The Ultimate Skyrim Deception Guide: Unveiling the Secrets Behind False Fronts

Players in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim face a challenging task, regardless of whether they choose to align with the Empire or the Stormcloaks. By defending Whiterun, the Empire gains an advantage, yet there are multiple other territories that players must still assist in liberating.

In the event that players do not negotiate for control of the Pale during the main quest "Season Unending," the subsequent Imperial Legion quest is called "A False Front." While the objectives of this quest may appear straightforward, players may encounter difficulties while attempting to accomplish them.

Finding the Courier

General Tullius initiates the quest by sending the Dragonborn to the Imperial Camp in the Pale, which is centered around Dawnstar, in order to prevent the enemy from strengthening their position. Arriving at the camp, Legate Rikke informs the Dragonborn about her strategy and assigns them the task of locating a courier who frequently travels between Windhelm and Nightgate Inn, a secluded inn situated on the road connecting Windhelm and Dawnstar.

The recommended approach, as suggested by Rikke, is to inquire about the courier's whereabouts from the innkeepers at Nightgate or Candlehearth Hall in Windhelm. This option proves to be the most favorable. Specifically, heading to Nightgate is advised, as eliminating the courier in the midst of Windhelm can lead to complications for the players. Regardless of the chosen location, a Persuade, Intimidate, or Bribe check is necessary to obtain the desired information. Both innkeepers present equal difficulty in terms of persuasion, but players will always succeed when employing intimidation tactics.

The objective marker will move to the courier once the information is obtained from an innkeeper. The courier can be found running between the two inns, briefly stopping at each location. To encounter the courier, players should walk along the road connecting the two inns. Alternatively, players can locate the courier without speaking to the innkeepers, as he is the only Stormcloak soldier who follows this route.

Speaking to the courier initiates a fight, with only one dialogue option available. However, players can avoid this by surprising the courier with an attack or pickpocketing the documents while he is at an inn. If the courier is killed during the fight, it will be considered murder, so players should eliminate him on the road where there are no witnesses.

Once players have the documents, they should bring them back to Legate Rikke. She will make some changes to the documents and then send the player to Dawnstar to meet with Frorkmar Banner-Torn, the leader of the Stormcloaks. If players wish to have the proper appearance, they can obtain a set of Stormcloak armor from a courier. However, even if they do not choose to wear the armor, Frorkmar will still accept the documents.

The Battle for Fort Dunstad

In order to achieve the Imperial domination of the Pale region, players are required to provide assistance to the Legion by participating in "The Battle for Fort Dunstad." This task proves to be relatively easier as the fort experiences a continuous influx of Imperial Legion soldiers who are marginally more formidable than the Stormcloak soldiers guarding the fort's interior. Once approximately 50 to 60 enemy soldiers have been vanquished, the remaining forces will retreat from the fort.

Stormcloak soldiers possess both a bow and a melee weapon, utilizing their bows until engaged in close combat. As players are consistently supported by Legion soldiers, any strategy or approach will prove effective during this conflict. Interestingly, players have the option to shelter behind the fort's front gate and allow the Legion to execute the battle on their behalf. However, it is unwise to venture too far ahead of the Legion, as this may result in being targeted by all Stormcloak soldiers.

Following the conclusion of the battle, players can return to General Tullius for a promotion, a magical shield, and the subsequent task within the broader quest "The Reunification of Skyrim."

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available now on PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.