The Fortress of Aziboth

The Dancing Noose

The seedy interior of the Dancing Noose tavern, tucked away in a downtrodden back alley of Wayrest, is a far cry from the humble, but cozy trappings of the Crimson Helm. The patrons, few and far between, all look like they have something to hide. What conversations there are persist in hushed whispers, and Talin senses unfriendly eyes sizing him up as he enters. Nearing the bar, he sees movement from the corner of his vision. Seated in a particularly dark corner of the tavern, a hooded man beckons Talin to his table.

Taking a seat in a rickety wooden chair which feels fit to collapse at any moment, Talin regards the stranger across from him. Dusty, travelworn leathers adorn his thin frame, and the cherry glow of a wooden pipe briefly illuminates cold grey eyes otherwise concealed by the shadows of his hood.

After a moment of silence, Talin speaks. “I’ve heard tell a man could be found here with knowledge of the Oghma Infinium, are you he?” Another moment of quiet, another draw on the pipe. In a voice dry as a sepulcher, the stranger replies. “Far to the north of here is a forgotten ruin. While plumbing its depths, I came across a collection of maps and records that indicate the location of Xarxes’ mystical tome. I could be tempted to tell you where I found it, for a price of course.” With some suspicion, Talin inquires “why would you not take the maps, or further yet, search for the tome yourself?” The shoulders of the stranger shake with an imperceptible snicker. “Carrying a map to ancient artifacts around is a good way to get your throat slit in the night. Besides, I don’t court certain death, and the Infinium will surely be guarded. I’m simply a wandering opportunist, perhaps a warrior of your caliber…” A sallow hand, notably missing a ring finger, gestures to Talin’s armor and belted sword. Unable to shake the feeling he is being had, Talin nevertheless asks “How much do you want for this information?” The stranger at last smiles with crooked teeth, several of which gleam with gold. “How much do you have?”

Shortly after, Talin emerges from the tavern, his coin purse considerably lighter. He must travel north, to the Fortress of Aziboth in the province of Skyrim. If the stranger was to be believed, it was there that the way to the Oghma Infinium would be revealed.

Talin now has his first artifact quest. When inquiring about general rumors, you sometimes will be pointed to a tavern in your current city to receive information on a specific artifact. Which artifact is generated for the quest is entirely random. If you like, you can cycle through rumors until you are eventually pointed to the one you want. At the tavern, you are given the opportunity to purchase information on a dungeon where the map to the artifact is located, which will then point you to a second dungeon to find the artifact itself. All artifact quests in Arena follow this format.

The Fortress of Aziboth

Talin crests a snow-covered hill astride his horse, Godric. With some amazement, he beholds the ruined fortress in the lee of a jagged mountain range, exactly where the stranger described. Whatever misgivings he has about entering such a place are hollow compared to his desire to escape the biting Skyrim winds, and he nudges his steed down the slope.

At the end of a barren courtyard, the massive double doors of the fortress are held open by fallen rubble from the lintel above. Godric’s hooves struggle to find purchase on the loose mortar, but with patient prodding from Talin, he eventually manages to scrabble over into a foyer, dimly illuminated by the daylight outside. Dismounting, Talin ties the stallion to a nearby pillar, he would be sheltered from the cold here. With a flick of his wrist, Talin casts his trusty light spell, and proceeds into the interior of the fortress.

He wanders the dusty halls and derelict chambers of the Fortress of Aziboth for some hours, looking for any sign of the documents the stranger told him about. He finds nothing but the rotted remnants of furniture and the occasional rat which quickly scurries out of sight. Anything of value here was picked clean long ago. Walking in circles, thinking himself duped after all, Talin is about to give up the task as a fool’s errand when he discovers a small side passage he failed to notice before.

The corridor opens into a small study. The seated remains of an ancient skeleton lay sprawled across a desk against the stone wall of the chamber. Scattered across the desk are a series of maps and notes in remarkably preserved condition. Talin pores over the documents for some time, pages and pages of notes and mad ramblings regarding the Oghma Infinium and its possible location penned by the dead one sitting here, he presumes. The final location seems to be the Crypt of Grolus back in High Rock. Talin copies this location onto his own map and makes to leave.

As he exits the side passage, the hairs on the back of Talin’s neck stand up, and by pure animal instinct, he ducks down and throws himself forward. The spiked head of a mace cleaves through the space he was standing in a moment ago and smashes against the stone wall. In an instant he rises into a defensive stance, his shield up and his sword in his hand. The hulking form of an armored orc stands before him and makes to swing again with a deafening roar. Darting backwards, the mace whistles down in front of Talin and crashes again into the floor, sending dust and stone chips flying. Talin attempts to lash out at the extended arm of the orc, but it is too quick, pulling the mace back and parrying Talin’s blow on a rough wooden buckler with unexpected agility.

Retreating, Talin draws on his magic ability and releases a spirit arrow, which catches the orc by surprise as it pierces through its left eye. Roaring in pain, the orc drops its mace and clutches in horror at its face. Pressing his advantage, Talin charges forward and stabs the orc through its exposed throat. The fight is over. With a gurgle, the orc crumbles forward and collapses. Panting, Talin quickly checks his surroundings for any more of the brutes, and wonders if the stranger who sent him here had also run afoul of this creature.

Relief washes over Talin as he returns to the entrance of the fortress to find Godric still tied to the pillar, irritable but unharmed. Releasing Godric’s bonds, Talin mounts up, and the pair scuttle back over the ruined entrance and into the quickly fading daylight.