Hello, I have noticed something in fort dawnguard that is interesting. I cannot tell if it may link to a secret or if it is just a random object.

I have explored the dawnguard base very much in the last two weeks, but for some reason never glanced up in the main room. Tonight I did of curiosity and noticed something strange.

The hole in the roof has some sort of small contraption hanging from the side. It is two rods with a small gyro-looking object attached to the end.

I climbed to the second floor to get a closer look but still cannot tell its function. I fired arrows, spells, shouts... Even auriels bow at it and nothing happened.

Now, I love secrets and am always looking for them... I may be missing something completely obvious, or the thing may be a decoration, I cannot tell.

I make this thread to ask that next time you go in the base you give it a look and tell me what you think it is, if someone knows it can put my curiosity at ease.

I think that it is just a broken part of the broken window that's up there

Broken window? Possibly.

I didnt notice anything else resembling a window up there.... It seems to have a sun/moon symbol in it so I waited all day to see if it lined up with anything... But the sun doesnt even show up in the hole.

I believe you're referring to the skylight. It's the thing that shines down onto Gunmar and Sorine when you return to the Fort after recruiting them. Isran uses it to test if they're Vampires.

I think it magnifies the sun to test and defend against vampires.

Ah, so THATS what it is!

Mystery solved! Thanks!

THat is a device that helps the DG identify any Vampires that may inflitrate fort DG.

What happens if your character is a vampire when he does that?

It is said by Florentius or whatever his name is..that secret caches protected by their Sigil (the symbol or crest on DG armor and flags) are hidden in "Skyrim" by the old guard -no location or hint given. Just that they are unlocked by the Sun fire spell when shot at the sigil....Checked the castle but no luck so far, still looking.

Yeah thats what I think.

I believe he sends you off to cure yourself.

He might be talking about the hidden caches in each hold but I'm not sure. I found a guy out in the wilderness called Dawnguard apprentice Hakar. On his corpse (I killed him) he had a note about supply stashes. One is hidden near the shrine of Zenithar in the middle of the tundra, one is hidden behind a building in Rorikstead, and one is hidden near the west watchtower of Whiterun.

Only thing is that these apprentices don't seem like "old guard" they seem like newbies. And I doubt you'd be getting these chests open with a spell either.

You can find Dawnguard recruits out on the roads with notes on various locations of the caches, as well as a key to unlock them.