Shivering:Althel's Ghost

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Althel's Ghost

Althel is a Bosmer archer and resident of the ruined city of Vitharn, which was overrun by its own brethren centuries ago. As a result of the cowardice, inaction and incompetence displayed by the denizens of Vitharn, their ghosts were cursed by Sheogorath to relive their final moments in perpetuity. During the attack, Althel failed at persuading the hardheaded and overprotective armorer Bat gro-Orkul to hand over his precious arrows, which ultimately resulted in her not being able to provide the city with a proper defense. During the related quest, it’s up to you to bring her the arrows and help out with the defense, freeing her and the rest of the citizens from the curse.

You’ll find her crouching on the small plateau in the southwestern corner of the Vithern Bailey, reliving her own demise again and again at the hands of an attacking Ghost Fanatic. Her task was to protect the strategically important main gate wheel next to her, but she has no arrows in her possession, allowing the Fanatic to slay her. He even shouts out “I laugh at your arrows” before her body hits the ground.

She’s obsessed with numbers and counts everything that moves, even during your conversations with her. The first time you approach her, she will explain her eternal problem in her very own manner: "1, 2, 3. I need my arrows. 5, 7, 11. I can’t get them. 13, 17, 19. If I leave, who will keep up the count? 23, 29, 31.” Or alternatively: ”3, 1, 4. Without any arrows, I am useless in this battle. 1, 5, 9. But if I leave to get them, who will count? 2, 6, 5.” When you ask her about the Siege of Vitharn, she will still be counting but will also provide you with some important facts, especially on Count Cirion’s reaction to the attack: “1, 6, 1. I was the first to spot the invaders. 8, 0, 3. I was on patrol when I saw their skirmishers marching towards Vitharn. 3, 9, 8. I rode back as fast as I could to tell Count Cirion of the danger. 8, 7, 4. He went and hid. 9, 8, 9, 14, 11. I must guard the lever that opens the gate. 9, 14. If the gate is opened, the Fanatics will overrun Vitharn.”

She will also readily give you her honest opinion on the Orc responsible for most of the crisis: “1, 2, 3. That idiot Bat gro-Orkul refused to equip some of us. 5, 8, 13. He has arrows, but won’t give me any of them. 24, 34, 55.” When you finally hand her the magical arrows, she will be pleasantly surprised: “2, 7, 1. You have arrows! 8, 2, 5. Now let the battle be joined! 1, 8, 2. Why aren’t you counting? 8, 4, 5.” And when she starts to fight, her counting will suddenly lose a bit of its randomness: “1, 2, 3. My arrows are finding their targets! 4, 5, 6.”

Seated inside the Keep, Count Cirion will have the following comment on his defensive archer: “Athel^{[sic, not Althel]} was a brave scout. She brought us the first word on the Fanatics.”

A small graveyard stands in a corner of the Vitharn Bailey, and Althel's inscription reads: "Rest in peace, Althel. You were valiant to the end."

[edit] Related Quests

• Ghosts of Vitharn: Set things right for the ghosts of a fallen castle.