Through a Nightmare, Darkly

Overview
Prerequisites: None Faction: None Quest giver: Rumors; Kud-Ei of the Mages Guild in Bravil Reward: Various scrolls; +1 Fame

Background Information
Kud-Ei asks you to help free her friend Henantier, who is trapped. If you agree, you're led to Henantier's house, where Henantier is asleep. The guild mistress explains that Henantier created a "Dreamworld Amulet" that would allow him to enter his Dreamworld; he believed that he would be able to train himself by doing so, as he would control the content of this world. However, he has not awoken for three days. You must wear the Dreamworld Amulet and sleep in the bed next to Henantier's in order to enter the dreamworld and free Henantier.

Inside the dreamworld, you have no inventory (although there are items scattered about which can be picked up and used). In addition, you are silenced and cannot use magic. The dreamworld takes the form of a disheveled version of Henantier's house, in which Henantier is standing in a confused state. There are four exits to the house, each leading to a test. The order in which the tests are taken does not matter. Once completed, a test cannot be revisited.(Note that if the Bravil Recommendation quest is running, Kud-Ei will not give you the amulet until the quest is finished.)

Walkthrough
Note: There is no specific order that you need to do the tests. If you want armor to protect you against the various traps in the other tests you may want to complete the Test of Resolve first.

Test of Patience
The Test of Patience requires your patience to figure out how to best cross some pressure plates. You are transported to a walkway suspended in darkness. In front of you is a reader which contains a Mysterious Scroll. On this scroll are three patterns of Daedric letters. Continuing along the walkway, the player finds a grid of stone pressure plates. Entry is only possible at one point, by stepping onto the first plate (Note: Read the plates from the bottom of each section of the scroll to the top, i.e. the first 'row' encountered on the scroll is actually the last row you will pass for that section).

The first pattern on the scroll conforms to the layout of the pressure plates. The first plate where you enter, will be signified on the scroll by a certain character. You must cross the grid by stepping on each of the plates represented by this character, or will take damage from several traps around the grid. You must then repeat this process for the next two grids of pressure plates, before retrieving the Element of Patience at the end of the walkway. This will teleport you back to Henantier.


 * Note: With a high Acrobatics ability it is possible to jump across the majority of each grid. It is also quite possible to simply sprint across each grid and "wait" out the damage afterwards. The traps do far more damage than their real world counterparts, so be sure to grab the healing potions from the container downstairs before beginning the quest.

Test of Perception
The Test of Perception tests your ability to recognize the presence of traps. You are teleported to another floating walkway. The reader in front of you contains a torch. You must travel along the walkway, avoiding several traps triggered by pressure plates, before retrieving the Element of Perception. The pressure plate traps can be jumped over while the other traps can be run past.

Test of Courage
The Test of Courage tests your courage while swimming underwater for long periods of time. You'll find a Weak Potion of the Sea (Water Breathing) in the reader. You must swim through a long underwater tunnel, effectively making a "leap of faith" that the tunnel will end before the player runs out of air. There is another water-breathing potion around halfway through the tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is Grotto of Courage that holds the Element of Courage.

Test of Resolve
Before entering this test, be sure to take the healing potions in a cupboard to the left of the doorway.

The Test of Resolve tests your strength and power. It takes place inside what looks like the Imperial City Arena (although the yellow team's gate has been blocked). The reader contains a staff, a blade weapon, and blunt weapon (all of which depend on the your level), and full sets of light and heavy armor (also depending on your level).

Once you're equipped and enter the Arena, the gate shuts and two Dreamworld Minotaurs spawn, and must be killed. This is an extremely difficult test; be sure to save your game prior to fighting them. Disarming both of them helps. If you're still having difficulty defeating them through normal combat, the staff seems the most efficient weapon to defeat each Minotaur. Run backwards around the arena so they're unable to hit you while you blast them with the staff. Once both minotaurs have been defeated, stairs raise up from the round and it is possible to complete the Test.

Completion
Once you have completed the four tests and collected each Element, return to Henantier and both of you will be transported out of his dreamworld. Your reward will be a few scrolls, such as Heroic Touch, or Fortify Magicka.

Journal Entries
After hearing some rumors regarding Kud-Ei:
 * I've heard that Kud-Ei at the Mage's Guild in Bravil is searching for assistance in locating a missing friend. A reward is being offered, so I've decided to find out more information.

After speaking to Kud-Ei:
 * ''I've spoken to Kud-Ei of the Mage's Guild in Bravil. It seems that her friend, Henantier isn't missing after all, but trapped somewhere and Kud-Ei needs my help in liberating him. Kud-Ei said to return to her when I'm ready and she'll take me to him.

After following Kud-Ei to Henantier's House and speaking to her again:
 * Kud-Ei has explained that Henantier has become the victim of his own creation, the Dreamworld Amulet. He's trapped inside his own dreams, and I'll need to put on the amulet and go to sleep to enter Henantier's dreams and hopefully retrieve him. When I'm ready to do this, I should speak to Kud-Ei, who will prepare me for the journey.

After speaking to Kud-Ei yet again:
 * Kud-Ei has given me Henantier's Dreamworld Amulet. I need to enter his dream by going to sleep while wearing the amulet. Kud-Ei also warned me that if Henantier is slain in the Dreamworld while I'm there, I'd be killed as well, so I must be careful.

Upon entering Henantier's Dreamworld:
 * I've entered Henantier's Dreamworld. To my surprise, I've arrived naked except for the Dreamworld amulet! Not only am I unarmed, but also I've discovered that the amulet is preventing me from using any magic. I'll have to explore this strange place in hopes of finding something to defend myself with.

After speaking to Henantier:
 * I've located Henantier. He seems awfully confused and doesn't understand where he is or how he got here. He did mention he lost some things. Perhaps they're keyes or clues explaining how to exit this bizarre place. I have no choice but to explore the recesses of his Dreamworld and find these objects.

After finding the first element (Perception, Courage, Patience, or Resolve):
 * I've located the Element of _______. This must be one of the things Henantier misplaced. Losing this attirubte of his mind must be what's making him so confused. If I can find all of the elements, and bring them back to him, it should restore Henantier's sanity and help him awaken. I should continue searching for other elements if I ever intend to leave this waking nightmare.

After finding the second element:
 * I've located the Element of ________, the second Element to be found in Henantier's Dreamworld. I should continue searching for more elements.

After finding the third elmeent:
 * I've located the Element of ________, the third Element to be found in Henantier's Dreamworld. I should continue searching for more elements.

After finding the fourth and final element:
 * I've located the Element of ________, the final element in this bizarre amalgam of Henantie'r dreams. I should bring all four elements to Henantier and try to restore his sanity.

After giving the four elements to Henantier:
 * After giving him the four Dreamworld Elements, I've succeeded in convincing Henantier he was in a dream, and we've returned to the real world. I should speak to him now that we're back.

After speaking to Henantier for completion:
 * Henantier has thanked me for saving him. As a reward, he's provided me with some of his magic scrolls.

Bugs

 * There is currently a bug in the PC version that will prevent Kud-Ei from taking you to Henantier's House in Bravil, so that you cannot start the quest. This has also been reported in the 360 version.
 * In the PS3 and Xbox 360 version of the game, it is possible to complete this quest prior to starting the recommendation one.


 * There is another bug, which closely resembles a glitch. If you attack Henantier while he's asleep, he will fall off the bed, wake up, and then go to sleep again. However, in the few seconds he's awake, you can't talk to him.


 * If one were to look on the game's map during this quest, it would show that the character is somewhere deep in the west weald forest. This is the default position to show the player's marker when the PC is located in another "world" separate from the standard "Tamriel" world, that does not have its own world map to load instead like the Shivering Isles does. The shown location is the 0,0 coordinate cell in the Tamriel world.