Part 22: The Elder Updates XXII - Okay No Another Quest is Fine

To Kill a Shadowscale


Ahh, a job well done. I believe I SHALL take a rest. All this murdering is beginning to feel like work.


This is a personal matter, and will have no bearing on your standing within the Dark Brotherhood. Would you like to hear more?
Yes. Tell me more.
I find your decision most agreeable! Now, the details. Far south of here, on the southern end of Cyrodiil, lies a swamp called Bogwater. Hiding in that swamp you will find an Argonian Shadowscale named Scar-Tail. Kill this renegade, and bring me his heart as proof of the deed.
I can do this.


Excellent. This is just what I needed. Surely Scar-Tail suspects nothing; I can take this task at my own pace, do some things for ME.


First, I will put in some time at the Mages Guild.

Okay No Another Quest is Fine


Fancy. A bit cramped, but fancy.


Ooooh.


I'll just be taking these, for myyyyyy...


My, errrr...


Dissertation.


Yes. Plausible.


And this must be a...gathering room, of sorts.


...oh! As long as I'm among mages, I should ask about THAT.


Er, I'll take your word for it.


Have you ever seen one of these?
At the last Imperial Alchemy Symposium, I heard Sinderion mention something about a strange glowing root. I'm afraid I can't remember what he said about them. Perhaps you should make the trip to Skingrad and ask him in person.
Sinderion in Skingrad. Noted. Who would I see about a recommendation, by the way?
That would be Falcar's responsibility. Good luck.


Hmmm...he looks like a Falcar.


Weeeeeellll...
Don't waste my time if you're not ready for this. Are you prepared to do what is necessary to gain a recommendation from me?
Certainly.
Hrmph. Very well. We shall see how prepared you actually are.


If I didn't know better, I'd say he purposefully tossed it down the well behind the guild hall. Why he would do such a thing is beyond me. You will retrieve this ring for me. Should you manage to do so, I shall consider sending a recommendation to the University. The well is locked, so you'll need the key. Deetsan should have a copy of it. Now get moving.
Hold on. About that ring...
It's not a normal ring, you see. You may find it slightly difficult to carry. Don't say I didn't warn you.


This is all very suspicious. I should be prepared for anything.


Hmm. Instead of using a Feather spell, I'll just store my equipment before heading into the well. The ring can't be heavier than a set of Dwarven armor.
I can't see Feather being very useful as a spell, unless you're of the mind to re-cast it and keep it up. Seems like a bother.


This could be useful. And fun!
Gotta have my Water Walking.


And...what is THIS?


Let's give it a try.


Seems to let me make things move. Amusing, but I have work to do.
Telekinesis allows you to push, pull and generally wave items around. There's one or two ways you can use this to your advantage, but it's not a useful spell at all - it's pretty much just there to show off the physics engine. That was a big deal back then!

...anyone else feel old now?


Now, I'll just cram my armor in here and go see Deetsan.


Falcar told me to see you about the well key. It's for my recommendation, you see.
We can talk, so long as Falcar is out of earshot. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's trying to get you killed!
Come again?
He gave poor Vidkun the same task, an we never saw him again. I'm reasonably sure there's a connection, but I can't prove it. Do be careful. I'd hate to lose another Associate. Here's the key, and something extra. I don't know if it will be of use to you, but from what I've heard of Falcar's ring, it may come in handy. And if you find out anything about what happened to Vidkun, let me know, will you?


Buoyancy only gives you a piddly 5 points of Feather - not nearly enough to be helpful for this quest - but it is a free version of Water Breathing, and one that manages to be more magicka-efficient than what you can buy from vendors. Handy!


Now, let's see if we can't find this ring.


...yup. This sure is a well.


Wwwwwith a dead body in it.


Hmmm. Vidkun, I presume.


...nnngh. This thing weighs a ton. No wonder Vidkun died down here.


Oho. I'll be taking that.
Annnnd there's a Nirnroot down here. How very missable.


Back to the guild hall.


...what about the Ring of Burden?
Oh, just drop it anywhere. I don't think he really cared about it. I think it was some sort of sick joke on his part.
So what happened?
I admit it's my doing. I couldn't leave well enough alone, and after you'd left to go after that ring, well...


He was furious when I told him I'd helped you, and then when I threatened to report him to the Council of Mages, I thought he was going to kill me! He flew into a rage! I didn't even understand some of his ranting, but he said that our days are numbered, and then he stormed out!
...so I'm guessing no recommendation, then.
I don't know if he ever wrote your recommendation. I'm sorry. I didn't expect this to happen. Perhaps you should go look and see if he did write one?


Right. Be right back.


I'll just grab my things first...


...and head for the basement.


No recommendation here.


A locked drawer? Peculiar.


BY THE NINE! BLACK SOUL GEMS!
Black Soul Gems are a most interesting item indeed. They're the only type of Soul gem that can hold the souls of humanoids, which are always Grand. Unfortunately, these quest-specific ones can't be used to trap delicious NPC souls, and we need them to finish the quest anyway.


Uh...Deetsan?
What's this? Black soul gems? Oh, dear. This is worse than I'd expected. All right, I'll just take these from you. I'll need them for my report to the Council.


In light of the circumstances, I believe they'll find it more than adequate.



Now, I'll head to Leyawiin. From there, I can make my way to Bogwater. I don't know if I feel like any more contract killing, but I should honor my obligation to Teinaava before anything else.


After that, I need to figure out what's most important.

Not pictured: picking up leftover Black Bows from Telepe and turning them in for a bit of cash. Anyway, we've got us a vote! There's a number of things we could do at this point. We could start the Mehrune's Razor questline, check out Frostcrag Spire and do more Mages Guild stuff while we're at it, do shit for the Fighters Guild, claw our way through the ranks of the Arena, continue doing assassinations, initiate the Knights of the Nine questline, or take a bite out of the Main Quest before we reach Level 10 and cause the world's enemies to get that much more swole. I'm sure I may have forgotten a thing or two, so don't be afraid to suggest other things as well, so long as it's a thing that's been mentioned in the LP thus far.

Cat Stats

Class skills
Block: 38
Blunt: 26
Destruction: 42
Acrobatics: 51
Light Armor: 68
Marksman: 44
Speechcraft: 30

Not class skills
Armorer: 33
Athletics: 33
Blade: 31
Hand To Hand: 39
Heavy Armor: 39
Alchemy: 52
Alteration: 34
Conjuration: 35
Illusion: 23
Mysticism: 30
Restoration: 29
Mercantile: 19
Security: 33
Sneak: 36

Those little bars in the corner of the screen
Health: 137
Magicka: 168
Fatigue: 223

Shiny, clinky gold: 5,846