Lifting the Vale

Overview
Prerequisites: None(Level requirement, possibly) Quest giver: Tolgan in Bruma NPCs involved: Tolgan, Countess Narina Carvain Reward: Ring of Vipereye

Background Information
When you enter Bruma, a Nord named Tolgan will ask you to meet with Countess Narina Carvain and give give you 25 gold as an incentive. When you do talk with her in Castle Bruma, she tells you that she's an avid collector of unique items and considers her collection the most complete of Cyrodiil. However, one artifact, the Draconian Madstone, has eluded her for some time. Based from an old, transcribed Akaviri diary, Carvain believes that it can be found at the legendary Pale Pass, an Akaviri fort deep within the northern mountains.

The fort at Pale Pass was where the Akaviri staged their assaults while attacking Tamriel from the north many ages ago. The countess believs that the Akaviri commander has the stone in his possession and tasks you with finding it. She gives you a transcription of the journal, which provides a good explanation of how to find the legendary Pass, a drawn map of the location that came with the journal, and provides the first marker on your map, Dragonclaw Rock.

This is a long quest, so be prepared and stock up on healing potions before leaving. Also, if you're experienced in Security, bring a lot of lockpicks as there are many locked chests on the way that contain some good loot and gold.

Walkthrough
To get to Dragonclaw Rock, follow the path east and then northeast from Bruma. Once you arrive there, head northwest up the mountain and you should find the cave location Serpent's Trail. In the trail, there are rats, Pale Pass Ogre Stonewreckers, and a Mountain Lion or two (dependent on your level). Also, watch for trap pads on the ground and avoid those. You'll eventually come across a skeleton and a message window will pop up telling you that it's the dead messenger that was wrote the journal entry. He's holding the Akaviri Orders that he was supposed to give, so be sure to pick that up. Continue on through the cave until you come to the door that leads outside to Pale Pass.

In Pale Pass, you'll find more Pale Pass Ogre Stonewreckers, with maybe a wolf or bear or two. Simply follow the path north/northwest until you arrive at the old fort. Enter the fort at the Mouth of the Serpent.

Once you enter, head down the hall and watch out for a log trap when you come to the first hallway intersection. The main enemies of this fort are Undead Akaviri Soldiers, who wield a Ruined Akaviri Sword and Ruined Akaviri Shield.

The room you want to get to is the Venom of the Serpent room. There are a couple of ways to get there from the beginning, although if you intend to scout out and eliminate everything in the whole place, you'll eventually make your way there. It is highly recommended that you scout out the entire fort (or do option number 2 below to kill all remaining skeletons) as the chests contain some valuable things, such as a Glass War Axe, Ebony Arrows, or nice enchanted items.

Otherwise, the quickest and most direct way is the following: At that first hallway intersection, make a left, go up the stairs and jump across the hallway to the other side (or, if you don't have a high Acrobatics skill, jump to the side platform to get across). Then enter the Scales of the Serpent. Fight your way through, go down the stairs, but slow down once you come to the hallway. If you look up, you'll see a bunch of rocks in the ceiling. Allow the rocks to fall and then proceed.

Follow the hallway as it turns left, lower and cross the bridge, and enter the Scales of the Serpent. Once inside, look at the columns and you'll notice they have some arrow trap holes. Go to your right and simply go around them from the right side. You should be on upper level, so lower the bridge, cross it, make a left and get into the Venom of the Serpent.

In the Venom, you'll see the ghost of Akaviri Commander Mishaxi. Don't attack him (yet). Go up and talk to him. He'll ask you where the orders are and you have three options, all of which are viable options: Any of the three options is fine and achieve the same purpose, which is opening the wall behind him where three chests and the Draconian Madstone are hidden. If you do decide to kill him, he'll drop the Akaviri Dai-Katana when you beat him, but be sure to pick it up immediately. Otherwise, the katana will disappear with his ghostly body.
 * 1) "I’m here for the Madstone." – At which point he'll get angry ("How dare you address me that way!" and attack you.
 * 2) "Here are your orders." If you picked up the orders from the dead messenger and give them to him, the commander will be satisfied and the entire fort will be at peace (all remaining skeletons will die). He'll then walk through the door wall, which will open.
 * 3) "I’m from the army of Reman!" – At which point he'll say, "Then prepare for battle! I’ll not let this fort fall to the dogs of Reman!" and attack you.

Make your way back out to Pale Pass (you only need to leave the fort) and then fast travel back to Bruma for your reward.