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Mehrunes' Razor

Oblivion:Sundercliff Watch

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OB-mapicon-Fort.png
Fort:
Sundercliff Watch
(view on map) (lore page)
Added by Mehrunes' Razor
# of Zones 12+
Occupants
NPCs (Drothmeri Army), Vampires
Console Location Code(s)
DL09Exterior01a, DL09Exterior02; DL9c01 (Sundercliff Watch); DL9c02 (Sundercliff Village); DL9c03 (Sundercliff Commune); DL9c04 (UNUSED CELL); DL9c05 (Sundercliff Mines); DL9c06 (Sundercluff Forge); DL9c07 (Excavated Ruin); DL9c08 (Varsa Baalim); DL9c09 (The Nefarivigum); DL9c10 (Forgotten Tunnels); DL9c08house1 (Cava Arpenia); DL9c08house2 (Cava Beldameld); DL9c08house3 (Cava Marspanga);
Region
Nibenay Basin
Location
Far east of Bravil, east of Lake Canulus and very near the border with Morrowind
Sundercliff Watch

Sundercliff Watch is a very large fort far east of Bravil containing NPCs and vampires (download-specific).

The location is added with the Mehrunes' Razor official download, and houses the eponymous artifact.

Sundercliff Watch is the largest dungeon in the game, containing a mixture of caves, buildings and Ayleid ruins. The location consists of 23 zones in total. The nine main zones are Sundercliff Watch, Sundercliff Village, Sundercliff Commune, Sundercliff Forge, Sundercliff Mines, Excavated Ruin, Varsa Baalim, The Nefarivigum, and Forgotten Tunnels. Three smaller zones, Cava Arpenia, Cava Beldameld and Cava Marspanga link different areas of Varsa Baalim together, and in addition, there are multiple houses, side rooms and tents.

Sundercliff Watch served as a waystation in the time of the Reman Dynasty but has long been forgotten.

People[edit]

Occupants
Armor Apprentice
Drothmeri Steward
The Forgemaster
Frathen Drothan
Msirae Faythung
Weapons Apprentice
Morag Tong Assassin

Related Quests[edit]

Notes[edit]

Underwater exit
  • A second entrance can be found underwater at the northeastern tip of Lake Canulus, about 100 feet to the west of the main entrance. It leads to the Forgotten Tunnels but cannot be used to access any other zones until you have completed the related quest, due to a key-requiring door.
  • In the Excavated Ruin, you can see a vampire and a Drothmeri member through a window you cannot go through. If you tcl through the window, you can find a hidden door to an area identified in the game as "UNUSED CELL" (editor ID dl9c04), which is just an Ayleid floor and door floating in a grey void. Entering the cell will show the message "You should not be here" until you leave it. The room's script is set to show the message to the player and all essential characters and to disable any non-essential characters.
  • This ruin contains 3 Cairn Bolete plants and 6 Potato plants.
  • Sundercliff Watch also appears in ESO as Fort Sundercliff, named for the surrounding town of Sundercliff.

Exterior[edit]

Key to Maps
Map of Sundercliff Watch, Exterior
  • The exterior is located at coordinates: Tamriel 48, -6 and 49, -6.
  • This location's map marker (M on map) is named Sundercliff Watch (editor name DL09MapMarker). The entrance door is south-southeast of the marker, 35 feet away.
  • 1 Wilderness Creature (Mountains variety) is near the entrance.
  • The following plants can be found near the entrance: 2 Columbine plants, 15 Foxglove plants, 17 Green Stain Cup plants, 8 Monkshood plants, 1 Motherwort plant and 24 Summer Bolete plants.

Zone 1: Sundercliff Watch[edit]

Sundercliff Watch

Upon entering the ruin, you will notice it is a mix of cave and fort architecture, with what looks like a bandit campsite in the first room. Here you will find one Drothmeri Soldier or Recruit, while another soldier patrols nearby. In the southeastern corner you will find a minor loot chest and a table with an iron arrow and an iron shield. Head past a collapsed statue of Stendarr and down the tunnel to the east until you reach an Old Wooden Door (D). If you try to open it, you are told that "A voice beyond the door calls out: Who gathers stormclouds over Nirn?". At first, your only option in response is to say nothing. However, if you check the Abandoned Knapsack (K) just to the right of the door, you will find a small diary with the required password: "Chimer". Note that unless you are sneaking, you will likely be detected by the enemies on the other side of the door.

Once you open it, you will be immediately faced with the Drothmeri Steward (S), who is sitting at a desk hosting two sacks of gold, a flawed diamond, a flawed emerald, a flawless sapphire, 4 gold coins and the Steward's Registry (E). Fighting the Steward is also likely to draw in one or both of the two nearby soldiers or recruits. Make your way down a number of stairs, loot the chest and healing potion sack along the way and dispatch the patrolling soldier you'll likely come across.

The final room of this zone resembles a large fort tower, open in the middle. You arrive on the top floor and this provides you with good sniping opportunities: there is a veteran on the level below you, a soldier or recruit on your level as well as another recruit who will always be sleeping on the bedroll (b) across from where you enter. Dispatch them and head down the lowest level, where you will find a blazing bonfire and two tents with bedrolls (b). Use door C to access the Sundercliff Village.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

  • There are two doors in/out of this zone
  • 1 Old Wooden Door at D (requires password)

Other:

  • 4 bedrolls at locations b on map

Zone 2: Sundercliff Village[edit]

Sundercliff Village
Sundercliff Village

This zone is mostly taken up by a single very large cave on two levels with a plank bridge spanning across the middle. In the middle you will find a small village of five wooden buildings, most of which extend over multiple stories. After entering from door C and passing by an iron ore nugget you will arrive on the village's upper level. This can be useful for sniping, as without sneak its likely you will end up fighting multiple enemies at once. As well as up to two enemies near you when entering, there are another 1-2 on the lower level, 1-2 guarding the second story doors of the two eastern buildings and 1 on the western side of the upper level. In addition, one torch-bearing soldier will be patrolling the entire village, a Veteran can be found practicing his swordsmanship on the target in the southwestern corner and up to three recruits can be found training during the day.

On the eastern side of the top level when you enter you will find 1-2 soldiers or recruits huddled around a bonfire and guarding a nearby hutch. In the northwestern corner is the Jail (K) and a minor loot chest can be found just behind it. The door at D leads to the Sundercliff Forge. While it provides the quickest access to that zone, for a full exploration you will want to ignore it for now.

If you want to cross to the eastern side you can use the main plank bridge, though this will certainly cause you to be detected by the enemies below, or sneak along the northern or southern walls. To access the lower level you can either jump down, use the wooden stairs from the eastern side or enter either of the two buildings on the western side from the second floor door and then exit via the first floor door.

The southern building on the near (western) side of the cave is the Canteen and you can access its second floor door (I) by using the path along the southern wall. There may be an enemy posted as guard here, though if you're lucky they'll be sleeping on the nearby bedroll (b). From here you can also use the small plank bridge to access the Private Attic via the door at H (leveled lock). The first floor door of this building is boarded up, but you will find a hutch nearby. Meanwhile the building just to the east of the jail is the Recruit Barracks. You can either enter via the second floor door (G), although this will be guarded by an enemy, or use the trapdoor on the roof. The final building is the Soldier Lodgings, which you can enter from the lower level via door J.

On the eastern side of the upper level you will find an enemy guarding the door (F) to the Sundercliff Forge and two hutches (one on the Lodgings' roof). On top of the training target in the southeastern corner you will find a Keen Edge Potion and a sack with healing potions.

Finally, if you take either of the tunnels heading west from the lower level you will reach a rectangular chamber used as a training area. In the southern section are two tents with bedrolls (b) while to the north are a few wooden platforms hosting a minor loot chest, a variety of iron weapons and a copy of Manual of Arms. A soldier will be patrolling nearby and usually at least one recruit can be found practicing here. The door at E takes you to the Sundercliff Commune.

Occupants:

  • 4-7 Drothmeri (Drothmeri Soldier or Recruit; level-dependent)
  • 2 Drothmeri Soldiers (patrolling)
  • 1 Drothmeri Veteran (always training)

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

Other:

  • 1 bed at locations b on map
  • 5 bedrolls at locations b on map

Recruit Barracks[edit]

This building is divided on two floors and will host up to three Drothmeri Recruits: depending on the time of the day they may instead be found training outside. On the top floor you will find two minor loot chests and three beds, while on the bottom floor are two sacks with healing potions, a repair hammer and a bottle of Cyrodilic brandy.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Other:

  • 3 beds

Private Attic[edit]

This building consists of a single room with a laborer and possibly a Drothmeri soldier or recruit guarding a bed and a minor loot chest. Just above the bed, perched on one of the rafters, is a plate with two flawless diamonds, a topaz, a flawed emerald, a flawed sapphire and a flawed ruby. You can reach it by jumping from on top of the bed.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Other:

  • 1 bed

Canteen[edit]

When entering from the second floor door you may immediately find yourself fighting a soldier or recruit, so be prepared. Loot the chest nearby and head downstairs, where you will find another soldier or recruit guarding another chest. Beyond the chests there is no loot, beyond a surfeit of foodstuffs.

Occupants:

Treasure:


Soldier Lodgings[edit]

This building can only be accessed via the door on the first floor, on the lower level of the village. On the bottom floor you may find a Drothmeri soldier or recruit as well as a minor loot chest and a table with 8 gold coins, a flawed ruby and a topaz. On the upper floor are up to two more soldiers or recruits guarding another minor loot chest, a healing potions sack, a locked jewelry box, two beds, a bedroll and a dining table laden with food.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Other:

  • 2 beds
  • 1 bedroll

Jail[edit]

This building is quite small and has no enemies. To the left when entering is a locked cell door (leveled; minimum Average). Behind it is a bedroll and a Morag Tong Assassin, who you cannot speak to but can free by unlocking the door. Doing so will cause him to seek out and attempt to kill the Drothmeri Commander, so this can be useful. The main room hosts a bedroll and a table with two wrist irons and a letter explaining the situation with the prisoner.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Other:

  • 2 bedrolls

Zone 3: Sundercliff Commune[edit]

Sundercliff Commune
Sundercliff Commune

It's recommended to enter from door D, as you will then emerge on the upper level of this zone's main chamber. Specifically, you will be on the southern side, with a deep central canyon separating you from the northern side. A rope bridge crosses the canyon while a winding set of wooden stairs spirals down to the bottom level, which can be access from door E.

After entering from door D, loot the chest and healing potions sack at the end of the corridor and enter the main room. To the west is the Yeoman Barracks (G), with a minor loot chest behind it. You will usually find a Drothmeri recruit training his archery skills nearby while another recruit or soldier is posted at the bridge. Two Drothmeri soldiers also patrol the upper level: one covers the bridge while the other moves up and down the wooden stairs. Also on the southern side you will find a minor loot chest, a hutch and an Iron Battle Axe. On the northern side are the Commander's Quarters (C) and Frathen Dothran's Quarters (F). A minor loot chest and two healing potions sacks can be found on the former's porch while another potions sack and minor loot chest can be found behind the latter. The northwestern corner hosts a potato garden tended to by an Argonian Laborer.

The lower level of the Commune hosts the Veteran's Lodge (H), whose entrance is guarded by a Drothmeri veteran. Between the lodge and wooden stairs to the upper level are a minor loot chest and a healing potions sack, while just in front of it is another minor loot chest. Head west past the lodge and you will arrive at a magically-sealed Ayleid door (I). Guarding it are up to two more Drothmeri (one a veteran), while a bedroll (b) is also nearby. To open it you will need to place the two bezoars in the pedestals either side of the door, which will then provide you access to the Excavated Ruin.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

Other:

  • 1 bedroll at location b on map

Commander's Quarters[edit]

The quarters are divided into two floors. On the first floor where you enter is a dining room and a crawl space hidden behind a wooden Closet Door (Easy lock), where you will find a flawed emerald, a flawed sapphire, a flawed ruby, 2 flawless diamonds and a topaz on top of a clay plate. The living area is upstairs and is comprised of two rooms. The first room hosts a boxing bag where the Commander will often train as well as a boss chest and a Psychic Motion scroll. The second room contains a bed, a table with a number of books and two maps of Kvatch, and a bedside table with a Drothmeri Tunic, a jewelry box and one of the two bezoars you will need to enter the Excavated Ruin.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Other:

  • 1 bed

Frathen Drothan's Quarters[edit]

This building is on two levels, but the lower floor is still in the process being dug out and you will only find shovels, rock debris, a bed and two iron ore veins there. In the main room where you enter you will find three sacks containing gold and a table with three iron ores, a gold nugget, two scrolls of Transmutation and a novice mortar & pestle. On the opposite side is another table with four gold coins and Drothan's Journal, as well as a shelf with a Varla stone, a common soul gem, two lesser soul gems, two Trichobezoar Extract potions, an apprentice retort, a receipt, and a number of books including a copy of Treatise on Ayleidic Cities. Seven more scrolls of Transmutation can be found in a hidden space behind a wooden False Wall with a Very Hard lock.

Treasure:

Other:


Yeoman Barracks[edit]

The barracks are a small, one-room building and immediately upon entering you will come across a Drothmeri Soldier or Recruit. The rest of the room hosts a dining table laden with food and drink, a double bed, a locked minor loot chest and four iron arrows. On a mantle piece you will find an iron bow, a silver shortsword, a flawed topaz, a flawed sapphire and 2 gold coins.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Other:

  • 1 bed

Veteran's Lodge[edit]

This building is divided on two floors and will host up to three Drothmeri, one of which will always be a Veteran. On the first floor you find a dining room and a boss chest with a pair of iron gauntlets on top of it. Upstairs are two single beds and a minor loot chest.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Other:

  • 2 beds

Zone 4: Sundercliff Mines[edit]

Sundercliff Mines
An iron vein in the mine

You can only enter this zone from the Sundercliff Forge, so skip to that section first. When entering via door G head south along the tunnel and you will emerge in a large room split on two levels. You will be on the lower one, which hosts most of Sundercliff's mining activities: wooden scaffolding and buckets attached to rope pulleys can be found throughout. Eight Drothmeri Soldiers can be found patrolling the zone and you will likely face at least two on the lower level, alongside three Laborers. There are seven iron veins on this level as well as eighteen iron ores and a ruby either on tables or in the hanging buckets. A minor loot chest can also be found underneath one of the wooden scaffolds.

Make your way to the upper level next via the tunnel in the southeastern corner. The tunnel itself hosts two more laborers and up to five soldiers. Note that due to their high Aggression it possible for them to actually fight each other, leaving you with an easier task of mopping up the survivors. Also along the way you will find a minor loot chest, a tent with a bedroll (b), six iron veins and six mined iron ores.

The upper level is split into four separate areas, three of which are connected by stone bridges. The western section can only be accessed via Acrobatics, so can be a good spot for ranged attacks or for some respite if you're fighting multiple enemies at once. In the northwestern corner you will find a special hoe in a barrel (F). The southeastern section hosts a minor loot chest, while the central section is empty and simply functions a connector to reach the northeastern section. Here you will find a campsite inhabited by a soldier and a laborer. There are five tents and as many bedrolls (b) as well as tables and benches around a campfire. Another minor loot chest is nearby. When you're ready, take the tunnel heading northeast to reach door H back to Sundercliff Forge.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

  • There are two doors in/out of this zone

Other:

  • 13 Iron Ore veins
  • 6 bedrolls at locations b on map

Zone 5: Sundercliff Forge[edit]

Sundercliff Forge
Sundercliff Forge
Sundercliff Forge

Upon entering from door F from the Sundercliff Village you will find yourself in a series of cave tunnels propped up by wooden beams and lighted by lamps at regular intervals. Along the floor are holes covered by buckets from which you can see the tunnels below, although you are not able to shoot arrows through them. You may come across a first patrolling Drothmeri soldier very shortly after entering, and the fighting may attract another soldier as well as a laborer. At the first intersection you can take either of the tunnels, as both eventually lead to door G to the Sundercliff Mines.

When returning from the Mines via door H you will arrive in a room with two laborers and the Weapons Apprentice (W). Here you will also find a forge, a tent with a bedroll (b), a table with an interesting note, a repair hammer and four iron shortswords. The next room instead hosts the Armor Apprentice (A) and another laborer. Here too you will find a forge and a tent with a bedroll (b), as well as a table with a Letter Home. Scattered around are also ten iron boots.

In the third room you will instead find The Forgemaster (M), surrounded by his work: an iron claymore, three iron daggers, a pair of iron greaves, two iron longswords and a repair hammer. The large tent nearby is a separate sub-section, entered via door I. Once you have claimed the bezoar within, take the northern tunnel until you arrive at the rock wall at E, which is opened by pulling the nearby rope. You will now find yourself back at door F.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

  • There are three doors in/out of this zone:
  • There is one door leading to sub-sections of this zone:
  • 1 Rock Wall at E

Other:

  • 2 bedrolls at locations b on map

Forgemaster Tent[edit]

The tent is a single room a bed and a boss chest, as well as a table and a shelf. On the table you will find a flawed diamond, a flawed ruby, a flawless topaz, three gold coins and one of two enchanted bezoars you will need to be able to access the Excavated Ruin. The shelf hosts a number of books, an iron dagger and a pair of iron gauntlets, while an iron warhammer is propped against it.

Treasure:

Other:

  • 1 bed

Zone 6: Excavated Ruin[edit]

Excavated Ruin

Upon entering from door I you will notice a distinct shift from cave to Ayleid ruin, and also start to realize something is not fully right, despite the zone itself being devoid of enemies. In the first room you will find overturned tables, pools of blood and a large stack of bones and skulls. In the tunnel to the south you will find a skeleton trapped under a rockfall, so head east instead. The next corridor is a long balcony overlooking a large room which you cannot access. Along the way you'll find a diamond and a ruby next to a pickaxe, as well as blood marks throughout. Press on until you reach door J leading to Varsa Baalim.

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

Zone 7: Varsa Baalim[edit]

Varsa Baalim
Varsa Baalim

This large zone is a mixture of Ayleid ruin and cave and is split into three separate areas that are connected by the smaller zones Cava Beldameld and Cava Marspanga. Another small zone -- Cava Arpenia -- can be reached from doors K and L. Throughout the zone you will come across Drothmeri soldiers fighting vampires, so you can often wait for the combat to play out and then mop up the survivors.

Upon entering from door J, you will find yourself on the upper level of the cave with a bloody stone ramp leading down to the central area, where two Drothmeri soldiers are engaged in combat with three vampires. A dead and bloodied Drothmeri Veteran lies sprawled nearby alongside his steel longsword. Before pressing on past the scene of the fight, make your way along the southern wall round a curving Ayleid wall, until you reach an opening to your left. Loot the nearby chest and then head back down. From here you can enter Cava Arpenia via the nearby doors K and L or continue exploring this zone.

If you have sufficiently high Acrobatics you can jump over the wall to the north; otherwise you will need to continue to the southwest, past another dead Veteran. Make your way through the collapsed ruins past two more vampires fighting two Soldiers, until you reach door M to Cava Beldameld.

When you re-emerge from door N you will find yourself on the upper level of the room, just above the previous door. Immediately to the southeast are two Soldiers fighting two vampires. Past them is a campsite sheltered by an Ayleid wall where you will find a candle-lit altar adorned with skulls, a campfire, two bedrolls (b), two minor loot chests and a large quantity of bones. Return to the door and head northwest along the room's wall this time. After coming across another dead Veteran, jump down into the circular ruin to the east, where you will find a vampire. From here you can take a stone ramp to the south to return to door M or head north, where you will find another dead veteran, two more vampires and the door (O) to Cava Marspanga. Before using it though, head south to access three minor loot chests: two are tucked in the far southeastern corner while the third is to the southwest. From the open room where you find the latter chest, jump up the stones so you are level with the walls and then make your way southeast along them, until you can jump to the rocky outcrop to the south. Here you will find a skeleton lying next to a boss-level chest (B). Note that unless you are sneaking you will likely be detected by vampires on the upper level nearby, which can only be reached with high Acrobatics at this stage.

After returning from Marspanga via door P, first head west along the room's wall until you reach a small area with a campfire, a bedroll (b) and two minor loot chests, all guarded by a vampire. There is also a convenient sniping spot nearby with a stool, an iron bow and some arrows. Turn to the east now and head up the stone ramp where a soldier is fighting a vampire. Press on until you reach the circular ruins ahead, where you will find the boss-level vampire (A) guarding a boss chest (B) and the door (Q) to The Nefarivigum. If you continue east down the bloodied stone causeway you will eventually spot a dead Drothmeri recruit (R) carrying an undelivered letter.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

Other:

  • 3 bedrolls at locations b on map

Zone 8: Cava Arpenia[edit]

Cava Arpenia

This zone is a small side chamber of Varsa Baalim and can be accessed through either of the doors at K and L. It consists of a single, bloodied room hosting two vampires, a minor loot chest, a sack of gold and two bedrolls (b). In the northeastern corner is a large pile of bones alongside a skeleton and a dead Drothmeri Veteran.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

  • There are two doors in/out of this zone

Other:

  • 2 bedrolls

Zone 9: Cava Beldameld[edit]

Cava Beldameld

This zone serves as a connection between the lower (door M) and upper (door N) levels of the southwestern section of Varsa Baalim. It consists of a single room which has collapsed into ruins and is tilted sideways at an angle. The rooms hosts a Vampire alongside plenty of bones and rubble.

Occupants:

Doors and Gates:

  • There are two doors in/out of this zone

Zone 10: Cava Marspanga[edit]

Cava Marspanga

This zone serves as a connection between the lower (door O) and upper (door P) levels of the southwestern section of Varsa Baalim. It consists of two corridors connected to a central room. After passing the bloodied corpse of a dead Drothmeri veteran, you will arrive in the main room, where you will find three Drothmeri soldiers engaged in a desperate fight with three vampires. Wait for one side to come out on top and then mop up the survivors. In the room you will also find two minor loot chests, two bedrolls and the usual piles of bones and skeletons.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

  • There are two doors in/out of this zone

Other:

  • 2 bedrolls

Zone 11: The Nefarivigum[edit]

The Nefarivigum
The Nefarivigum
The Nefarivigum

The Nefarivigum is the inner sanctum of the ruin and is suffused throughout with a menacing red light. Upon entering from door Q you will stumble across a staircase with three corpses (two Drothmeri veterans and one vampire) and sack containing healing potions. A second staircase also has three corpses (one veteran and two vampires) as well as a boss chest (B). Finally you will emerge in a room filled with Daedric architecture. Here you will find Frathen Drothan (F) conversing with a strange silvery creature set in a vertical, open coffin. Also nearby are a bedroll (b), Drothan's field journal and a sack containing healing potions.

After defeating Drothan, you will need to open the gate at (C) to take Mehrunes' Razor (R). If your strength is above 90 you will be able to do so on your own; if not you will need to take the beating heart from the silvery creature, who is actually Dagon's champion Msirae Faythung (M). Whatever the case, Msirae awakens and will attack you. Once you have defeated him, the gate at C will lower, allowing you to grab the Razor. At this point a secret wall (D) will open to reveal door S to the Forgotten Tunnels.

Occupants:

Treasure:

Doors and Gates:

  • There are two doors in/out of this zone
  • 1 Gate at C
  • 1 Secret Wall at D

Other:

  • 1 bedroll

Zone 12: Forgotten Tunnels[edit]

Forgotten Tunnels
Forgotten Tunnels

After entering from door S, avoid the the tunnel to the west as it only contains a cave in trap (T) and head south instead. Defeat the nuisance animals in the next room (up to three rats or mudcrabs) and swim to the door at Out, which opens directly into Lake Canulus. Note that if you enter from the lake before you've completed the related quest, you will not be able to progress past door C, which will have a key-requiring lock.

Occupants:

Traps:

  • 1 Cave In trap at location T on map

Doors and Gates: