Online:Nchuand-Zel

Dwemer Ruin: Nchuand-Zel (view on map) (lore page)
Explorable
Discoverable	Yes
Completion	None
Dungeon	(?)
# of Zones	(?)
Occupants
Dwarven Carrier Death Hounds, Dwarven Arquebus, Dwarven Centurion, Dwarven Sentry, Dwarven Spider, Gray Host Battlemage, Gray Host Blademaster, Gray Host Bloodknight, Gray Host Chillrender, Gray Host Fearmonger, Gray Host Howler, Gray Host Scout, Gray Host Skullguard, Gray Host Soldier, Gray Host Stalker, Gray Host Werewolf Forbidden Great Lift: Dwarven Architon Slicer, Dwarven Architon Scorcher
Zone
The Reach
Location
Understone Keep, Blackreach: Arkthzand Cavern
Loading Screen
And unto the mountains they fled, for the world grew dark with shadows which sprung from the heart of Lorkh, who though greatly sundered still believed in the light of Man. —Vateshran Eoinola

Nchuand-Zel

Nchuand-Zel is a Dwarven ruin located in Understone Keep. Nchuand-Zel is inaccessible from within Understone Keep until the related quest has begun, but may be accessed from Blackreach at any time.

A heavy sack can spawn by the western wall on Blackreach's side of the Nchuand-Zel lift.

Related Quests

• A Feast of Souls: Stop the vampiric assault on Markarth.
•  Defenders of the Reach: Wipe out remnants of the Gray Host.
• The End of Eternity: Discover how to travel through the Void.

Layout

Once you're in Nchuand-Zel, take the eastern path; the western door leads to the Forbidden Great Lift, which is inaccessible until you reach a certain point in The End of Eternity. You'll see signs of struggle in the halls: countless scrapped Dwarven Spiders and a few dead vampires. In the first room beyond the entrance, you'll face a Gray Host Soldier and Chillrender. In the next room, you'll see two Gray Host soldiers studying a dormant Dwarven Centurion, which awakens and kills them once you enter the room. During the quest, Arana lies just beyond this room. A Gray Host Stalker patrols the hallway leading towards her.

Head down the stairs to continue. A Gray Host werewolf patrols the dead end hallway south of the bottom of the first flight of stairs beyond Arana. You'll fight a Gray Host Howler, Skullguard, and Werewolf ahead. The keystone lies in the vault beyond the northwestern door in this room, which contains a river. You can jump down the ledge for a shortcut, or you can go the "right" way, which is to north from the two werewolves, down a flight of stairs next to a table with a bowl of stew on it. A Gray Host Chillrender lies at the bottom of these stairs. A Static Pitcher lies on the walkway ahead. A Gray Host Chillrender and Battlemage guard the bridge leading towards the keystone room.

Nchuand-Zel Vaults

Four weak Dwarven Spiders and a centurion guard the way to the keystone. A chest can spawn in the corner north of the centurion. Take the lift down another level. In the very last hallway of the next section, you'll find a ceaselessly spinning blade trap; hug the wall and go around it to avoid its swipes. Other traps ahead include kinetic force pulsers, steam vents and a lightning tripwire. A Dwarven Carrier guards the door to the keystone room.

Keystone Chamber

The Keystone is locked behind an energy barrier.

Nchuand-Zel

You'll find a Gray Host Bloodknight in the room beyond the Keystone Chamber. Two Dwarven Sentries stand vigil in the middle-west side of the room. A Gray Host Soldier and Fearmonger are on the south side of the room, beside a felled centurion. A Gray Host werewolf lies down the western hallway. The lift in the room to the east takes you to Blackreach.

Forbidden Great Lift

Forbidden Great Lift

Immediately, you'll be faced by a charge-wire trap, some steam vents, and all manner of Dwarven devices, including Architons and weak Dwarven Spiders. Cockroaches and Dwarven Scarabs scuttle across the floor. The lift at the end of the hallway will take you to the land sundered from Tamriel.

Notes

• There are a large number of jewelry boxes, trunks, and urns to loot in Nchuand-Zel. Many of the trunks look like stone seats.

Maps

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  Map of Nchuand-Zel

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  Map of the Forbidden Great Lift

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Gallery

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  The star puzzle

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  Lower Nchuand-Zel

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  Lower Nchuand-Zel