Assist the people of Falkreath: every task that counts
"Assist the people of Falkreath" is the miscellaneous objective the Jarl of Falkreath gives you on the way to becoming thane. It needs three completed favors from citizens of Falkreath Hold, but the game never tells you which tasks qualify, and the hold only has a few.
This page lists every task that counts, who gives it, where they stand, and the ones that look like favors but do not move the counter.
Tasks that count toward assisting the people of Falkreath (three needed)
| Task | Quest giver | Where | How to complete it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chop Wood | Hert | Half-Moon Mill | Pick up the woodcutter's axe by the mill, use the chopping block, sell the firewood to Hert for 5 gold each |
| Gather Wheat | Mathies | Corpselight Farm | Harvest cabbages, gourds or potatoes from his field behind the graveyard and sell them to him |
| Some Light Theft | Dengeir of Stuhn | Dengeir's House | Take the Private Letter from the bedside table in Lod's House and bring it to Dengeir |
| Delivery | Thadgeir | Dengeir's House | Carry Berit's Ashes to Runil at the Hall of the Dead, then report back |
| Dungeon Delving | Runil | Hall of the Dead | Find Runil's Journal in a random cave and return it |
| Investment | Solaf | Gray Pine Goods | With the Investor perk (Speech 70), invest 500 gold in the shop |
Where the objective comes from
The objective is part of the Thane of Falkreath quest. Jarl Siddgeir adds it after you finish Kill the Bandit Leader for him; Jarl Dengeir of Stuhn adds it as soon as he takes power through the civil war or Season Unending. Both hold court in the Jarl's Longhouse.
Favors finished before the objective appeared still count, and quest givers who die after helping you still count. The objective completes on its own once three qualifying tasks are done, and your journal tells you to return to the Jarl.
The two fastest tasks: Half-Moon Mill and Corpselight Farm
Hert at Half-Moon Mill. The mill sits on the south shore of Lake Ilinalta on the road between Falkreath and Riverwood. Hert (a vampire, though she and her husband Hern are harmless unless provoked) buys firewood. Grab the woodcutter's axe near the log pile, activate the chopping block, and sell her the wood. One sale is enough for the favor.
Mathies at Corpselight Farm. The farm is on the edge of Falkreath behind the graveyard. Pull a few cabbages, gourds or potatoes from his plot and sell them to him; farmers pay base value regardless of your Speech skill. Again, one sale counts.
The three quests in town: Dengeir, Thadgeir and Runil
Some Light Theft. Dengeir of Stuhn, the former Jarl, is convinced Lod the blacksmith is writing to the Empire. Ask what he means and he sends you into Lod's House for a Private Letter on the bedside table. It turns out to be a request for more iron. Steal it, bring it back, and collect leveled gold. Do this while Dengeir is still a private citizen: once he becomes Jarl he stops offering it, and if he is deposed or never seen, the favor is gone.
Delivery. Thadgeir, Dengeir's brother in the same house, wants his late friend Berit's ashes taken to Runil. The Hall of the Dead is a short walk past the graveyard. Hand them over and return.
Dungeon Delving. Runil, the Altmer priest of Arkay, lost his journal in a cave when he was younger. The location is random, so check the marker before setting out.
Investing as a shortcut
If your Speech is 70 or higher and you have the Investor perk, investing 500 gold in Solaf's shop Gray Pine Goods counts as helping him. Zaria at Grave Concoctions only counts with the Unofficial Skyrim Patch installed, because her shop cannot be invested in otherwise. Investing only counts if you have not already befriended that merchant another way.
Tasks that do not count
- Dark Ancestor (Dengeir asks you to destroy the vampire Vighar). It follows Some Light Theft and gives no additional disposition.
- A Daedra's Best Friend. Finding Lod's dog Barbas is a Daedric quest, and Daedric favors never count.
- Rare Gifts and Kill the Bandit Leader for Siddgeir. These are the prerequisite, not part of the three favors.
- Anything outside Falkreath Hold. Riverwood is in Whiterun Hold, so its favors count toward Whiterun, not Falkreath.
If you conquered Falkreath for the Stormcloaks before ever visiting the town, Dengeir is removed as a favor giver without the counter moving, which leaves only five possible tasks. Prioritise Hert, Mathies, Thadgeir and Runil in that case.
On the map: 8 locations
Assist the people of Falkreath: every task that counts: FAQ
What counts for "assist the people of Falkreath"?
Chop Wood for Hert, Gather Wheat for Mathies, Some Light Theft for Dengeir, Delivery for Thadgeir, Dungeon Delving for Runil, and investing 500 gold in Gray Pine Goods with the Investor perk.
How many people do you need to help in Falkreath?
Three. Once three qualifying favors are done the objective completes and you return to the Jarl for the thane title.
Does helping Lod find his dog count toward the Falkreath thane objective?
No. A Daedra's Best Friend is a Daedric quest, and favors done inside Daedric quests do not count.
Where is Half-Moon Mill?
On the south shore of Lake Ilinalta, on the road between Falkreath and Riverwood. Hert buys firewood there.
Why can't I get Some Light Theft from Dengeir?
Dengeir only offers his personal quests while he is a private citizen. Once he becomes Jarl of Falkreath the option disappears, so do it before the Stormcloaks take the hold.