The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Sacrifice in Skyrim's Boethiah's Calling Quest
The Skyrim quest Boethiah's Calling requires players to sacrifice a follower for a Daedric Prince Choose wisely among various followers, such as a fellow College of Winterhold mage, Teldryn Sero for his pompous attitude, or Lydia who is easy to acquire Decide if Ralis Sedarys' actions make him the most justifiable choice or if the Dark Brotherhood Initiate's guilt is less than others Consider sacrificing Cosnach for the least impactful death or stop Sven or Faendal from hitting on Camilla
Boethiah, the Daedric Prince of Conspiracy and Deceit in Skyrim, offers the Dragonborn a straightforward task to become their champion: escort a follower to the Shrine of Boethiah and sacrifice them. While the request itself seems uncomplicated, it presents a dilemma in deciding whether to permanently end the life of someone who has accompanied the Dragonborn in their adventures throughout Skyrim.
Fortunately, there are certain followers who make this decision somewhat more bearable. Some followers are inherently malevolent, having betrayed or violated the trust of the Dragonborn. Others are easily accessible at short notice or their demise would have minimal impact on the world.
Updated July 2, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: The Boethiah's Calling Skyrim quest, known for its iconic status in the game, prompts the Dragonborn to lead an individual to the Shrine of Boethiah and sacrifice them, much like the Mehrunes Dagon quest that requires the killing of a follower of Stendarr. The choice of sacrifice can be difficult, depending on the player's progress in specific side quests. For instance, Dark Brotherhood members have convenient access to Dark Brotherhood Initiates, nameless individuals who may be considered more deserving of death than others. On the other hand, early followers such as Lydia, acquired during the introductory quest line, can also serve the purpose – albeit at the cost of potentially ending the lives of relatively innocent people.
How To Start Boethiah's Calling
The quest players receive from the Daedric Prince Boethiah upon reaching the Sacellum of Boethiah is called "Boethiah's Calling." To start the quest, the player needs to be at least Level 30, as otherwise, the Sacellum will be completely empty.
Head Directly There, or Read Boethiah's Proving
Situated east of Windhelm, the Sacellum of Boethiah stands tall, easily recognizable even from a considerable distance as you journey towards the majestic mountains. Once adventurers attain Level 30, they can opt to venture directly to this sacred site to undertake the quest or choose to peruse the enlightening tome known as Boethiah's Proving, which serves as a guiding force leading them to the Sacellum as part of a preliminary questline.
Content: Boethiah's Proving depicts a ceremony in which devotees made contact with Boethiah and were individually subjected to punishment, with the exception of one follower who killed the last remaining devotee. The passage concludes by inviting the reader to meet Boethiah "at the mount that provides a vantage point over Windhelm." In any case, the actual test initiated by Boethiah will commence upon reaching the Sacellum and sacrificing your faithful follower.
Come Prepared: Get A Follower First
To save time during this stage of the quest, players can either embark on the quest and be required to retrieve a sacrifice, or they can first recruit a follower and then proceed to the Shrine. However, traveling back and forth can be quite inconvenient, so it is advisable to bring your chosen follower along during the initial visit in order to streamline the process.
A Fellow College of Winterhold Mage
To solve this sacrificial puzzle in a simple and cost-effective way, consider having a companion who is willing to join you. By joining the College of Winterhold, you will have the opportunity to recruit three fellow students as followers once you complete their respective questlines. However, in order to unlock these questlines, players must first finish the introductory College of Winterhold quests called "First Lessons" and "Under Saarthal".
To have J'Zargo accompany you as a follower, players are required to assist the Khajiit mage in testing a new Fire spell.
In order to obtain Onmund as a follower, players need to assist the Nord in retrieving a valuable amulet from another Mage.
To acquire Brelyna as a follower, players need to aid the Dunmer in experimenting with a range of new spells.
Teldryn Sero, To End His Pompous Attitude
While it may not feel morally sound, there is no rule stating that sacrificing a follower to the Daedric Prince of Murder has to be. If you desire to expedite this process and are already a member of the College, accompanying J'Zargo, Onmund, or Brelyna will be the fastest way to go about it.
Teldryn Sero, an intriguing character from the Dragonborn DLC that transports players to Solstheim, remains shrouded in mystery as his face remains unseen throughout the game. With his incessant snarky remarks and cunningly derogatory comments towards the player, he definitely adds a unique flavor to the game. Unfortunately, some of his engaging interactions are left unexplored on the mainland, making him a tempting target for criticism.
Lydia, An Easy Follower To Acquire
Teldryn Sero can be easily recruited at the Retching Netch in Raven Rock for a relatively low fee, especially when compared to the arduous tasks required to acquire other followers in Skyrim. Although he often delivers amusing lines during conversations, if you seek to keep your expenses below a thousand Gold for this particular quest, Teldryn Sero is conveniently found and can be brought back to the Sacellum of Boethiah.
Lydia is likely the most renowned companion in Skyrim, being the one follower almost every player has acquired during their Skyrim adventures. Although Lydia is not a feeble ally nor does she necessarily warrant sacrifice, she simply remains the most practical choice for the majority of players.
Ralis Sedarys, The Most Justifiable Choice
To obtain Lydia as a follower, you must first complete the main questline in Skyrim and become the Thane of Whiterun. This involves defeating a Dragon just outside the city. Once you have achieved this, Jael Balgruuf will appoint Lydia as your Housecarl. You can then bring her to the Sacellum of Boethiah. However, it is important to note that Lydia cannot be sacrificed at the Sacellum of Boethiah until you reach Level 30 and the quest becomes available to you.
Among all the followers in Skyrim, none is more deserving of a gruesome, sacrificial demise than Ralis Sedarys. Ralis, the Dunmer who leads the excavation at Kolbjorn Barrow in Solstheim, seeks the assistance (and financial backing) of the player in clearing out an ancient tomb belonging to the Nords. Unbeknownst to the player, Ralis harbors a secret agenda to awaken Ahzidal, an ancient Dragon Priest, which he only reveals at the very end.
Many innocents lose their lives due to his selfishness, and if the player chooses not to execute him upon completing the Kolbjorn Barrow questline, he goes to the Retching Netch where he can be recruited as a follower. Meeting his demise in the name of Boethiah, one of the revered "Good Daedra" of the Dunmer, is the just punishment that Ralis Sedarys deserves.
Dark Brotherhood Initiate, The Least Guilt-Inducing
In Skyrim, there exists a scarce number of nameless followers, and among them is the enigmatic Dark Brotherhood Initiate. These individuals possess a generic appearance and lack any distinguishable name, accompanied by generic dialogue options and responses, further contributing to their air of mystery.
Cosnach, The Least Impactful Death
The Dark Brotherhood Initiate can only be recruited as a follower once the Dark Brotherhood questline is complete. This questline offers an enjoyable experience for those who haven't tried it before, although some players may find it a bit tedious if their sole purpose is the anonymous sacrifice at the end. However, existing members of the Dark Brotherhood will find the Initiates to be the most convenient source of followers for the Boethiah's Calling quest.
When it comes to inconsequential companions in Skyrim, Cosnach stands out. He ranks among the numerous town inebriates in Markarth, passing his time at the Silver-Blood Inn, perpetually immersed in a tankard of ale. Despite having other potential obligations, he chooses to remain in perpetual indulgence.
Hire Cosnach as a follower by engaging in a fierce brawl with him. Utilizing one of the fearsome Fists, available through the Creation Club, significantly facilitates these hand-to-hand combats. However, if you come prepared with an ample supply of Healing Potions, you'll swiftly overpower him in no time.
Sven or Faendal, To Stop Them Hitting On Camilla
Both Sven and Faendal can be found in Riverwood in Skyrim and are the first two followers available to the player. They are associated with the same quest, wherein the player can only choose one as their follower. The one not chosen will bear a lasting grudge against the player for their involvement in separating Camilla from them. Despite Camilla's potential marriage, both Sven and Faendal still make unwelcome "visits" to her at the Dragonborn's own home.
Content:
Once you have made your choices in the quest "A Lovely Letter," either Faendal or Sven can be hired. To initiate this quest, speak to either one of them in Riverwood. After completing the quest in their favor, you can enlist them as your Follower and continue your journey eastward. If you prefer to have a trainer, it is advisable to choose Faendal and bring Sven to the sacrificial altar.
"The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition" is accessible on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as Xbox One and Series X|S.
