The Elder Scrolls: Tamriel

Perched on a rocky bluff overlooking the road between Ivarstead and Riften, Nilheim is a small, seemingly peaceful watchtower that guards a strategic mountain pass in The Rift. From a distance, the tower appears abandoned or quietly maintained—but first impressions can be deceiving. During the encounter tied to The Nilheim Miscellaneous Quest, the Dragonborn meets a man named Telrav, who claims to have been ambushed by bandits and asks for help retrieving his belongings. However, the tower is actually a bandit ambush point, with Telrav himself serving as the bait in a deadly ruse. If the Dragonborn chooses to investigate, they’ll uncover the truth and face a skirmish atop the rocky cliffs. Nilheim is more than a lonely tower—it’s a stage for betrayal, a lesson in mistrust, and a reminder that danger in Skyrim often wears a friendly face.