- Dreloth Tomb
If meeting for the first time: "Can you smell it? The dust of ancient Elves permeates the very air of this old tomb. Ooh, that's a good phrase. I must remember it for my next book! But tell me, what brings you to this lonely place?"
If met before: "Hmm. You look familiar. Let me think. The cave full of nereids? The incident with Morella the Cruel and the Mephala cultists? No, no. I remember. The draugr incident! We helped the Orcs out of a jam, as I recall. What brings you down here, friend?"
- Your assistant, Elfbetta, sent me to check on you. "Assistant? Oh, you mean that young Nord woman who's been hanging about? Very kind of her, but Narsis Dren doesn't need to be coddled! I'm in the middle of a very important undertaking. There's more to this old tomb than meets the eye!"
- What's so special about this tomb? "According to an old scroll I discovered, this tomb was built atop two older structures. Imagine, secret chambers that haven't been opened in centuries! And the family died out ages ago. No one to contest my findings. Except that creature over there."
- Elfbetta mentioned an old scroll. (Elfbetta mentioned an old scroll, too.) "She did, did she? Probably told you she found it. Well, I had to translate it. And from the ancient Elven, no less! Difficult, even for me. Before I could begin my investigation, however, that creature over there appeared to harass me!"
- If "Draugr Dilemma" was completed: You seem to have weathered the Exile's Barrow incident without too much trouble. "It takes more than a few shambling corpses to stop the formidable Narsis Dren! Come to think of it, I seem to remember that you weren't as helpful as I'd hoped once we got into that ancient Nord barrow. There was a sarcophagus, as I recall …."
- Did you write a book about that adventure? "Hmm? Oh, yes. My most popular volume to date! "Narsis Dren and the Draugr Dilemma." Surprised you haven't read it. It's captivating! Help me get through this tomb and I'll let you have a copy—at a substantial discount!"
- Tell me more about this creature. "It's a sneaky one. Silent as a tomb and twice as deadly. Even its shadow is terrifying, but it won't get the jump on Narsis Dren! Slip into the chamber and see what its intentions are. I'll wait here, poised to leap to your aid as necessary."
- Very well, I'll go look.
In the furthest chamber:
"This isn't right. Where's the treasure vault? The hidden chambers? This tomb deeply disappoints Narsis Dren."
- What were you expecting to find here? "Something more interesting than a boring burial chamber. This ancient scroll indicates that if you honor the ancestors, they reveal … I can't quite make out this word. I'm having a hard time translating some of these old idioms."
- Vvardenfell has a lot of tombs. Are you sure this is the correct one? "Are you questioning my expertise? Ancient Elven is like a second language to me and scholars across Tamriel revere my ability to make sense of historic gibberish! Still, I could check my notes again, just to be sure …."
- Why don't you do that.
- Veloth Tomb
Speaking with him through the door inside Veloth ancestral tomb:
"Who's out there? No, never mind. I don't care. I just want to get out of here. It's dark and it's cramped and it smells like an Argonian's armpit."
- How did you get locked in there? "I recognize that voice! I knew you'd come and find me! As for my current predicament, how was I supposed to know it was a trap? The door slammed shut and locked behind me! So, do a Dark Elf a favor and open the door like a good apprentice. Please."
- How do I open the door? "There's probably a button or something nearby. In my experience, there's always something pushable. I remember seeing Daedric symbols on plates along the wall. Try pushing a button that's divisible by three. Three has always been lucky for me."
- Divisible by three? "Now you're just trying to prolong my agony! Divisible by three! Try pushing the sixth panel from the left. Or the third panel. Or maybe the eight panel. Any of the panels in a position that's divisible by three!"
Speaking with him after he is out:
"I find that escaping from an ancient trap really gets the heart pumping—provided it doesn't take too long, of course. I couldn't have done it without your relatively minor contribution. Thank you."
- So are you sure this is the tomb you were looking for? "Indeed. Veloth Tomb! Now we need to locate the hidden passages mentioned in the scroll and the relics of Saint Veloth will be mine! Um, to write about in my next book, of course. Stick close, apprentice. These tombs can be dangerous to the unwary."
- What should we look for? "I could tell you, but I work on an instinctual level. I know relics of historical value when I see them. Apprentice, you lead the way. I expect that locked door was the worst this tomb has in store for us. It's smooth sailing from here, I'm certain!"
- What about the hidden passages? "Ah, yes, the old scroll. It did mention hidden passages. That's what attracted me in the first place. So, I'll look for relics and hidden passages while you keep an eye out for any unexpected dangers. See? We make a great team, apprentice!"
- You think Saint Veloth is buried here? "Saint Veloth? Perhaps. It's more likely he's buried in his shrine in Deshaan. This is the family tomb. Did I tell you my mother traces her lineage to this noble line? Whatever we're going to find, it won't happen if we keep standing here. So …."
- If "A Saint Asunder" was completed: Saint Veloth's shrine is in Deshaan? "One of them. And it's one of the larger and more significant ones, too. You should visit the place if you're ever in that part of the world. Now, I'd really like to get on with the exploring if you don't mind."
- If "A Saint Asunder" wasn't completed: I spoke with Saint Veloth's spirit in Deshaan. "And I've chatted with the shade of my Great Aunt Attivinia. She was as unpleasant in death as she was in life. Is there a point to regaling me with the story of your minor exploits?"
- Just that the shrine contains the saints bones and other relics. "Of course it did. Probably had his preserved toe for good measure. I'm not interested in bones. I'm looking for blessed relics sent as gifts to his beloved family. Heirlooms they buried with them in this tomb. Can we get to the exploring now, please?"
- All right, let's look around.
Inside the summoning chamber:
"According to the old scroll, there's a secret entrance that leads to the hidden passages somewhere in this chamber."
- How do we find the secret entrance? "I don't see an obvious lever or switch. That's too bad. Examine anything that looks unusual. That harp for instance. That's an odd accouterment for a burial chamber. I also spot an old tome strategically placed for our reference. Interesting …."
- Why am I examining the unusual items exactly? "I need to supervise! You are my apprentice, after all. Now get down there and find the hidden passage. Only the richest, most well-to-do families could afford to hide their true resting places so that no one could disturb or defile them. Imagine!"
- But aren't we disturbing them? "Historical research isn't defilement! It's … enriching the knowledge of future generations. My calling is noble and above reproach. It says so in my very first book! Now, go find that entrance!"
Immediately inside the Undertomb Mausoleums:
"Isn't it exciting? We're the first living creatures to set foot down here in more than a hundred years! This will definitely get an entire chapter in my next book!"
- You were right. A hidden passage led to an older section of the tomb. "And that surprises you? Haven't you read my books? This is very similar to that time I unearthed the secret chambers of the Master Thief of Elsweyr. A pity my apprentice on that excursion refused to heed my advice. Walked right into a nasty trap."
- What do you suggest we do next? "We search! You lead the way while I watch for the tell-tale signs of a valuable item of historical significance. Hopefully even a relic of Saint Veloth himself! This is the part where our adventure gets really exciting!"
- How do you recognize items of historic significance? "Oh, that's a skill I developed. Finely honed in the heat of battle—both metaphorical and physical! So lead on, my erstwhile apprentice. And do watch for any guardians or traps that might be waiting in hiding."
- Is that why you always want me to go first? "Going first? That's an honor I wouldn't dream of denying you! And I'll be right behind you, offering advice and watching for opportunities to teach valuable lessons. You won't get this kind of education at any university or academy."
- Is that what you told your apprentice in Elsweyr? "Something along those lines. But he was too eager, running ahead before I could offer him the advantage of my experience. You don't seem to have that quirk. In face, quite the opposite. It seems like you want to stand here and talk forever."
- Very well, let's go.
Along the way through the Undertomb Mausoleums:
"Pity that old scroll didn't include some sort of map."
- Where did your assistant find that old scroll? "You keep bringing up that strange Nord woman. I believe she said she found the scroll at a shop in Sadrith Mora. Once she noticed the ancient Elven, she brought it to me straight away."
- So you'll share credit for this discovery with Elfbetta? "What? No, of course not. She'll get a thank you, in the fine print. But I translated the scroll. I braved the dangers of the tomb. I did all the hard work. With some help from you. Which I will gladly acknowledge when I write this thrilling tale."
Inside the Underground Mausoleums:
"What a large vault! Imagine the expense that went into hollowing out a space this big."
- Do other Vvardenfell tombs have hidden chambers like this one? "The ancestral tombs vary in size from single chambers to massive crypts, but I never heard of hidden passages until I translated that scroll. I believe the Veloth tomb is unique in all of Vvardenfell. As such, it will make a magnificent tale."
- Won't the descendants of the Veloth line be angry that we're rummaging around in their tomb? "If the family still exists, they'll be thrilled to hear that the famed explorer Narsis Dren has deigned to bring attention to their tomb."
- Doesn't anything you "discover" belong to them? "The Veloth family is welcome to any little trinkets we may find. All I care about are the big items of historic significance. Narsis Dren is a historian, an explorer. I'm not some tomb robber of ill repute."
After getting locked behind a door in the Underground Mausoleums:
"Damn these trapped spaces and their tempting gaps! I hate to be a bother, but could you get me out of here please?"
- You seem to have a knack for getting into tight situations. "So good of you to notice! I'm quite proud of my ability to turn any situation into a dramatic scene for my next book! Anyway, I believe you'll find another series of wall plates to push in that chamber to my right."
- I could just leave you in there. "That's a rather ungrateful attitude after I graciously agreed to take you under my wing! If you don't let me out, however, we won't be able to use the key I found in here. I'm quite certain it opens the way into the next section of the tomb."
- There's another section? "Almost certainly! The scroll clearly described a final treasure vault, and we haven't come across anything like that yet. So, do a Dark Elf a favor and go push a wall plate. It's the second one from the left. Or is it the right?"
- All right, I'll see if the wall plates will open this door.
Inside the puzzle room in the Mausoleum of the Elders he can be asked about the tile puzzle:
"Think of the stone tiles set into the floor as a giant locking mechanism. We just need to determine the proper combination to open the way forward. Of course, there's probably some kind on conundrum built in."
- You've dealt with a puzzle like this before? "Of course! But no two puzzles are ever exactly the same. The scroll describe a proper path to ancient honors. Or was it to honor the ancients? No matter, close enough. We just need to determine the correct order in which to walk the stone tiles."
- What happens if we get it wrong? "That's where the conundrum comes in. Check the panels on the wall and see if they provide any insights. I'll supervise and run through the Huge Catalog of Adventure Obstacles and How to Counteract Them. I memorized it for just such situations."
- Well, let me know if you think of something.
After he takes the golden skull at the end of the tile puzzle:
"I'm just guessing, mind you, but I dare say that skull belonged to a son or grandson of Saint Veloth! What a spectacular discovery!"
- Maybe you should have left the skull where you found it? "Nonsense! Did you see it? Emeralds for eyes, covered in gold. It's better than anything in my collection. Don't let odd sounds disturb you. I learned long ago to just hum the tune to the Red Mountain drinking song and keep moving forward."
- But the skull was hidden behind a gate, with magic protecting it from people like us. "There are no people like us! We solved the puzzle and uncovered the secret. You did all the work, of course, but I had it figured out the moment we entered the chamber. I was ready to help if you needed it. Now, let's see what's waiting inside."
- Very well, let's continue on.
After entering the Tomb of the Matriarch:
"Don't you just love exploring ancient places? I must admit I have a fondness for antiques and enticing mysteries. But not Old Lady Ezira. She's too old and mysterious even for my tastes!"
- Any hint in that old scroll about what we'll find down here? Nothing specific. At least, nothing I could translate.\n\nThere was an indication of older structures that were hidden away. Didn't explain why, though. My guess? This is where they hid the relics of Saint Veloth!"
- But what about the matriarch? It said this was her tomb. "Must you poke holes in all of my theories? Well, there's only one way that I know to find out for certain. Shall we proceed?"
Near the entrance to the older part of the Tomb of the Matriarch:
"This part of the structure dates back to before the time of the Dunmer as we know them. Isn't it amazing? I can't wait to see what's waiting for us down here!"
- What is this place? "To the untrained eye, this appears to be nothing more than an unfinished cave. My eye is nothing if not trained, though. \n\nI suspect this was a ritual chamber of some sort. Ancient Chimer death rites were certainly practiced here!"
- Are you going to write about this in your next book? "A good question. Do we offer up the past to the curious, letting them trample on the sanctity of the dead? Or do we keep our secrets? Certainly, I won't do more than hint about it until the final volume, "Narsis Dren and the Golden Chimer Skull.""
Inside the "Treasure Vault":
"My translation was nearly perfect, so how could this be? where are the relics? The treasure? There's nothing here but some busted old crates and a decrepit old well!"
- I guess that old scroll was wrong. "No, that's impossible. Ancient scrolls lead to discovery and treasure, not disappointment! I blame you, apprentice. You obviously don't have the attitude and temperament necessary to make great discoveries. You've ruined my expedition!"
- Wasn't it worth it just for the adventure? "Isn't that a noble sentiment! But noble sentiments don't pay the bills or sell my books! You wouldn't understand. You have no sense of what it takes to do what Narsis Dren does. You're nothing more than an … apprentice."
- I'm sure you can make it sound good when you write it. "Bend the truth for dramatic effect? Unconventional, but it would be a shame to disappoint my adoring readers with a lackluster ending …. You know, I like the way you think, apprentice!"
- Your adoring readers will devour that story, Narsis.
- Didn't I read somewhere that the Chimer hid treasure in their wells? [Trick Narsis] "Of Course! Narsis Dren and the Well of Gold! One of my earliest adventures! Why didn't I think of that? I take back everything I said. You are a good apprentice! Now, let's see what they hid away in that old well …."
- You might want to get a closer look.
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