Malur Rethan is a Dunmer residing in Balmora. He is a member of the House Hlaalu and a co-owner of Vassir-Didanat ebony mine along with his brother, Benar Rethan.
Interactions[]
Like Blood from a Stone[]
Investigate what happens inside the Vassir-Didanat Mine.
Dialogue[]
"So I was right? You're a sword for hire? Excellent! My name is Malur Rethan of House Hlaalu, and I have a proposition for you. I need someone to investigate what's going on in the Vassir-Didanat ebony mine."
- What's the problem? "Piqued your interest, have I? Capital. My brother Benar and I share ownership of the mine, but I suspect he's hiding something from me. The little weasel's even locked down the entrance. Only his personal guards are allowed inside."
- What do you want me to do? "There are only two keys to the mine. Benar keeps one in our manor house. The other is carried by the mine's foreman, Nox. I want you to procure a key, either one, and then search the mine for any sign of mischief. Report back with your findings."
- I'll see what I can do. "Foreman Nox is somewhere in Balmora. Should be simple enough to pluck the key from his pockets. Or, if you prefer burglary, you could take my brother's key from the desk in his study. Our manor is just up the hill, to the west of town."
- Why don't you have a key to your own mine? "My dear brother prefers to keep our roles in the business separate. He runs the mine, while I handle the finances. He doesn't interfere with my work, nor I his. That's the agreement."
- You can't just talk to him about your concerns? "Oh, I have, but Benar tells me nothing. It's just "secure more buyers" and "hire more workers." He gets dreadfully annoyed when I press him about my concerns. Like, why do we need so many miners? Even the townsfolk are starting to talk about that."
- What do you mean? "You haven't heard the rumors? "The Cursed Mine of Vassir-Didanat," they call it. "They go in but they don't come out!" Just inane ghost stories, truth be told. But if the rumors persist, it could soil our reputation."
- You can't just talk to him about your concerns? "Oh, I have, but Benar tells me nothing. It's just "secure more buyers" and "hire more workers." He gets dreadfully annoyed when I press him about my concerns. Like, why do we need so many miners? Even the townsfolk are starting to talk about that."
- Why are you concerned that something improper is going on with the mine? (So why the concern that something improper is going on down there?) "Well, the mine has underperformed for years. I'd actually considered selling it—until recently, that is. Ebony has been pouring out of the mine these past few months. Normally I'd be overjoyed, but that's also when Benar became distant."
- Something in particular I should be looking for? "Anything out of the ordinary. I don't suppose you'd know the difference between pure ebony and … nevermind. Just give the mine a good look and keep an eye out for mischief. If you find anything odd, bring it back with you."
- You seem nervous. "I have many important clients that depend on the success of this mine. They'll hold me personally responsible if anything isn't correct. I'd like to avoid that kind of unpleasantness."
- Something in particular I should be looking for? "Anything out of the ordinary. I don't suppose you'd know the difference between pure ebony and … nevermind. Just give the mine a good look and keep an eye out for mischief. If you find anything odd, bring it back with you."
- What kind of resistance should I expect? "The key should be no trouble. My brother is away at the moment and the house guards are not exactly the keenest. If you choose to pickpocket the foreman? Well, just avoid the city watch, I suppose."
- And once in the mine? "That's the rub. The mine is well-guarded. My brother insisted that I hire only the rowdiest and most ill-tempered mercenaries, so I brought on the Iron Hound Company. I can vouch for their pugnacity."
- You'd send me against your family's own hired guards? "I'd prefer to avoid bloodshed, of course, but I don't want to tip my brother off. If he is up to something, I'll need deniability to maintain the element of surprise. Besides, they're mostly criminals, drunks, and skooma addicts. Expendable, yes?"
- And once in the mine? "That's the rub. The mine is well-guarded. My brother insisted that I hire only the rowdiest and most ill-tempered mercenaries, so I brought on the Iron Hound Company. I can vouch for their pugnacity."
- Why don't you have a key to your own mine? "My dear brother prefers to keep our roles in the business separate. He runs the mine, while I handle the finances. He doesn't interfere with my work, nor I his. That's the agreement."
- I'll see what I can do. "Foreman Nox is somewhere in Balmora. Should be simple enough to pluck the key from his pockets. Or, if you prefer burglary, you could take my brother's key from the desk in his study. Our manor is just up the hill, to the west of town."
- What do you want me to do? "There are only two keys to the mine. Benar keeps one in our manor house. The other is carried by the mine's foreman, Nox. I want you to procure a key, either one, and then search the mine for any sign of mischief. Report back with your findings."
After investigating the mine:
"Ah! I'm glad to see you made it back in one piece. So, what have you learned? Anything?"
- An alchemist named Gavros was turning miners into some kind of false ebony. "What? Well, that sounds ghastly! To think that my own brother would be capable of such a thing …. We must move quickly. Did you find any evidence? I'll need something concrete if I'm to convince the Hlaalu trade barons to intercede."
- This is the Daedric formula Gavros was using. "Well done. I have a final task for you, if you're willing. I must take this to the trade baron, Councilor Rayveth. He's staying at the Balmora Inn. Alas, Benar has many contacts in town. If he hears that I'm meeting Rayveth, he may try to flee."
- What would you have me do? "Travel to the Rethan manor house and detain Benar. Once I've explained matters to Rayveth, he'll send Hlaalu constables to collect my brother. After this, I'll ask nothing more of you. You have my word."
- You really had no idea that was going on in the mine? "That the men I worked tirelessly to hire were being used as fodder for some vile experiment? Absolutely not. It's appalling. Why would I have sent you to discover what was going on if I already knew?"
- You said you handle the hiring. Did you hire Gavros? "Yes. I hired him at my brother's insistence. Something about valuable books and scrolls found in the shrine. We planned to sell them off once Gavros translated them. That's what I thought anyway. Wait. Gavros is still alive?"
- He's dead. Killed by his own formula. "I see. That is … unfortunate. But I suppose that's the risk you take when you start brewing foul decoctions and poisoning innocent miners."
- You said you handle the hiring. Did you hire Gavros? "Yes. I hired him at my brother's insistence. Something about valuable books and scrolls found in the shrine. We planned to sell them off once Gavros translated them. That's what I thought anyway. Wait. Gavros is still alive?"
- How long will you be meeting with the councilman? "Not long. He tends to be … brusque. Once I've explained the situation, he'll waste no time bringing Benar in for questioning. It will be brief, I assure you."
- What do you think the Council will do to Benar? "They will punish him. Severely. He'll definitely lose his share of the estate and the ebony mine. He may even lose his life. In either case, I'll have to bear the weight of our family assets alone."
- You really had no idea that was going on in the mine? "That the men I worked tirelessly to hire were being used as fodder for some vile experiment? Absolutely not. It's appalling. Why would I have sent you to discover what was going on if I already knew?"
- What would you have me do? "Travel to the Rethan manor house and detain Benar. Once I've explained matters to Rayveth, he'll send Hlaalu constables to collect my brother. After this, I'll ask nothing more of you. You have my word."
- This is the Daedric formula Gavros was using. "Well done. I have a final task for you, if you're willing. I must take this to the trade baron, Councilor Rayveth. He's staying at the Balmora Inn. Alas, Benar has many contacts in town. If he hears that I'm meeting Rayveth, he may try to flee."
Quotes[]
- "You there! Outlander. I have a proposition for you." – Before starting the quest
- "Head to the manor and make sure my brother can't scurry away. We've been discreet, so I doubt he suspects anything. Just tell him you work for me and that I'll be along shortly. Everything will be just fine." – Talking to him before going into the manor
- "You! How did you—? Bah! I'll finish this myself!" – Inside Rethan's House