Ancient Dwemer Ruins
by Sinder Velvin
Here's a list of important parts that you can jump right to:
<Avik>
<Gerrick>
<Falicia>
<J'Ffer>
<Coyle>
<Bull>
<Erasmo>
<Dreekius>
<Lakene>
<J'Ffer, Again>
<Entering The Ruins>
<Steam Centurion>
In the second part of the Redguard Storyline, I went in the Goblin Caves to find Brother Kithral, but I only found his remains. After reading his journal, I went deeper into the subterranean passages, eventually finding the corpse of Archmage Voa and taking his ring. I returned to the Temple in Stros M'Kai and gave Brother Nidal the journal of his initiate, making the old priest trust me enough to tell me that the corpse of Prince A'tor was in his care; still, it was unknown why Iszara and Kithral had been looking for Voa's ring.
Since there was no way to receive answers to my questions just yet, I decided to go and speak with one of the city's inhabitants that I had ignored so far: Avik the Snake Charmer, who could be found in the Marketplace. I tried to talk to him, but he was too busy singing to his snake to pay attention to me, so I tipped him. He stopped singing.
Avik: Thank you, my boy. My name is Avik. How can I help you?
Cyrus: You play very well.
Avik: Thank you, son. No one visits me since those Imperial devils murdered that Yokudan lad. That's right, Imperial devils! And I don't care who knows it!
Cyrus: I'm looking for my sister, Iszara. Do you know her?
Avik: The name sounds familiar, son, but I'm afraid I can't help you. Not many young people have an year for the snake-songs anymore.
Cyrus: Are you familiar with a group called the Restless League?
Avik: Can't say that I am, but I mostly keep to myself. With the Yokudans banned from Stros M'Kai, I don't have many friends here in town. Probably have to pack up and leave myself, soon.
Cyrus: How has Stros M'Kai fared under Imperial rule?
Avik: Things have gone to pot, I don't care who knows it. Murder in the streets, where will it all end, tell me that? Where will it end?
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The colonization of Hammerfell was a slow process, since it was mainly a barren and rocky place, with the vast Alik'r desert in the center, and only a few grasslands that hugged the coastline in horseshoe fashion. As such, Redguard civilization is divided into the cosmopolitan coastal cities on one hand, and the numerous nomadic tribes that wander the desert itself on the other. The former have adopted Breton or Imperial manners of dress and architecture, modified with motifs and styles from lost Yokuda, and some have even reorganized their gods and tribal spirits to fit into the traditional Imperial pantheon of Eight Divines. The nomads are more primitive, either with trace-Nedic influences or stubbornly Yokudan, throwback castaways even to other Redguards. Devotees of Satakal the Serpent God are strewn among them, historically causing the A'likr border-states no end of strife. These revered madmen depend entirely on the charity of the other Redguards, though sometimes they rise in perilous bands, terrorizing the countryside in old Ra Gada fashion. Many, as in Rihad, go nude, rolling around in the dirt and nipping at the legs of passersby, "striking out" as if they were snakes themselves, while others perform terrible exhibitions of "shedding their skin". They have been seen rolling in the desert sand sidewinder-fashion in continuous, hundred-mile stretches, from Balhar all the way to the Nohotogrha oasis. The Satakals have never liked the Imperial presence, and have recently taken to harassing its civil servants. The Provisional Governors have been forced to run them out of the cities for the safety of its garrisoned troops and the native citizenry at large.
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Cyrus: Imperial troops have murdered people in Stros M'Kai?
Avik: Ach, when they came ashore, it was fire and sword in the Old Quarter. At least then they could pretend they were fighting the Crown die-hards. But killing that innocent Yokudan boy... If I was twenty years younger, I'd make someone pay!
Cyrus: Is the Old Quarter completely destroyed?
Avik: Might as well be. It was sealed off while the Imperials searched every house for "Crown loyalists". Nothing but a ghost town now.
Cyrus: Tell me about this murdered boy.
Avik: His name was Hayle, poor lad. His family is still camped outside the city, waiting to finish his burial ritual. Yokudans were never well liked around here, but Governor Richton went too far.
Cyrus: Yes, unfortunately the Yokudans have always been treated as outsiders, all over Hammerfell.
Avik: A senseless prejudice, since their religion harks back to the earliest Redguard traditions. But our new Governor has done much worse than simply overcharge them for flour!
Cyrus: What did the Governor do to the Yokudans?
Avik: Murdered young Hayle! Then branded the rest of them traitors and ordered them to leave Stros M'Kai! Yokudans mixed up with Redguard politics -- a preposterous notion!
Cyrus: Why do you say that?
Avik: You haven't spent much time in Hammerfell, have you, son?
Cyrus: No. I was born in Sentinel, but left Hammerfell when I was... Very young. I haven't been back in years.
Avik: I thought so -- You've picked up a bit of an accent, west High Rock. Am I right? Well, as I was saying, the feeling against the Yokudans runs deeper than politics, even in a civil war. Neither side ever stooped to allow Yokudans to join their ranks. Even the Restless League was too good for them! But all that's over now. Redguard pride has made us all slaves of the Emperor.
Cyrus: I thought you'd never heard of the Restless League.
Avik: No one pays any attention to an old Snake-Charmer ranting against the Empire. But the League... Now there is a dangerous subject of conversation... For anyone. Including young Redguard Swordsmen with a Mercenary air.
Cyrus: You miss Hayle, don't you?
Avik: Used to love to listen to me play. One of the few people around here who did. Appropriate, I suppose, for one born under the sign of the Serpent.
Cyrus' Logbook
A young Yokudan named Hayle was killed by the Imperials. Avik calls it murder. Hayle's family camps outside the city waiting to complete the burial ritual.
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Cyrus: The sign of the Serpent? Part of Yokudan religion?
Avik: The star-sign of his birth. Yokudans believe the stars guide your destiny, from birth to death and beyond.
Cyrus: Where is the Yokudan camp?
Avik: I'm not sure. Outside the city somewhere, watching over Hayle's grave. His poor mother is beside herself with grief.
Cyrus: I'm not familiar with Yokudan religion. Do they have lenghty burial rituals?
Cyrus' Logbook
Hayle was born under the sign of the serpent. Avik says that Yokudans believe that the stars guide your destiny from birth to death and beyond.
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Avik: It's more serious than that, I'm afraid. His mother, Saban, needs to counteract the soul snare that N'Gasta has laid over the island.
Cyrus: Soul snare? What do you mean?
Avik: Now that the Prince is dead, that foul Worm has woven a magical snare across Stros M'Kai to feed his hunger for souls. Unless you are buried in consecrated ground, your soul will go straight to N'Gasta if you die. This is why Saban still fears for her murdered son.
Cyrus' Logbook
Hayle's mother, Saban, can't complete the burial ritual for the murdered boy because she has to protect his spirit from the soul snare set by N'Gasta. This soul snare, according to Avik, sends the spirit of the departed to N'Gasta unless the victim is buried in consecrated ground.
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Cyrus: Tell me more of N'Gasta.
Avik: While Prince A'tor was alive, a name to frighten children, little more. But our new Imperial master has allowed the Necromancer's dread power to spread unchecked until his soul snare threatens us all.
Cyrus: Why did Prince A'tor allow N'Gasta to stay on Stros M'Kai?
Avik: I don't know. A'tor's father, Thassad, first allowed N'Gasta to occupy the old Wizard's tower, but back then, he seemed harmless enough. The Mage's Guild complained of unsanctioned research, but they had little influence with old Thassad. The civil war kept A'tor occupied until his untimely death.
Cyrus: You seem to know a lot about the Mage's Guild.
Avik: Yes, in fact I am a member, although you wouldn't think it to look at me, would you? I'm retired now, but my friend Joto kept me up to date on guild politics. Until he was arrested by those Imperial devils, that is.
Cyrus' Logbook
Joto, a member of the Mage's Guild and Avik's friend, was arrested by the Imperials.
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Cyrus: Why was your friend Joto arrested?
Avik: Do they need a reason? One day Soldiers came for him, and he's been rotting in jail ever since.
Cyrus: The Jail? Where's that?
Avik: Up near the Palace. They won't let anyone in to see the prisoners, I've already tried. I guess I should be grateful they didn't just kill him, eh? Murdering devils!
Cyrus: Does the Mage's Guild have much influence in Stros M'Kai?
Avik: No more! Archmage Voa was a Crown, A'tor's right hand, but both perished in the Battle of Stros M'Kai. Jaganvir is an unworthy successor to the Archmage's chair, if you ask me.
Cyrus: Archmage Voa was loyal to the Prince, then.
Avik: The Prince's Chief Advisor. But his replacement, Jaganvir, is a disgrace to A'tor's memory.
Cyrus: Jaganvir is the new Archmage?
Avik: Yes, a spineless Toad of a man, a perfect lackey to the Governor's every whim. Still, a Mage of formidable power, whatever his personal failings.
Cyrus: Thanks, Avik.
Because I now had quite a bit of gold, I went into Gerrick's shop and bought several items.
Cyrus: Gerrick, how are you?
Gerrick: Splendid, Cyrus. Splendid!
Cyrus: I'd like to make a purchase.
Gerrick: Splendid! What do you need?
Cyrus: The shovel over there -- How much?
Gerrick: A sturdy shovel, just the thing for the intrepid Treasure Hunter! Guaranteed not to break, scratch, or dent! A bargain at only 30 gold.
Cyrus: I'll take it.
Gerrick: A pleasure doing business with you, Cyrus!
Cyrus: How much for a torch?
Gerrick: A classic design, functional and long-lasting. For you, Cyrus, 20 each.
Cyrus: I'll take it.
Gerrick: You won't regret it!
Cyrus: That looks like a decent compass.
Gerrick: The one item no one should be without. Never lose your way again! For the small investment of 50 gold, peace of mind for a lifetime.
Orsone: Squawwwk!
Cyrus: I'll have to think about it.
Gerrick: I'm sure you'll change your mind.
Cyrus: Interesting feathers.
Gerrick: Ah yes, from the exotic Canah bird--A favorite of mine for they are bred on Summerset Isle. Bred for their beauty I might add. They make an excellent gift for 10 gold.
Orsone: I'm a pretty bird!
Gerrick: 10 gold.
Orsone: Squawwwk!
Cyrus: I'll take it.
Gerrick: The best quality, I assure you!
Cyrus: What's Aloe going for today?
Gerrick: Aloe leaves from Southern Hammerfell, the best, fresh every week. Excellent for soothing those aches and pains. And just 15 gold per bunch.
Cyrus: I'll take it.
Gerrick: A pleasure doing business with you, Cyrus!
When I had finished buying what I required, I went to the Mages Guild and spoke with Falicia.
Falicia: Can I help you?
Cyrus: Falicia.
Falicia: Welcome back.
Cyrus: I heard one of your members got into some trouble with the Governor.
Falicia: I'm... Not supposed to talk about that.
Flora of Hammerfell Excerpt
Aloe
The ancients know well the efficacy of the Aloe. It is a wondrous herb, useful in staunching the flow of blood and in promoting the healing of wounds. It has also been found to lessen the effect of the pox. An elixir may be simply made by combining the liquor from a crushed leaf with purest water.
Angelica
Angelica is known among those who dwell in Hammerfell as a delicacy when crystalised. It has been used to cure the flatuence.
Basil
This herb is beneficial for reducing swelling in the proboscis. It is applied as a poultice over the affected area. As a precautionary measure, straws should be placed in the nostrils prior to application.
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Cyrus: Do you know anything about Archmage Voa's ring?
Falicia: I'm afraid not.
Cyrus: Do you think Jaganvir knows anything about Archmage Voa's ring?
Falicia: Wouldn't tell you if he did. He doesn't talk to mundanes.
After buying some health potions from Falicia, I went to J'Ffer to buy a book containing information about Aloe leaves.
J'Ffer: May your wisdom increase.
Cyrus: Hello, J'Ffer.
J'Ffer: Cyrus.
Cyrus' Description of "Flora of Hammerfell"
Flora of Hammerfell details the flora of my home province. It says here that Aloe, when combined with pure water, can have healing properties.
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Cyrus: I'd like to buy a book.
J'Ffer: These shelves hold wisdom and folly in equal measure. Choose carefully.
Cyrus: Is Flora of Hammerfell worth buying?
J'Ffer: The authoritative work, no less, and for the bargain price of 15 gold, it can be yours.
Cyrus: I'll take it.
J'Ffer: May you grow wise with the reading of it.
I decided to go and talk to the Yokudans that were camping somewhere outside the city, so I left the city and followed a path leading north, encountering a few Imperial guards on the way (who were quite peaceful). Right after crossing the bridge over the waterfall, I saw a hole in the ground - it was the hole that I had made earlier, while in the Goblin Caves.
I eventually saw a small cave and decided to see what was in it. When I approached the entrance, I was attacked by a Breton Swordsman, who I quickly dispatched. By searching his corpse, I managed to find a map of the island. I then went inside the small cave, where I found a health potion, a strength potion and some gold.
I continued to walk on the path until I stumbled upon a beach, where I was attacked by a Redguard man who I easily defeated. I went east until I found the Yokudan camp - Or, at least, the one wagon that was left. There, an old Redguard woman was uttering incantations in the Yokudan language while kneeling next to a map of the constellations that had been carved into the dirt; there was tombstone behind her. There were two stones on the map.
Saban: Go Tuwhacca, nogo Tuwhacca. Go kukri, nogo ngaro. Tuktura nogoh.
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Tu'Whacca (Tricky God): Yokudan god of souls. Tu'Whacca, before the creation of the world, was the god of Nobody Really Cares. When Tall Papa undertook the creation of the Walkabout, Tu'Whacca found a purpose; he became the caretaker of the Far Shores, and continues to help Redguards find their way into the afterlife. His cult is sometimes associated with Arkay in the more cosmopolitan regions of Hammerfell.
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I tried to talk to the woman.
Coyle: Go away! Leave her alone.
A young Redguard had stopped me from talking to the woman, so I decided to talk to him instead.
Coyle: Looking for something?
Cyrus: Hello.
Coyle: What do you want?
Cyrus: Is that your mother over there? Is she all right?
Coyle: Go away! Leave her alone. We don't need your help. I can take care of her just fine. Leave us alone!
Cyrus: I wonder if you know my sister --
Coyle: Why would I know your sister? Why don't you just go back to the city where you belong?
Cyrus: Have you ever heard of the Restless League?
Coyle: Why would I tell you if I had? I don't need them, I'll fight the Empire all by myself if I have to!
Cyrus: You sure do seem to hate the Empire.
Coyle: They killed my brother and I'm going to make them pay!
Cyrus: Who killed your brother? Imperial Soldiers?
Coyle: What do you care anyway? I don't need your help.
Cyrus: I've heard about your brother being killed by the Soldiers. I'm sorry.
Coyle: Thanks.
Cyrus: Care to talk about it?
Coyle: It's just hard, trying to take care of my mother, with Hayle being killed and we're not allowed in the city and everyone else leaving. And now it's just the two of us and I don't know what we're going to do. I'm Coyle, by the way.
Cyrus: I'm Cyrus. Again, I'm sorry about your troubles. What is your mother doing? Is she all right?
Coyle: Please don't disturb her, Cyrus. If she doesn't keep up the song of passage, Hayle's soul will go to the Necromancer!
Cyrus: Coyle, do you know my sister Iszara?
Coyle: She was your sister?! My mother blames Iszara for getting Hayle killed, but I know your sister did her best to save him. She fought off ten Soldiers all by herself! I'm going to join the League and fight the Empire, as soon as my mother's safe.
Cyrus: Slow down, Coyle. Are you saying Iszara knew your brother?
Coyle: I guess so. She brought Hayle into camp that day, all bleeding. But I'd never seen her before. She tried to explain what happened, but my mother wouldn't listen, just screamed at her and told her never to come back.
Cyrus: So you don't know why she was with your brother?
Coyle: She said she needed my mother's help, but mother was too upset. I guess the Soldiers attacked them on the way here, but I don't know why. Hayle was never in trouble with anyone before.
Cyrus' Logbook
The young Yokudan, Coyle, says that Iszara came with his wounded brother Hayle to Saban to ask for help on the day Hayle was killed. Iszara tried to explain, but Saban was too upset to listen.
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Cyrus: Do you know anything about the Restless League?
Coyle: Sure! They're the bravest Redguards of them all. They'll never surrender to the Empire. They even blew up the Governor's ship, right in the Harbor! Do you know how I can find them?
Cyrus: Afraid not. I was hoping you could tell me.
Coyle: Naw. Hayle said they'd never let a Yokudan join, but why not? I figure they need all the men they can get now, and I'm a pretty good swordsman myself, you know.
Cyrus: Could Hayle have been a member of the League?
Coyle: No. He used to laugh at me when I said I wanted to join. Said I didn't understand the way the world worked yet, I was too young. But I'll be seventeen in three months!
Cyrus: Do you know how to contact the Restless League?
Coyle: Well, no. But I'll find out.
Cyrus: Are you and your mother the only Yokudans on the island?
Coyle: We're all that's left. The day after we buried Hayle, the Governor banned all Yokudans from the city. Called us all traitors! So everyone else took passage to the mainland, except we couldn't leave on account on the Necromancer trying to steal Hayle's soul!
Cyrus: Why would the Necromancer want to steal Hayle's soul?
Coyle: Well, not his soul specifically. The whole island is trapped in his evil soul snare, that's what mother said. Anyone who dies without the proper ritual, their soul goes into his tower and he adds them to his army of Undead!
Cyrus' Logbook
Coyle says the necromancer N'Gasta has set a soul snare over the entire island of Stros M'Kai. Anyone who dies without the proper ritual has his soul carried to N'Gasta's tower to serve the Necromancer.
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Cyrus: I'm surprised your mother is able to protect Hayle from such a powerful Necromancer.
Coyle: You shouldn't be! My mother is a powerful Witch, the Witchmother of our whole tribe! If Hayle hadn't been born under the sign of the Serpent, she could have passed his soul through the Necromancer's web easily.
Cyrus' Logbook
Coyle says his mother Saban can protect his brother Hayle's soul from N'Gasta because she is a powerful Witch -- The most powerful Witchmother of her tribe.
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Cyrus: Where is this Necromancer's tower?
Coyle: Cyrus! You don't want to go there! The Necromancer kills anyone who trespasses in his tower, and steals their soul!
Cyrus: I'm surprised the whole island isn't crawling with the living dead, with all the fighting that's gone on here.
Coyle: Well, the city folk have their Temple to save them from the Necromancer's snare. But we don't believe that way. Mother needs to set the starstones to show Hayle the proper way to the other side, but she hasn't been able to foretell the Serpent's passage this season.
Cyrus: Are those the starstones over there?
Cyrus' Logbook
Coyle says his mother is a powerful Sorcerer, and could easily guide her son Hayle's soul past N'Gasta's soul snare, except that Hayle was born under the sign of the Serpent. The other twelve constellation follow the circles of heaven, but neither Coyle nor his mother know how to predict the Serpent's path. The only way to guide Hayle's soul through the soul snare is to place the starstones in the positions of the Serpent's head and tail.
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Coyle: That's right, Cyrus. Normally, it would be simple, but Hayle was born under the sign of the Serpent, and the Serpent's path can't be predicted.
Cyrus: This Serpent - One of the constellations?
Coyle: Yes. The other twelve follow the circles of heaven, Guardians and Charges, but the Serpent respects no master. It moves across the heavens, threatening the other constellations in its path. The only way to guide Hayle's soul through the Necromancer's soul is to place the starstones in the position of the Serpent's head and tail -- But there's no way to predict the Serpent's path.
Cyrus: I never paid much attention in astronomy class. Guardians and charges?
Coyle: Gosh Cyrus, everyone knows the three Guardians each protect three Charges in their own circle of heaven. Didn't you learn the rhyme? Strong Warrior charges... Wise Mage orders... Clever Thief watches.
Cyrus' Logbook
Coyle tells of the three circles of the heavens, and of the three Guardians that protect their three Charges, each to its own circle of heaven.
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Cyrus: That does sound familiar. Sing me the verse about the Warrior.
Coyle: Strong Warrior charges... Steed prancing... Lady dancing... Lord advancing... Through the night.
Cyrus' Logbook
Coyle recited the verse concerning the Warrior Guardian: "Strong Warrior Charges... Steed prancing... Lady dancing... Lord advancing... Through the night."
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Cyrus: What's the whole verse about the Mage?
Coyle: Wise Mage orders... Apprentice learning... Ritual turning... Golem burning... Through the night.
Cyrus' Logbook
Coyle recited the verse concerning the Mage Guardian: "Wise Mage orders... Apprentice learning... Ritual turning... Golem burning... Through the night."
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Cyrus: How did the verse about the Thief go again?
Coyle: Clever Thief watches... Lover sighing... Shadow lying... Tow'r defying... Through the night.
Cyrus' Logbook
Coyle recited the verse concerning the Thief Guardian: "Clever Thief watches... Lover sighing... Shadow lying... Tow'r defying... Through the night."
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Cyrus: So Hayle's soul has not yet left this world for the next?
Coyle: No, mother's song keeps it safe here until she can figure out the proper placement of the starstones. If she stops with the stones placed incorrectly, Hayle's soul will be taken by the Necromancer's snare.
Cyrus: If there's no way of predicting the Serpent's path, how can your mother ever complete the ritual?
Coyle: I don't know. I want to help, but I don't know anything about the stars. All mother can do is continue the song of passage to keep Hayle's soul from straying. Cyrus, can you help us?
Cyrus: I'll do what I can, Coyle. Don't worry, you can count on me.
Coyle: Thanks Cyrus. Please hurry. I don't know how much longer my mother can keep up the song.
Cyrus' Logbook
Agree to help find a way to help Coyle's mother complete the ritual which will preserve his brother's soul from the necromancer's soul snare.
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Cyrus: Sorry, but I've got to go. Perhaps later we can talk
Coyle: I'd like to help, if I can.
After I finished talking with Coyle, I saw a Bull nearby and decided to... Uh... Talk to him.
Cyrus: Don't suppose you know what's going on.
Bull: Moooo.
Cyrus: Have we met before?
Bull: Moooo.
Cyrus: Ok, cough it up Bull, tell me what you know.
Bull: Moooo.
Cyrus: Oh, ok, so my sister is lost, and there's these Pirates, and... Oh, forget it.
Bull: Moooo.
Cyrus: Blone hair, anhk on his chest, been poking around that wagon. You know the guy I'm looking for?
Bull: Moooaaahh.
After noticing the reference to the Ultima series carefully placed in the game by Todd Howard, I decided to leave the Yokudan camp and go to the Dwemer Observatory, on the other side of the island. I went back the way I came, until I reached the bridge. There, I noticed a statue on the opposite shore, and decided to go to it.
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Apparently, it was a statue of Thassad; unfortunately, its head had fallen off. While examining the statue and after finding two bags of gold next to it, I remembered Orsone's words: "Pretty sister had her schemes, needed gold this time, it seems, twenty-one paces, as the head faces, buried there the gold still gleams!" As the head faces, eh? I went approximately twenty-one paces in the direction that the head was facing and I found a bag containing 300 gold pieces. After taking the gold, I went a bit to the south and then west, near the Ogres Tooth Mountains. I didn't go into the mountains just yet; instead I went into a small valley with a ruined cabin. Next to the two crates near the entrance to the cabin, I found a bag of gold, and inside the cabin, I found a vial of Ectoplasm, a vial of Orc's blood, a vial of Spider's Milk, a vial of Hist Sap and an empty bottle. This must have been a spellcaster's laboratory, but all that had remained of the spellcaster was a skeleton.
I went into the mountains, stumbling upon an Imperial camp. I got there just in time to see a Dwemer airship fly towards the city.
Cyrus: Imperial Guards. What are they doing up here? And what kind of ship is that?
I was quickly attacked by the Imperials in the camp. After killing them, I took the several bags of gold scattered around and I examined the Dwemer artifacts that were in the camp.
Cyrus: Dwarven artifacts. I wonder what the Imperials hope to find.
I left the camp and went southeast, where I found two Dwemer bridges above a valley that separated two mountains. Apparently, there were Dwemer ruins on both sides, but there was no way to reach the ones on my side without going to the other side first and going over the bridges. Since there was nothing I could do here, I went back to the camp and this time went southwest, following a path which led me out of the mountains and into the valley that separated the Dwemer ruins. I was attacked by many Imperial Guards while in the mountains, but I defeated them all.
I went east until I found a signpost, where I noticed that Guards no longer attacked me. I decided to go to the Dwemer Observatory, but on my way I encountered a strange statue. I put a gold piece on the ground next to the statue and it healed me.
I eventually found the Dwemer Observatory and went inside, where I found a huge Orrery and a male Wood Elf in a Dwemer wheelchair. Near the entrance, there were strange Dwemer steps, and on the walls near the Orrery there were plaques on the walls representing the constellations. I decided to talk to the Wood Elf.
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Erasmo: Ooooo... Visitors... Ooooo --
Cyrus: Greetings, I am Cyrus.
Erasmo: Aaahh! You scared Erasmo!
Cyrus: I'm looking for a woman named Iszara. Have you heard of her?
Erasmo: I hear many things. I hear the pipes rumble, the gears turn, and the whistle of seam! Heh, funny, Erasmo never hears any women.
Cyrus: What is this place?
Erasmo: What! Place scares me now! Some ancient Dwemer Observatory... Flash! Flash! Flaaasshhh!!
Cyrus: What...?
Erasmo: Richton ordered me to fix it, but the Ghosts keep me flaaasshhh!! Awake!
Cyrus: You say this place is Dwarven?
Erasmo: Flash!! Dat's what Erasmo said! Them Dwarves knew a thing or two. Richton sent his men to the Ruins, and me here to fix this, flash! Flash! Flaaasshhh! Contraption!
Cyrus: Flash!...?
Erasmo: ...Flash! Flaaasshhh!!
Cyrus: Why did Richton send you here to fix it?
Erasmo: Aahhh!!
Cyrus: Hey, man, stop screaming.
Erasmo: But Richton kill 'Rasmo if he not fix! I was living here, lots of space and pretty metally stuff! He let me stay if I fix... If not, he say cut off Erasmo's arms and put me in a eehhh, box!
Cyrus: You mentioned the Dwarven Ruins?
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Hammerfell's original name was Volenfell, named for the Dwemer "City of the Hammer" whose ruins lay nearly submerged by the sands of the Alik'r. Legend holds that these Dwemer were the self-exiled Rourken clan of Resdayn (Morrowind), who refused to participate in making peace with the Dark Elves. Thus, the Rourken chieftain threw his mighty hammer, Volendrung, across Tamriel, promising to lead his clansmer to "wherever it should fall." This mythic image has been depicted on the walls of several ruins in Hammerfell: a mass exodus of golden-clad dwarves, trudging through the Cyrodilic forests, Volendrung a falling star in the nightsky before them, urging them on. Sadly, these same ruins offer no clues to the mysterious disappearance of the Dwarves from Tamriel, which was everywhere the same, ca. 1E700. Before quitting this subject, we might as well address the oft-used misnomer for the Dwemer, the "Dwarves." There is nothing to suggest that the Dwemer were any less towering over humans than the early Aldmeri were; indeed, extant Dwarven goldmail more or less fits every human lucky enough to possess it. Imperial excavation of ancient and wondrous Dwarven machinery supports the Dlyxexic theory that the translation of Dwemer as "Deep Elves" might instead be read as "Smart Elves," despite the incongruity of that notion. Perhaps, then, the "brilliant students" of the titanic Ehlnofey mentioned in the Anuad are the Dwarves, and that their giant masters gave them this sobriquet.
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Erasmo: Dwarves... Flash! Flash! Flaaasshhh!! Liked to build everything in small pieces! Damn Gugglies split without leaving instructions on their, flash!! Toys! The Ruins too big and scary for me! See for yourself, go to the west!
Cyrus: You, you ever run into any Pirates? Anybody known as Restless League?
Erasmo: You the first person I've seen in a while. Flash!! Nobody comes up here, especially Pirates! They scared, run away!
Cyrus: Run away from what?
Erasmo: Da Ghosts!
Cyrus: Ghosts? What Ghosts?
Erasmo: Flash!! Ghosts in dat Lighthouse! Shinin' da light, flash! Flash! Flaaasshhh! Sayin': 'Rasmo wake da hell up!
Cyrus' Logbook
Erasmo raves about Ghosts in the Saintsport Lighthouse keeping him awake all night, blinking "flash, flash, flaaaash".
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Cyrus: What - What about the Lighthouse?
Erasmo: Saintsport Ghosts will get you! Get you! Flash! Flash! Flaaasshhh!! Their lights will haunt you!
Cyrus: Lights in the Lighthouse? You're not making sense.
Erasmo: Damn lights -- On then off, flash! Flash! Flaaasshhh! -- Keep my ass up all night!
Cyrus: Have you ever been to the Palace?
Erasmo: Once, before the Ghosts! Delivered some Dwarven books to Richton. You don't go in there unless you have something he wants.
Cyrus: What do you know about the island?
Erasmo: I know Erasmo's ass is stuck here till I fix this contraption! Aaahhh!
Cyrus: What?
Erasmo: Nothin'! I'm just doomed! Aaahhh!
Cyrus: Calm down. You look like you fixed it.
Erasmo: Wooh. No. Not work yet! Fix the Orrery, but 'Rasmo can't fix the Telescope! Eeeek! It won't fold down. Ghosts tried to get me, torment me, flash! Flash! Flaaasshhh! But I put most of it back together. No magic either! That Gear Room make Erasmo's head hurt and burn his legs!
Cyrus: Slow down, friend. What's in the Gear Room?
Erasmo: Gears! Flash!! Run on steam, them Dwarves had very very very large brains! Danger! Scary place!
Cyrus: You burnt your legs in the Gear Room?
Erasmo: Eeeek! The pain! Steam down there hot as Oblivion. Yow! Burnt my legs trying to fix the Telescope. Need another gear!
Cyrus: You need another gear to fix the Telescope?
Erasmo: Dwarven gear! Not just any gear. Needs to go on the far side. Damn! I'd do it myself if it weren't for my legs.
Cyrus' Logbook
Erasmo says a Dwarven gear is needed to fix the Telescope -- Not just any gear.
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Cyrus: How does the Orrery work?
Erasmo: Erasmo doesn't know! But it watches the sky! Dwarves knew the power of the stars, watched all the constellations and who they protected!
Cyrus' Logbook
Erasmo claims he's fixed the Orrery, but that he can't fix the Telescope because he's missing a gear. He says he tried to fix the Telescope, but he burned his legs down in the Gear Room.
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Cyrus: Constellations? Who do the constellations protect?
Erasmo: Flash!! Each other! Didn't your parents teach you about the stars of Tamriel? The 3 Guardians each protect 3 Charges from the Snake!
Cyrus: What - What are the Guardian constellations?
Erasmo: Every schoolboy knows of the Warrior, the Thief, and the Wizard. Of course, the Dwarves didn't believe in magic, so the Wizard is the Mechanist to them.
Cyrus: What do you mean, Charges?
Erasmo: Damn! You never read as a child! The Guardians each protect the 3 Charges of their circle. Flash!! The Thief watches the lover and Shadow. Warrior the Steed, and on and on. You Redguards are slow!
Cyrus: What - What does the Snake constellation do?
Erasmo: He slithers through the sky, ever changing with the stars. The Dwarves... Smart to watch him, just as each Guardian watches their Charges.
Cyrus: Stay calm, Erasmo.
I left the Observatory and went back to the city, where I talked to Dreekius about fixing the Telescope.
Dreekius: What is your pleasure?
Cyrus: How are you, Dreekius?
Dreekius: The Redguard. Good. Good to see you, again.
Cyrus: I've been up to the Dwarven Observatory. This crazy Elf there needs it fixed. I think I can get something out of it once that's done.
Dreekius: Don't know too much about Dwarves, Cyrus, nobody really does. You might want to talk to Lakene, though. He's a bigger Dwarf-buff than the Governor!
I left the Draggin' Tale and talked to Lakene.
Lakene: Redguard.
Cyrus: Lakene.
Lakene: What's going, Redguard?
Cyrus: You're good with a wrench, and know a lot about these Dwarves. Any ideas about fixing the Observatory?
Lakene: If it's Dwarven, the answer's in the Ruins. And I'm not about to challenge Richton's men up there.
After I spoke with Lakene, I went to the well in the city and mixed the aloe that I had bought earlier into the water. I then put the mixture into the empty bottle that I had found earlier, and the result was a drink with healing properties. I then I went back to the Observatory, and from there I followed the path leading to the Dwemer Ruins, encountering and defeating several Imperials Guards on the way.
Eventually, I found the entrance to the Ruins, and near it I found a sign. After reading the sign, I tried to enter the Ruins, but I realized that this door was blocked, so I looked around
No Trespassing Sign
NO TRESPASSING
THIS SITE HAS BEEN CLAIMED BY THE IMPERIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
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Next to a Dwemer Ballista, I found another entrance, which I examined.
Cyrus: It's covered by what I assume is Dwarven writing.
Since this entrance was also blocked to me, I took the nearby two bags of gold, after which I returned to the city. Once I was in the city, I went to J'Ffer.
J'Ffer: I greet you. May I do you service?
Cyrus' Description of "Dwarven Lore"
This book on Dwarven lore reveals that the Dwarves were destroyed long ago by the Dark Elves. There is one interesting passage which translates the Dwarven language, which bears a slight resemblance to Elven.
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Cyrus: Sky above and sand below.
J'Ffer: And water within. You speak the Ta'Arga like a desertwalker, Cyrus. But there is no need for such formality.
Cyrus: Do you recommend Favoril's Dwarven Lore?
J'Ffer: Marobar Sul's Ancient Tales of The Dwemer is more comprehensive, but hard to come by, alas, and a weighty tome, too, at 16 volumes. For 54 gold, Favoril's little book is an excellent overview.
Cyrus: I'll take it.
J'Ffer: J'Ffer is sure you will enjoy it.
After taking the book, I went back to the Ruins and used the book to read what was written on the door.
Cyrus: Shahbth ih awerk. Stuh ndah bthahhrk. Awerd sheh ahhmmzrteh.
The doors suddenly opened and I went inside. In the first chamber, there were broken pillars, pressure plates, two dead Imperial Guards and a large crystal hanging from the a special support in the ceiling. I avoided the pressure plates, since they made the crystal shoot harmful laser-like beams in the middle of the room. I climbed on the remains of a column, after which I was able to grab onto a ledge and get inside a tunnel made in the wall. After jumping over a chasm, I found a health potion and a bag of gold at the end of the tunnel. I then jumped on a wagon, and from there I was able to grab onto the remains of some rails. Following the rails, I managed to find a hole leading into another Dwemer chamber.
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This room contained a very nice fountain, three doors (one of which there would be no way to open right then), some nice murals, some statues, more pressure plates, a health potion, a bag of gold (I took both the health potion and the bag of gold) and two Imperial Guards. I stood in front of one of the pressure plates for a few seconds, which made one of the doors open, but it also made the statue (which was right in front of me) raise its sword and strike the spot that I was in. Luckily for me, I dodged the blow, and quickly went through the door. There, I jumped to the other side of a chasm (where I found a bag of gold), and then I jumped to another side of the chasm, where I grabbed onto a rope. From the rope that I had grabbed onto, Ijumped and grabbed onto another one, and from there I jumped on a pipe. Once I was on the pipe, I pulled a lever that opened a door on a currently unreachable part of the chasm. I returned to the chamber with the fountain and went to another pressure plate, opening and going through another door. This door led to another side of the chasm, where I found a rope from which I swung onto another rope, from which I was able to jump on a ledge where the door that the lever had opened was.
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This door led into a very small cave, where I found a health potion and a bag of gold; there was a hole in the ceiling of the small cave that led to a hallway in the Dwemer Ruins. I went through the hole and fought two Imperial Guards. I then went into a room where I found a health potion. Interestingly enough, there was a hole in the floor of this room. I, of course, went through it.
Going through the hole, I found myself in a corridor. In this corridor, I was attacked by a Centurion Sphere, but the reward was that I found one strength potion, four health ones and a bag of gold. At the end of the corridor, there was a chamber containing two Dwemer thingies, a pipe going through one of them. I jumped on the pipe, grabbed onto a ledge and from there managed to get back to the hallway.
At the end of the hall, there was a chasm. By grabbing and jumping on a couple of ledges, I was eventually able to get to the other side. The corridor ended in a cave with a health potion. After taking the potion, I climbed up the rope in the cave
Climbing the rope, I found myself in a chamber with Dwemer schematics, where I fought and defeated an Imperial Guard. I went through a wide corridor which led to a large room full of pipes and blocks of stone, with a stairway to the left and an inaccessible ledge with a doorway on the right end. In this chamber, I fought an Imperial Guard and then I took the health and strength potions lying around, after which I went down a ramp leading into a cave with lava river flowing through it. Here, I found a bag of gold, a strength potion and two health potions.
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I went back to the large chamber and went up the stairs, then i went through a corridor (in which there was an inactive Centurion Sphere) and eventually I found myself in another large chamber in which there were three Dwemer Ballistae. A bridge went through the middle of the chamber and over a chasm. After I defeated the Imperial Guard in this chamber, I tried to go over the chasm using the bridge, but as soon as I approached, a large portion of the bridge fell into the chasm below.
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Having nothing better to do, I climbed down the stairs to the Ballistae below and started firing all of them. Interestingly enough, the projectile that was fired from the one pointing in the direction of the other side of bridge stuck in the wall. So I was able to cross the chasm using a long Dwemer pipe, and then grab onto the projectile, and then jump and grab onto the edge of the other side of the ruined bridge. From there, I went through a corridor (in which I saw another inactive Centurion Sphere) and fought an Imperial Guard. At the end of the corridor, I found a room with more Dwemer schematics and yet another inactive Centurion Sphere. I noticed that there were two large cracks in a wide vertical pipe, and that there was a rope going through the pipe. I went inside the pipe and climbed up the rope
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The upper part of the chamber that I was now in had several pillars and a locked door with a Scarab mural, while in the lower part there were three health potions and a doorway. I went through the doorway and found myself in a chamber with a Scarab device, dead, impaled Imperial Guards on both sides of a pressure plate. I took the two health potions on the other side of the chamber and then I stood on the pressure plate, making the Scarab rotate until its head was facing the other side of the room. I then went up on the walkway around the device and jumped on the Scarab's horns, making it reveal a head. I then turned it upside down using the pressure plate and jumped on its tail, making it reveal legs. I then used the pressure plate again, making it stand up. Afterwards, I went up the walkway and jumped on its wings, making arms appear. Arms that grabbed chains around the device. The chains being grabbed meant that, whenever I would stand on the pressure plate, the spikes that had impaled the Imperials would come out of the wall entirely for a few seconds (until now, only the edges of the spikes weren't inside the walls). As soon as I used the pressure plate again, I quickly got out of the way, so I wouldn't be impaled.
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I jumped on the legs and made them disappear, the tail taking their place. I went to the pressure plate again, and now the device's arms locked together. Once again, I went to the pressure plate and made the device stand up. The two arms grabbed onto the chain that opened the door with the Scarab mural that I had seen earlier. I went out of the Dwemer Ruins using the newly opened door. As soon as I came out of the Dwemer Ruins, I saw the two large bridges that had earlier been unreachable. I could now use them to get to the Dwemer Ruins on the other mountain.
There were two active Centurion Spheres here, one of them on a bridge and one on the other. I defeated both and then I went to the other side, where I found a lot of pipes. After I looked around for a while, I saw a large Steam Machine and activated it. This made parts of the pipe sections start spinning.
I went around the area and turned several of wheels, until the disks of an entire row of pipe sections became flat. I went to the Steam Machine, climbed on top of it and jumped from disk to disk until I reached a platform on the other side. There I found two towers with two wheels. I turned both wheels, making two pipes from this area connect with two pipes leading to the main facility. I then jumped off the platform and returned the pipes with disks to the configuration shown on a drawing. Steam power returned to the main facility and I was shown a short video where the disks of the pipes with disks in the main facility became flat.
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I went back to the main facility to find out that formerly inactive Centurion Spheres were now active. I defeated two of them and went back to the chamber with the pipes with disks, where I jumped from disk to disk, and then onto a chain, and then on the formerly unreachable ledge. I went through the doorway and through a corridor which led to a room where I fought another Centurion Sphere. In this room I found a potion of ironskin and three bags of gold. A doorway led to a ledge with a health potion, a ledge from which I could see the cave with the lava river. Here I found and turned a wheel which opened the formerly unopenable door in the chamber with the fountain. I then went through a corridor that led to a formerly unreachable ledge in the fountain chamber, a ledge from which I was easily able to climb down and go through the door that I had just opened.
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Behind that door there was a corridor with four health potions. At the end of the corridor, there was a chamber with a huge Steam Centurion.
Steam Centurion: Rrrooooaaaaarrrr.
While I was on the ledge around the room, the Centurion could not harm me, but I couldn't do anything to it either. I dropped down from the ledge and attacked the Centurion. To no avail. It was too large for Cyrus' saber to do anything to it, but I eventually found its weak spot: some sort of panel on its left heel. I attacked the panel several times, destroying the Centurion.
Cyrus: Looks like a gear fell out of that creature.
Cyrus' Logbook
Salvaged a Dwarven gear from the wreckage of the Dwarven Mechanical Giant.
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I took the gear that had fallen out and the four health potions and three bags of gold lying around. I then left the Dwemer Ruins through the door in the chamber that had been opened after the Centurion had been destroyed. I then went and fixed the Dwemer Observatory, and was eventually able to save Hayle's soul.
But that is a tale for the next part of the Redguard Storyline.
Next: Using The Dwemer Observatory
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