The chilling betrayal. The quest for vengeance. The treacherous depths of Fort Neugrad. Killing Mercer Frey in Skyrim’s Thieves Guild questline is a monumental moment, but escaping with your life and the Skeleton Key is a whole different challenge. Fort Neugrad is swarming with guards, and a hasty retreat can quickly turn deadly. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the best escape routes, strategies, and essential tips to ensure your successful departure.
Understanding the Situation: Fort Neugrad After Mercer
Successfully eliminating Mercer Frey in the depths of the Snow Veil Sanctum and recovering the Skeleton Key is a significant accomplishment. However, the job isn’t over. Fort Neugrad, your temporary prison, remains a formidable obstacle. Before rushing out, take a moment to assess the post-Mercer landscape.
Heightened Alert: Expect the fort to be on high alert. Even if you managed to eliminate every guard on your way in (unlikely), reinforcements are bound to have arrived or will arrive shortly.
Guard Patrols: Be prepared for increased guard patrols both inside the fort and in the surrounding exterior area. They will be actively searching for you.
The Skeleton Key: Guard it well. It’s not just a plot device; it’s incredibly useful for lockpicking. Keep it on your person, as losing it will force you to reload an older save.
Your Resources: Assess your current inventory. Do you have enough potions for healing and stamina? Are your weapons and armor in good condition? This is crucial for a successful escape.
The Stealthy Escape: Shadows and Subterfuge
For players who favor a stealth-oriented approach, a careful and calculated escape through the shadows is the preferred method. This relies heavily on sneak skill, invisibility potions, and quiet movement.
Navigating the Interior
The key to a stealthy escape is understanding the layout of the fort. Remember your path upon entering, but be aware that guard positions may have changed.
Dark Corners and Shadows: Stick to dark areas and corners. Use the shadows to your advantage to avoid being detected by patrolling guards.
Observe Patrol Patterns: Before moving, carefully observe the patrol patterns of nearby guards. Wait for them to turn their backs or move away before proceeding.
Silent Movement: Crouch and move slowly to minimize noise. The Muffle enchantment on your boots can be a lifesaver in this scenario.
Invisibility Potions: Use invisibility potions strategically to bypass heavily guarded areas. Remember that any action, such as opening a door or attacking, will break the invisibility effect.
The Exterior Escape
Once you’re outside the main fort structure, the challenge shifts to navigating the exterior defenses.
The Walls and Towers: Avoid the main gates and walls, as they are likely to be heavily guarded. Instead, look for less-obvious paths, such as scaling the rocks or finding a less-patrolled section of the perimeter.
The Surrounding Wilderness: Utilize the natural cover provided by trees, bushes, and rocky terrain to conceal your movements.
Nighttime Advantage: If possible, wait for nightfall to provide additional cover. The darkness will make it harder for guards to spot you.
The Combat Escape: Facing the Enemy Head-On
For players who prefer a more direct approach, a combat-focused escape is an option. This requires strong weapons, armor, and combat skills, but it can be a faster, albeit riskier, way to leave Fort Neugrad.
Preparing for Battle
Before engaging in combat, ensure you are fully prepared.
Healing Potions: Stock up on healing potions to replenish your health during combat.
Stamina Potions: Stamina potions are essential for maintaining your stamina for blocking, attacking, and sprinting.
Weapon and Armor: Equip your best weapons and armor. Ensure they are in good condition. Repair them if necessary.
Buffs and Spells: Use any available buffs or spells that can enhance your combat abilities.
Engaging the Guards
When engaging the guards, use tactical combat techniques.
Prioritize Targets: Focus on taking down the most dangerous threats first, such as archers or mages.
Use Cover: Utilize cover to protect yourself from enemy attacks. Hide behind walls or objects to avoid being hit by arrows or spells.
Exploit Weaknesses: Exploit the weaknesses of your enemies. For example, use fire spells against frost-based enemies or blunt weapons against armored foes.
Hit and Run: Employ a hit-and-run strategy. Attack enemies and then retreat to a safe distance to avoid taking too much damage.
Breaking Through the Defenses
When breaking through the fort’s defenses, focus on key points.
Main Gate: The main gate is likely to be heavily guarded, but it can be a viable option if you can clear out the guards.
Side Entrances: Look for side entrances or less-guarded areas that you can use to break through the fort’s defenses.
Create a Diversion: Create a diversion to distract the guards and draw them away from your intended escape route. Throwing a grenade or using a shout can work.
Leveraging Your Skills and Abilities
Regardless of your chosen approach, remember to leverage your skills and abilities to your advantage.
Sneak Skill: If you have a high Sneak skill, use it to avoid detection and move silently.
Archery Skill: If you are proficient in archery, use your bow to take down enemies from a distance.
Magic Skills: If you are a mage, use your spells to control the battlefield, damage enemies, and heal yourself.
Lockpicking Skill: The Skeleton Key is invaluable for bypassing locked doors and chests. Use your Lockpicking skill to unlock doors and chests to find useful items.
Alchemy Skill: Craft potions to enhance your abilities or create poisons to weaken enemies.
Speech Skill: If you have a high Speech skill, you may be able to persuade guards to let you pass or avoid combat altogether, though this is unlikely in this situation.
Alternative Escape Routes and Strategies
Beyond the standard stealth and combat approaches, several alternative escape routes and strategies can be employed.
The Swimming Escape
Fort Neugrad is located near water. If you have a high Swimming skill or waterbreathing abilities, you can escape by swimming away from the fort. This can be a risky option, as you will be vulnerable to attacks while in the water.
Dangers of the Water: Be aware of Slaughterfish and other dangerous creatures that may lurk in the water.
Waterbreathing: If you don’t have waterbreathing abilities, use a waterbreathing potion or enchantment to stay underwater longer.
Swimming Speed: If you have a high Swimming skill, you can swim faster and avoid being detected by guards.
The Horseback Escape
If you have a horse, you can use it to escape from Fort Neugrad quickly. This requires a horse nearby and the ability to mount it without being detected.
Finding a Horse: Look for a horse near the fort or summon one if you have the ability.
Mounting Undetected: Sneak up to the horse and mount it without being detected by guards.
Outrunning the Guards: Once you are on the horse, ride away from the fort as quickly as possible. The guards may give chase, but you should be able to outrun them.
The Illusion Escape
Illusion magic can be incredibly useful for manipulating enemies and creating diversions.
Invisibility Spells: Use invisibility spells to become invisible and avoid detection.
Calm Spells: Use calm spells to pacify enemies and prevent them from attacking you.
Frenzy Spells: Use frenzy spells to make enemies attack each other, creating chaos and confusion.
The Snow Veil Sanctum Return
While not ideal, it might be possible (depending on how you left it) to re-enter Snow Veil Sanctum and use it as a means to exit the general area. This is only advisable if you completely cleared the Sanctum earlier.
Double Check the Sanctum: Ensure you cleared all enemies before considering this route.
Possible Traps: Be wary of any remaining traps or hazards within the Sanctum.
Essential Tips for a Successful Escape
Regardless of your chosen approach, keep these essential tips in mind.
Patience is Key: Don’t rush. Take your time to assess the situation and plan your escape carefully.
Observe and Adapt: Pay attention to guard movements and patrol patterns, and adapt your strategy accordingly.
Use Your Resources Wisely: Don’t waste potions or arrows. Use them strategically to maximize their effectiveness.
Stay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Watch out for traps and ambushes.
Save Frequently: Save your game frequently to avoid losing progress if you die.
Post-Escape: What’s Next?
Once you’ve successfully escaped Fort Neugrad, your adventure continues.
Report to Brynjolf: Return to Riften and report your success (and Mercer’s treachery) to Brynjolf. This will advance the Thieves Guild questline.
Recover and Replenish: Take some time to recover from your ordeal. Replenish your supplies and repair your gear.
Prepare for the Future: The Thieves Guild questline is far from over. Prepare yourself for the challenges that lie ahead.
What are the initial steps to take after defeating Mercer Frey in Fort Neugrad?
After defeating Mercer Frey in the Fort Neugrad Jail, your immediate priority should be looting his body. He carries the “Eye of the Falmer,” a quest item required for the Thieves Guild questline, and potentially valuable items such as gold and leveled gear. Make sure to thoroughly search his corpse to retrieve all essential items before proceeding, as backtracking can be tedious and time-consuming.
Next, take a moment to survey your surroundings and assess your resources. Check your health, magicka, and stamina. Replenish any depleted resources using potions or spells. Also, review your inventory and equip yourself with the best available armor and weapons recovered from Mercer Frey or found within the fort. Being prepared for potential encounters on your escape route is crucial.
Where is the key to escape Fort Neugrad located after defeating Mercer Frey?
The key to escape Fort Neugrad is not directly on Mercer Frey’s body. Instead, you will find it on a table located in the same room where you fought him, near the jail cells. Look for a small wooden table or crate; the Fort Neugrad Key should be lying on top of it. Examine the area carefully to ensure you don’t miss it, as the key is essential for unlocking the door to your freedom.
Once you have the key, use it to unlock the jail cell door and any other locked doors you encounter along your escape route. Be aware that there may be a few doors you need to unlock, so keep the key handy. Remember to explore the surrounding areas briefly for any additional loot or helpful items before proceeding toward the exit of the fort.
What enemies can you expect to encounter while escaping Fort Neugrad?
While escaping Fort Neugrad, you can expect to encounter hostile bandits. These bandits are the standard enemies that originally occupied the fort before you arrived. Be prepared for melee combat, as they typically wield swords, axes, or maces. Some may also use bows, so keep an eye out for ranged attacks as well.
The number and location of the bandits can vary, but they are generally patrolling the corridors and rooms within the fort. Use stealth to your advantage whenever possible to avoid unnecessary combat. If stealth isn’t an option, use cover and utilize your strongest offensive abilities to quickly eliminate the threats. Conserve your resources, as you may encounter multiple groups of bandits before reaching the exit.
Is there a specific route to take for the easiest escape from Fort Neugrad?
While there isn’t a single “easiest” route, a generally recommended path involves retracing your steps back toward the entrance of the fort. After leaving the jail cell area, navigate through the corridors, avoiding unnecessary detours. Focus on reaching the main entrance where you initially entered the fort. This route is generally less populated with enemies than other areas.
Alternatively, some players prefer to explore other parts of the fort in search of additional loot or shortcuts. If you choose to deviate from the main path, be prepared for potentially increased enemy encounters and more challenging obstacles. Map awareness and tactical decision-making are key to a successful escape, regardless of the route you choose.
Are there any valuable items to loot besides what’s on Mercer Frey’s body during the escape?
Yes, Fort Neugrad contains various containers, such as chests, barrels, and sacks, that may hold valuable loot. Keep an eye out for these containers as you make your way through the fort. They can contain gold, potions, ingredients, weapons, and armor, which can be useful for your character’s progression.
Beyond the general containers, explore any side rooms or hidden areas you encounter. Bandits may have stashed valuable items in less obvious locations. While looting is not essential for escaping, it can significantly benefit your character’s resources and provide a boost in your overall gameplay experience. However, prioritize a swift escape and avoid becoming overly burdened with loot.
What happens if I die during the escape from Fort Neugrad?
If you die during the escape from Fort Neugrad, you will reload at your last save point. This could be an autosave, a quicksave, or a manual save that you previously created. The further away your last save point is, the more progress you will lose.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to frequently save your game, especially before engaging in challenging combat or exploring unfamiliar areas. Use the quicksave feature (usually bound to F5 on PC) to create temporary save points that you can easily revert to if necessary. Regular saving will minimize the risk of losing significant progress in case of an unfortunate demise during the escape.
How do I rejoin the Thieves Guild after escaping Fort Neugrad?
After successfully escaping Fort Neugrad, you will need to return to Riften and speak with Brynjolf, who can usually be found in the Riften marketplace during the day or at The Bee and Barb inn. He will be initially angry about your actions but will eventually allow you to continue with the Thieves Guild questline.
Once you speak with Brynjolf, he will direct you to speak with Karliah. She is a crucial character in the Thieves Guild storyline. Listen to her instructions carefully, as this meeting will set the stage for the next phase of your quest and involve uncovering more secrets about Mercer Frey’s betrayal and the true nature of the Thieves Guild. She is usually located near the Ragged Flagon.