Blood on the Ice, more info on the glitch

[moho25]

Since there doesn't seem to be a master thread about this issue (why isn't there??), I'm making a separate post.

 

So, as far as I can tell, there is something going on with this quest glitch, other than the 2 most often reported issues: progress in the Dark Brotherhood chain, and the number of times one has entered Windhelm (possibly associated with the total number of game days passed).

 

Here are my stats:

1. "GameDaysPassed" = 217 (less than the 245 that some cite as contributing to the glitch).

2. "MS11EnteringWindhelmCount" = 41 (obviously many more than the 4 that I need).

3. Dark Brotherhood Chain Status = The first time that I tried to get Blood on the Ice to trigger I had only completed the very first quest in the chain (killing the orphanage hag). As of now, I have just completed "Whispers in the Dark", and have accepted a few more sidequests from Nazir, which I will wait to complete. I chose NOT to kill the girl in Windhelm associated with the Alain Dufont hit, who is also the sister of one of the murdered girls.

 

I have also:

1. Completed almost every quest in Windhelm (just found a couple new ones down by the docks).

2. Took Whiterun and Falkreath for the Stormcloaks.

3. Did NOT plant Viola's ring on the Dark Elf. I picked the lock to her house, and put it in the dresser to the right of the door when you enter.

 

Other possibly pertinant information:

1. Calixto's Curiosities is almost always locked for me, day or night. I have found it unlocked 1x, and when I tried to talk to him to "Take a Tour" as the Skyrim Guide states, he had no dialog options.

2. I have talked to everyone in Windhelm. I get some dialog options about the murders, but nothing involving the quest itself.

 

Lastly, I have NOT yet tried to pickpocket Tova and break into Hjerim. I also have NOT yet tried to fix this with a console command. I'm doubting either would work at this point, but I was trying to get the quest to trigger normally. I'd really like to be able to experience the quest/story, not just get the house/carl/title -- though I certainly want those, too. I've attempted to avoid as many spoilers as I can about the quest itself, in my research. I'd appreciate it if any responders refrain from including spoilers.

 

I am currently stuck at the Steward dialog telling me that the house is for sale but unavailable at the moment (due to the murders). Otherwise, I am ready to claim my final thaneship (?) of Skyrim.

[CalibanX]

You don't get the house until the Jarl REALLY likes you. You have to become a Stormcloak and do two missions for the Rebels before he lets you have the house. I was super confused about this too.

[Deleted1342120User]

I'd solved the Butcher murders and did other "favours" for various Windhelm folk, and I was not given the option to buy Hjerim until after the Civil War quests conclusion. It confused me also. Even so, once I bought the house, I never got the option to buy the "clean up blood," or whatever it's called, so I went back to a pre-purchase save game and didn't waste my money on Hjerim. Who wants to live in a house, no matter how nice otherwise, that has blood and scattered bone all over the main living spaces? Edited December 8, 2011 by Guest

[runicNomad]

I stole the key for Hjerim in the middle of the night before I even got the quest and went in there and got the journals and amulet. I also broke into Calixtos before that and stole his journal which incriminates him outright. The quest jumped ahead for me entering Hjerim when I opened the chest and found the journal. Maybe this will work for you as well.

 

I am lost why finding Calixtos direct journal incriminating him doesnt allow me to turn him in right away. It sucks doing quests and worrying more about if you will bug a step than finishing it a unique way.

 

hope stealing the key and breaking in might help ya...

[moho25]

You don't get the house until the Jarl REALLY likes you. You have to become a Stormcloak and do two missions for the Rebels before he lets you have the house. I was super confused about this too.

 

Yepper. From everything I've read, you aren't eligible until after taking Windhelm and Falkreath, which I have. I've gotten the dialog from Ulfric about the opening in his court to be a Thane, but he states I must purchase property, which sends me to his Steward. However, the Steward won't actually allow you to buy the property, as that is tied to the Blood on the Ice questline. This, I think, is where mot people are stuck.

 

However, I'll go take Markarth and continue the civil war in a bit, just to be sure. I had wanted to see every city before the civil war, and still had some work to do in Markarth until yesterday evening.

 

Edit: So, it definitely isn't something with the civil war chain. I just finished the Battle for Solitude, and the quest still does not trigger.

Edited December 9, 2011 by moho25

[phaota]

I'd solved the Butcher murders and did other "favours" for various Windhelm folk, and I was not given the option to buy Hjerim until after the Civil War quests conclusion. It confused me also. Even so, once I bought the house, I never got the option to buy the "clean up blood," or whatever it's called, so I went back to a pre-purchase save game and didn't waste my money on Hjerim. Who wants to live in a house, no matter how nice otherwise, that has blood and scattered bone all over the main living spaces?

Thanks for this direction. I'll definitely try it out. This quest will not conclude for me either. Neither Viola Giordano or the Jarl's Steward Jorleif will give me any additional dialog options concerning the butcher case. Like Moho25, I also put Viola's ring back in the dresser of her home.