The War Council [Quest]

Text of the Quest:

Thane Harvald want Lord Vurlop and I to go into the keep and check on King Jorunn. We need to make sure that the King and his war council are safe.

Thane Harvald: With the Pact working together again, we should be able to sniff out Fildgor's spies easily enough. Now my only concern is for the King. He's surrounded himself with our strongest warriors, but the element of surprise gives Fildgor an advantage.
Hero: You believe the King's in danger?
Thane Harvald: After what you said the Stormfists have already accomplished, how can we trust anyone on the other side of the keep's gate? I know King Jorunn requested privacy for his meeting with the ambassadors, but I can't just assume everything is all right.
Hero: So you're going to send more soldiers up to the keep?
Thane Harvald: Actually, Lord Vurlop suggested that you two take care of it. I need to keep the Prince in line, and we don't want to tip our hand to the Stormfists. Besides, I know you can handle yourself. Get in there and secure the King.
Hero: We'll go check on things.
Thane Harvald: The gates have been sealed since we arrived, but Lord Vurlop should be able to open them. King Jorunn was adamant that no one disturb the meeting. I imagine that whatever they are discussing in there, Fildgor is definitely at the heart of it.
Hero: Shouldn't we send more troops to protect the King?
Thane Harvald: King Jorunn is guarded by a squad of soldiers he selected personally. I'm sure everything is fine. Still, we can't be too careful, but I don't want to embarrass the King needlessly. You and Lord Vurlop can handle this. I have faith in you.

Naryu Virian: Told you something bad was going to happen. I didn't want you to walk into this trap alone. So I followed you. Good thing, too.
Hero: Do you know what's going on here?
Naryu Virian: I've been tracking a Breton Illusionist by the name of Dhalen for a while now. The villain created quite a stir by assassinating a few nobles in Mournhold recently. I discovered that he took a contract with Fildgor and tracked him to this region.
Hero: Do you know where he is now?
Naryu Virian: Not exactly, but I'd wager he's inside the keep. I'm not sure what we'll find in there, but you'll need to be quick. Dhalen's already a step ahead of us. The man bought Vurlop with the promise of gold. Who knows who else he's got on his side.
Hero: Are you coming in with me?
Naryu Virian: I need to make sure our alliance friends are playing nice with each other, then I'll meet up with you. After I get out of this damn dress and into some proper clothing. How do women wear stuff like this all the time?
Hero: [Persuade] It looks good on you.
Naryu Virian: I, well, thanks. Maybe I could get used to wearing such finery when things aren't so dangerous. What am I saying? Get your arse in there and save King Jorunn!

Naryu Virian: "Maybe we should go upstairs so I can protect you." Who even says that? He could have complimented my eyes! Or my ... nevermind. He's one of Dhalen's thugs. No sign of the King, though. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Hero: How did you get in here?
Naryu Virian: Windows are wonderful things, my darling. No one ever remembers to lock them! I'm sure you've crawled into or out of more than a few windows over the course of your adventures.
Hero: Where can I find King Jorunn?
Naryu Virian: I found two doors in here, but they're both locked tight. I'm sure the King is behind one of those doors. We just need to figure out how to open them.
Hero: I'll take a look around.
Naryu Virian: I don't think you'll just find a key lying around, but you never know.
Hero: I'll check down here. Take a look upstairs and see if you can find anything.

Jorunn the Skald-King: Thank you for all your hard work here in Fort Amol. I can't say that Vurlop was as useful as I'd hoped, but he served his purpose. I mean, just look at me! Stunning, am I not? A Breton leading the Nords. Who would have thought it?
Hero: Where's the real King Jorunn?
Jorunn the Skald-King: For all intents and purposes, I am the real king now! Any who would challenge that are being dealt with. But I wanted to congratulate you. So many lives lost because of you. I'm envious. That poor Guard Hloenor. Greedy Lord Vurlop. The mind reels!
Hero: You killed Guard Hloenor?
Jorunn the Skald-King: Vurlop did say that he would take care of her, didn't he? My poor Vurlop was many things, but a liar wasn't one of them. Then there's that pretty little Dark Elf outside. The feisty one. She'll be a fun one to kill. And, of course, King Jorunn ....
Hero: What about King Jorunn?
Jorunn the Skald-King: He's enjoying a gift from Fildgor. The King that saved his people from the Akaviri, killed by his own brother. Yet no one will ever know. No, they'll find the body of poor Dhalen the Breton, defeated by their heroic king! Oh, that would be me.
Hero: You think you can take King Jorunn's place?
Jorunn the Skald-King: Well, yes. That's kind of the point. Now, I have other matters to deal with. My guards will take care of you.

Way-with-Words: King Jorunn's breathing is shallow. The poison Dhalen used. It's tainted. Daedric. I'm not sure what it's doing to this poor man, but I don't think he will survive.
Hero: What happened in here?
Way-with-Words: The illusionist fooled us all. His magic allowed the Stormfists to look like people we trusted. Something in the wine we shared, we think. One of them took the form of the King's servant. He poisoned the King's dinner.
Hero: How did you get in here?
Way-with-Words: Fighting broke out as soon as King Jorunn fell ill. We dragged him away from the meeting and locked ourselves in here. When the Stormfist broke in, I thought we were finished. If that woman hadn't shown up, we'd probably be dead right now.
Hero: What woman?
Way-with-Words: She never identified herself. When the Stormfists broke in, she just appeared out of nowhere and put two daggers in their backs. Then she told us help was coming and she ran off. She wore a helmet, but I'm pretty sure she was a Dark Elf.
Hero: Stay here. I'll get help for the King.
Way-with-Words: We should be fine. And we're not helpless. We can protect the King. But please hurry just the same. I don't know how long he can resist the poison.

Naryu Virian: I figured you'd be up here. Another contract completed by, well, you again. I wonder if the Tong is testing me or something. Still, a success is a success, right? I hope I didn't scare the ambassadors too badly.
Hero: So it was you who saved the ambassadors?
Naryu Virian: When you entered the safe room, I heard the ambassadors trying to be quiet upstairs. Next thing I know, Stormfist thugs are waving their axes around and attacking the manor. I was about to leave the same way I entered ....
Hero: But you decided to be a hero.
Naryu Virian: Well, I couldn't let you have all the fun! Seriously, you have to understand. My organization used to be respected. Now we're hunted for what we were. What we represented. That has to change.
Hero: You told them you were getting help?
Naryu Virian: I was talking about you, but I also figured more backup wouldn't hurt. Irnskar and his guards are downstairs. They rushed over as soon as the fighting started. But King Jorunn ... he didn't look so good. He's not going to make it, is he?
Hero: I don't know. It's Daedric poison.
Naryu Virian: Fildgor plays dirty. I wish I could help more, but I've already overstepped the limits of my contract. I need to get back to Mournhold. A new matter involving a rival group has become an issue. But these people still need your help, hero.
Hero: [Persuade] If you ever need me ....
Naryu Virian: Always the hero, aren't you? I'm kidding. I'll find you again when I need your help. In fact, I'd like that. Now go. Save King Jorunn. He needs you more than I do at the moment.

Prince Irnskar: Where's my father? What did our so-called allies do to him? I'll kill every single Argonian and Dark Elf myself if my father's been harmed!
Hero: It wasn't the Argonians or the Dark Elves. It was Fildgor Orcthane.
Prince Irnskar: Fildgor might have driven the blade, but the Dark Elves and Argonians did nothing to protect my father! Now where is he? Tell me!
Hero: He's upstairs. A Dark Elf and an Argonian are protecting him.
Prince Irnskar: Guards, go to the King at once! As for you, what's your involvement in all this? Why are you here?
Hero: Fildgor's agents tried to kill me, too.
Prince Irnskar: Then we are allies. For now. I must go to my father. I don't care how we do it, but his life must be saved. My father can't die. Fildgor will not win this war! Not this way! I forbid it!
Hero: Complete Quest.