If you recently started playing the Elder Scrolls Online you might be a little confused about how the game starts.
You start with the tutorial section which teaches you some fundamentals about the game. Then you are dropped in the world leaving you clueless what to do.
Don’t worry, there is a main storyline which I definitely recommend you do right away as it will teach you further about the game and is just a very nice introduction to ESO overall.
However it can be a bit tricky to get to it if you don’t know what to do. No worries, I will take you through the process step by step.
Table Of Contents:
- Quick Introduction
- Step 1: Finding the hooded figure
- Step 2: Finding the benefactor and getting to your starter island
Quick Introduction
Most likely when reading this, you were either dropped in Elsweyr, Summerset or Morrowind (Vvardenfell) depending on which expansion of the game you have.
See, the reason you are confused is because: When you create a new character, you will be dropped in the latest expansion that you own. So if you own the Summerset expansion, a new character will be placed in Summerset.
Originally, new players started on a small island respective of their alliance, a safe zone so to speak. From that point the player would be naturally introduced to the main quest and could choose to follow it or not.
Now however, it is a little more complicated as everyone gets dropped in the latest expansion you own. So our mission right now is to get you back to your starter island so that you can enjoy the main quest and play the game the way it was meant to be played.
It’s not clear why Zenimax decided to do it this way. I understand that they want to show off their latest content, but it becomes terribly confusing to new players.
Not to worry though, I will take you back to the main quest in no time.
Step 1: Finding the hooded figure
The first thing we need to do is to find a hooded figure that will give you a quest. How you find her will depend on which faction you belong to.
Before we start, just take note of which faction you are part of. It will be either Ebonheart Pact, Daggerfall Covenant or Aldmeri Dominion.
To find out which faction you are part of, go to the character screen (hotkey: C on PC). On the window to the right, look at the top left corner, hover on that icon and it will tell you which faction you belong to.
Ok, let’s get going. Your first mission is to find a wayshrine, any will do. Open up your map (hotkey: M on PC), locate the closest wayshrine to you, it will be an icon that looks like this:
Run up to the wayshrine and interact with it. Where you will travel to next will depend on your faction:
- Ebonheart Pact: Davon’s Watch (Stonefalls)
- Daggerfall Covenant: Daggerfall (Glenumbra)
- Aldmeri Dominion: Vulkhel Guard (Auridon)
Go ahead and click on the wayshrine that corresponds to the faction you belong to as seen above.
Sometimes you will need to zoom in to see the wayshrine, the icons sometimes get buried under other icons 🙁 It’s a bit annoying I know.
Once you have traveled, a hooded figure should appear within 20 seconds or so. Go ahead and talk to her and accept the quest she has for you. You can now skip ahead to Step 2.
If the hooded figure does not appear
If the hooded figure does NOT appear, chances are you already accepted the quest without noticing at an earlier time. Check your quest journal (hotkey: J on PC). If you already have the quest “Soul Shriven In Coldharbour” under “Main Quest” with the task being “Talk to the benefactor” you can move ahead to step 2.
If the task says “Find the hooded figure” and the hooded figure does NOT appear, you will need to go and find her.
In Davon’s watch she is located by the wheelbarrow at the location marked on the map below.
In Vulkhel Guard, she will be located on the upper deck of the boat in a chair.
In Daggerfall she will be located by the Tradesman’s Square feeding chickens.
Step 2: Finding the benefactor and getting to your starter island
Next you need to find the Benefactor. Follow the map that corresponds to your faction below for his location.
Ebonheart Pact – Davon’s Watch
The benefactor in Davon’s Watch will be located in the southern side of the town. See the map below for more detailed instructions.
Daggerfall Covenant – Daggerfall
The benefactor in Daggerfall will be located in the south-eastern part of the town, close to the Tradesman’s Square. See the map below for more detailed instructions.
Aldmeri Dominion – Vulkhel Guard
The benefactor in Vulkhel Guard will be located in the boat docked on the southern side of town. See the map below for more detailed instructions.
The Benefactor will be tied up, as you try and help him, you will get knocked out. You have now started the main quest line of the Elder Scrolls Online. A cinematic will play and after that, the start of the quest line unfolds as you make your way through Coldharbour.
When this is over, you will be transported to your faction’s starter island. From there, you just need to follow the quests that are under the category “Main Quest”.
Hopefully this was helpful, I know it’s frustrating that getting to the main quest is so complicated. Now you should be on your way and you can enjoy ESO 🙂
Good luck!
What if she doesn’t appear and she’s not at the wheelbarrow?
Make sure you have followed the previous steps thoroughly, and make sure you are in your faction’s area.
If all else fails. Abandon your quest and start over. Hope this helps!
Do you know if I completed one of the Main Quests, that if I go to Elsweyr, will someone pop up in Elsweyr to continue the main quest as I await the next part of it or do I always need to be in one of the original 3 areas?
If you have not been transported to your small starter island yet you need to complete all the steps as described in the article. Once you have done all of the above your main quest is properly activated and you will have it in your quest log along with markers that will tell you where to go.
Thanks very much, really nicely written and very useful!
Oh god thank you so so so much, just bought the Summerset + Main game, was so confused.