×I figured out you're supposed to climb the pillar and jump on the one closest to the ice giant. I don't seem able to use anything but my dagger to backstab him, but as soon as I jump behind him and do so, I enter a combat sequence where he brings out a glowing sword, his sprite disappears immediately, and I'm locked with an hourglass cursor until a fireball kills me.

I'm inclined to think this is a bug because of the sprite issue and the death screen says something along the lines of "you had one chance." After 45 minutes of repeating the dodging sequence, I'd really like some help.

Also, another indication this is a bug: after using the dagger and entering the combat sequence, as soon as his sprite disappears I get a message saying "It looks like Egther is not interested in the dagger."

×When you have to rescue Jarl Ylfing, if you throw daggers at him, he appears to snap out of his trance and walks upwards offscreen. When you proceed upwards (and this applies to any other generic forest screen) he appears fixed at the bottom of the screen, and if you speak to him he thanks you for rescuing him. Nobody in town acknowledges this, and if you go back to where you rescued him he will reappear in a trance.

×I'm assuming that means it is something in svartalfheim, since I can no longer access that gateway in chapter 4? I have no idea what it could be then, the crystal no longer exists in my game and the magic tool I got from the workshop doesn't work on Egther.

×the vial of poison? Unfortunately, doesn't seem to do anything different, I am killed by fire when attempting to use it.

×Try getting poison into the bloodstream

×Find the ice wall in svartalfheim. If you have the horse, you can use it to travel there in chapter 4.