Caius Cosades
:Orders:
"Ready for orders? Good. Go talk to Hasphat Antabolis at the Balmora Fighters Guild. Ask him what he knows about the Nerevarine secret cult and the Sixth House secret cult. You'll have to do him a favor first. Probably an ugly favor. But do it. Then get the information from Antabolis and report back to me."
"By the way... Hasphat is a student of Morrowind history. Take the chance to get a little education. And I have a few history books in here. Help yourself. You're welcome to them. No point in being part of history if you're too ignorant to understand it."
:Morrowind history:
"Jeanette Sitte's little book is a good place to start. I have a copy here. Take it. You might also look for 'On Morrowind, the Imperial Province', by Erramanwe of Sunhold."
Faern Sargtlin
(retrieve "A Short History of Morrowind")
Caius Cosades
:Nerevarine:
"Some Dunmer believe that an orphan and outcast, a youth born on a certain day to uncertain parents, will one day unite all the tribes of the Dunmer, drive out the invaders of Morrowind, and reestablish the ancient laws and customs of the Dark Elven nations. They call this orphan and outcast the "Nerevarine," and say the Nerevarine will be a reincarnation of the long-dead Dunmer General and First Councilor, Lord Indoril Nerevar."
:Sixth House:
"A trusted informant says they're a secret cult associated with some strange events recently, and, more important, my informant thinks these recent disturbances are related in some way to the Nerevarine Prophecies."
:Nerevarine Prophecy:
"The illiterate Ashlanders pass down their customs and history in the form of poetic verses. Among the things they preserve in verse are the dreams and prophetic visions of their wise women, in particular the verses that foretell the coming of the Nerevarine. But I don't know much about it. That's why I'm sending you to find out."
:Ashlander:
"I don't know much about the Ashlanders. Most people say they are murderous savages. But most people are idiots. I know they hate their settled Dunmer cousins almost as much as they hate Westerners. They must be tough to live in the Ashlands. I don't think outlanders can become members of the tribes. I don't know why anyone would want to."
:Hasphat Antabolis:
"He's Drillmaster of the Balmora Fighters Guild. He's lived in Morrowind all his life, knows the natives, and talks a lot with backcountry mercenaries. He thinks of himself as a scholar, and he's particularly interested in Dwemer ruins and artifacts."
:Fighters Guild:
"The Fighters Guild is a professional organization chartered by the Emperor to regulate the hiring and training of mercenaries. Training, goods, and services are cheaper for members, and the Guild Stewards know where to find work. You'll have to start your service with Eydis Fire-Eye, the Balmora Guild Steward. She's new, and I don't know her well. Percius Mercius, the Ald'ruhn Guild Steward, I know and trust, but he only handles higher-ranking assignments."
Faern Sargtlin
(go to Balmora Fighters Guild)
Hasphat Antabolis
"I'm fine, thank you. What can I do for you?"
:Nerevarine:
"You have a favor to do first. Then we can talk about the Nerevarine."
:Favor:
"There are Dwemer ruins nearby called Arkngthand. I need you to run over there and find me a little cube with a circular design and some symbols on one side. It's called 'a Dwemer puzzle box'. Bring me back the Dwemer puzzle box, and I'll tell you what you want to know."
:Arkngthand:
"The old Dwemer ruins at Arkngthand are extensive on the surface and underground. Head south out of town past the silt strider port, then cross bridges east over the Odai River. At the signpost, head north towards Caldera. Immediately on the right see a signpost for Molag Mar. Turn right and head uphill on an old road to cross an ancient Dwemer bridge over Foyada Mamaea. The entrance to Arkngthand is on the east side of the foyada, south of the bridge. Turn a crank on a pipe nearby to open the doors."
:foyada:
"'Foyada' means 'fire-river' in the native Ashlander language. The deep, ash-dark ravines which run down from the Red Mountain volcano are called foyada. The lava from Red Mountain is very fluid, and it runs almost like water, and during an eruption, fire-rivers run down the mountain, clearing the ravines of vegetation. Because they have good footing, are clear of brush, and run long distances, the natives use them like roads."
:Foyada Mamaea:
"Foyada Mamaea is a volcanic ravine that runs from the top of Red Mountain southwest to its end just below Balmora. An old Dwemer bridge crosses the foyada near Fort Moonmoth. The best route to Ghostgate is to follow Foyada Mamaea up from where the Pelagiad-Balmora road crosses the foyada southeast of Fort Moonmoth."
:Dwemer:
"The Dwemer are the fabled lost Dwarven race whose ruins and splendid artifacts are scattered across Tamriel. Elves use the term "Dwemer," connoting variously "deep-delving," "profound," and "close-counseled"; Imperial usage is "Dwarven," derived in fable from the affectionate regard of the Giant races for their "little" Dwemer friends. There are several Dwemer sites on Vvardenfell, and many have found Dwemer artifacts."
:Dwemer artifacts:
"Weapons, armor, housewares, coins, and other items of Dwemer design are often found in Dwemer ruins. They are prized by historians and antiquarians, and very valuable. The Emperor, however, has declared all newly discovered Dwemer artifacts to be possessions of the Crown, and forbids their trade or sale. Now smuggling Dwemer artifacts is treason, but smugglers will still risk execution for such a profitable crime."
:Dwemer sites:
"There are many Dwemer sites on Vvardenfell, but the two largest are Mzuleft and Nchuleftingth. Mzuleft is in the Sheogorad region, is cursed and dangerous, and access is forbidden. Nchuleftingth is occupied by an expedition of the Imperial Archaeological Commission, and is not open to visitors."
:Dwemer puzzle box:
"The little cube I'm looking for is about the size of a fist, maybe a little bigger. It will be made of a coppery metal, with a circular design and symbols on one side and some lined marks on the other sides. That's all I want, that little cube."
Faern Sargtlin
(go to Arkngthand)
(play around with some bandits)
(retrieve the Dwemer Puzzle Box from Boss Crito in Arkngthand, Cells of Hollow Hand)
(go back to Balmora Fighters Guild)
Hasphat Antabolis
:Favor:
"Perfect. Just what I was looking for. Just let me take this Dwemer puzzle box, and then I'll tell you what Caius will want to know about the Sixth House. And about the Nerevarine. By the way, the inscriptions on the box seem to be the directions for setting a Dwemer key to open a specific lock. If you're interested, after you've delivered your report to Caius, come back, and maybe I'll have a key you can take back to Arkngthand."
:Dwemer puzzle box:
"Yes. The inscriptions on the box seem to be the directions for setting a Dwemer key to open a specific lock. If you're interested, after you've delivered your report to Caius, come back, and maybe I'll have a key you can take back to Arkngthand."
:Nerevarine:
"The Ashlanders believe a reborn Nerevar will unite the Dunmer against the outlander invaders and restore the ancient Dark Elven nation. Nerevar is a legendary hero and saint of the Temple, but the Temple denies the prophecy, and persecutes heretics who believe in the Nerevarine. Tell Caius that Sharn gra-Muzgob would be a better person to ask about the native faiths and superstitions."
:Sixth House:
"House Dagoth is the Sixth House, the "lost" Sixth House. In the First Age, House Dagoth betrayed the other Great Houses during the War of the First Council, and was destroyed for their treason. I can answer any questions you have, but I'll also give you some notes to give to Caius, and recommend some Sixth House references he should read."
Faern Sargtlin
(retrieve "Hasphat's notes for Cosades")
Hasphat Antabolis
:House Dagoth:
House Dagoth was the Sixth of the Seven Dunmer Great Houses. Nothing remains of the Sixth House. Its members were all slain or adopted into other Great Houses following their treason in the War of the First Council. Their clanstead was called Kogoruhn.
:Sixth House Cult:
"I've heard something about a secret cult worshipping Dagoth Ur. The idea is that the Tribunal are false gods who have betrayed Morrowind to the Imperials. The cult plans to overthrow the Temple and drive the Empire from Morrowind. The cult is outlawed by the Temple, the Great Houses, or the Empire, and I doubt it's very popular. I've also heard there's some connection with smuggling... that they smuggle goods, or hire smugglers, or something like that."
:Dagoth Ur:
"Dagoth Ur was the leader of the extinct Sixth House, House Dagoth, the traitor house destroyed in the War of the First Council. Dagoth Ur is the evil immortal enemy of the Tribunal Temple cult. The Temple blames Dagoth Ur and his hosts for all the evils that beset the Dunmer and Morrowind. Dagoth Ur dwells in fiery caverns beneath Red Mountain, served by his kin and legions of monsters."
:Sixth House references:
"Here's a list of cheap books; all of them will tell you something about the Sixth House and how it ended: 'The War Of The First Council,' 'Saint Nerevar,' 'Nerevar Moon-And-Star,' and 'The Real Nerevar.' Try the bookseller Dorisa Darvel over in the Commercial District. She'll have at least some of these titles."
:Morrowind history:
"I won't bore you blathering about history. That's what Caius is for. But if you're really interested, try 'On Morrowind, the Imperial Province', by Erramanwe of Sunhold. I have an extra copy you can have. What an adventurer like you REALLY needs is a sense of current events. Who hates who? Where's trouble brewing? That's where opportunity lies for an outlander like you."
Faern Sargtlin
(receive "On Morrowind, the Imperial Province")
Hasphat Antabolis
:Morrowind history:
"Caius says he's fed up with heroes. The Empire keeps sending them out here to the provinces to 'civilize' things. The fools don't seem to realize that their 'destinies' are being created by historical processes. And they're too ignorant and impatient to understand it. So Caius sends you to me, hoping you'll be different. Poor Caius. So many disappointments. So maybe you'll read 'On Morrowind, the Imperial Province'? And learn something about current events? That's what I recommend."
"Caius and I always argue over the role of the individual in history. Is the individual shaped and controlled by history? Or can an exceptional individual shape history? Are individuals carried in the stream? Or do they dam and divert the flow? I say Tiber Septim changed the world. Caius says that Tiber Septim was a product of his time, and if he hadn't lived, some other person would have served his function. What about you? Are you going to change the world? Or just be carried by the flow?"
"When we UNDERSTAND the events that occur to us, the events become history. History is understanding. Otherwise we're all just dumb animals trying to get in out of the cold."
Faern Sargtlin
(find some inn, sleep and get a strange dream)
I had a disturbing dream. I can only recall one part. A tall figure with a golden mask led me among the dead as through a wedding celebration. I heard many voices, but no lips moved. I strained to breathe, but my chest didn't move. The tall figure spoke with each figure as he passed among them, laughing and joking, as if they were alive, but they made no reply. I tried to cry out, but without breath, my tongue fluttered in vain.
(go back to Cosades' house)
Caius Cosades
disturbing dream:
"You're worrying me, Faern Sargtlin. You're not going loopy on me, are you? A word of advice. In Morrowind, if you have disturbing dreams, the Temple says you are crazy. And they want to lock you up. And if you have disturbing dreams, and think they MEAN something, then the Temple thinks you're a prophet or witch. And they want to lock you up. So take my advice, and keep a lid on it."
:Orders:
"These notes are from Hasphat Antabolis? Excellent. I trust he didn't work you too hard for them. I'll look them over in more detail later, but now, I have some new orders for you."
