Brisienna Magnessen, also known as Lady Brisienna or Lady Magnessen, is a sister of a great knight, and a high-ranking member of the Blades. She is the Grand Spymaster in the Iliac Bay region. She infiltrated the court of Daggerfall in the guise of one of the witches of Popudax.[1]
History[]
When Nulfaga, the Queen Mother of Daggerfall, found the location of the Mantella, the heart that fueled the Numidium, the Emperor Uriel Septim VII sent a letter to the Queen of Daggerfall, Queen Mynisera. A special seal on the envelope was supposed to tip off Lady Brisienna that in fact the letter was intended for her. She was supposed to get the location of the Mantella by any means necessary. However, the War for Betony delayed the arrival of the letter. The letter arrived very late, after the war, and was received by Queen Aubk'i. Confused, the Queen sold the letter to King Gortwog in Orsinium.
When the ghost of King Lysandus haunted the streets of Daggerfall, the Emperor sent an agent to soothe Lysandus' soul, and at the same time get the controversial letter back. The agent arrived late due to a storm that wrecked his ship. Fortunately, Lady Brisienna managed to locate the agent and meet with him. She told the agent to investigate the three royal, dominating powers in the Iliac Bay region, Daggerfall, Sentinel, and Wayrest in order to know the reason of Lysandus's haunting and to procure the letter.
After the agent successfully soothed the soul of Lysandus and procured the letter, a mysterious friend told him the history of the Numidium. Soon later, all of the factions in the Iliac Bay region became aware that the agent was working to find the Mantella. Lady Brisienna meet the agent and asked for their help to get the Totem of Tiber Septim, which the Blades had lost. The agent found the totem in the Daggerfall vault. Then, more letters came to the agent, promising wealth and fame in exchange for the totem. Lady Brisienna had sent one of those letters.
In the end, after the agent recovered the Mantella, the Blades were then one of the wielders of the Numidium. The Empire's intelligence agency was one of the seven retrievers of the Totem of Tiber Septim, a tool for controlling the Dwemer construct.
Interactions[]
Instructions from the Empire[]
Receive Lady Brisienna's letter and meet with her at an inn of her choosing.
Totem, Totem, Who Gets the Totem?[]
Find the Totem of Tiber Septim, and decide who gains its power.
Dialogue[]
- Instructions from the Empire
"Ah, thank you for responding to my letter,
. I am Lady Brisienna. Let me bring you to date on affairs. The spectre of King Lysandus haunts the streets of Daggerfall at night. Trying to communicate with him is futile. He will occasionally moan the word "Vengeance," but that is the only coherent word I have ever heard him utter. If you are ever in Daggerfall, do not wander the city at night. You are certain to be attacked by his own legion of ghosts.""It would be probably more gainful to investigate those who might have wronged Lysandus to find the cause behind his torment. I do not know if the royal family of Daggerfall or another person or persons merit more suspicion. The major powers of the Bay Sentinel, Wayrest, and Daggerfall may be good places to start."
"In the matter of the letter, the Emperor's agent says that he was unable to hand-deliver it to the Queen because of the war. He hired a courier who supposedly delivered the letter in his stead. We do not even know the name of this courier. Obviously, there is little information of use, but it would be worthwhile to see whether the letter arrived at Castle Daggerfall at all. How you decide to do this is entirely your decision. I will contact you if any new information should surface."
"I am leaving Daggerfall soon. My position
here has been compromised and my life is in danger. Do not mention my name in court. It is more likely to hurt than help. Good luck, and watch your back, ."- Totem, Totem, Who Gets the Totem?
"
, I'm glad you could meet me here. The Blades and your emperor need you again. You may or may not be aware that the Totem of Tiber Septim has been found. For a brief time Lord Woodborne of Wayrest had it. Where he got it from is still a mystery. The Blades mounted an assault upon Woodborne Hall to retrieve it. Although the Hall fell, many of our number fell with it. We sacked the Woodborne Hall, but the Totem was gone. I have reason to believe that Gothryd has the Totem. The Blades no longer have the men to mount an assault on Castle Daggerfall. You have shown yourself to be quite adept at getting in and out of these places. Would you go into Castle Daggerfall and retrieve the Totem of Tiber Septim?"- Yes "I knew I could count on you Warlock's Ring!" . The Totem is most likely in the Daggerfall treasury. It is a huge room, quite unmistakable. I am leaving in a couple of days. I shall send word to you where you can meet me after you get the Totem. Should you succeed, the Emperor has instructed me to gift you with an artifact of great power and renown.
- No "These are dark times indeed. If Gothryd gets the Mantella as well, Tamriel will be thrown into a civil war."
Upon returning with the Totem:
"Your Emperor will be most grateful. The Totem could have started a civil war in the wrong hands. Thank you
. Now you must away to Nulfaga. She holds the key to the Mantella. Free the Mantella, and the Emperor controls Great Numidium through the Totem."Trivia[]
- In Daggerfall's 10th-anniversary synopsis, Bethesda claims the Emperor's Letter was originally intended for Magnessen. As Magnessen was disguised as a part of Daggerfall's royal court, the Emperor put a special seal on the envelope for her to notice and intercept. However, this opportunity was missed after Mynisera did not receive the letter.[1]