The Offering Box in The Midden is one of Skyrim’s more obscure and mysterious features, tucked beneath the College of Winterhold. While many players may miss it during their journey, it holds hidden lore and curious gameplay mechanics that can be both rewarding and perplexing. Found in the shadowy depths beneath one of the game’s most magical locations, this strange artifact invites players to experiment with its offerings. If you’ve ever stumbled across this wooden box and wondered what its purpose is, this guide will help you understand its functions, uses, and connection to The Midden’s secrets.
What Is the Offering Box in The Midden?
The Midden is a hidden area beneath the College of Winterhold in Skyrim. It’s dark, cold, and littered with bones, remains, and mysterious magical elements. Among these is a wooden container known as the Offering Box. At first glance, it appears to be just another piece of scenery, but it’s actually tied to a powerful quest and a magical relic.
The Offering Box sits atop a stone pedestal in a small chamber and is accompanied by a strange, outstretched gauntlet known as theDaedric Relic. Players who inspect this scene will find that the Daedric Relic and the Offering Box are part of a hidden quest called Forgotten Names.
Location: How to Find the Midden and the Offering Box
To access The Midden, head to the College of Winterhold. There are two entrances: one behind the Hall of Countenance and another inside the Hall of the Elements. Once inside, follow the icy tunnels until you come across a room with the eerie gauntlet on a pedestal and the Offering Box beside it. This is the heart of the Daedric mystery.
The Forgotten Names Quest
The Offering Box is central to a hidden quest called ‘Forgotten Names.’ This quest does not appear in the journal and has no quest markers. It can only be completed by paying attention to visual clues and using the right items. The Daedric Relic, which consists of a black gauntlet with four outstretched fingers, is the key.
Beside the relic and the box is a note titled ‘Investigators Key’ and sometimes a journal or paper giving vague instructions. These texts hint that placing specific items into the Offering Box will trigger a magical response. The correct combination will unlock the full potential of the relic.
What to Place in the Offering Box
To activate the Daedric Relic, you must place four enchanted rings into the Offering Box. These rings are:
- Balwen’s Ring
- Treoy’s Ring
- Katarina’s Ring
- Pithiken’s Ring
Each ring is named after a missing student from the College. They are not found in plain sight and require some exploration. Most can be found scattered throughout The Midden or within college buildings. Once all four rings are placed into the Offering Box, the fingers of the relic will each receive one ring, and a spectral entity will be summoned.
Summoning the Dremora
When the Offering Box receives the correct rings, a powerful Dremora named Velehk Sain appears. He offers you a deal: let him go in exchange for his treasure, or choose to destroy him. This moment creates a fork in your decision-making:
- Free Velehk Sain: If you agree to release him, he vanishes and leaves behind a map. This map leads to hidden treasure buried on the northern coasts of Skyrim.
- Refuse or Kill: If you choose to kill him, he attacks. Once defeated, he drops the Gauntlet of Velehk Sain and some minor loot, but you forfeit the treasure map reward.
Velehk Sain’s Treasure
Following the treasure map provided by Velehk Sain will lead you to a stash on a remote shoreline near Winterhold. The loot typically includes gold, enchanted weapons, soul gems, and other valuable items. While not game-breaking, it’s a unique and satisfying reward for players who enjoy discovery and secrets.
Lore and Mystique Behind the Offering Box
The Offering Box and the relic are tied into the darker, more mysterious side of the College of Winterhold. They hint at experiments gone wrong, forbidden pacts, and students dabbling in Daedric rituals. The four rings symbolize the students who vanished after tampering with the relic, and the gauntlet is a lingering consequence of their meddling.
The fact that the Offering Box isn’t part of any mainstream questline makes it feel like a true hidden gem. It encourages players to explore, experiment, and think outside the box literally and figuratively. It also contributes to Skyrim’s rich atmosphere of hidden lore and forgotten powers lurking in the shadows.
Why Players Miss It
There are several reasons why many players never discover the Offering Box’s purpose:
- The quest has no markers or official journal entry.
- The rings are scattered and not obviously connected.
- The Midden is easily overlooked or explored early when players are under-leveled or under-equipped.
- The appearance of the box and relic doesn’t scream quest object to new players.
Despite these hurdles, players who revisit the College later in the game often return to The Midden and finally begin connecting the dots. It becomes one of those a-ha moments that reward curiosity and persistence.
Gameplay and Roleplay Value
Beyond the loot and the brief combat challenge, the Offering Box adds depth to Skyrim’s roleplaying possibilities. For players who enjoy diving into arcane mysteries or playing as morally grey mages, this hidden feature reinforces the theme of magical risk and consequence. The presence of a summoned Dremora, an ancient pact, and the implication of dark college secrets enriches the overall narrative.
Whether you side with Velehk Sain or banish him forever, you’re participating in a hidden piece of Skyrim’s broader lore. It also reminds players that not all quests are handed to you some require intuition, curiosity, and a bit of courage.
A Hidden Reward in the Depths
The Offering Box in The Midden is a perfect example of Skyrim’s layered storytelling and reward for exploration. It’s an optional quest that doesn’t guide you, doesn’t force you, and doesn’t even acknowledge your actions in a formal questline. But for those who take the time to investigate its secrets, it provides a memorable experience filled with mystery, danger, and treasure.
Next time you’re at the College of Winterhold, don’t just study spells dare to explore its forbidden underbelly. The Midden and its Offering Box await those brave enough to uncover what lies in the dark.