One of Skyrim’s longest and most beloved quests can actually be “solved” almost before it even begins – though jumping the gun won’t quite give you the outcome you might hope for.
Outside of the main story, most of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s quests are designed for quick completion—simple objectives, straightforward clues, and minimal backtracking. But every now and then, Bethesda dropped something more intricate. And few side quests illustrate this better than Blood on the Ice, the infamous murder investigation in Windhelm.
Even veteran Dragonborns will admit this quest takes some time to finish. No matter how well you know it, Blood on the Ice demands patience as you work through its multi-step mystery, gathering evidence and chasing down the elusive killer known as The Butcher.
Over the course of your investigation, suspicion conveniently falls on Helgird, the Nord priestess who tends the Hall of the Dead. She’s creepy enough, and her dialogue doesn’t help her case. When asked about the murder weapon, she explains it’s a curved ceremonial blade used by ancient Nords for embalming—and then casually adds, “I don’t know who in Windhelm would even have something like that. Other than me, of course.”
It’s a perfectly suspicious throwaway line, clearly designed to mislead you. But ironically, that same comment points straight to the real murderer.
As spotted by Reddit user Sinistrait on r/skyrim, if you pay Calixto Corrium two gold coins for a tour of his shop, Calixto’s House of Curiosities, he’ll proudly show off a collection of stolen embalming tools—taken straight from an ancient Nord crypt.
That right there is your biggest clue. Of course, you don’t learn the full truth until the quest’s finale, when it’s officially revealed that Calixto himself is the Butcher. Unfortunately, Skyrim doesn’t let you accuse him early or shortcut the quest using that information—but it’s a fun little insight that rewards observant players.
And in classic Skyrim fashion, there’s further proof lying in plain sight: a diary titled Butcher’s Journal, written and signed by Calixto himself, sitting right in his house. Honestly, Calixto—if you’re going to be a serial killer, maybe don’t sign your own confession.
