Rising at Dawn | Side quests TES V: Skyrim Guide
Last update: 12 December 2019
This page of our guide to TES V: Skyrim provides a detailed walkthrough of Rising at Dawn side quest. It's a very unique quest because it lets you become a vampire (if you decide not to remove a vampire curse). In our walkthrough we explain, step by step, how to remove the curse.
- Activating the quest
- New main objective: Speak to Falion
- New main objective: Bring a filled Black Soul Gem to Morthal
- New main objective: Meet Falion at dawn
- New main objective: Speak to Falion
- New main objective: Wait for Falion to complete the ritual
Activating the quest
If you happened to get infected with vampirism and don't want to end as a bloodsucker, there's still some hope for you. During the first three days you can heal using conventional methods (potions or visiting a divine altar). If three days have already passed, you will need to put a bit more effort into it and complete this quest.
We also recommend you to visit the Vampirism page available in our world atlas. There, you can find all the information about becoming a vampire and some tips on how to play the game as a vampire.
With the vampirism starting to give tangible effects (red eyes, pale skin etc.), head to any inn and ask the innkeeper for the latest gossip. Seeing the state you're in, the innkeeper will suggest that the mage Falion from Morthal is rumoured to have learned the mystery behind vampirism. Who knows, maybe he knows the cure for your disease?
New main objective: Speak to Falion
The mage can be found in Morthal - a small town north-east of Whiterun (you can also easily reach it from Solitude). During the day, the man will be at his house and during the night at the ancient circle north-west of town. He will immediately recognize a vampire upon seeing you. Apparently he really has some knowledge.
In order to heal yourself of vampirism, you will need to participate in a mysterious ritual conducted by Falion. He will however need a filled Black Soul Gem for that. It seems that in return for your freedom, you will need to pay with someone's life.
New main objective: Bring a filled Black Soul Gem to Morthal
The Black Soul Gem can be found in a few ways. The easiest is just buying it from Falion - it doesn't cost that much. If you don't have enough gold, you can find it at Hjerim in Windhelm or at Hob's Fall Cave (west of Winterhold).
After obtaining the gem, you will still need to fill it. In order to suck a soul and place it inside a gem, you will need a special spell (Soul Trap - available at most mages), or a weapon capable of imprisoning enemy souls. Afterwards hunt for a human - it will be easiest to sneak into a Bandit camp or any other cave and kill one there. After catching a soul, you can return to Falion.
New main objective: Meet Falion at dawn
After you give the mage the Filled Black Soul Gem, you can get ready for the ceremony. Head out of Morthal and go north-west until you reach a stone circle. Stand in the middle and wait for sunrise (around 5:00AM). Of course you don't have to just stand there and waste your time waiting, as by pressing T you can speed things up.
New main objective: Speak to Falion
New main objective: Wait for Falion to complete the ritual
As the mage appears at the circle, ask him to conduct the ritual. Falion will start reading a magical incarnation and as a result your world will start spinning and growing dark. The foul vampire soul will leave your body and you will lose your conscience. When you wake up, the sun will be high in the sky and you will be a completely healthy human. If you happen to catch vampirism again, you can return to Falion and repeat the whole process.
