The Quests:
Anvil | Bravil | Bruma | Cheydinhal | Chorrol | Leyawiin | Skingrad
Introduction
The Mages guild, the place for any spellcaster. Also the only way to be able to enchant items, and create spells is by joining the mages guild.
You can find mages guildhalls in each of the large cities, and in the Imperial city you're able to find the Arcane University, the center for all things magical in Cyrodiil, and the place where enchanting and spellmaking goes on.
Aside from the above features, it's also the home of the mystic archives, probably the largest library in all of Cyrodiil, so if you're a booklover that's even more reason to join up with these masters of the Mystic.
To join the mages guild, speak to any of the local leaders in the various cities. Note though, you cannot join while you have a bounty.
Ranks
Ten ranks to the Mages guild, from bottom to top they are:
- 1. Associate
- 2. Apprentice
- 3. Journeyman
- 4. Evoker
- 5. Conjurer
- 6. Magician
- 7. Warlock
- 8. Wizard
- 9. Master Wizard
- 10. Arch-Mage
Recommendations
You start the mages guild quests by getting every local guildleader to give you a recommendation.
Anvil
Speak to Carahil here to get the quest for the recommendation.
Murders have been going on along the gold road, and you're to solve them. First go to the Brina cross inn, and speak to a mage guild member there; Arielle Jurard. The Inn can be found north of Anvil. While there speak to christophe Marane about renting a bed, and to Caminalda as she's the one committing the murders. Though don't kill her yet!
Sleep for a night and in the morning, just like Arielle suggested, leave the inn and head east-southeast. you'll soon run into Caminalda again, and have the choice of either killing her, or running away, Either way afterwards return to Anvil, to Carahil to receive her recommendation.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG04Restore 100
Bravil
Speak to Kud-Ei here to receive your quest, he asks you to return a staff stolen from Ardaline, by Varon Vamori. Speak to Vamori and raise his disposition to over 65 and he'll mention he sold the staff to Soris Arenim, in the Imperial city, inside the Talos plaza district is where you can find him.
Two ways to go about this, either raise his disposition to over 70 and speak about the staff, and he'll offer to sell it to you for 200 gold.
The other way is to speak to his wife and raise her disposition to over 65 and she'll tell you the location of both the staff and the key to the locked chest in which it can be found. Which is the cellar and her husbands desk upstairs respectively.
Return the staff to Kud-Ei for a spell reward and for his recommendation.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG03Illusion 100
Bruma
Speak to Jeanne Frasoric to get this quest. She'll ask you to find the member J'skar whose gone missing. The truth is rather simple however, he simple cast an invisibility spell on himself.
Two ways to complete this quest, one is by finding him there in the guildhall yourself, either by using a detect life spell or by looking around carefully, and paying attention to doors seemingly opening on their own.
When you find him, cast a dispell spell on him and he'll go see Jeanne.
The second way is by speaking to the member Volanaro and raising his disposition to 70 or above.
He'll explain what J'Skar did to himself and why and offers another solution; steal a book from Jeanne's desk and J'Skar will reveal himself again. (he even teaches you a nice unlock spell to do this.)
Give him the book and he'll tell you when to meet him to dispell the spell on J'skar.
No matter what method you use, return to Jeanne and she'll give you her recommendation.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG06Bruma 100
Cheydinhal
Speak to Falcar to get this quest. He asks you to bring him a ring of burden which can be found at the bottom of a well located behind the mages guildhall.
He sends you to see Deetsan to give you the key to that well. Be sure to speak to her when Falcar is nowhere around and she'll teach you a spell that has both feather and water breathing effects.
Note, before you go into the well, the ring you find there will burden you for 200pts, so make sure you're able to carry such a burden and still not be over encumberd.
Inside the well you'll find the body of another mage, Vidkun who died trying to retreive the ring. Take the ring from his body and return to Deetsan to find Falcar has vanished.
Deetsan explains what led to Falcar's vanishing and asks one last thing of you; to search the cellar looking for your own letter of recommendation.
No letter can be found there but you can find two black soulgems. Take these back to Deetsan and she'll agree to write your recommendation. However, no explanation is given on the use of these soulgems.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG02Alter 100
Chorrol
Speak to Teekeeus to get this quest. He'll mention a former member has entered the city called Earana, he asks you to speak to her and ask her why she's here.
Speak to her to but rather then getting a reply, she asks you to find a book for her called "fingers of the mountain".
Return to Teekeeus and mention this to receive the same quest from him.
The book can be found north of Chorrol, in the ruins of a place callec cloud top.
You again have a choice here, either give it to Teekeeus or give it to Earana. The fastest way is by giving it to Teekeeus who will then write you your recommendation. You can however steal it from him later and then give it to Earana for a second quest here.
The second quest earns you a nice shock spell speak to her if you choose to hand her the book first or after getting the recommendation to receive further details for this. Be sure however to have a shock spell, and a resist shock spell before venturing off on this quest.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG05A 255
Leyawiin
Speak to Dagail to get this quest. Well, more precisely, after listening to Dagail mumble, speak to Agata to receive the real quest; find the seer's stone amulet Dagail used to have to return her to her semi-normal state.
Speak to other members about what they know, though the only one that will advance this quest is Kalthar. Speaking to him will tell you of his resentment towards Dagail holding her position.
Speak to Agata about Kalthar's reaction and she'll once again thickens the plot. And send you off to speak to Dagail again about the stone and Kalthar.
Dagail gives you a riddle again, one that will be translated by your journal. You're to seek out and find Fort Blueblood, to be found southeast of Leyawiin and retreive a seer's stone held by Dagail's father.
You'll find quite a bit of resistance inside and in the innermost chamber, a coffin with the remains of the father of Dagail, the key to which coffin is held by the marauder boss there.
On your way back out you're confronted by Kalthal who plans to keep you from returning that stone to Dagail.
Kill him and return to Leyawiin and you'll receive your recommendation.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG07Leyawiin 100
Skingrad
Speak to Adrienne Berene to receive this quest. She asks you to receive some notes from Erthor; a mage-gone-missing.
Speak to Sulinus Vassus there to find out he's most likely found in the Bleak Flats cave to the northwest of Skingrad, and if you wish to have the location marked on your map, speak to Druja.
Travel to the cave to find it filled with a number of zombie's and a scared Erthor, kill all the zombies and speak to Erthor and he'll give you the choice of following you back to town, or going back on his own. I suggest the latter (but then I've never been a big fan of the "escort" missions ;-) ).
Once back in town, speak to Adrienne again and you'll receive her recommendation.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG01Destruct 100
Gaining your mages Staff
After receiving recommendations from all local leaders, you're ready to receive quests from the people in the Arcane University.
Travel to the Imperial City, and speak to Raminus Pollus for the first series of quests.
The first quest revolves around gaining the wood to construct your personal mages staff. It's a symbol to your station and there's no getting around this.
He'll tell you to travel to Wellspring cave, near there is where you're able to find the wood.
In and around the cave you'll find 9 Necromancers you need to kill before you can get the wood you need (6 inside and 3 outside). There are also two bodies of Mage guild members lying around, be sure to activate both corpses.
Once you've killed the necromancers, gotten the wood and activated the corpses, return to Raminus Pollus.
He'll send you off to see Delmar for the creation of your staff while he goes to mention the necromancers precense to the council mages.
You have a choice between nine spell effects to enchant your staff with. First choose between either Destruction, Mysticism or Illusion to get a choice of three effects.
When choosing destruction you can choose between fire, frost and shock effects. For mysticism you can choose soul trap, telekinesis or dispel. And for Illusion you can choose charm, paralyze or silence.
After putting in your order, wait for 24 hours and return to receive your staff. WHen you have it, speak to Raminus Polus again and he'll both promote you to journeyman and gives you your next quest.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG08MagesStaff 100
Motives
Next Polus wants you to speak to the count of Skingrad. Travel to Skingrad and speak to the stewart of the castle; Mercator Hosidus.
He'll tell you to wait a day and then speak to him again.
Meet him and he'll mention the count has agreed to meet you, but only after 2a.m. and outside town, to the west to be precise. Near a cursed mine there.
Go there at the specified time and place to find not the count, but Hosidus along with two necromancers. Don't worry about being outmatched as shortly after you start the fight, the count does show up and kills the three men.
The count isn't very nice to you as you find out you were only send there to spy on the count.
Return to Raminus to learn that was indeed the case. He does give you a reward now though, a promotion to Evoker and a nice amulet.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG09Motives 100
Vahtacen
For this next quest, make sure you have four spells before venturing off. The spells are Fire damage, Frost damage, Damage magicka and fortify magicka. All four should be on target!
Speak to Rolus to be sent to another mage inside the arch mage's tower, Irlav Jarol. He'll tell you a bit about a research going on in an Eyleid ruin. You're to go there and assist with uncovering the secrets.
Vahtacen, the ayleid ruin in question is located to the south-southeast of Cheydinhal.
Once there, speak to the mage Skaleel. She'll explain the problem they're facing right now and asks you to help. Go inside the ruins and find a room at the bottom. In the center is a large pillar and a mage there called Denel who can explain even more about the pillar.
Using the book Denel sends you to get, and by speaking to Denel some more you can figure out the order in which to cast the four spells on the pillar. First, fire, then frost, then damage magicka and then fortify magicka.
Cast them in a different order and you'll be hit by some negative spells.
Enter the stairway that appears now. And fight your way past Wraiths and ghosts to get into the last room there. Here you'll find a raised platform with no stairs leading up there, stairs can however be made to appear by using the switch on the right side, at the top of the northern staircase.
Activate it to get a staircase to the platform, on it can be found an Ancient elven helmet. Take that back to Skaleel, and then on to Irlav Jarol.
He'll be happy and Seaking to Raminus Polus again will give you a promotion to Conjurer and a nice new robe.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG10Vahtacen 100
Necromancers
Research is your next quest. Raminus sends you to the archiver Tar-Meena to ask about the black soulgems you found earlier in the basement of the Cheydinhal Mages guild.
Tar-meena says you should read a book on it, called Necromancers moon. As you enter, it lies to the right of the door on a small table.
After reading the book, again speak to Tar-meena, and then first to Raminus Polus and then to Bothiel who's in the lobby there.
Bothiel mentions Falcar had the same question back when he was here. ANd remembers Falcar dropping a note, fortunately kept by Bothiel, he hands you the note which has 5 locations written on it.
The five locations are the sites of five large Necromancer lairs. Taking it back to Raminus will have you sent on a new mission.
You're to seek out the dark fissure cave. Located near Cheydinhal and actually across the river, to the east-southeast of the ruins of Vahtacen you visited earlier.
Once inside, you need not kill everything in sight, simply wait untill an Anchorite shows up and uses the necromancers altar there to change soulgems into black soulgems.
Once you've seen them do this report back to Raminus for another promotion.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG11NecroMoon 100
Turncoat?
From now on you'll be taking your quests from Arch mage Traven himself. His first quest revolves around an informant the mages guild had in the necromancers faction.
Mucianus Allias was sent there a long time ago to spy. But hasn't been heard from for a while. Additionally, several battlemages have been sent before you to search for him.
Travel to the Ayleid ruin of Nenyond Twyll, south-southeast of the Imperial City.
Once there, you'll find all but one of the battle mages dead. This one survivor is certain Alias is indeed a turncoat, and gives the bad advice to follow him into battle, after which he runs into a trap.
Best to not follow Fithragear and thus avoid that trap. Down in the ruin you'll find Mariette Rielle, a named necromancer who tells you Mucianus has indeed turned, though he hasn't turned cloak, he's instead turned into a zombie.
Kill Marielle, and then find the zombie body of Mucianus which is behind a secret door, at the east end of the lowermost chamber in that ruin. Just to the north of that door is the switch to open it btw.
After having found him, return to Traven to report your success and then back to Raminus for another promotion, to Warlock this time.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG12Gate 100
Information
Next Traven mentions he was contacted by Count Hassildor of Skingrad, who says he has some information for the guild but will only give it to you.
Travel to Skingrad and speak to Hal-Liurz in the lobby of the castle. He'll point you towards the count who asks you for a small favor before giving you the info.
You're to make sure a few vampire hunters that are in Skingrad leave asap. (The count is a vampire in case you hadn't noticed before ;-) )
The reason the hunters are there is not because of the count, but because of a number of vampires that have taken up residence in a nearby cave. Two ways to go about this, either travel to the cave yourself (bloodcrust cavern, can be found east of the castle) and take with you at least one portion of vampire dust from one of those vampires.
Or alternatively, you could point the hunters towards that cave to deal with the vampires themselves. You might need to "finish the job" afterwards though. And if you choose the first option, speak to the vampire hunters about the vampires and show them that vampire dust as proof that the vampires are gone and they'll leave.
The vampire hunters themselves can be found in the two sisters Inn around the afternoon and midnight. (Killing them also works btw, though make sure not to be cought by any of the gaurds.)
After having dealth with them, speak to the count again for the information. He'll mention a powerfull necromancer has just come to Cyrodiil.
Report back to Traven and he'll mention your findings to the mages council.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG13Information 100
The Plot revealed
Note: Now some of you might be familair with the name Mannimarco, well you should. this is none but the legendary king of Worms.
Speaking to Traven after three days have passed will get you the next quest, to travel to bruma and find why there's been no contact from them for days.
Both explanation and quest are rather simple, Bruma no longer has a mages guild. nearly everyone has been killed in a very recent necromancer attack led by Mannimarco.
Kill all the zombies and such in there, and the necromancer Camilla Lollia to see someone appearing nearby.
It's J'skar, the mage who was invisible earlier during your recommendation quest. He tells you of the assualt and that it was led by Mannimarco himself. After this he takes off for the Imperial city and you should travel there again as well.
Speaking to Traven will complete the quest and you'll be sent to Raminus for another promotion, to Wizard this time, and a reward of a nice spell.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG14Plot 100
Scavenger hunt for artifacts
Speaking to Traven after three days learns you that the council of mages has been split, and two groups of mages have taken enchanted artifacts and travelled away. You're sent to retreive both artifacts.
I recommend doing the quest for the necromancers amulet first, as it's releatively speaking easiest to get and holds the best enchantment.
Travel to fort Ontus in the Colovian highlands, once inside don't start a fight yet, everyone will leave you alone and you're free to walk to the person you're looking for; Caranya down in the second part of the dungeon there. Speak to her and hear a nice tale about your bone marrow and it's impending encounter with the lips of the king of worms.
Kill her, and equip the amulet. Now on your way back you'll be attacked by the people who let you pass in peace earlier.
The second stop is Teleman, from Leyawiin, due northeast. through the Blackwood forest.
Once there, fight your way through the daedra and necromancers inhabiting the place and at the bottom, you'll find the corpse of Irlav Jarol and on it, the bloodworm helmet.
Once you have both artifacts, return to Traven to finish the quest, and then on to Raminus for another promotion.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG15Helm 100
Setstage MG16Amulet 100
The Ambush
Right then, next up, you take the fight to the Necromancers. Speak to Traven to receive instructions on an ambush planned by the guild in a number of necromancers. Your target: a large black soulgem.
Travel to Silorn, an Ayleid ruin near Skingrad and speak to the three guild representatives there to help you.
Again you have two choises, either doing everything yourself here and slashing your way past the dungeon inhabitants or by going through with the ambush as planned.
Your three aids can be positioned in a tactical way by speaking to them, a healer, a melee fighter and a group spell caster, the correct locations are: Merete; in the northern spot, Iver in the southern spot and Thalfin in the south as well.
When you choose this approach, after the deployment is done, speak to Thalfin again to get things started. A number of necromancers will come out of Silorn and then Falcar, the cheydinhal turncoat, will come out. Easiest way to finish this quest off quickly is by preventing Falcar from re-entering the ruins and killing him right there. This saves you the trouble of needing to go through the entire dungeon there.
Either way you choose, after you get the black soulgem, return to Traven to finish the quest.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG17Ambush 100
Mannimarco; The King of Worms.
You've found out earlier, that there are hints of Mannimarco being at a place called Echo cave; west of Bruma.
Traven instructs you to kill Mannimarco, and then sacrifices himself to give you a means to protect yourself from Mannimarco's "enthrall spell".
Travel to the Echo cave, and kill the gatekeeper Bolor Savel for the key to the cave.
Work your way through the cave untill you reach the third level, where in a large room, you'll meet the King of Worms. Your task is simple, kill him. He'll prove a tough challenge but with enough perseverance and aid in the form of potions and such, you'll manage.
When this is done, no reporting can be done, Traven is dead and a small visit to Raminus will confirm you as the new Arch Mage.
To complete the quest:
Setstage MG18KingofWorms 100
The End
This is the end, you've killed the king of Worms, at least this time. You've destroyed a number of necromancer lairs (though using exploration and the note from that quest Necromancers you can find a number of other locations to purge if you so wish.)
There are a number of priviliges that come with being Arch Mages, like your own personal Enchanting and spellmaking altars. An enchanted chest; put any ingredient in it, and wait for 24 hours to get more of that ingredient. Works great with rare ingredients.
And of course there's the personal apprentice you can take along with you on your travels. A number of them are wandering around the university and you can enlist one at a time. Also, don't worry about getting them killed as there's an unending stock of apprentices just waiting to tag along with you.