Oblivion:Lifting the Vale

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Contents 1 Quick Walkthrough 2 Detailed Walkthrough 2.1 The Draconian Madstone 2.2 Following the Map 2.3 Pale Pass 2.4 Return to the Countess 3 Notes 4 Bugs 5 Journal Entries

Countess Narina Carvain wants you to find the Draconian Madstone. edit Quest Giver: Tolgan, Countess Narina Carvain at Bruma Location(s): Bruma, Pale Pass, and Pale Pass Fort Reward: Ring of the Vipereye Fame/Infamy: Fame +2 ID: MS12

Map to the Pale Pass entrance, as penned by Bruma scouts.

[edit] Quick Walkthrough

1. Go to the castle; the herald will request that you speak with Countess Narina Carvain.
2. The countess informs you of an artifact she wishes you to recover.
3. Follow the map past all the markers until you reach the underground tunnel to Pale Pass.
4. Make your way through the fort. You will soon meet the Akaviri Commander, Mishaxhi.
5. Deal with him, and recover the artifact from the same room.
6. Return to the countess with the amulet to receive your reward.

[edit] Detailed Walkthrough

You need to have at least 10 fame points to trigger this quest.

[edit] The Draconian Madstone

When in Bruma after meeting this quest's prerequisites, you may hear Rumours about the Countess and her collection of Akaviri artifacts. Talking to townspeople about the subject will direct you to the countess's herald, Tolgan, for further information. Such effort may not even be neccessary, as Tolgan himself is actively seeking you out. He tells you that the Countess would like to speak to you and hands you a stipend of 25 gold coins. When you meet the Countess, she will inform you of her task: retrieve the Draconian Madstone. As a reward, she offers another item from her own collection. Once you accept the task, she reveals that she has the diary of a messenger sent to Pale Pass, the last known location of the Draconian Madstone. Talk to her about the topic "Diary". She tells you that she has already sent scouts looking for Pale Pass, and they found the first of the landmarks mentioned in the pages of the diary, Dragonclaw Rock. After that a mark will be added on your map.

[edit] Following the Map

Travel to the place the Countess marked. The rock looks just like its namesake, a giant lizard foot. Whether you read the diary doesn't matter; your next step is to go due west from the dragon foot until you find a large statue called The Sentinel, the second landmark. From The Sentinel go due north. It shouldn't be long until you find the third landmark, Serpent's Trail. The Serpent's Trail is an underground tunnel leading to Pale Pass. See the Pale Pass article for a map of this area. You may also find the messenger who penned the diary that has led you here, from whom you can take the Akaviri Orders. At the other end of the tunnels, you need only climb down the windy path to reach the ruins. There are likely to be a lot of Pale Pass Ogres.

[edit] Pale Pass

Once at the ruins themselves, search within the broken walls for the entrance into the Mouth of the Serpent. The article on Pale Pass Fort provides maps of this fort. Watch yourself inside the fort; it is filled with traps built so well that they work even now. Go from Mouth to Scales (or Eyes) to Fangs to Venom within the fortress. You'll be fighting Undead Akaviri Soldiers as you go, and will likely be hit once or twice by deadly traps, so this place can be a pain (and, annoyingly, the skeletons' Ruined Akaviri Blades are almost worthless). Once you finally enter the Venom of the Serpent, you will see the Akaviri Commander, Mishaxhi.

Speak with Mishaxhi to find that he is still waiting for those orders. If you have them (see Serpent's Trail above), you can send him away by handing him the tablet. If you don't have the tablet, fighting him is also an option. However, if you give him the orders, any remaining Akaviri soldiers will stand down (die), and the fort will be put "at peace". Do it for the warm fuzzy feeling. The Commander is a ghost, so if you choose to fight him, remember that he is immune to normal weapons. After he is defeated, but before the quest window, you have a chance to take his Akavari Dai-Katana before it fades away with his corpse. It has an attack of 8 and a weight of 24. A fine addition to any connoisseur's collection. It's just as powerful, but half the weight (24) of the Dremora Longsword. Similarly, if you don't kill him, you can steal some gold from him immediately after the conversation ends, if you're quick enough (you can't get the sword, though). It won't matter if he catches you, he'll still walk away anyway.

[edit] Return to the Countess

After the captain is dealt with, enter the room behind him and find the amulet on a pedestal in the back of the room. With amulet in hand, return to Countess Carvain. Your reward for bringing her the amulet is the leveled item, Ring of the Vipereye, which fortifies your agility and provides you with a resistance to magic.

[edit] Notes

• When speaking to the countess to initiate this quest, the relevant chat option will not be available if you have already started the defense of Bruma quest.
• Another quest relating to Pale Pass would be The Forgotten Chests of Pale Pass (non-journal quest), which you should go ahead and take care of while you're here.
• The road that runs from Bruma up to Dragonclaw Rock continues past the Rock as an unmarked road that can be followed all the way to Cheydinhal. Or alternatively a fork can be followed to the Temple of Ancestor Moths (passing Azura's Shrine on the way).
• If you found the orders, instead of fighting your way through the fort, run directly to the captain simply avoiding the enemies and possibly using Invisibility whenever you need a breather. After you hand in the orders the pursuit will cease (to be), and you will be able to safely pillage whatever the undead had guarded.
• If you want to fight your way through to increase your skills and make an extra bit of cash, kill all the undead except their commander and cart their gear back to the entrance and store it in the barrel near the entrance, after you "Take All" from it (when you do a Take All, the containers rarely if ever regenerate with new items). Then when you hand the orders to the commander at the end, all the undead you killed will be re-equipped with the same gear. Go around and loot them again, and you'll wind up with double the gear to sell, assuming you want to cart it all out of there.
• Before entering the entrance to Serpent's Trail, you are often ambushed by 2 or 3 enemies, one usually being Will-o-the-Wisp—a leveled creature. At lower levels, these enemies can easily overwhelm you; if this is the case, simply return later in the game, and equip your strongest silver, daedric, or enchanted weapon. Alternatively, just sneak your way in, where the enemies within the tunnel are much easier to defeat (and usually come at you one-on-one, rather than grouped).
• If you found the entrance to Serpent's Trail, leave, then return by quick jumping on the map, these enemies will attack your horse, almost certainly killing it. In this case, it is useful to leave your horse by Dragonclaw Rock, and walking West towards the entrance.
• It is possible to enlist the help of an Imperial Guard in fighting the enemies by the entrance to Serpent's Trail. Engage them, then run South East towards the roads between Bruma and Dragonclaw Rock, making sure at least one of the enemies follows you. An Imperial Guard is often found patrolling this road on horse, and will help you defeat them as soon as he spots them with you. However, he is pretty much useless against the Will-o-the-Wisp.
• After returning to the countess, the Draconian Madstone will be placed in a showcase on the right side of her. When she looks the other way, you are able to easily steal it. You can also obtain the Messenger's Diary from the display case opposite.
• After you complete this quest, a special edition of the Black Horse Courier is published: "Pale Pass Discovery!".
• Shortly after you enter the Mouth of the Serpent, there is a gate with a chest behind it. Possibly due to a design flaw, you can never reach this chest unless you use the TCL command from the console. There is only random treasure in the chest; there are no unusual or quest-related items in it.

[edit] Bugs

• The quest reward, Ring of the Vipereye, is a bugged quest item. You will never be able to drop it. Also in certain quests that remove your inventory, if you are wearing it, it will not be returned with the rest of your inventory, but its enchantment will be applied to you as a permanent effect.
  • This bug is fixed by the Unofficial Oblivion Patch.
• If you steal the Akaviri Orders which is next to the Madstone in the display case after the quest, it will still be marked as a quest item, and can only be removed via console commands.
  • This bug is fixed by the Unofficial Oblivion Patch.

[edit] Journal Entries

Lifting the Vale (MS12)
Stage	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
2		I've learned that the Countess of Bruma, Narina Carvain is the collector of Akaviri artifacts. Apparently, she's seeking a particular piece to add her relics. The townsperson I spoke to recommended I seek out Tolgan, her steward, if I was interested in retrieving the piece.
5		I've met a Nord named Tolgan. Apparently, he's the herald of Countess Narina Carvain from here in Bruma. He presented me with a stipend of gold, and a request from Lady Carvain to meet her at the castle. Not wanting to offend the Countess, I should accept the request, and make my way there when she holds court.
10		Countess Narina Carvain has told me that she's seeking a particular relic of Akaviri origin: The Draconian Madstone, an amulet that supposedly grants the wearer immunity to poison. It's recently come to her attention that it may be located in the ruins at Pale Pass. She's offering a substantial reward for the talisman's return. I should speak to her for more information.
13		I've declined Countess Narina Carvain's offer for now. She said I could return at any time if I wish to change my mind.
15		I've accepted the task. Countess Carvain revealed that she has the diary of a messenger from the original Akiviri army that marched on Cyrodiil at the end of the First Era. The messenger's diary supposedly gives clues to the location of the ruins at Pale Pass. The Countess has provided me with a map, a translation of the diary to use as a guide and a key that may unlock a door at the site.
20		Countess Carvain has told me that her scouts have already located the first landmark mentioned in the diary, Dragonclaw Rock. It's been marked on my map, so I should begin the journey from there.
30		I've arrived at Dragonclaw Rock. I should consult the messenger's diary to learn the way to the next landmark.
40		I've reached the second landmark, The Sentinel. I should consult the messenger's diary once again to discern the way to the third landmark.
50		I've found the third landmark, The Serpent's Trail, which seems to be an underground passage. I'll need to traverse this passage if I'm to find the ruins.
60		I've discovered the body of the messenger who penned the diary I've been carrying. Even though he died over a thousand years ago, the bones have been well preserved by the frost in the caves. He seems to be clutching something in his bony hand. I should investigate.
70		Near the body of the messenger, I've discovered a slate tablet with what appears to be Akaviri writing on its surface. These must be the orders the messenger spoke about in the diary.
80		I've emerged from The Serpent's Trail and find myself face to face with the legendary Pale Pass. A path winds down into the snowy valley. If I follow it, it should lead me directly to the ruins.
85		I've discovered the crumbled walls of the once mighty Fort Pale Pass. It appears to have been destroyed by a landslide long ago. I should proceed into the ruins and search for the Madstone.
90		The ruins appear to be infested with undead Akaviri. I don't know how long they've been trapped here, but I should proceed with caution. I need to locate the Akaviri commander of the fort who is said to possess the Draconian Madstone.
100		After seeing the orders, the Akaviri Commander vanished. The ruins are now silent and at peace. After so many years, the Akaviri's final mission has been completed. I should proceed ahead and search for the Madstone.
105		I've destroyed the commander of the Akaviri fort. I should proceed ahead and search for the Madstone.
110		I've obtained the Draconian Madstone. I should now make the long journey back to Countess Carvain in Bruma.
150	0	I've given Countess Carvain the Draconian Madstone. She was extremely pleased, and rewarded me with an Akaviri artifact from her personal collection called the Ring of the Vipereye.

Notes

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in random order.
• If an entry is marked as "Finishes Quest" it means the quest disappears from the Active Quest list, but you may still receive new entries for that quest.
• On the PC, it is possible to use the console to advance through the quest by entering setstage quest stage. Where quest is the internal name of the quest, and stage is the number of the stage you wish to complete. It is not possible to un-complete (i.e. go back) quest stages. See SetStage for more information.