Online:Unearthing the Past

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Use Betnikh's past to help the present. Zone: Betnikh This quest is part of the Zone Story Faction: Daggerfall Covenant Objective: Grimfield — Stop the Bloodthorn Cult from raising a zombie army. Quest Giver: Rozag gro-Khazun on the outskirts of Grimfield, Frederique Lynielle inside the crypt. Location(s): Grimfield, Ayleid Sanctuary Previous Quest: The Bloodthorn Plot Next Quest: Carzog's Demise Concurrent Quest: Into the Hills Tormented Souls Reward: Kingsguard Hammer Very High Leveled Gold XP Gain: Very High

The Inner Sanctuary, where Renwic waits

Quick Walkthrough

1. Investigate the central crypt.
2. Recharge the Staff of Arkay.
3. Defeat the Abominations.
4. Talk to King Renwic.
5. Find out how to enter the Inner Sanctuary.
6. Return to King Renwic.

Detailed Walkthrough

Bloodthorn cultists employ dark magic to raise the dead

To start this quest, go west from Stonetooth Fortress until you get to the Grimfield wayshrine. Go around the rocks to the south, and talk to the guard Rozag gro-Khazun, who tries to prevent your passage:

"Stop right there! No one enters, Chief Tazgol's orders."

Where did all these zombies come from?

"Bloodthorn Cult. They're raising zombies all over the graveyard. I'm here to keep the people out until War Chief Tazgol arrives and crushes them all."

Aren't you worried about the cult raising an army?

"Ha! An army? These are Breton zombies. Flimsy little bodies in the ground. They'll die easy.
Still, if you feel like slaughtering cultists, I won't stop you. Start with the crypt in the center. I saw a few in there."

I'll go have a look.

He tells you if you want to kill cultists to start with the central crypt. From your location, go southeast, fighting through the cultists and undead as you go, until you reach the crypt which has a skyshard to the right of it. Go inside and talk to the tomb's spirit, Frederique Lynielle:

"Greetings, stranger. You are not a cultist. Help us defeat these necromancers!"

How?

"Take the Staff of Arkay, a potent weapon against undead. You must first charge the staff, then use it to destroy the foul abominations summoned by these necromancers."

How do I charge the staff?

"The blasphemers employ dark magic to raise the dead. Disrupt their rituals and release that energy. The Staff of Arkay will convert this into power to destroy their dark creations!"

Recharging the Staff

She tells you to take the Staff of Arkay, charge it, and then use it against the abominations summoned by the necromancers. Pick up the staff at her feet. If you saved a band of sailors in Stros M'Kai, Crafty Lerisa will show up when you grab the staff, and offers you a Bloodthorn cultist disguise in the bag beside her, which will pacify the zombies around you. Go back outside now and search the area for some Bloodthorn cultists, which are standing near blue ritual circles. Only the Necromancers drop them, so kill them to collect energy motes.

When you have six energy motes, go and find Frederique near her tomb south of Grimfield wayshrine and speak to her:

"I sense great power in the staff. You've done well."

What do I do with it?

"The staff will reveal circles of corruption among the crypts. There lurk the Bloodthorn Cult's abominations, hidden in pockets of Oblivion.
Plant the staff in a circle to draw an abomination into our world. Then destroy it!"

The Abominations

She now wants you to draw three abominations out and destroy them. They are the Abominations of Hate, Wrath and Fear:

• The Abomination of Hate is a Scamp located in a portal to the southwest.
• The Abomination of Wrath is a Zombie located in a portal to the northwest.
• The Abomination of Fear is a Ghost located in a portal to the west.

Once you've defeated all three, Frederique will tell you to meet her at the west end of the graveyard. Head west until you meet a small ruin on the beach. Talk to Frederique to hear her joyous news:

"The Bloodthorn's perversion of my people is ended. The honored dead are at rest once again."

Is the threat ended?

"The cult focused all their power into their abominations. Now these are dust and ash. The threat to us is ended, but the threat to you remains.
King Renwic wishes to repay our debt to you. Speak to him. Learn your true peril."

King Renwic will then spawn behind her.

Facing the Past

Go and speak with him to learn a bit about Renwic's—and Betnikh's— past:

"You have returned my people to their rest. I wish to repay you, but I have only information to give."

What can you tell me?

"The Seamount Orcs attacked generations ago. They took our island. Under their rule, what we called Betony became Betnikh.
My failure to defend my people was unforgivable, but how I attempted to defeat the Orcs was worse."

What did you do?

"I attempted necromancy. An ancient Ayleid Relic is buried on this island. The Bloodthorn seek its power.
Enter the portal beside me. You will see my last day through the eyes of my enemies. Learn what you can."

He'll ask you to go through the portal beside him. When you go through the portal you will take on the role of Warcaller Targoth. Speak to Hunt-Wife Othikha for some context:

"Targoth! The Breton King has sealed himself deeper in the ruin. He is preparing some foul spell!"

What spell is this?

"I know only that the magic he summons will slaughter our army. Unless we stop him, every Orc here will die."

How do we stop King Renwic?

"We must learn how to reach their cowardly king and the nature of his foul magic.
Make these prisoners talk! We have confiscated their belongings. They may hold clues to what they know."

How far should I go in my interrogations?

"The Code of Mauloch is clear. So long as these Bretons aid their king in his foul magic, they remain our enemies.
If you can coerce them through words alone, do so. If not …."

If not?

"They must pay the blood price.
I took this charm off a Reachwitch. Hold it tight and order any guard to execute his prisoner. The charm will chain their soul and compel them to answer you.
You will have one question, Targoth. Ask wisely."

She will tell you to make the prisoners talk.

You have the choice to kill the prisoners to question their ghosts and get the two required answers easily or ask the correct questions to the respective Breton:

1. Go to Queen Nurese, but make sure to read the note by the left wall first, as it's a clue on what to ask her. Take the conversation option that threatens her daughter.
2. Go to Drago Auberdine, but first read the note next to the guard. Ask him about the king's magic.
3. Go to Frederique Lynielle. Read the scroll on the floor. Choose the option that asks about the king's magic.
4. Go to Princess Visanne. Read the book on the bench. Take the conversation option that threatens her mother.

(If you ask the correct questions the first time, you'll only need to talk to two of them.)

After you finished questioning, talk to War Chief Yzzgol:

"Targoth! Our victory is near!"

I know how to open the door.

"By Mauloch's right hand! My Warcaller triumphs again. We will end this assault and the efforts of this cowardly king."

What will we do with King Renwic?

"There's no honor in the slaughter of a broken people and defeated knights. If King Renwic surrenders, he will join his people in exile.
Let them spread word of our ferocity across the seas!"

What if he doesn't surrender?

"Then I will cut him down. Stay your blade beyond this door, Targoth.
Leave King Renwic to me."

Now turn the runestones on both sides of the door and enter. Approach King Renwic and watch the scene unfold:

King Renwic : "What's this? Yes, I feel your power. But how do you work?"

War Chief Yzzgol : "Renwic! Surrender now, and I'll spare your worthless life."

King Renwic : "Stay back! I hold destruction in my hands!"

War Chief Yzzgol : "Magic cannot save you. Surrender or die!"

King Renwic : "Leave, now, or I'll use this relic to obliterate you!"

War Chief Yzzgol : "You will not harm my people. Draw steel!"

King Renwic : "Help me! Help me, damn you all!"

War Chief Yzzgol : "Targoth! Bury this elf-loving fool. Those who remain will accept exile or die."

Go through the portal that opened up over the Ayleid relic to return to the present. Talk to King Renwic to complete the quest:

"Even my death failed my people."

You tried to use the relic, and Yzzgol killed you.

"Yes. Once I summoned the relic's power, I realized what it demanded of me. Souls. It craves souls.
I would not pay that price, but the Bloodthorn will. They will raise this undead army and slaughter you all."

How can I stop them?

"The Ayleid relic is the key, but my memories have faded with time. I no longer remember its location. I know only that you must find it before the Bloodthorn.
I offer this knowledge as payment for the souls you saved today."

Notes

• It's possible to start the quest without speaking to Lambur and starting The Bloodthorn Plot, or speaking to Rozag gro-Khazun. You can go and speak directly to Frederique Lynielle inside the crypt.
• If you recruited Crafty Lerisa by completing Like Moths to a Candle and its subsequent quests in Stros M'Kai, she'll show up during this quest.

Bugs

• This quest is part of the Zone Story, but is missing from the Zone Guide.
  • It is, instead, Grimfield's Point of Interest quest.

Quest Stages

Unearthing the Past
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	Rozag gro-Khazun suggested I investigate a crypt in the center of the Breton graveyard. Objective: Investigate Central Crypt
	An ancient Breton spirit resides in this tomb. I should see what she has to say. Objective: Talk to Frederique Lynielle
	Frederique Lynielle offered me her Staff of Arkay to wield against the Bloodthorn Cult and their zombies. Objective: Collect Staff of Arkay
	The Staff of Arkay is drained of energy. To recharge it, I must disrupt Bloodthorn rituals across the graveyard and collect the motes of energy that result. (Kill Cultists and Collect Energy Motes) Objective: Gather Motes to Charge Staff: 0/6 (HINT: Crafty Lerisa followed me into the graveyard. She may be able to help me deal with the Bloodthorn Cult) Hidden Objective: Talk to Crafty Lerisa
	I have recharged the staff. Now I need to talk to Frederique Lynielle in the graveyard. Objective: Talk to Frederique Lynielle
	I can now use the recharged Staff of Arkay to draw out abominations—Bloodthorn Cult monsters—that lurk in Oblivion, then destroy them to break the cult's power over the Breton undead. (HINT: I must use the Staff of Arkay to draw out the abominations.) Hidden Objective: Summon Abominations with Staff of Arkay Objective: Kill Abomination of Hate Objective: Kill Abomination of Wrath Objective: Kill Abomination of Fear
	The spirit of King Renwic has appeared nearby. I should see what he has to say. Objective: Talk to King Renwic
	King Renwic has created a portal. If I touch it I will see past events through the eyes of his enemies, the Seamount Orcs. Objective: Enter Renwic's Vision
	I have entered the past in the guise of Warcaller Targoth, a powerful Orc. I must speak to Hunt-Wife Othikha to learn more about what I'm here to do. Objective: Talk to Hunt-Wife Othikha
	Hunt-Wife Othikha told me King Renwic is preparing a spell to destroy the Orcs. I must interrogate the Breton Prisoners and find out how to stop him. I should search their belongings for clues as to what they know. Hidden Objective: Learn How to Reach Renwic Hidden Objective: Execute Prisoners to Question Their Ghosts Hidden Objective: Learn Renwic's Plan Objective: Talk to Queen Nurese Objective: Talk to Frederique Lynielle Objective: Talk to Drago Auberdine Objective: Talk to Princess Visanne
	King Renwic plans to summon an undead Ayleid army. To reach him, I must turn two runestones by the door. I must notify War Chief Yzzgol. Objective: Talk to War Chief Yzzgol
	To get to King Renwic, I must unlock the door by turning both runestones. Objective: Turn Left Runestone Objective: Turn Right Runestone
	King Renwic waits inside the central room of the ruin, preparing his spell. Objective: Enter Ruin Interior
	I see now through the eyes of Warcaller Targoth. King Renwic seeks great power in an ancient Ayleid ruin. I must learn his fate. Objective: Confront King Renwic
	King Renwic found the Ayleid relic he sought but was unable to use it and War Chief Yzzgol killed him. I should return to the present. Objective: Return to the Present
	I need to find out how the vision King Renwic showed me pertains to the Bloodthorn plan to conquer the island. Objective: Talk to King Renwic
Finishes quest	King Renwic showed me how his kingdom fell to the Seamount Orcs. He also told me of an ancient Ayleid weapon hidden somewhere on this island. Objective: Talk to King Renwwic

Notes

* Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the game and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.

• 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 any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.