Had Lydia "Stay Here" at what I later found out was a magical door which I apparently cannot reopen/trigger (she kept getting killed by the draugr and I got sick of redoing the battle). Killed all the draugr and went on my merry way figuring I'd return later to have her follow me out the other end (having completely forgotten about the giant hole that you jump down to continue through the dungeon). So now I can't go up the hole and I can't get past the magic door to continue out. I've gone up 3 levels since then and am not willing to go back and start over from that save. Is there any way to go back through Dead Man's Respite after you've cleared it? If not, can I drop Lydia as a companion so I can get someone else without physically being near to her select the command? (Found that elven guy back in Riverwood - Faendal or whatever - and tried to get him back as a follower but he said I already had one so if I can't get back to Lydia....wtf)

one of the paths from below after dropping through the hole will lead you back up to the room where you fell in, dont know about backtracking from there though, never did that.

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if im thinking of the right area.... where you fall through the floor into a cage with a wizard dude on the other side?
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It's where you pull the chain and the hole opens. You fall down into water. Then you make your way through a flooded corridor to a room with 2 sets of "stairs" and a bridge with scythes going across it. I'm not seeing a way out of this....Now I think I remember why I stopped playing for 3 months...

After you've cleared it and gone out the back, couldn't you just return to the front entrance to retriever her?

If not, she should eventually tire of waiting and head back to breezehome (if you own it) or dragonsreach (you'd get a info message when she decides to head back). However, even once you get that message, it could take her a few days to get back to Whiterun.

some of the tombs the entrance locks on you, if its locked up and your follower is in there, they can't get out to walk home. There was one i spent the better part of a hour to get up on the ledge for the back exit only to find that the exit door itself closed as well. later on I was able to enter again via another mission, but what i was after was gone by then.


oops wrong one, sorry, yeah that one i dont believe there is a way to get back to it other then the front door. I had a follower not follow me down, i just reloaded though.. I tend to save just before jumping into a pit habit from other games lol...