Skyrim:Battle of the Champions

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A battle between two Civil War champions is about to begin. Quest Giver: Reading Battle of Champions (if no side in the civil war has been chosen) OR after receiving Letter from the Empire/Letter from the Stormcloaks from a courier (if you've sided with the Empire/Stormcloaks) Location(s): The Drunken Huntsman, Kynesgrove, Castle Dour/Palace of the Kings, Whiterun Hold Reward: Full set of Imperial Dragon and Storm-Bear weapons and armor ID: ccFFBSSE001_Quest Added by: Civil War Champions

Face off against the other side's Champion

Quick Walkthrough

1. (if you have not yet chosen a side in the Civil War) Read the note in The Drunken Huntsman, then pass a Persuasion Speech check with Legate Adventus Caesennius or give snow bear pelts or Klija's Snow Bear Pelts to Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced.

or

1. (if you have already chosen a side in the Civil War) Wait for a letter from the Stormcloaks or the Legion (you may need to enter The Drunken Huntsman once to trigger the courier).
2. Speak to Adventus Caesennius or Yrsarald and loot all items from the nearby chest.
3. Make your way to the battlefield east of Whiterun and kill all enemy soldiers. Loot the Champion's body to complete the quest.

Detailed Walkthrough

Become a Champion

You may have to take out the competition...

Note: This stage of the quest is only available if you install the Civil War Champions Creation on a character that has not yet sided with the Imperial Legion or the Stormcloaks.

Go to The Drunken Huntsman in Whiterun. On the counter inside, you will find a note called Battle of Champions, which describes an upcoming battle between the Legion and the Stormcloaks in the ongoing Civil War. Both sides intend to nominate a Champion, but nobody has been chosen as of yet.

If you wish to side with the Legion, you must journey to Castle Dour in Solitude to speak with Legate Adventus Caesennius. Although the note states that the Legion will accept "any willing soldier", you will need to pass a Persuasion check (Speech 50) to convince him to let you act as the Legion Champion. If your Speech skill is not particularly high, it would be wise to bring a Fortify Persuasion potion with you. Once you persuade him, you will be handed the Imperial Armory Key to unlock a chest in the nearby equipment room.

If you instead wish to fight for the Stormcloaks, you must bring five snow bear pelts to Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced in the Palace of the Kings in Windhelm. These can be taken from snow bears or purchased from hunters and general goods merchants starting at level 10, although at low levels you may have difficulty with this task. Luckily there is an alternative and more underhanded approach: the note mentions a prospective Champion named Klija Wolf-Claw who wishes to fight for the Stormcloaks. She has already gathered the pelts and can be found at the small settlement of Kynesgrove just south of Windhelm. She can be found at all hours at the Steamscorch Mine Camp and carries an item named Klija's Snow Bear Pelts on her person. It can be a challenge to pickpocket the item from her, but be warned that killing her counts as murder and will land you with a significant bounty if you are caught. Whichever way you go about obtaining enough pelts, speak with Yrsarald to receive the Storm-Bear Chest Key unlocking a chest in the Palace's war room.

Answer the Call

Note: This stage of the quest is only available if you install the Creation on a character which has already joined the Legion or the Stormcloaks.

If you're already a member of the Legion or the Stormcloaks, you will receive a letter by courier^{[verification needed — when?]} from your commanding officer, advising you that a challenge has been issued by the Stormcloaks and requesting your assistance in dealing with it. If you are a member of the Legion, you will receive a Letter from the Empire requesting that you speak with Legate Adventus Caesennius in Castle Dour to receive your custom forged equipment for this task. If you are a Stormcloak, you will instead receive a Letter from the Stormcloaks asking you to meet with Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced in the Palace of the Kings. Meet with your commanding officer to receive a key to a nearby chest.

Prepare for Battle

Approach your fellow Champion

Whichever path you take, once you are named Champion you will need to unlock the relevant chest and loot every item within. The quest will not progress unless you take everything, so be sure to pick up both weapons even if you only mean to use one. The chest also contains the Map of Battle Location, which can be examined in your inventory if you wish. The quest marker will direct you to the battle location in any case, a clearing on the plains of Whiterun Hold directly west of Shimmermist Cave. When you arrive, you will find five soldiers from both sides facing off against each other, with the other Champion patiently waiting for you in the center. If you side with the Legion, the Champion will be Klija Wolf-Claw if you didn't steal her pelts, but if you stole her pelts you will face a generic Stormcloak Champion instead. If you side with the Stormcloaks you will face a generic Imperial Champion.

Speak with the other Champion to begin the battle. You will need to slaughter all enemy combatants and loot the fallen Champion for their gear in order to complete the quest. You may have issues with encumbrance at this stage if you intend to bring all this equipment away with you. Both sets of items are extremely powerful and make for a worthy reward. After the completion of the quest, you will receive a Letter of Commendation (either the Legion version or Stormcloak version) via courier from your commanding officer to congratulate you on your victory.

Notes

• If you install Civil War Champions on a character who has already chosen a side in the Civil War, Klija Wolf-Claw will not appear at Kynesgrove.
• If you decide to steal Klija's pelts but side with the Legion anyway, you will face a generic Stormcloak Champion at the battle.
• If over-encumberance occurs from taking the gear of both factions it would be helpful to have either Arvak or the Daedric horse to summon, mount and fast-travel away.
• Bits and Pieces has a snow bear pelt on display that respawns every 10 days, making it easy to obtain the powerful Storm-Bear set even at level 1.
• If you side with the Legion, any surviving Imperial Soldiers will make their way to The Winking Skeever and remain there.

Bugs

• Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced will not actually take the five snow bear pelts from you if you choose to go that route.
  • The Official Skyrim Special Edition Patch, version 1.6, fixes this bug.
• If Klija Wolf-Claw appears at Kynesgrove and you side with the Legion, two versions of her will exist at once. Killing her at the battle site will not disable the version at Kynesgrove. ^?
• After the AE update patch, completing this quest can cause the following with great frequency: graphics issues, loading screens that fail to end, and crashes. Reloading a save before the battle portion of this quest can fix this, but completing the quest will cause it to happen again.
  • This bug may be fixed by storing the armor somewhere (i.e. a chest or display). It appears that being equipped or just in one's inventory (including companions) can cause these glitches.
  • Possible Fix (tested on PS5): Save after battle then loot gear. After first attempted fast travel from the battle site at end of battle, unending loading screen should occur. When this happens, close game and restart. Loot gear, then walk to a location in a new cell with item storage (like a home), Myrwatch is a verified working location. Store all items from this quest inside a container, then leave home and make new save. Close Skyrim and restart game. Associated bugs should stop, items should be retrievable and usable without further issue.
• After obtaining the Imperial Dragon Armor, the quest may fail to update, leaving you unable to progress.

Quest Stages

Battle of the Champions (ccFFBSSE001_Quest)
Stage	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
10		A civil war rages on between the Stormcloaks and Imperials, with Whiterun at the center. Having joined with the Stormcloaks, I should head to a major hold in case a courier has news for me. A civil war rages on between the Stormcloaks and Imperials, with Whiterun at the center. Having joined with the Imperials, I should head to a major hold in case a courier has news for me. A civil war rages on between the Stormcloaks and Imperials, with Whiterun at the center. I should investigate the taverns there and see what I can learn about the current state of the war.
20		According to a letter I found in Whiterun, the Stormcloaks and Imperials are engaging in a battle of champions. Rumor has it that Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced has asked any potential champion to prove their worth by slaying five snow bears and handing him their pelts. Alternatively, I could try posing as a soldier and speaking to Legate Adventus Caesennius in Solitude. A civil war rages on between the Stormcloaks and Imperials, with Whiterun at the center. Having taken a side, I should speak with my commanding officer to see if I can fight as a champion.
25		According to a letter I found in Whiterun, the Stormcloaks and Imperials are engaging in a battle of champions. Rumor has it that Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced has asked any potential champion to prove their worth by slaying five snow bears and handing him their pelts. Alternatively, I could try posing as a soldier and speaking to Legate Adventus Caesennius in Solitude.
30		According to a letter I found in Whiterun, the Stormcloaks and Imperials are engaging in a battle of champions. Rumor has it that Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced has asked any potential champion to prove their worth by slaying five snow bears and handing him their pelts. I've taken the pelts I need from a warrior named Klija Wolf-Claw in Kynesgrove.
50		The Imperials have chosen me to fight in a battle of champions. As such, I've received a key from Legate Adventus Caesennius in Solitude. It will open a chest in Castle Dour that holds the champion's armor and a map of the batlle [sic] location.
110		A civil war rages on between the Stormcloaks and Imperials, with Whiterun at the center. Knowing I have sided with the Stormcloaks, Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced has sent me a letter. He may be in need of my services.
120		I've received a letter from Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced. He asks that I serve as a champion in a duel against an Imperial garrison, and has promised me an armor to wear in the battle.
130		I've received a letter from Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced. He asks that I serve as a champion in a duel against an Imperial garrison, and has given me a key to a chest with a powerful armor set. I should retrieve the armor and map with the location of the battle.
140		The Stormcloaks have chosen me to fight in a battle of champions. Using a key I received from Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced, I opened a chest that holds the champion's armor and a map of the battle location.
144		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle.
145		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
150		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
151		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
152		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
153		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
154		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
155		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
160		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
170	Finishes quest	I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I arrived at the site of the battle and defeated the opposing champion.
210		A civil war rages on between the Stormcloaks and Imperials, with Whiterun at the center. Knowing I have sided with the Imperials, Legate Adventus Caesennius has sent me a letter. He may be in need of my services.
220		I've received a letter from Legate Adventus Caesennius. He asks that I serve as a champion in a duel against a Stormcloak garrison, and has promised me an armor to wear in the battle.
230		The Imperials have chosen me to fight in a battle of champions. As such, I've received a key from Legate Adventus Caesennius in Solitude. It will open a chest in Castle Dour that holds the champion's armor and a map of the batlle [sic] location.
240		The Imperials have chosen me to fight in a battle of champions. Using a key I received from Legate Adventus Caesennius, I opened a chest that holds the champion's armor and a map of the battle location.
244		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
245		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
250		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
251		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
252		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
253		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
254		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
255		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
260		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I've arrived at the site of the battle. After confronting the opposing champion, it's time to fight.
270	Finishes quest	I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I arrived at the site of the battle and defeated the opposing champion.
800		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I arrived at the site of the battle and defeated the opposing champion. As a reward, I received a set of Storm-Bear armor from Legate Adventus Caesennius.
900		I have been chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I arrived at the site of the battle and defeated the opposing champion. As a reward, I received a set of Imperial Dragon Armor from the Legate.
1000		I was chosen to fight in a battle of champions. Using a map I received from my commanding officer, I arrived at the site of the battle and defeated the opposing champion.

Notes

• Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the Radiant Quest system, and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.
• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.
• If an entry is marked as "Finishes Quest" it means the quest disappears from the Active Quest list, but you may still receive new entries for that quest.
• On the PC, it is possible to use the console to advance through the quest by entering setstage ccFFBSSE001_Quest stage, where stage is the number of the stage you wish to complete. It is not possible to un-complete (i.e. go back) quest stages, but it is possible to clear all stages of the quest using resetquest ccFFBSSE001_Quest.