Gallows Hall is a Creation that is featured inSkyrim Anniversary Edition, and there is a quest called Dreams of the Dead at its center. This quest consists of numerous steps, and indeed there are several objects that may leave players slightly confused.
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For those fans that find themselves stuck at some part ofSkyrim’s Dreams of the Dead quest, this guide is here to assist by providing a complete walkthrough.
Updated July 13, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: Upon entering Gallows Hall Skyrim puts players on a quest to delve deeper into the secrets of this necromantic lair. For completing the Skyrim Dreams of the Dead quest players unlock this elaborate dwelling for themselves, and it’s quite the prize for players inclines towards the dark arts. In addition to three unique items that return from previous Elder Scrolls games, the Skyrim Gallows Hall home also gives access to a completely new feature: the Bone Forge. This Gallows Hall Skyrim walkthrough details how to begin the quest, where to find Gallows Hall in the first place, and what to expect from the three pieces of gear that can be looted as well as the capacities of the Bone Forge.
The first step toward completing the Dreams of the Dead quest is to initiate it, and that is done by visiting the Gallows Hall at the northeast corner ofMara’s Eye Pond. For the uninitiated, this pond is situated slightly southwest of Windhelm.
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Players will find the entrance to the Gallows Hall in the form of a wooden door that is near the boat that floats upon the nearby water. Once inside the Gallows Hall, fans should read Naara’s Journal, which is on the ground near a corpse at the entrance, to start the Dreams of the Dead quest.
For completing the Dreams of the DeadSkyrimquest players earn three pieces of gear and one non-tangible reward. TheStaff of Wormsis a Staff that turns almost any dead body into a permanent Thrall with vastly enhanced stats. There are two helms, too, being theBloodworm Helm, which reducesthe cost of Conjuration magicand enhances damage to Undead, and theHelm of Oreyn Bearclaw, which greatly enhances Max Stamina and Stamina regeneration.
Additionally, for completing theSkyrimDreams of the Dead quest playersunlock access to a feature of Gallows Hall called the Bone Forge. The Bone Forge can be used like the Atronach Forge to summon one of four permanent undead followers. The Skeleton, Boneman, Mistman, and Wrathman cannot be dismissed once summoned, but they don’t count against the player’s Follower count.
The Arch Necromancer’s First Clue (Torch Puzzle)
With the quest underway, players should head over to the stone table with the map on it and read the Arch Necromancer’s First Clue. From there, fans will need to interact with four of the torches that are on the pillars that encircle the center of the room, and that should be done in this order: Torch of Morthal,Torch of Falkreath, Torch of the Nightgate Inn, Torch of Fort Dunstad. When that is done, players should pick up the Staff of Worms, which will have fallen onto the ground, and proceed to the next step.
Find a Use for the Staff
Here,Skyrimfansshould equipthe Staff of Worms and head back toward the doorway that they passed through when entering the room. They should then turn left upon reaching that doorway and approach the coffin in the corner. There is a Skeleton Mage in that coffin, which players should raise with the staff and interact with in order to obtain the Arch Necromancer’s Key.
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Arch Necromancer’s Second Clue (Dream World)
Players should now use the Arch Necromancer’s Key to unlock the nearby safe and obtain the second clue. After reading this clue, fans should activate the Shrine of Vaermina, a small statue that is on a shelf that is against the wall, and then sleep in the bedroll that is next to the corpse where the quest was started. This action will send players into the dream world, where they will need to loot three Dreamer’sSoul Gemsfrom the coffers scattered around the room.
Arch Necromancer’s Final Instruction
When the third Soul Gem has been collected, players will find themselves back at the altar in the middle of the room, and they should read the final instruction that is upon it. They should then pickup a fourth Dreamer’s Soul Gem from the ground next to the corpse and insert all of the Gems into the holders on the altar. Once the last Gem has been inserted, fans should interact with the altar to complete the Dreams of the Deadquest inSkyrim.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Editionis available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
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