The world ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis chock-full of optional areas for players to find and explore. While some of these areas are small and easy to navigate, others,like Dwemer Ruins, are extremely easy to get lost in. Because of this, completing quests that task the Dragonborn with exploring areas like this can be quite challenging.
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Skyrim’s"The Lost Expedition"side quest tasks players with traveling to the lower levels ofthe city of Markarthand acquiringfour journals. Though the task may sound simple enough, the layout of the area can make finding each journal quite difficult.
How To Start The Lost Expedition Side Quest
“The Lost Expedition” side quest will begin once the Dragonborn collectsAlethius' Note, a piece of paper found next to a corpse in theNchuand-Zel Excavation Site. To find the entrance to this area, the player should enter theUnderstone Keep in Markarth, turn left, and head straight. At the top of the stairs in the next room, the entrance to theExcavation Sitecan be found.
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Once inside, players should travel forward and proceed up the second set of stairs on the left. Following the path forward will eventually lead to a large room, in which Alethius’s Note can be foundnext to the cobweb-covered corridor.
If players are visiting this area for the first time, entering this room will cause agiant spider named Nimheto spawn and attack.
Where To Find All Lost Expedition Journals
Once the Dragonborn interacts with Alethius’s Note, “The Lost Expedition” side quest will begin. To complete it, players must proceed through the cobwebbed corridor and open the door toNchuand-Zel, where they can begin searching forStromm’s, Erj’s, Krag’s, and Staubs' Journals.
How To Find Stromm’s Journal
Nchuand-Zel iscrawling with Falmer, but most of them can be picked off from a distance with a well-aimed arrow or two. To find where Stromm’s Journal is resting, the Dragonborn must follow the path leading into Nchuand-Zel, travel directly south, turn left, and open the door leading to theNchuand-Zel Quarters.
Once inside, players should follow the path forward until they come across the stairs leading down. Following these stairs and continuing forward up the set of stairs at the end of the corridor, players will findStromm’s Diary on the tablenext to the tree.
How To Find Erj’s Journal
Backtracking to the top of the stairs and returning to the entrance, players will need to travel to the lowest level of Nchuand-Zel in order to reach Erj’s Journal. The fastest way to do this is tojump into the water, but players should ensure to save their game before attempting to. Once in the water, proceeding west toward theNchuand-Zel Armorywill lead to the next journal.
Ignoring the stairs leading up, players should take the path leading further west until they reach a locked gate. Opening it and traveling up the stairs behind it,Erj’s Notescan be seennext to the body in front of the Dwarven Centurion statue.
How To Find Krag’s Journal
Backtracking to the entrance of the Nchuand-Zel Armory and taking the stairs up, players should follow the path to the right until they reach a split pathway.
Ignoring the path leading left, the Dragonborn shouldhead up the stairs to the rightand enter through the door leading back to Nchuand-Zel itself. Just outside,Krag’s Journal can be seen lying next to a body on the ground.
How To Find Staubs' Journal
After finding Krag’s Journal, players should face north and travel up the winding platform. At the top, they will be faced with a door leading toNchuand-Zel Control, and they must enter inside to find the final journal they need.
Once inside, all players need to do is follow the path in front of them until they findStaubs' Journal on the ground next to a dead body.
How To Complete The Lost Expedition Side Quest
Once all four journals have been found, the Dragonborn will need to re-activate Nchuand-Zel’s automated defenses. To do this, players should continue on from where they found Staubs' Journal, climb the stairs, and follow the path into the final room.Interacting with the Leverinside this room will re-activate the automated defenses, while also opening a nearby gate.
Proceeding through the newly opened gate and dropping down to the floor below, players can proceed through the door to get back to Nchuand-Zel. Traveling upthe path on the leftwill lead the Dragonborn back to the highest platform in the room; once there, all the player needs to do is turn left and open the door leadingback to the Nchuand-Zel Excavation Site.
Traveling back through the Nchuand-Zel Excavation Site, players will be able to return to the Understone Keep, where they can find and interact withCalcelmo. Speaking to Calcelmo and selecting the"I’ve found this expedition journal"option will prompt him to read through what the Dragonborn collected. Grateful for the Dragonborn’s assistance, he rewards them for their services with1,500 Gold.
If the Dragonborn fought and killed Nimhe, the spider in the Nchuand-Zel Excavation Site, they can also complete the"Nimhe, the Poisoned One"quest during their conversation with Calcelmo. To do this, players should select the"I’ve killed Nimhe"option, which will prompt Calcelmo to thank the Dragonborn for their help. According to Calcelmo, Nimhe had been interfering with his excavations, so the creature’s death will likely improve the speed at which he can complete his work.
As a reward for defeating Nimhe, Calcelmo will give the Dragonborn aDwemer Museum Key. With this key, players will be free to explore the Dwemer Museum without aggravating the Markarth City Guards roaming the area.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available for PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
