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Broken Oar Grotto

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition guide · Clearing the bandit hideout near Solitude

Broken Oar Grotto is a vast, flooded sea cave located north of Solitude that serves as a stronghold for the Blackblood Marauders. You explore the elevated wooden walkways, scuttled ships, and cavern networks to eliminate the bandit gang and their leader. It is frequently visited during the quest "Lights Out!" or for radiant bandit-clearing bounties.

Region: Haafingar
Levels: 1–24
Getting there: North of Solitude Lighthouse, along the northern coast of Haafingar
Related quests: Lights Out! · Radiant Quests
Services and people: Jaree-Ra · Captain Hargar
Enemy types: Blackblood Marauder · Bandit · Skeever

Items

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Skill Book: Cherim's Heart: In the master bedroom area inside the shipwreck cabin, resting on a small table near a bedBroken Oar Grotto Key: Carried by the bandit chief Captain HargarScimitar: Carried by several Blackblood Marauders and found placed on various tables around the camp

Secrets

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An underwater chest lies submerged beneath the raised wooden platforms near the center pool of the cavern.An unlocked boss chest is located on an elevated ledge behind Captain Hargar's quarters, accessible by climbing up the wooden scaffolding.

Key fights

Captain Hargar and the Marauders

Enemies: Captain Hargar, accompanied by several Blackblood Marauders

Threats: Hargar wields a two-handed weapon dealing heavy melee power-attack damage and has high health, supported by elevated archers firing from the ship decks and walkways

Weaknesses and resistances: Vulnerable to frost damage (drains stamina for power attacks) and poison; standard bandit resistances

Tactics: Clear the surrounding archers on the wooden walkways from range first, then draw Hargar down to the narrow gangplank chokepoints to kite him or stagger him with Unrelenting Force

Rewards: Hargar's Chest key, leveled enchanted loot, Smithing skill book (Cherim's Heart) inside his captain's quarters

Enemies

Blackblood Marauder

Common bandits guarding the entrance, walkways, and scuttled ship decks.

Captain Hargar

Steal / drop Captain Hargar's Chest Key, Broken Oar Grotto Key

The tough bandit leader stationed inside the cabin of the large shipwreck.

Jaree-Ra

Steal / drop Amulet of Zenithar

An Argonian bandit conspirator found here during the later stage of the quest "Lights Out!".

Tips

Watch out for tripwires connecting rockfall traps along the narrow wooden ramps leading up the scaffolding.
Sneak archers can pick off most bandits from the entrance platform high above the water before descending.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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Morvath's Lair

Reeking Cave

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