Skyrim Ill Met By Moonlight Quest Choices And Rewards
The quest Ill Met By Moonlight is one of the most memorable Daedric encounters in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Taking place in Falkreath, it forces players into a classic moral dilemma involving a tragic werewolf named Sinding and the Daedric Prince Hircine. Your decisions at the climax directly dictate which legendary artifacts you take home.
Starting the Quest and Meeting Sinding
To begin this quest, travel to the Falkreath barracks and speak with Sinding, who is trapped inside a prison cell. He reveals that he stole Hircine's Cursed Ring to control his involuntary transformations, but the curse instead caused him to harm a young girl. He asks the Dragonborn to return the ring to the Daedric Prince by hunting a white stag in the wilderness.
After defeating the creature, the spirit of Hircine appears and orders you to track down Sinding inside Bloated Man's Grotto. Sinding has fled there to escape a group of local hunters sent to destroy him. This sets up the central conflict where you must decide whether to side with the werewolf or fulfill Hircine's bloodthirsty demand.
Siding with Sinding to Claim the Ring of Hircine
If you choose to spare Sinding, you will assist him in slaying the hunters pursuing him inside the cave. Sinding expresses gratitude for your mercy and promises to remain isolated away from innocent people. Once you step outside the grotto, Hircine reappears to praise your unexpected choice and cleanses the curse from the ring.
Choosing this path rewards you with the purified Ring of Hircine. This powerful item provides unlimited werewolf transformations every day for player characters afflicted with lycanthropy. It is widely considered an essential equipment piece for players who enjoy playing as a beast character.
Slay Sinding to Earn the Savior's Hide
Alternatively, you can choose to follow Hircine's original instructions by hunting and killing Sinding inside the cavern. After defeating him, you skin his beast form, prompting Hircine to manifest and reward your loyalty. He bestows upon you the Savior's Hide, a unique light armor piece steeped in lore.
The Savior's Hide is a popular choice for stealth or barbarian builds due to its distinct magic resistance properties. It grants substantial resistance to magic attacks along with high poison immunity. Players seeking better defense against enemy mages often favor this outcome over the ring.
How to Get Both Artifacts in One Playthrough
Clever adventurers can exploit a specific quest sequence to claim both Daedric artifacts during a single playthrough. First, enter the grotto and inform Sinding that you will protect him, then help him defeat all the hunters. After eliminating the hunters, talk to Sinding to complete that stage, but do not leave the cave immediately.
Instead, turn on Sinding right after the conversation ends and defeat him inside the cave. Skin his body to receive the Savior's Hide from Hircine, and then exit the cavern to meet Hircine again for the cleansed ring. This method allows completionists to gain both rewards for their collection without missing out.