Old Friends

 is quest given by Neloth, after the completion of Briarheart Necropsy.

Background
Tel Mithryn is under attack by an unknown force. Ash Spawns killed Neloth's previous steward and part of his tower mysteriously withered.

After Neloth assigns to the Dragonborn the task of finding him a new steward, and after the withered part of Tel Mithryn is repaired, a third attack causes Neloth to reveal to the Dragonborn his suspicion that the attacks are organized - the same suspicion that Captain Veleth has about the attacks on Raven Rock. Neloth gives the Dragonborn the task of discovering the source of the attacks.

Walkthrough
The quest becomes available once Healing a House or Reluctant Steward and Briarheart Necropsy are completed. Travel to Tel Mithryn and encounter several Ash Spawn outside. Upon killing them, head into the main tower and notify Neloth of the attack.

"There are too many coincidences. There must be someone behind all of my recent troubles."

He states that its not a coincidence that the events that have taken place occurred, and states that someone must be behind the attacks.

Someone is attacking you?: "Yes. I have enemies. Legions of them back in Morrowind. However, in this case I have reason to believe it is someone in Solstheim."

How do you know you are under attack?: "Ash spawn keep appearing. One night a part of my tower mysteriously withered. Then my steward was killed. You had to find me a replacement. I've even been attacked by dragons! Do I need to go on?"
 * I suppose you want me to kill them: "Not yet. That may come later. First I need to identify the culprit. I've enchanted this ring to find the source of the attacks. Here, take it."
 * Would I be able to collect a bounty?: "Don't get ahead of yourself. All you are going to do is wear this ring and walk around Tel Mithryn. If you find something, then we can talk about bounties and rewards."


 * I'm not sure the dragons are about you: "Maybe not. I hear they've been seen over Skyrim too. Even so, there is more than enough evidence that someone is out to get me."


 * I saw a dragon once: "Really? When this is over, you'll have to tell me all about it."

Find the source
He gives you Neloth's Ring of Tracking which will help identify the culprit.

How does the ring work?: "Just wear it. It will light up the source when you get close to it. I enchanted the ring with a bit of ash from the last ash spawn attack. It can follow the magical link back to its summoner."

How close do I have to be?: "The link is weak, so you'll have to be within about a hundred feet of the source."

Put on the ring and head east along the coast of Tel Mithryn to a small graveyard it is surrounded by Deathbells. When within a hundred feet of the location, a sarcophagus starts to glow purple, and fade. This is Ildari Sarothril's sarcophagus and inside is a Heart Stone. Collect it, then return to Neloth to tell him the stone was in Ildari's grave. Neloth thinks Ildari, his former apprentice, is behind the attacks. He believed she was dead, but there was no body in the grave.

This heart stone is the source of the attacks: "Hmm. I've known for decades that heart stones will animate the ash. But it would have to be very close by. Where exactly did you find this heart stone?"

It was in Ildari Sarothril's grave: "Ildari? Then it's my own fault. She was my apprentice before Talvas. She volunteered for one of my experiments involving heart stones. It was quite annoying when she died."
 * Experiment? What did you do to her?: "My necropsies of Spriggans led me to believe that a heart stone could be implanted in a person's chest, granting them great power. I was considering replacing my heart with a heart stone. Fortunately Ildari offered to let me operate on her first. Of course this was before your briarheart expedition. Now I know that I did the surgery all wrong."


 * There wasn't a body in the grave. Just the heart stone: "What?! That's impossible. Wait... unless she didn't actually die! The heart stone could have kept her right at the edge of life and death. Could it be? Could Ildari still be alive? Could she be my nemesis? Wait a moment while I cast a more specific divination.

Next, he casts a divination and finds that she is in Highpoint Tower.

"I call upon the powers of the sun, moons and stars. Ildari Sarothril, reveal yourself! She lives. Seek her in Highpoint Tower."

He reveals: "So, Ildari does live after all. She thought she could hide from me, but she can't! She's holed up in Highpoint Tower. Go rip that thrice cursed heart stone from her chest."

'''Why don't you do this? Why me?:''' "I don't have time to go traipsing all over Solstheim. If I don't hear back from you after a while, you're probably dead. Maybe I'll send Talvas out next."

Is there a bounty on her then?: "Why is it always about money? Yes, yes. I'll find something around here to pay you with. Now go."

Asking if he is coming along, he replies:

Aren't you coming to Highpoint Tower?: "Me? No. Highpoint Tower will be filled with monsters and traps. It's much safer for me to risk your life. Don't worry. If you die, I'll find some other way to take care of Ildari."

He parts with: "Be sure to bring back an amusing story of how Ildari died."

Highpoint Tower
Traveling to Highpoint Tower, the entry was previously blocked, but the ash has been cleared. The path to the door can be reached by a nondescript crevice on the northern side of the mound. Ash spawn are guarding the entrance which will need to be taken care of. Upon entering Highpoint Tower, head down the stairs. Deep underground, the fort contains a prison where Niyya, a miner, is locked up. If released, she reveals that she and the other miners took pity on Ildari, thinking she was badly injured, and she repaid their kindness by attacking them in the night. She imprisoned most of them for her personal experiments. Further exploration will reveal a large cavernous area where Ildari is holed up with ash guardians and ash spawn. She taunts "You've gone far enough. Neloth is a fool to think he could send some low life to finish me off. " and retreats further into the ruins where there are further ash spawn. She can be found and fought in a final chamber, and the battle ends with the Dragonborn ripping out the Heart Stone that was keeping her alive.

Return to Neloth
Upon returning to Tel Mithryn, Neloth greets the Dragonborn with "You're alive. I hope that bodes ill for Ildari." Inform him she is dead and he responds:

Ildari is dead: "Well, well. You have proven to be a more valuable ally than I anticipated. I have a staff for you, but I would also like to make you a member of my household. A member of House Telvanni. No need to thank me. I know you are overwhelmed with gratitude."

Neloth gives the Dragonborn a staff, and also makes them a member of House Telvanni as a reward. Asking him what it means to be a member of his house, he remarks: "For now, not much. But in a few decades when I return to Vvardenfell, you would be seen as Morrowind nobility. In the mean time, we would keep a bed and chest here for you."

Trivia

 * Despite mentioning to keep a bed and chest for use in Tel Mithryn, however no such reward is actually granted as all beds within Tel Mithryn remain owned. Bethesda's response to this was: "Neloth is eccentric and possibly insane so you should take whatever he promises with a grain of salt."
 * If the Tel Mithryn Steward's Key has been looted from Varona during the quest "Reluctant Steward" you can gain entry to the steward's house. The bed is not shown as being owned, and thus able to be used at will. The chest in the room however is not safe storage as the location respawns in 10 days.
 * Highpoint Tower is blocked by ash until this quest has been initiated.
 * With a powerful enough bow, archery skill, and an accurate shot or two (preferably as sneak attacks), it is possible to bring Ildari to her knees when she initially appears in the cavern. This will not prevent the ash spawn from attacking, but nicely circumvents the boss fight.

Bugs

 * The grave will glow purple and there will be a Staff of Calm inside the grave but no heart stone. Just reload and kill the Ash Spawn first.
 * When you go to rip out her heart it freezes.
 * When returning to Neloth to tell him the source of the attacks, he says to "Wait a moment while I cast a more specific divination". However, he won't cast the spell and when the player talks to him again, he asks, "Have you found the source of the attacks?" The dialogue option about the heart stone will be gone, so the player is unable to continue. If this happens you can reload to a time before you speak to Neloth and make sure the quest Healing a House is completed.
 * Solution: Ask Neloth is their anything you can help him with. He'll go on about casting a spell on you which brings up experimental subject quest and cast the divination then the experimental spell.
 * Solution: Reloaded auto save, talk to Neloth first ask him if you can help with experiments after you receive the mission wait 30 sec talk to him again activating the Old Friends dialog about the Heart Stone then wait another 30 sec walk out towards the lift in the center of the room and wait for Neloth to walk out of the enchanting room he should cast the spell then.
 * Solution: Attacking Neloth and then sheathing your weapon will bring up the next step in your mission, Kill Idari, and you'll be on your way.
 * If Neloth is in the Staff Enchanter room, closing and reopening the door causes him to come out of the room. Then you can talk to him about heart stone.
 * Solution: Wait for (or force) Neloch to be in the main hall. Then tell him about the source of the attacks.
 * The ash blocking the entrance to Highpoint Tower might not disappear after taking the quest.
 * If you've already taken the Heart Stone before getting the quest, and lose it, then you won't be able to pick it up and show it to Neloth. If you're using a PC, open up the console and type in: setstage DLC2TT2 300 this will move the quest to the next stage as if you had already found the heart stone and presented it to Neloth.

Старые друзья Alte Freunde