The Elden Grove
Time for something a little different.
Elden Root, Valenwood
Talin can hardly conceal the awe in his expression at the wonders of the strange and alien city before him. Noble Elven architecture dots the streets of Elden Root alongside bizarre and bulbous structures grown from the boles of trees. Above it all, the massive branches of the great Elden Tree, a graht-oak, impossibly large, casts shadows down upon the buildings and the shimmering waters of a nearby lake.
From the titanic trunk of the Elden Tree, a great cavern is carved, the concourse of shops, shrines, and homes within a veritable throng of activity. The nimble Bosmer who pass him by regard him with some curiosity, but none so much as to approach him. After taking in the sights lit by torches and glowing lamps, he makes his way to the palace of Elden Root, abode of Queen Ulandra.
Upon arriving at the palace, Talin is given his next quest. Selene, a vampiric sorceress and priestess of Shagrath, God of Spiders, has been terrorizing Valenwood. In exchange for venturing to the dungeon of Selene’s Web and retrieving the Heart of Selene, a great gem which serves as the source of power for the priestess, Ulandra will reveal the location of the Elden Grove. Within the grove, a sacred space for the Wood Elves, the next piece of the Staff of Chaos can be found.
Selene’s Web
The dungeon is relatively standard and unexciting yet holds a few interesting details, as well as some frustrations. The first real obstacle proves to be a locked door at the end of a passage which bears “heavy use.” The key can be found on one of a series of islands within a pool in a large chamber. The gold key blends in very well with the light-colored stone of the islands and is INCREDIBLY difficult to see as a result. If you miss it and didn’t know where to look, you might not think to come back here and search in vain for hours, even with the ambient text that tells you that “something glitters on one of the islands.”
Unlocking the door with the hard-won key opens the way to the second floor, which begins with an intensely annoying series of jade-colored rooms that must be navigated by sunken tunnels connecting them. This time around a diamond-locked door bars the way into a metal structure. The key can be found in a “training area,” which holds some barbarians and wraiths, as well as a small stone structure with small openings near the top of each side. An ambient hint clues you in as to what to do.
After managing the jump, Talin retrieves the key and returns to the metal structure. Within lies the Heart of Selene, and our work here is done. We return to Ulandra in Elden Root with the gem in hand and get the location of the Elden Grove in return.
The Elden Grove
After taking our first steps in Elden Grove we are greeted with some foreboding ambient text.
As opposed to the dark underground dungeons we’ve explored so far, the first level of Elden Grove is a forest. Trees pop into focus as our hero navigates the relatively open floor of the dungeon. In the background, wolves howl, birds squawk, and occasional disembodied laughter rings out through the fog. It all drips with atmosphere. The clever design of the dungeon works within the limitations of the engine and conceals that is still an “interior” space within the game world. The walls, textured like forest canopy are laid out in a jagged manner and the ceiling is grey sky.
After battling a great many wolves and ghost enemies, Talin discovers a staircase leading down in a corner of the level and we’re back underground again. The lower level has walls that resemble root systems. The first passage leads you up steps which you then drop down from into the main floor, you can’t get out the same way you came in. Much of this floor is submerged in water, and you can find a few small boats to make navigation faster. With the levitation spell in tow, we have little use for them currently.
Eventually we find the door leading to the staff piece, as well as another riddle.
And, it is thought,
A thief by the marks of my whole,
Might be caught.
Who am I?
The answer is “footsteps.” Behind the locked door lies the third piece of the Staff of Chaos.
As stated earlier, the way we entered is now inaccessible. But near the entrance a secret door can be found which challenges us with one more riddle.
Elvish mithril and Argonian silver, crumble I can.
But first, I improve all created by man.
I devour all things,
Bird and beast, serfs and kings,
Though my pace is even, men curse my speed,
Wishing I were lazier in their hour of need.
I can creep and crawl, or rush, even fly.
I am all thou hast. Tell me, who am I?
One of the easier ones I think, the answer is “time.” With that, Talin departs Elden Grove, and is soon greeted by another dream from Ria. The next staff piece will be found in the Halls of Colossus, an ancient structure built to honor a race of giants who haven’t been seen in Tamriel for untold years. This place can supposedly be found on a cliff overlooking the Great Divide on the southern coast of the realm. We’ve cleared Valenwood, and Black Marsh seems an unlikely place for such a locale, so that leaves us Elsweyr, land of the Khajiit. We shall soon see what dangers await our hero there.
