Embarking on “The Only Cure” in Skyrim: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re itching to tackle “The Only Cure”, one of Skyrim’s more intriguing Daedric quests? Excellent choice! This quest will test your mettle, your resourcefulness, and your stomach (figuratively, of course… mostly). The main trigger for this quest is reaching level 10. After reaching level 10, you can find Kesh at the Shrine to Peryite, located at a dragon shrine northeast of Markarth. Also, you could encounter a radiant Afflicted NPC that can direct you to Kesh as well.

Reaching the Shrine and Speaking with Kesh

The journey to the Shrine to Peryite isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Located high in the mountains northeast of Markarth, it requires a bit of legwork. Be prepared for encounters with wildlife and potentially even bandits along the way. Once you finally arrive, you’ll find Kesh the Clean, a Khajiit worshipper of Peryite.

Talking to Kesh initiates the quest. He’ll explain that Peryite’s followers are suffering from a mysterious plague and that the Daedric Prince requires an elixir to be concocted. He tasks you with gathering the necessary ingredients.

The Ingredients of an Unusual Cure

You’ll need to gather the following ingredients:

• Deathbell: Found in swamps and damp areas. Morthal is a good place to find Deathbell.
• Vampire Dust: Obtained by defeating vampires. Explore caves and ruins known for vampiric activity.
• Silver Ingot: Can be mined from silver ore veins or purchased from blacksmiths.
• Flawless Ruby: Found in chests, dungeons, and sometimes on enemies.

Crafting the Incense

Once you have all the ingredients, return to Kesh. He’ll instruct you to use the nearby cauldron to create the incense. Add each ingredient to the cauldron in any order. This will trigger Peryite’s voice, who will deem you worthy.

Peryite’s Task

Peryite will then task you with venturing into Bthardamz, an ancient Dwemer ruin, to deal with Orchendor, a former follower who has gone rogue. Bthardamz is a sprawling and dangerous location, so come prepared for Dwemer automatons, Falmer, and other threats.

Confronting Orchendor

Orchendor is located deep within Bthardamz. He’s a powerful mage capable of teleporting and dealing significant magical damage. Defeat him to complete Peryite’s task.

Claiming Your Reward

Return to the Shrine to Peryite after defeating Orchendor. Peryite will reward you with the Spellbreaker shield, a unique artifact that creates a ward when blocking, absorbing magical damage. This shield counts toward the Oblivion Walker achievement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About “The Only Cure”

1. What level is the only cure in Skyrim? You need to be at least level 10 to initiate “The Only Cure” quest.
2. What is the best shield in Skyrim and how does “Spellbreaker” work? Spellbreaker is considered one of the best shields in Skyrim due to its unique ability to create a ward that absorbs magical damage when you block. It negates up to 50 points of magical damage. Other notable shields include the Shield of Solitude, Auriel’s Shield, Shield of Ysgramor, and Daedric Shield.
3. Where do I find “Spellbreaker” in Skyrim? You receive Spellbreaker as a reward from Peryite upon completing “The Only Cure” quest.
4. What if Kesh doesn’t create the incense? This is a known bug. The easiest fix is to use the console command setstage da13 21 (PC only) to bypass the step. Alternatively, you can kill Kesh, loot the ingredients from his body, and activate the cauldron yourself.
5. How do I upgrade Spellbreaker to legendary? To upgrade any weapon to legendary, you need to have your Smithing skill at 91. Since Spellbreaker is a magic weapon, you will also need the Arcane Blacksmith perk. You will still need over 160 Smithing to upgrade it to legendary.
6. Can I start “The Only Cure” without going to the Shrine to Peryite? Yes, you can trigger the quest by encountering a radiant Afflicted NPC. They will direct you to Kesh at the Shrine to Peryite.
7. Where can I find Vampire Dust easily? Head to known vampire lairs like Movarth’s Lair near Morthal or Haemar’s Shame near Ivarstead.
8. Is “The Only Cure” a difficult quest? The main challenge lies in navigating Bthardamz, a large and complex Dwemer ruin filled with dangerous enemies. Orchendor himself is also a tough opponent, so be prepared for a challenging fight.
9. What is the console command for the only cure in Skyrim? If you get stuck at a certain point in the quest, you can use console commands. For example, using the console command setstage da13 21 (PC only) to bypass the step. You can use other setstage da13 commands followed by a number to potentially set it to other stages. Be aware of bugs though.
10. What are other Daedric Quests in Skyrim? “The Only Cure” is part of a series of unrelated Daedric Quests. It means it is not related to another Daedric Quest, story-wise.
11. Can you cure Vampirism in Skyrim? Yes, you can cure Vampirism in Skyrim by completing the quest “Rising at Dawn.” The player won’t need to provide anything else to Falion to cure Vampirism. Just let him do his thing, stand in the Summoning Stones, and the Vampire curse will be cured.
12. What are the negative effects of cold, fatigue, and hunger in Skyrim’s survival mode? Cold, fatigue, and hunger in Skyrim’s survival mode can impact your character’s health, movement, skills, Magicka and stamina regeneration, potion effectiveness, weapon strength, shield usage, and sneaking ability.
13. Where can I get cured in Skyrim? There are a variety of ways to cure most of the diseases in Skyrim: Potion of Cure Disease, Cooking and Eating Garlic Bread, Eating a Hawk Feather, Interacting With Diety Shrines, Going to the Temple of Mara, Visiting the Vigilants of Stendarr.
14. What is the rarest thing in Skyrim? There are many different kinds of items that are rare. Some can be weapons, armors, crafting materials or anything else. Rarest items include: Master Sword, Champion’s Tunic, And Hylian Shield Set; Roasted Ox Head; Crown Of Barenziah; Notched Pickaxe; Ysgramor’s Soup Spoon; Argonian Ale and Broken Iron Sword Blade And Handle.
15. What is the hardest quest in Skyrim? Skyrim has many hard quests to complete. Some of the hardest quests include: The Ebony Warrior; No Stone Unturned; Under New Management; A Return To Your Roots; Elder Knowledge; Lost To The Ages; The Eye Of Magnus and The Black Star.

Conclusion

“The Only Cure” is a rewarding quest that offers a unique artifact and a challenging adventure. By following this guide and being prepared for the dangers ahead, you’ll be well on your way to claiming the Spellbreaker and adding another Daedric artifact to your collection.

Remember to stay curious, explore every corner of Skyrim, and perhaps even contribute to the understanding of games and learning by visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Happy adventuring!