The Forgotten Seasons creation DLC for Skyrim adds a new large dungeon with three quests containing several new books, items, enemies, and rewards. The challenge for players is to stop a Dwemer weather machine on the fritz, collect the parts to join a Dwemer Crown, and assemble a mechanical Dwemer horse. Unlike other creations, players will not spawn directly to the dungeon. Instead, after adding Skyrim’s Forgotten Seasons, travel to the Reach, where a new cave called the Runoff Caverns is now available. It is here and into the Dwemer Ruins of Vardnknd that the adventure begins.
Forgotten Seasons is a DLC from the Skyrim Special Edition Creation Club. The project was produced and designed by several different contributors. The original design was done by developers Trainwiz and PrivateEye, with the help of Elianora and Rob Vogel on the artwork. Also, with additional moderation done by Kris Takahashi and, of course, some assistance from Skyrim’s original developers, Bethesda Game Studios.
As mentioned, the dungeon has three parts to complete simultaneously: The Dwarven Crown, The Dwarven Horse, and The Forgotten Seasons. Tasked with scoring the dungeon for well-hidden parts, players must defeat the familiar spriggans and the new Dwarven automation to obtain them. As the title presumes, the dungeon is divided into four parts themed by the four seasons: Spring’s Symphony, Winter’s Chimes, Summer’s Chords, and Autumn’s Bells. Here’s everything you need to know to get through Skyrim Forgotten Seasons.
Things To Know Before Entering Skyrim Forgotten Seasons Dungeon
Players may attempt the Forgotten Seasons dungeon in any order, especially if up for a challenge, but there are a few things to know to make it easier. Certain areas of the cave harbor objects needed to get through others. Here are a few items that should be found in advance before heading into the areas:
- Before entering the Runoff Cavern, there is a Dwarven horse torso here that players must interact with to initiate The Dwarven Horse quest. Do this ahead of time to avoid returning to it later.
- Players do not need to empty their carry weight for the quest parts because they will already be zero weight.
- Be prepared with spells or weapons to defeat frost, fire, and powerful shock enemies.
- If standing idly, the lightning can strike players and cause damage.
- Remember to activate the lever for the bridge after entering to make for an easy exit later.
- The key for the door holding the Mask of Spring is won by defeating the Blooming Spriggan Matron boss. This boss is at the end of Spring’s Symphony section.
- A Dwarven Drone Fly can be found in a chest at the end of Spring’s Symphony that can aid in getting through the poisonous hallway.
- All mechanical horse parts are located in one section: Autumn’s Bells.
Getting Through The Dwarven Crown Quest in Skyrim Forgotten Seasons
Although they are completed in tandem, there are different steps and actions to take to get through Skyrim Forgotten Seasons quests. For example, the Dwarven Crown quest begins with the death of Elberon, a wizard. He is struck by lighting upon entering the Vardnknd Gallery, and players are prompted to loot his belongings. On him, players will find a Dwarven Crown and then begin the quest to find three masks from different sections to fit it. Here’s where to find the masks:
Autumn Mask – Found in Autumn’s Bells. There’s a bridge to the right of the chamber. Once crossed, head North on the brick road. This leads to the mask inside of a passageway.
Spring Mask – Obtain the key in Spring’s Symphony by defeating the Spriggan boss at the end. Then, head back to the hallway seen earlier and the door. Now having the key, open the door and find the mask here.
Winter Mask – In Winter’s Chimes, there’s a hidden place in the hallway with all of the frost spiders that leads to a snowy room. Above there’s a gate that is reached by climbing a small snow hill and a dwarf pipe. Jump down into the water and head through the passage. Be prepared to take on the Dwarven Centurion.
Skyrim Forgotten Seasons Dwarven Horse Quest
Another quest available as part of Skyrim Forgotten Seasons involves locating missing horse parts. Once found, these parts are to be rejoined with the horse’s torso at the dungeon entrance. Thankfully they’re not so difficult to find as they’re together inside the same area. However, there will be the task of getting through the entire Runoffs Cavern to get there. It’s located in the major area of the cavern. Here’s where to find the horses four legs and head:
Front Right Leg – In the entrance hallway.
Front Left Leg – Atop a pedestal at the rear of the main chamber.
Back Right Leg – Under a fallen building near the green wheat on the left side of the room.
Back Left Leg- Near a fallen tower on the right side of the room, near the red wheat.
Horse Head – On a pile of gold in the gem chamber. Complete the Autumn Bell puzzle to find this part.
The Final Skyrim Forgotten Seasons Quest
The final quest holds the overall title, The Forgotten Seasons. Elberon’s journal has a passage with the same title that guides players in locating the four gems within the dungeon. These gems shut down the corrupted weather machine and save Skyrim from horrid, controlled weather. They can also be found while traveling through the cavern on the two previous quests. In case they were missed, here are their locations and how to shut down the Weather Witch:
Autumn Conduit Gem – In Autumn Bell’s room, read the mercenary’s note. Then, harvest one kind of wheat (blue, red, tan, orange, green, and white) and place them in the containers near the glowing red wheat. Finally, retrieve the gem from the now opened treasure room.
Spring Conduit Gem – Again read the note from the dead mercenary to reveal how to reach the gem. First, kill the Spriggins in the correct order to destroy the blockage of vines and take on the boss Spriggin. Once defeated, a key is obtained (if not done so already from The Dwarven Crown quest). This key opens a door in the hall at the entrance where the gem can be found.
Summer Conduit – In Summer’s Chords, use the control rod to activate the mechanical spider. Next, guide the spiders to the correct waypoints to shut down the conduit. This completes the task here.
Winters Conduit Gem – This area requires fighting off many enemies such as Frost Spiders, Frost Atronachs, and Ice Wraiths. This is the main challenge before the gem is found and retrieved.
Shutting Down The Weather Witch – With all conduits deactivated, return to the Vardnknd Gallery to face the giant dwarven spider, the Sky Orchestrator. The boss will cycle through three stages frost, fire, and shock. Once defeated, the quest to shut down the machine will be completed.
Skyrim Forgotten Seasons is one of the most challenging additions but is worth the effort. Being rewarded with the mechanical dwarven horse is most valuable as it can be ridden through any attack and will not take damage. Most of the items found here pertain to the quests at hand and will not be needed in other game areas. Except, of course, the spell, The Turn Of Seasons, the dwarven armor, and the dwarven drone fly.
Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available on PC, Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo.