Morgiah: "Goodness me! What in Oblivion are you? No, I'm afraid you're mistaken. I do not offer work to specious mercenaries, and certainly not to some %ra of your kind. Off with you now, goodbye." She waves uncomfortably and a page approaches you from behind. Pulling you away, he puts a small note into your hand amidst the commotion before marching out the door.

Page: "My good %ra, I would ask you to take stock when you act before royalty, especially if you hope to find employ with a princess of Wayrest. Does she not have two dozen soldiers at her command to carry out her bidding? What need has she of you, except for the most illicit purposes in Tamriel? You would be wise not to speak to her so in front of her parents, lest you arouse suspicions. || Yes, she does require the aid of a nameless traveler such as yourself. She wishes for you to deliver this letter to the King of Worms. Does that name ring any bells, %ra? It is the alias of the most powerful corporeal necromancer in Tamriel. He lives in Scourg Barrow in the Dragontail Mountains, which I will mark on your map. Neither she nor I expect you to return alive. Should we somehow be wrong, return here for a reward. The King of Worms will grant you a proof of delivery. He always does. Do not return without it. And do not speak to Morgiah without my permission, lest I call the Dark Brotherhood against you. Leave.

KOW: "Ah. Another letter from Morgiah? It's been too long. Allow me. || I see. To make her the Queen of Firsthold... Is it worth it? %ra, would you put a whorish scoundrel such as her into power in the Summerset Isles? A terrifying prospect even to me, but her firstborn is a tempting offer. I will consider it. Tell her I will send a messenger with my answer. As for you, let me provide proof of your visit." || The King of Worms reaches back and produces a dismembered finger, which he places into your palm. He then dismisses you with a wave of the hand.

Morgiah: "Guards! Chase this cur from me! Begone halfwit!"

Page: "What, you actually did it? Show me the pr... oh, disgusting. Let me have that, to feed to the dog. I must not leave this putrid smell in the house. || Morgiah will know of your unlikely victory. She granted me this reward. Take it. Should she have use of you once more, you will be informed of an appropriate meetingplace. Use that brain, %ra, and learn to do things the Wayrest way."

Letter: "%ra in ____currentregion_, I assume you are serious about serving me. Your bravado in surviving Scourg Barrow shows promise. If you wish to gain favor in the Court of Wayrest, enter the royal palace and wait by the door. One of my servants will approach you and tell you what I require. -- M of W"

Entry: "You are approached by a servant. "Please follow me outside," she whispers before exiting the palace.

Exit: "My lady Morgiah has heard significant talk about an uncovered relic somewhere in the Iliac Bay. The discovery was not so long ago, and the royal court does not cease to speak of it behind closed doors, but never while she is present. Her brother Helseth is far more knowledgeable than she, and refuses to divulge its nature. || Helseth meets his informant in a house here in Wayrest, _house_. Steal inside and listen in to what you can at night. Report anything of value to me when morning comes. Goodbye."

Day: "You enter the house but notice nothing unusual. Perhaps Helseth and the messenger have not yet arrived."

Night: "The front door opens and two figures sneak into the house. You take up a position to listen to their words. || "Now tell me. Who was it?" "Woodborne. I am absolutely sure of it." "What?! How could it be Woodborne?" "You underestimate that man. His mind is sharper than any sword wielded by man. His favor to the witches was a good investment. They told him where to find it." || You hear a groan, and then frustrated pounding on a table. "No, no, no! It can't be him! Why would it be that filthy snake? I must do away with him, quickly." "Only he knows where it is held, milord. Slay him and lose it forever." A resigned sigh follows. "Good counsel, old friend. Come, let us return to the palace. My parents will grow wary otherwise. And drink some mead on the way to make it believable." The door opens once more and the visitors leave.

Return: "Woodborne, witches, divinations, only he knows. Got it. I will inform Morgiah. As for you, this money should keep you quiet."

Woodborne incapable of using the Totem; slew Lysandus because he knew he was perfectly loyal to the Emperor; was willing to give the Totem into someone's hands and force them to use it to conquer the Iliac Bay for him

Delivery: "A page bearing the crest of Sentinel offers you a letter and marches off."

Letter: "%ra in ____currentregion_, I am Prince Greklith of Sentinel. I know who you are and that you know things concerning a certain relic of great import. I have here =biggold_ gold pieces, which are yours if you share that information with me and my mother. You have thirty days to decide."

Greklith: "Smart %ra. Speak on." || You tell the Prince and Queen the little you know about someone named Woodborne and that the relic was found with witches' help. Your information is scant but they appear satisfied. ||"Woodborne... Mother, we have heard of that rat before." "Elysana's betrothed. The next in line for the throne, assuming Helseth's claim fails. What is he after? Does Wayrest not have armies enough to conquer Orsinium? Why this, then?" || The royal pair then realize your continued presence. Greklish whistles, and a large bag of money is brought to you. "Take this and go. You have made a friend of Sentinel this day. Leave us to our thoughts."

Delivery from Morgiah: "A trio of Wayrest messengers approach and provide you with a letter. They insist quite forcefully that you read it this instant.

Letter from Morgiah: "Spying for Sentinel now, are we? You had your chance with Wayrest. Goodbye, nameless %ra." The couriers draw weapons.

Return to Wayrest: "You are recognized immediately by the guards. They raise the alarm. "Get that %ra! Give %gself2 no quarter!" You should leave, now.

Enter the Underking

Messenger: "Excuse me, %ra? Prince Lhotun in the castle would like a word with you. Please speak to him at your earliest convenience."

Lhotun: "Hello! So you're the %ra who's been making waves since your arrival. Not often that one of Morgiah's messengers actually comes out alive from Scourg Barrow. Bit of a proving grounds, that one. Our people over in Wayrest were quite impressed with you. || I'm glad you chose our side in this dispute. At least, I presume you'll be staying with Sentinel. There's no place for you anymore in Wayrest, from what I hear: traitor, scoundrel, and so on. That's the way of the Iliac Bay. Someone will always be watching you, %pcf. || Now, if we can put aside our admirations, I have a favor to ask that requires proper discretion, a hunt for a long-dead brother of mine of whom only rumors persist today. Some agents of the Underking pretend to know about him, but refuse to tell me more without a face-to-face meeting, which I cannot abide. WIll you go in my stead and learn of my brother from them?

Lhotun: "I fear to say, because you are capable and disposable, you are the right person for the job. The Underking's agents will be looking for a sign, which I now..." He melts some wax and presses his ring into it. "...give to you. Take the Seal of Lhotun. It won't last forever, and only authorizes you as my messenger. Go to _res_ in ___res_. Beware these people. I have never met them in person, only heard frightening tales. Whether it compares to Scourg Barrow, only %god knows. Find proof of my brother and return to me, and say nothing to Greklith or the Queen. At best they cannot help; at worst they are to blame.

Underking Agent: "I require a sign before I speak. || Welcome, messenger of Lhotun. We look forward to the day when we will speak to your master, but are pleased with this meeting. The Underking's agents have a memory far exceeding that of the ordinary populace, including the royalty of Sentinel. I did not meet _brother_ but know of him. If you must return proof to Prince Lhotun, I can tell you where to find it, for a cost. If you will swear an oath to do my bidding after returning to him, I will tell you _brother_'s last known location. Speak to me when you are ready to so swear.

Underking Agent: "Very well. Look for _brother_'s remains in ___dung_ in Sentinel. His state was a sorry one, much to be lamented. After you have given your proof to Lhotun, the Underking will send for you, and you will fulfill your oath."

Lhotun: "Shh, let me see it. || How terrible. My poor, dear brother... Father was so shrewd a man. I knew of his severity, but to go so far against his own heir? His own flesh and blood? Perhaps my father's death was in the stars. Such evil cannot persist so long without vengeance, one way or another. This is hard to bear, but the tyrant that held the crown lives no more. || Thank you, %pcf. I have an enchanted _reward_ to give you. I will speak to the Queen and the Crown Prince, and we will see what further use we have for you.

Delivery: "You hear a paper fluttering about and are surprised to find a small parchment put among your things conspicuously. You see no courier."

Letter: "%pcn || The time to fulfill your oath has come. Meet _agent_ in _res_ of ___res_."

Agent: "Hail, %pcn. The Underking sends you his greeting and thanks for this meeting. It is hard to find a more powerful ally than he, and you will not regret gaining his favor. || I wish to tell you a tale concerning one Prince Karolis, a mighty wizard in the Court of Sentinel. The man lived nearly than 200 years ago and had a fascination for archaeology, particularly of the arcane sort. Rumor has it he found information concerning "The Forbidden," an artifact of power sufficient to conquer Tamriel itself, and was jailed to prevent further folly. None know of the place of his final rest, save the Underking himself, until now. || Deep within the dungeons of Castle Sentinel, a curious trap of arcane prison bars holds what now remains of Prince Karolis. He is lives on in undeath, unable to free himself or to die without aid. Set him free while holding this _gem_. It will force him to answer your questions. Learn all you can of "The Forbidden," and tell it to me. I will wait here."

Karolis: "Prince Karolis' physical form falls to the ground, and a spirit rises up from it. The _gem_ you were given glows and prevents his further movement. Karolis' ghost writhes about in vain to escape. "Fool %ra. I do thank thee for the release of death which I have so long craved, but detest to serve thee. The power of the Underking, I can feel it. I know what you are here for. I refuse... AHHH!! || I... must obey. A thousand curses of Oblivion upon thee for forcing me to speak, %ra! Mayest thou falter in battle and die in shame under the piercing eye of all the Gods! The Forbidden... is the key to controlling Numidium. It is capable of ruining civilizations through its might. Cities, castles, armies will fall before it like grains of sand. Its might cannot be described, and its victory is ensured. The Forbidden was hidden away to prevent any one person from ever obtaining such power. Its creator knew of its folly; why will we not follow him? My sole consolation is that I will not persist to see the ruined world thy actions will bring about. I have answered thy query; I demand release." || The spell encircling Karolis' ghost seems to loosen, and he flees to another realm.

Agent: "Tell me the things of Karolis. || That was it? Did he tell you the location of The Forbidden? The binding spell obligated him to say all he knew... He must have never learned it. %oth! %oth! We have learned nothing from this venture, except that even Tamriel's greatest expert could not find it. This leaves me empty-handed. Your oath is fulfilled, and I set you free to your Sentinel masters. But remember this warning, %pcf: should a weapon of supreme power be uncovered, only the Underking will use it for good. None other can be trusted with the safety of Tamriel. Never forget that."

You hear a voice behind you. "Hello, %pcf?" You stop at the sound of it, and are met with the sound of unsheathing blades. "Goodbye," says the smirking messenger.

Included letter: "%pcf knows too much. Bring proof of death."

Delivery: "A courier entirely devoid of indentifying marks gives you a letter and departs."

Letter: "Hi %pcf! Name's Cyndassa. You can find me in Castle Daggerfall. You're looking for the Emperor's letter, is that right? Come on over and we'll work something out. Got a need for someone smart enough to do some work without telling all Tamriel about it. See you soon."

Cyndassa: "Oh hi there! Glad you made it. Not sure how the sea's treating you these days. We should talk fast, before any guards come over. You're looking for the Emperor's letter, and I'm looking to make a werewolf dead. We can make that work out, right? Right. I'll tell you what I know about the letter if you head on over to Tristore Laboratory in Betony and kill it. It's gonna be a special one, a werewolf that has trouble keeping its shape. Bring me some of its fur as proof. I'll know whether it's the one. Have another safe ocean trip %pcf!"