I'm in the Soul Cairn and I chose NOT to become a vampire. My soul is suppose to be a black soul gem in a chest.

I spent a lot of time here because I wanted the horse. I played late into night trying to find his skull. After that everything is a blur. I was sleepy and wanted to get the job done. A lot of running here and there, lot of killing, lot of ghost sympathy talks, lot of collecting. I remember popping open at least one chest maybe more. I did not get all the ghost novelist's pages if that is significant.

What I know is this - I had no idea I could teleport to a roof until 3rd skelly-boss when I got a quest marker for the hit. It was the ONLY time ever I teleported to a roof top. My trapped soul is suppose to be on one of these teleport roof tops. If I picked it up (to soon) would have been at that last mini boss fite? I can't remember if I looted a chest there.

I have the MISC quest to retrieve my soul. I have the affliction still showing in magic. I have about eight black soul gems in my inventory and one of them did not stack with the rest. It's empty. The others are full. I do NOT have a MAIN quest to get my soul back even tho I don't have my soul obviously - other than the misc quest. From what people are saying you have to click in your quest log BOTH the misc and main quest to get you soul back to get a marker to it. So is it possible I may have looted my soul to soon before I got the quest (before killing the dragon)? Or is it in that chest I cannot find because I don't get a marker for it because the main quest for some reason isn't in my log?

Also, my map is not showing the Soul Cairn anymore but it shows as Skyrim even tho I'm still in the Soul Cairn and have never left it. Where is my soul? Yes, I saw the badly done youtube vid and read every write but I'm still confused. No, I don't want to leave my soul even if it does not affect me in the real world. Esp if I will need to do a prev save pnt which would be easier from now than later.

Any thoughts on where my soul might be?

looking at the Soul Cairn from where We first meet Valerica, there are four Areas/Ruins on the right.

Area 1 has a "Wordwall".

Area 2 has an underground entrance, and a stairway inside.

Area 3 has to be navigated to get to the chest with Your Soul.<------It is on the upper level in a chest.

Area 4 had one of the Gaurdians.

Area 3 has bars on many possible entrances and exits. navigating the inside Maze is how You know You are in the correct building. The whole bottom is a Maze, and finding the portal to the roof and the chest is difficult for a first time visitor.

I didn't know there was a wordwall I would like to find that.

Area? Are you referencing a map I don't know about or is this just... idk. Anyway, I FOUND IT I FOUND IT I FOUND IT. Have no idea what to do with it now but I found my soul. Eat it maybe?

Here is my advice for anyone looking for their soul. Because "it's the one with the maze" every one every where keeps repeating did nothing for me. The whole *&%* place is a maze. It's the one with the curtains! Draqes! Rugs! Carpets! Flapping in the breeze. And a sack. All the other places I visit look more like they came from Oblivion where this one looks like the owners attempted quaint. Must of had a mortal interior decorator come in and at least try to give the place a more human touch.

Thx. I don't think I'll ever find all those notes but I would like that wordwall. I wonder what summoning the dragon is all about (my ol' warrior buddy pal)? Guess I can leave now I have my soul.