City · The Pale
Mining and fishing port on the northern coast and capital of the Pale. Its residents suffer nightmares caused by the Nightcaller Temple above town, and the Dark Brotherhood's second sanctuary lies just west of the docks.
Dawnstar is the capital of The Pale on the Skyrim map.
Dawnstar is a mining and fishing port on the northern coast of Skyrim and the capital of the Pale. The town wraps around a small harbor on the Sea of Ghosts, with ships tied up along the beach. Roads lead west toward Morthal, east toward Winterhold and south over the mountains to Whiterun. Nightcaller Temple looms on the hill above town, and the Dawnstar Sanctuary of the Dark Brotherhood is hidden along the coast just west of the docks.
The White Hall is the Jarl's residence. The Windpeak Inn, run by Thoring, is where you meet the priest Erandur. The Mortar and Pestle is Frida's alchemy shop, and Rustleif's House has a forge and tanning rack outside, worked by Rustleif and his wife Seren. Two mines bookend the town: Quicksilver Mine (Leigelf) in the north west and Iron-Breaker Mine (Beitild) at the east end, and both owners will buy ore. The Dawnstar Barracks house the guard.
Jarl Skald the Elder, a firm Stormcloak supporter, rules from the White Hall with Frorkmar Banner-Torn as steward and Bulfrek as his housecarl. If the Imperial Legion takes the Pale, Brina Merilis becomes Jarl. Once you complete Thane of the Pale, Gregor becomes your housecarl and later moves into Heljarchen Hall.
There is no house inside Dawnstar, but Hearthfire lets you buy land for Heljarchen Hall in the south of the hold, north of Loreius Farm and south of Fort Dunstad. The plot costs 5,000 gold. Under Skald you must first finish Waking Nightmare and Kill the Giant (which only appears from level 22). Under Brina Merilis there is no requirement. See Skyrim Hearthfire houses for the building process.
Two Daedric quests start here. Waking Nightmare begins with Erandur in the Windpeak Inn and takes you into Nightcaller Temple to end the town's nightmares. Pieces of the Past starts with Silus Vesuius, who collects relics of Mehrunes Dagon. Captain Wayfinder at the docks gives Salty Sea-Dogs, Skald gives Kill the Giant, and Thane of the Pale is offered once you have helped enough locals. After Hail Sithis! the Dark Brotherhood moves into the Dawnstar Sanctuary.
Merchants: Frida (potions), Rustleif and Seren (smithing), Thoring (food and lodging), plus the two mine owners who pay for ore.
Dawnstar is on the north coast of the map, between Morthal and Winterhold. It is the capital of the Pale and sits on a small harbor on the Sea of Ghosts.
Skald the Elder, with Frorkmar Banner-Torn as steward. Brina Merilis replaces him if the Imperials take the Pale.
Not in town. With Hearthfire you can buy the Heljarchen Hall plot for 5,000 gold after Waking Nightmare and Kill the Giant, or immediately if Brina Merilis is Jarl.
The Dawnstar Sanctuary is on the coast a short walk west of the town, with a black door. It becomes yours after the quest Hail Sithis!
Talk to Erandur, the priest of Mara, inside the Windpeak Inn. He asks for help ending the nightmares and leads you up to Nightcaller Temple.