Jorvuld Davaux

"Davaux is one of the most resourceful and rational academics we have at our disposal."

- Professor Chamrond

Jorvuld Davaux is a Breton mage and dragon priest historian found at the entrance chamber of Scalecaller Peak.

Plans of Pestilence
Jorvuld Davaux, dragon priest historian, requests the aid of a group of delvers to defeat Zaan the Scalecaller, an awakened dragon priest, and her horde of undead followers stricken by the Daedra Lord Peryite's disease.

Dialogue
"Well met, traveler. I'm not sure what has brought you to Scalecaller Peak, but I must advise you to turn back. The creatures within this mountain have been exposed to a terrible disease, and I'm afraid there's a chance you'll become infected."
 * Why are you still here then? "I'm trying to stop the disease from spreading. I came here with several companions, but we weren't expecting an attack so early on. The ogres were far less aggressive during my last visit. I believe this sickness has changed their behaviour."
 * Where are your companions now? "Trapped on the other side of a broken bridge, I'm afraid. Say, you look capable. Would you mind escorting me through the Frostspike Caverns in order to reach my companions? It's vitally important we continue our expedition."
 * I'll help you rescue your companions. "Now, we must be cautious. Scalecaller has always been a place of danger, and this disease seems to have only further agitated the creatures that live here."
 * Can you tell me more about your expedition? "Of course. I originally came here to study the Dragon Priest Scalecaller, the namesake of this mountain. Unfortunately, upon my arrival I discovered a cult. They appear to be experimenting with this disease. Perhaps even creating a plague."
 * A Dragon Priest? "Once, Dragons reigned over all of Tamriel. Their favored followers were honored as Dragon Priests, and gifted powerful masks imbued with the Dragon's power. Zaan the Scalecaller was one such priest, and here lie her remains."
 * What's special about this particular Dragon Priest? "Well, what fascinates me is her strong connection with Thurvokun, her Dragon Lord. I had hoped to research that connection, but then I discovered these depraved cultists. Feel free to read my journal if you'd like to learn more."
 * Tell me more about this plague. / Can you tell me more about these cultists and their plague? "It sounds just dreadful, doesn't it? Normally I wouldn't jump to such conclusions, but I happened upon some of their research notes. It outlined their experiments with the disease, and how they intend to spread it."
 * They're planning to spread it? "Given the state of the creatures here, I'd say they've already started. I have no idea what's driving them towards such a dark goal, but I do know we must put an end to it. That is the current purpose of my expedition."

Once found the survivors:

Ila al-Ragath: "Fighters? What kind of idiots would come to this Eight-forsaken mountain?"

Lodiss the Rock: "What, besides us?"

Jorvuld Davaux: "How are you all faring? Everyone all right?"

Ila al-Ragath: "Lodiss and I are fine, but Ludovic wasn't so lucky. He fell."

Lodiss the Rock: "Always told him that name of his would do him no good."

Jorvuld Davaux: "I was afraid of that when I saw he wasn't with you. You two stay there, we'll go around to meet up."

Ila al-Ragath: "It's not like we have much of a choice. Just be prepared for battle when you get here."

Can you tell me more about your expedition? "Oh, certainly. I suppose we make a rather ragtag group. My companions are all members of the Undaunted. The Redguard woman is Ila, the Nord is Lodiss, and the poor fellow who died is Ludovic."
 * Can you tell me more about Ila? "Ila al-Ragath? Why, she's an exceptional warrior and capable leader. Came highly recommended from the Undaunted. I wouldn't get on her bad side though, if I were you. She can have quite the temper."
 * What should I know about Lodiss? "He calls himself Lodiss the Rock. Man of few words, and most of those words seem to be not so veiled threats. I hear he gets his name from a particularly unorthodox fighting style of his. One can only imagine."
 * What was Ludovic like? "Ah, Ludovic the Lucky. He's a cheerful fellow——well, was a cheerful fellow. Had a knack for healing magic. It's quite a loss to the team, now that he's no longer with us."


 * Orzun and Rinaerus

"Be careful fighting those two, they look stronger than the rest. Smell stronger, too."

"The two ogres ahead seem to be the clan leaders. We'll need to defeat them in order to continue on. No easy task, I'm sure. They look to be formidable foes. I'd advise you to keep your distance, if possible. I'd hate for anyone to become infected."

Killing Orzun:

"With that brute defeated, you've lost the protection of his pillars. Finish the other ogre, quickly!"

Rinaerus calling his skeever horde:

"Oh no, the ogre seems to be summoning skeevers!"

Once the Ogres are defeated:

"What a shame. They never bothered me the last time I was here. What manner of illness has this cult created...?"

"Poor bastards. They never stood a chance."
 * You sound disappointment. "Ogres may not be the friendliest of creatures, but I was never bothered on my first trip to this mountain. The disease must have enraged them, caused them to turn aggressive. What a senseless death."
 * They didn't really leave us a choice. "Perhaps it was for the best. This illness looks absolutely gruesome. At least their suffering has been put to an end. We can't allow this disease to spread to the rest of Tamriel. Come, let's keep going."


 * Doylemish Ironheart

"Well, this doesn't look good. No wonder Ila and Lodiss are still down on those steps."

Orbs of Stone:

"Those are Orbs of Stone! Be careful! Their beams will slow you down."

"Destroy the stone orb that's freed itself!"

"You can't allow that stone orb to roam free! Eliminate it!"

"A stone orb has begun to move! Destroy it, quickly!"

"Destroy the stone orb that's freed itself!"

After Doylemish is defeated:

Jorvuld Davaux: "These gargoyles were just statues the last time I was here. What changed?"

Ila al-Ragath: "Beats me. All I know is that we were stuck between a rock and a pitfall."

Jorvuld Davaux: "Ila, we can't allow the disease to spread. I need you and Lodiss to go back and burn every corpse you find."

Ila al-Ragath: "Fine. Just make sure you don't take down the cult leader without us. We still have a deal."

Jorvuld Davaux: "Yes, yes, you'll have your prize. Just as we agreed."

"I just don't understand. These gargoyles were merely statues when I came here before."
 * Why would the gargoyles suddenly come to life? "Unfortunately, I'm just not sure. Normally I'd blame the cultists, but I doubt they'd have this kind of power. These statues are ancient, imbued with old magic. I don't know what matter of mage could awaken them."''
 * Do you have any theories at all? "The arrival of the cultists, the creation of this plague, all of it's simply unprecedented. Perhaps the growing hostility of the local fauna have awakened the temple's defenses? We'll need to keep moving if we want further insight."


 * Matriarch Aldis

"Watch out for this one! She must be the giants' matriarch."

Once the Matriarch swings:

"Watch out! You won't survive the Matriarch's swing!"

"The Matriarch is going in for the kill!"

"One strike from that giantess and you're done for!"

Once the Matriarch is dead:

Lodiss the Rock: "Looks like the newcomers get to have all the fun today."

Jorvuld Davaux: "Fascinating. I would have expected this illness to weaken the giants, but it seems just the opposite."

Ila al-Ragath: "Yet another reason to wipe the temple clean of this repugnant cult."

Jorvuld Davaux: "While I agree, we also can't allow this sickness to spread. I'll need you and Lodiss to burn the corpses, just like before."

Lodiss the Rock: "Ugh. Just call me Lodiss the Torch."

Jorvuld Davaux: "I doubt it will be any easier going from here, but we'll see you all further up."

"How strange. I've never seen an illness give strength to those it has afflicted. You would think these poor creatures would barely be able to move, what with the state they're in. Why would the cult put themselves at such a risk?"
 * What do you mean? ''"I do believe the cult infected these creatures, most likely for research purposes. However, such aggression would only make this mountain more dangerous for further experiments to be conducted.

These symptoms simply can't be by design."''
 * So the cult wasn't expecting this behavior? "Ogres and giants have a natural magic of their own, as mysterious as it is powerful. I'm sure the cult didn't think to take that into account. Few researchers do. What senseless slaughter. With only more to come, I fear."

Entering the ruins:

Jorvuld Davaux: "Just a moment. I need to get this door for Lodiss and Ila."

Ila al-Ragath: "Seems like these cultists have as much of an affinity for the dead Dragon Priest as you do, Jorvuld. They keep invoking her name."'

Lodiss the Rock: "Bah. You would think these cozies would just worship a Daedric Prince, like any sensible cult."

Jorvuld Davaux: "I'm glad to see you both uninjured...and unafflicted, I hope?"

Ila al-Ragath: "None of them got close enough to give us their little blessing, I can assure you of that."


 * Plague Doctor Mortieu

Jorvuld Davaux: "Ila, hold! Let them take care of this one. I need you and Lodiss to hold off any reinforcements."

Ila al-Ragath: "Ugh! Fine. But our deal still stands. After their leader is felled, I want my payment."

Lodiss the Rock: "By Sovngarde. Let's just focus on bashing in some heads, yah?"

Anitdote, imp innards:

"Quick, get me some imp innards!"

"I can use imp innards to create an antidote!"

Anitdote, strangler sap:

"I need stranglers' sap to create an antidote!"

"Stranglers' sap! That's just what I need!"

Completed antidote:

"The antidotes finished! Here, take it!"

"This antidote should help you!"

"I've prepared an antidote for you!"

After Mortieu is defeated:

Jorvuld Davaux: "He wasn't the one leading them, I'm afraid. My friends, prepare yourself. For Zaan the Scalecaller... has risen again."

Lodiss the Rock: "The Dragon Priest that's buried here?"

Ila al-Ragath: "She must have it. We need to keept climbing! I will not be denied my prize."

Lodiss the Rock: "Next you'll tell me we have to fight her Dragon, too. Wait. We don't have to... fight a Dragon, do we?"

Jorvuld Davaux: "No, Scalecaller's Dragon abandoned her long ago. I fear she serves a new lord now. Perhaps one just as powerful."

"Zaan the Scalecaller. They've taken over her temple, begun to invoke her name. I feat that these facts are no mere coincidence. This cult must be worshiping her, in some fashion. But why?"
 * Any theories? "I fear not. Scalecaller is a Dragon Priest, and long dead at that. Besides, she's never been connected to plagues or disease. Perhaps they're trying to tap into her power? Or perhaps the decor here is merely their liking..."
 * The decor? What do you mean? "Never mind, forget I said anything. Just a half baked theory. Besides, we'll find out the truth soon enough. I suspect that the cult leader is just up ahead. We should get moving."


 * Zaan the Scalecaller

After her death:

Ila al-Ragath: "No...no, I was so close! Spellbreaker was within my grasp. It should be mine!"

Jorvuld Davaux: "Is that all you can think of, after all we've been through? Your greed has blinded you, Ila. I pray one day you see that."

"So that was a Dragon Priest? Terrifying! I don't believe she was even at her full power, which is a frightening thought. I think, with the aid of my research, I can finally put Zaan the Scalecaller to rest for good."
 * And the plague? "With the cult defeated and the bodies burned, there should be no way for the illness to spread. All thanks to you, of course. Now, as for my part, I will ensure that Scalecaller's soul can never return again."


 * After "Plans of Pestilence"

After Zaan the Scalecaller is defeated, and the quest is completed, Zaan reveals herself for the final time and strikes Jorvuld.

Jorvuld Davaux: "You fools may have defeated me, but you'll never stop the Master of Tasks! Still, his pestilence spreads. And this one shall know its blessing!"

Jorvuld Davaux: "May you suffer in Oblivion for all your wretched deeds. And may I be the last victim you ever claim."

"I don't regret coming here. Thanks to us, this plague has been stopped. We've saved countless lives today, my friend. Still, I can't help but wish our adventure ended under different circumstances."
 * What just happened? "It seems that Zaan saw fit to grant me a parting gift. She possessed me but for a moment, but still it was enough. I'm afraid I've been afflicted with the very disease we tried so hard to put and end to."
 * What does this mean for you? "It means this temple shall be my new home. I'll quarantine myself here, continue my research. Perhaps one day someone will even find my journals. I just wish I had prepared for this. What I wouldn't do for some of the cult's research materials."
 * I don't have anything that can help you. "Oh, my friend, you've done more than enough. Thanks to you, I shall be the last victim of this terrible disease. My only regret is how fast this illness will take me. I just wish I had more time to write about all that I've learned here."
 * [Help Jorvuld] I have an item that may help you. "Thank you, my friend. Not only have you saved Tamriel from this plague, you've also given me the materials I need to stave off this illness. It may only grant me a brief reprieve, but now I can write all that I've learned of Zaan the Scalecaller."

Meet the Character Entry
''Tamriel's lost ruins and temples tempt more than just brave adventurers and treasure hunters. Enterprising scholars and academics also have a keen interest in lost sites and buried secrets. Read about one such scholar in our latest Meet the Character!''

"Headmistress Guillon,

I endorse, and this comes with no hesitation on my part, Jorvuld Davaux's proposed exploration of Scalecaller Peak. While I share your concerns about the hazards of such an expedition, I also can think of no one more suited to uncover the secrets of Zaan the Scalecaller. Davaux is one of the most resourceful and rational academics we have at our disposal. If anyone can accomplish this task, it is him.

I also understand your hesitation in the importance of such a short-lived Dragon Priest, a hesitation shared by many academics throughout history. However, Davaux's observations are correct. It is well documented that Zaan's connection to her dragon Thurvokun was unusually robust, though the nature of this connection has been little speculated upon. To think that this may lead to a better understanding of the connection between Dragon Priests and their Dragon Lords is an exciting prospect, and well worth the funding that Davaux has requested.

For years, Davaux has given his all to this institution, asking little in return. You'll find none more passionate about the mysteries of Dragon Priests, or more hard working to uncover those mysteries. It would be an absolute travesty to deny him funding at this point. Let him go, I say. Let's see what he's truly capable of. I don't believe we'll regret it.

Yours Sincerely,

Professor Chamrond

P.S.

As for your inquiry towards the nature of Davaux's markedly Nordish given name, I believe this part of his family's customs. His mother Torrelda, who I had the great pleasure of working alongside several years ago, often spoke of her strong lineage of Nord scholars. I can only speculate that Davaux is named after Jorvuld the Reserved, a commander known for his rational thinking and defensive tactics; traits that did not make him a particularly popular within the Nord community."