Mentioned in http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Dragonborn:Hrodulf%27s_Journal and http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Dragonborn:Bloodstained_Letter. Anyone have any kind of speculation as to who or what this may be? It could just be Hrodulf's anthropomorphism of the dwemer machine in his basemant, but I think there's much more to it than that; it sounds to me like some sort of ancient evil consciousness that thirsts for blood. Whatever it is, that place gives me the creeps (to the point where I just wanted to start reading a Black Book because I feel safer in Apocrypha), even though I really do want to figure out what in Oblivion happened to Hrodulf and Bjornolfr (I strongly suspect that they weren't killed by mere reavers or spriggans).

What an oxymoron XD

Anyways, I always just thought it was the machine, and nothing more. But perhaps your theory is right, and there is something more than just a machine? Interesting... very interesting.

Well there's three whole threads on the basemant. Bjornolfr was killed by the two bandits (if you go into the basemant in sneak mode, you overhear them say that). The two bandits mention something about Hrodulf getting out of the house, but "perhaps the ash spawn got him".

waiting for an update patch to make the machine do stuff

OP, for some reason, your post reminded me of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ctuG29VUE

Oh well I guess there's no mystery concerning their deaths... but I still think there's more to this story than simply an obsession with unearthing dwemer machinery. The dwemer are known for having kept things of great power and mystery (from the Oghma Infinitum and a Black Book to the Heart of Lorkhan) under lock and key, so I think there must be something hidden in that thing; I really want to find out what it is, although I don't think any good will come of it being unleashed into the world. Anyone have any ideas as to what "fire from the deep" or "the earth will take us both" could be alluding to?
lol

I think he just went insanse behind the murmurs of the dwemer machine, thinking it had some sort of consciousness...it reminds of the tell tale heart

Sounds very like more Lovecraft influence to me.

Reminds me of http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/What_Lies_Beneath

Well, considering how close he was to Kolbjorn Barrow, its even possible the Murmurer in the Earth was... That one dude..... What's his name? Yeah, him, the one you deal with after you blow 15K gold on uncovering the crypt

Hrodulf is actually found to the south of the cabin near the shore. He's by a small boat and some loot that he was likely carrying back to his crib after the long journey back. Kinda really sad when I first saw him O_o

I always just assumed it was the machinery under his house.

Pretty sure you just cracked it.
If you learn all about this guy and his basemant first, it would probably seem solved if you're thinking about it while you finish Kolbjorn Barrow.

id like to start by saying im sorry to anyone this may offend. its my opinion that both men died from a deep penetrating injury to the anus.....
gives new meaning to, fire from below!!!!! ha ha ha

Yogg saron

Okay so did the two build the house or not? I assume no. So then who built the house on top of the dwemer machine? Or was it just built there and someone could hear noises and decided to pick axe their way to the noise?

And I don't understand what noise he is referring to. There is no noises. I also do not understand why the room is even important, it's just a chair facing some weird wall.

And why Kolbjorn barrow? Why would a dwemer ruin have anything to do with a nordic one? I haven't finished kolbjorn yet, so maybe I'll understand then.

I was always under the impression that there was something more to this story. When I first found it though, I was in a hurry to get to Neloth for the first time so I didn't stay around for long. I feel like there might be a quest here. Then again, I was one of those people that thought the Ancient Falmer Crown was secretly hidden somewhere in the Vale...Screw it! I'm going to go waste some more time looking at that wall.

I had a personal theory on this I posted on one of the previous threads. I thought it might be related to the Skaal.

The Dwemer have been the type that liked to interact with things through indirect means (building a weather machine, reading an elder scroll, etc.). The Skaal have knowledge given to them by the All-Maker about communing with the Earth/Nirn/Elements (Earth bones?). Assuming it is a device, I thought that it was supposed to be something that was used for communication with the elements in the typical dwemer fashion. At the very least it seemed like something that's purpose was communication. The chair and desk facing this half sphere directed your attention to it as if it was the main point of the room.

It was the main point of the room, the guy that lived in the house dug it out and sat there trying to work out what it was most likely. The rest of the ruin would still be buried.

I'm thinking new mini-patch that adds a quest chain into that room.... "The First Miles Long Dwarven City: From Solstheim to Markarth!"

I wanted to find his friend in, Solitude was it?
But then I found the corspes.

Exactly what I was thinking while reading his journal. Then it got sad

I don't think there's any more to this location than a great homage to Lovecraft.

We all know that Bethesda loves their Lovecraft (and I can't blame them, he's one of my favorite authors), and they've included easter eggs in honor of him many times in many of their games.

I think that this is simply another creepy homage to Lovecraft. That's all it is IMO.

I hate to be the guy who kills the buzz and all that but there was a verry lengthy discussion about this room the orb and what it's all about where we tried many MANY different things from
magic,dragon shouts and unique weapons to
plate glitching through it, sadly we came to the conclusion that it is nothing more than either a quiet nod to Lovecraft or a room designed deliberately to drive us made over like the Falmer crown or the bug jars.

ohhh gods don't even remind me of the falmer crown fiasco lol... don't wanna go down that road again... but yes this is true its nothing... PC will be able to look at game files but i don't think they will find anything.