Description
Auriel's Shield, an Ebony shield said to have once belonged to the quasi-mythical Elvish deity Auriel, can make its wielder nigh invulnerable. In its resistance to fire and magick, Auriel's Shield is unsurpassed. To defend its wielder from any attacks it cannot absorb, the Shield lends him or her health. Like many artifacts of Tamriel, the Shield has life and personality of its own, and does not feel bound to its user. A popular fable tells the tale of it abandoning one wielder in her greatest hour of need, but this is perhaps, apocryphal.
Rumors
Were you ever told stories about Auriel when you were a little [race]? There's this guy [direction] of here at the [tavern name] who says he knows how to get Auriel's Shield, which apparently gives you some of Auriel's powers to resist spells and heal. He wants a few hundred gold pieces more than I have for his information, but if you have the money, you really shouldn't pass up this opportunity.
Just between the two of us, I know how to get Auriel's Shield. Actually, I know how to get to the guy who can sell you information about where to go to find the map to find the shield, if you follow me. He's a little [direction] of here, in a tavern called the [tavern name]. Tell him I sent you, and bring plenty of gold. He's not giving his information away.
Somebody ought to open up an Auriel Shoppe for tourists, he'd make a million. Now there's some chap [direction] of here who says for a couple hundred gold, he'll tell you how to find the map to the new locale of Auriel's Shield. If he's honest, it's the find of the year. If not, he's just one more con man in the [tavern name]. I wouldn't risk it.
#0226 You don't look like a museum curator. You must have a practical interest in Auriel's Shield. My name is [Name], if you want to know. You probably know the story of how Cormelik made a map of all of his expeditions to the Shield, right? Well, I know where one of his maps is, and so can you for a mere [amount] gold pieces. Do we have a deal?
You're an ambitious [race], ain't you? I like that. You can call me [Name]. I was one of Cormelik's followers years ago, when he was tracking all of the returning points of Auriel's Shield, and I know where he put one of his maps. I'd go get it myself and sell it, but then I'd be asking a lot more than [amount] gold pieces. Surely you can afford that much to recover Auriel's Shield?
I overheard you mention Auriel's Shield, [race]. If you're serious, I should introduce myself, [Name], former follower of Cormelik the Elder, the man who prophesized all the Shield's returning points. You've heard he was unable to enter the true place himself, mighty a warrior as he was? So do not think it is enough to get the map I know of. In addition, I need [amount] gold to justify telling you how to find the map itself. Do we understand one another?
Tavern Encounters
"You don't look like a museum curator," says the man next to you. "You must have a practical interest in Auriel's Shield. My name is [Name], if you want to know. You probably know the story of how Cormelik made a map of all of his expeditions to the Shield, right? Well, I know where one of his maps is, and so can you for a mere [amount] gold pieces. Do we have a deal?"
"You're an ambitious [race], ain't you?" says a voice behind you. You turn to see a figure, his thick [province] accent low and conspiratorial. "I like that. You can call me [Name]: I was one of Cormelik's followers years ago, when he was tracking all of the returning points of Auriel's Shield, and I know where he put one of his maps. I'd go get it myself and sell it, but then I'd be asking a lot more than [amount] gold pieces. Surely you can afford that much to recover Auriel's Shield?"
A shady-looking character leaves his table and joins you at the bar. "I overheard you mention Auriel's Shield, [race]. If you're serious, I should introduce myself, [Name], former follower of Cormelik the Elder, the man who prophesized all the Shield's returning points. You've heard he was unable to enter the true place himself, mighty a warrior as he was? So do not think it is enough to get the map I know of. In addition, I need [amount] gold to justify telling you how to find the map itself. Do we understand one another?"
Location
"Ah, I hope you know what fortune you've found today. It is in the nature of people not to know how lucky they are. Take the case of a small group of acolytes who journeyed across the province of High Rock. They stumbled upon a cave that seemed to lead to deeper, darker depths. One of them read an inscription in the entracne which indicated this place as the new resting place for a map to Auriel's Shield. Imagine still their greater surprise when they told me, hoping that as a follower of Cormelik the Elder, I could answer their neophytical questions. I answered them indeed. Their blood now adornes this city's sewers, as does their silence. I have no need of something such as this Shield, said to be able to protect the user from any attack. You have provided me with the money I require for arcane activities. Still, a deal is a deal. The cave is called the [dungeon name]. Here, I have inscribed it onto your map of the continent. Within its depths should be the map that will lead you to Auriel's Shield. I wish you well on your journey..."
