters.
Accept the “Take Up Arms” quest: Talk to Kodlak, express your interest in joining The Companions, and he will task you with proving yourself. This initiates the quest “Take Up Arms.”
Complete “Take Up Arms”: Follow the quest objectives, which involve training with the members and completing a simple task. This quest ensures you are ready for further trials.

Gaining Farkas’ Loyalty: Completing The Companions Questline

Once you’re officially a Companion, you’ll need to prove your worth to the entire group. This involves working your way through their questline. Completing The Companions questline involves several quests, and it isn’t a straight line. Some quests are given at random and can be completed in any order. Some of the radiant quests which are repeatable and randomly generated from the Companions includes “Animal Extermination” and “Hired Muscle”. Here are some core quests:

Trouble in Skyrim: Assigned by Kodlak Whitemane, this quest involves a group of bandits led by a mage and is usually the next step after joining The Companions.
Proving Honor: Farkas himself gives you this quest. He accompanies you to Bleak Falls Barrow to retrieve a fragment of Wuuthrad. This is a crucial quest for forming a bond with Farkas and unlocking his follower status.
The Silver Hand: You’ll be inducted into the Circle of The Companions and discover their secret: they are werewolves!
Blood’s Honor: A quest for the members of The Circle.
The Curing: Completing “The Silver Hand” leads to “The Curing”.
Glory of the Dead: The final quest in the Companions questline, where you honor Kodlak Whitemane.

The Purity Quest: Curing Farkas of Lycanthropy

To truly solidify your relationship with Farkas (and potentially marry him), you’ll eventually want to help him cure himself of lycanthropy. This quest line begins after Kodlak’s death and “Glory of the Dead.”

Obtain a Glenmoril Witch Head: You’ll need a Glenmoril Witch Head. These can be found by defeating witches in Glenmoril Coven, located southwest of Windhelm.
Talk to Farkas (or Vilkas): Speak to either Farkas or Vilkas with a Glenmoril Witch Head in your inventory. Agree to help them purify themselves.
Travel to Ysgramor’s Tomb: Head to Ysgramor’s Tomb, located north of Winterhold. This is the ancestral burial ground of the Companions.
Activate the Flame of the Harbinger: Inside Ysgramor’s Tomb, you’ll find the Flame of the Harbinger in the main chamber. With a Witch Head in your inventory, activate the flame.
Fight the Wolf Spirit: This will summon the Wolf Spirit of the Companion you are trying to cure. Defeat the spirit to complete the purification.

Important Note: Cure Farkas first, or Vilkas might bug out.

Making Farkas Your Follower and More

Once you’ve completed the main Companions questline (including “Glory of the Dead”), Farkas is officially available as a follower. Simply talk to him and ask him to accompany you. He’ll join your adventures, providing heavy armor expertise and a loyal companion. You can always visit GamesLearningSociety.org to discuss your experience with Farkas, The Companions, and other game-based learning activities.

Marriage: Sealing the Deal

If you want to take your relationship with Farkas to the next level, marriage is an option!

Obtain the Amulet of Mara: Purchase the Amulet of Mara from Maramal in Riften’s Temple of Mara. You may have to first complete a short quest for Maramal before he offers to sell you the Amulet of Mara. You’ll have to listen to his discourse on the subject.
Equip the Amulet: Wear the Amulet of Mara. This signals your availability for marriage.
Talk to Farkas: With the Amulet equipped, talk to Farkas. If your relationship is high enough (which it should be after the Companions questline), you’ll see a new dialogue option asking if he’s interested in you.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Farkas

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Farkas.

1. Why can’t I get quests from Farkas?

If Farkas isn’t giving you any quests after you join The Companions, try taking a random quest from Aela the Huntress and completing it. This often unblocks Farkas’s quest availability. Once his quests are available, you can start the Purity quest.

2. Is Farkas always essential?

Farkas is intended to become non-essential after “Glory of the Dead,” similar to other members of the Circle. However, a bug sometimes leaves him essential, meaning he can’t be killed.

3. Can I marry Farkas as a man?

Yes! Every romanceable character in Skyrim is “protagonistsexual,” meaning they’re open to relationships regardless of your character’s gender.

4. Can I turn Farkas into a vampire?

No, you cannot turn Farkas into a vampire. He is immune to vampirism due to being a werewolf.

5. Is it possible to complete the Companions questline without becoming a werewolf?

No. You must become a werewolf during “The Silver Hand” quest. However, you can cure yourself later.

6. Do I cure Vilkas or Farkas first?

Cure Farkas first. Curing Vilkas first can sometimes cause the quest to bug out.

7. What quest does Farkas give you in Skyrim?

Farkas gives you the “Proving Honor” quest, where he accompanies you to Bleak Falls Barrow to retrieve a fragment of Wuuthrad.

8. Is Farkas better than Vilkas as a follower?

Vilkas is generally considered a slightly better follower due to his combat skills being more optimized. Farkas has some points in non-combat skills, making Vilkas a more effective tank and damage dealer.

9. Is Farkas a good spouse in Skyrim?

Farkas makes a surprisingly good spouse. Despite his simple nature, he’s happy to tend to the home and doesn’t require constant adventure. He’s loyal, loving, and provides a steady presence.

10. Why does Farkas keep pursuing me?

Farkas, Vilkas, and Aela sometimes exhibit guard-like behavior due to their programming. If you have a bounty anywhere, they may try to arrest you.

11. Can you get Farkas to follow you without joining The Companions?

This article states it is possible, but doesn’t share the method. The answer to this question is highly suspect.

12. What happens if Vilkas dies?

If Vilkas dies, he dies permanently unless you reload a previous save or use console commands to resurrect him.

13. Can you join The Companions as a vampire?

You can join The Companions as a vampire, but you will be required to become a werewolf as part of the questline. You can later revert to being a vampire if desired.

14. Does the Dawnguard accept werewolves?

Yes, you can side with the Dawnguard as a werewolf.

15. Can I be a werewolf and a vampire in Skyrim simultaneously?

No, you cannot be both a werewolf and a vampire at the same time. Lycanthropy will override vampirism.

Conclusion: Your Loyal Companion Awaits

Recruiting Farkas in Skyrim is a fulfilling journey intertwined with The Companions’ epic questline. By proving your worth, helping him overcome his lycanthropy, and solidifying your bond, you’ll gain a loyal follower, a potential spouse, and a true friend in the harsh world of Skyrim. Whether you value his heavy armor expertise or his simple, heartfelt loyalty, Farkas is a valuable addition to any Dragonborn’s adventure. Enjoy exploring Skyrim with your new Companion! If you’re interested in learning more about the educational aspects of gaming, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.