Online:Lovesick

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Assist in the rescue of a captive lover. Zone: Telvanni Peninsula Objective: Tel Dreloth — Help Dacia Caro rescue her love, Nathyn Dreloth. Quest Giver: Dacia Caro Location(s): Tel Dreloth Reward: Heartsbold High Leveled Gold XP Gain: 1791 ID: 6999

Dacia's lover may be in a perilous situation

Dacia Caro thinks her love, Nathyn Dreloth, is being held captive by his mother, Sathile Dreloth. I agreed to help her rescue him from the isolation tower of Tel Dreloth.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Enter Tel Dreloth and find the Laboratory Key.
2. Traverse the caverns beneath Tel Dreloth.
3. Search for clues at the research station.
4. Talk to Tun-Shei.
5. Talk to Sathile Dreloth.
6. Enter the Isolation Tower.
7. Talk to Nathyn Dreloth.
8. Talk to Sathile Dreloth.
9. Help Dacia Caro make her choice.

Detailed Walkthrough

While walking in the vicinity of Tel Dreloth, you'll encounter Dacia Caro on the side of the road. Speak with her and hear her predicament.

"Please, I have no one else I can turn to. I need help.
I worked as a servant in the towers of Tel Dreloth. Nathyn, the son of Mistress Dreloth, is being kept prisoner there. At least, I think he must be."

Why do you think that?

"Nathyn and I had plans to leave Tel Dreloth together. Someone must have found out, because the day we planned to leave, I was dismissed from my position.
Mistress Dreloth—or Sathile, I suppose—pushed me out without a chance to see Nathyn."

Where do you suppose Nathyn is now?

"If she's holding him against his will, he'll be in the isolation tower. The only access is through the lab in the caverns that run underneath. There's a key in the top floor of the main tower.
Please, can you help me? I'll pay for your assistance."

I'll help you get the key so we can rescue Nathyn.

Dacia used to work for the mistress of House Dreloth. She eventually fell in love with Sathile Dreloth's son, Nathyn, and they planned to leave the tower together. However, Dacia was released quite hastily from Sathile's service, and Nathyn is presumably being held in the nearby isolation tower against his will. Dacia enlists you to help her free her lover.

You'll need to enter the main tower to find the key, which lies in Mistress Dreloth's Chambers. The tower's layout is straightforward: take the door to the left after you enter to reach the antechamber, then climb the stairs and take the next door to your right. Search the trinket chest in the mistress' chambers to find the laboratory key, then speak with Dacia for your next move.

"All right, we have the key!
This is going better than I thought it would. And it's strange—everything looks so different in here without the wards. It all feels so empty."

Wards? What wards?

"Nathyn's protective wards. You know—Sathile's magic barriers that kept Nathyn's half of the tower in isolation. I couldn't cross them at all. They certainly made tidying up a bit of a trial.
I mentioned the wards before, didn't I?"

You did not.

"Sorry. I guess I've been here so long, it's become normal to me.
Sathile said the outside world would kill Nathyn, and she was working on a cure. But as far as I know, she and her husband were trying to cure the Knahaten Flu."

Her husband?

"He died years ago, when Nathyn was just a baby. From the disease they were trying to cure.
Sathile must be sheltering Nathyn for fear of losing him, too. She's doing it out of love. That I can understand. But that doesn't make it right."

Now that we have the key, how to [sic] we get to Nathyn?

"We'll take the portal pad to the cellar. Then the key will get us into the labs.
From there, it's just making our way through the caverns to the isolation tower. As long as we don't cross Sathile, the others will be too busy to stop us."

Take the portal pad to the north down into the cellar. Dacia notes that the place is eerily empty. You need to head through the door to the caverns at the end of this room. It seems the test subjects have escaped their containment: as you approach the two wolves lurking in the tunnel ahead, they'll transform in a flash of green energy, becoming afflicted wolves. Curiously, they appear to be covered in some sort of fungus.

An unfortunate sight

You'll eventually come across a research station with cages full of dead bears. Dacia suggests you look around for clues. Nearby are Sathile's Research Notes and a Note to Nathyn. Read both of them, then discuss their contents with Dacia. The letter in question is addressed to Nathyn from Dacia, but she didn't write it. The notes mention toxic spores interfering with Sathile's wards.

The research outpost ahead is in poor shape: Dacia worries about the fate of the researchers who previously manned them.

Near the end of the caverns, you'll encounter an Argonian researcher named Tun-Shei: speak to him. He's hoarse and his breathing is labored.

"Dacia? Stranger … you shouldn't be here. Too dangerous. Go no further!"

What happened? Are you going to be all right?

"Spores nearly killed me. Barely, barely exposed. Natural immunity. I will live.
Heard shouting. Then screaming. Everyone came running. Big mistake. Subject's spores … too strong. Wanted to escape."

What happened? Where is the subject now?

"Mistress Dreloth. She coaxed him back to isolation.
Delmon … too strong. Stronger than I've ever seen."

Who or what is Delmon?

"Delmon. Mistress Dreloth's greatest experiment. The cure, the affliction. Delmon did this.
Trouble breathing. Barely survived. The other researchers, not so lucky. Too late for them. Go no further. You could be killed!"

We'll be careful. You should rest now.

Convene with Dacia to discuss what you've just learned.

"I'm glad Tun-Shei is all right, but he's just given us more questions than answers.
I know he's one of her most trusted assistants, but if this Delmon is one of Sathile's experiments, how does Tun-Shei not blame her for what happened here?"

We still don't understand exactly who or what Delmon is.

"I know, but …! Fetch it all, I just wish I could remember where I've heard it before.
Delmon, Delmon …."

Is it possible Nathyn said something about it?

"No, that's just the trouble—if Nathyn had said or written it, I'd probably remember it exactly. Delmon, Delmon. It's on the tip of my tongue.
Where did Tun-Shei say Sathile took the subject, again?"

He said she coaxed him back to isolation.

"That must mean the isolation tower. Where Nathyn is.
Let's keep going. I don't know what we're going to do, but Sathile needs to be stopped."

I'm ready. Let's keep moving.

The researchers are in a less than ideal state

Further in, you'll begin to encounter Afflicted Researchers. In the next large chamber, Dacia will remark that she feels like you're being watched. Sure enough, Sathile Dreloth projects herself in front of you for a chat. She is adamant that Nathyn and Dacia can never be together, and stresses that what lies ahead is dangerous. She's taken aback by your knowledge of the name "Delmon", but your half-informed understanding of the situation reaffirms to her that you don't know enough about the situation to understand what you're really getting into. She tells you to turn back, and the projection disappears.

Regroup with Dacia. Delmon was Sathile's husband: he died from the Knahaten Flu. Dacia doesn't understand how he could be responsible for what happened down here in the caverns, but she wants to press on. Sathile's projection shows up at the door to the Isolation Tower's cellar to summon a guardian. Defeat it, then enter the tower.

Once you reach the main hall, Dacia runs downstairs. Sure enough, Nathyn is trapped within a ward, but he tells her to stay back: his mother was right. Speak with him to figure out what's going on.

"Stay back from the ward! Mother says it's already in a weakened state due to the strength of my affliction.
I don't recognize you, stranger. What are you doing with Dacia?"

She hired me to come rescue you.

"Rescue? Then she really does love me? There was this note, you see—I was certain it was fake, but then I saw you and … well, I started to wonder.
But I cannot leave. If you came through the caverns, you must have seen what I'm capable of."

That was you? Tun-Shei said that Delmon was responsible for what happened.

"My father, yes. The affliction my mother gave me. She named it after him.
I didn't know until I tried escaping—the wards were never for my protection. They kept others safe from me. If I had left with Dacia when we planned, she'd be dead!"

What did Sathile afflict you with?

"A living cure, a symbiote that protects its host with toxic spores. I would not be alive without it, and it would not thrive without me.
All these years, she really has been trying to cure me so I might live a normal life. Why did I ever doubt her?"

Where is your mother now?

Sathile manifests behind the ward, prompting you to speak with her. She explains everything: she and Delmon were trying to find a cure for the Knahaten Flu when he was infected. Tun-Shei found a promising fungal organism in the swamp, and Sathile infected her son with the Flu to test whether the spores could have saved her husband. The organism, which she dubbed the Delmon Mycota after her husband, engages in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Once bonded with the lungs, it passively emits toxic spores to defend the host from anything that may threaten it, including the Knahaten Flu. Sathile is not registered as a threat by Nathyn's mycota because they're related by blood: it doesn't consider her a separate organism from Nathyn. The mycota doesn't consider itself a threat: Sathile is no different from Nathyn according to the fungus, therefore it doesn't spew when she's around.

The truth is revealed

You ask her why she couldn't have just explained this to Dacia in the first place.

"The truth is a poor cure for love. I did not want Dacia to share my fate of being shackled to Tel Dreloth by her own heartstrings. So I tried to drive her away.
But since hers is a love that clearly cannot be cured, I have devised a choice for her."

What choice?

"If Dacia is willing, I can safely inoculate her with the same spores I used on Nathyn.
She will share his affliction and his confinement. But they will be together, and she will want for nothing, except perhaps her freedom."

And what if she doesn't want that?

"Then she can make herself useful and help me find a cure.
I'll hire her on again. I need someone dependable to procure rare ingredients to keep testing possible cures for Delmon Mycota. Perhaps someday she can be one of my researchers."

You need to ask Dacia what she wants.

"Nathyn and I could finally be together. But the way to do so means becoming his mother's … experiment.
But I'd be safe. Provided for. I'd get to dance and sing every day with the one I love. Some would kill for such a gentle life."

You could consider Sathile's other option. Or, you could just leave.

"Leaving for good is no option for me. My heart is Nathyn's, and his is mine.
If I don't give up my freedom, I can help Sathile find a cure. I'd get to see the world like I always wanted … but I'd be in her service. And I'd be alone."

You'd really give up your freedom? There's no guarantee you'll find a cure.

"Life offers no guarantee of love either, but I found that, didn't I?
I don't see it as giving up my freedom. I see it as a choice of how I get to show my love. But … my heart is split. If you were in my place, which would you choose?"

I would stay with the one I love and wait for a cure.

"If my freedom is the price of being with Nathyn, then I'll pay it. To be with my love is better than having to wander the world alone.
Thank you for keeping me safe and helping me see the best choice, stranger. Here's your reward."

I would keep my freedom and try to find a cure.

"I made it this far—I can work and wander a bit longer to have Nathan by my side for good someday. Sathile and I are going to find that cure.
Thank you for helping me see the best path forward, stranger. Here’s your reward"

I want to see what Nathyn and Sathile have to say about this.

Exits the conversation.

Choosing the first or second option locks in your ending, and Dacia hands you your reward.

Quest Stages

Lovesick
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	Dacia says there's a key to the Tel Dreloth laboratory caverns in the top floor of the main tower. I should find the key with Dacia. Objective: Enter Tel Dreloth
	Dacia believes we can find a key to the laboratory caverns on the top floor of the main tower. I should make my way there and find the key. Objective: Find the Laboratory Key
	I have the key to the laboratory caverns, but Dacia wants to talk to me before we proceed. Objective: Talk to Dacia
	Dacia and I have the key to the lab. We should take the portal pad to the cellar and enter the lab to rescue Nathyn. Objective: Enter Tel Dreloth Caverns
	Something's gone wrong in the caverns below Tel Dreloth. I should search the caverns with Dacia to find out what's going on. Objective: Search the Caverns
	Dacia noticed some papers scattered around this room. I should see if any of them can give us more information about what happened in the caverns. Objective: Examine the Letter Objective: Examine the Research Notes
	I found research notes from Sathile Dreloth and a letter that says it's from Dacia. I should talk to Dacia about what she thinks. Objective: Talk to Dacia About Notes
	Dacia and I found notes that suggest Nathyn might be in danger of one of Sathile's experiments. I should keep searching the caverns with Dacia. Objective: Search the Caverns
	Dacia and I finally found another person in the caverns. I should speak to Tun-Shei about what happened here. Objective: Talk to Tun-Shei
	Tun-Shei says one of Sathile's experiments escaped containment and nearly killed him. I should speak to Dacia about what we just learned. Objective: Talk to Dacia About Tun-Shei
	Dacia and I were warned to turn back by Tun-Shei, but Dacia won't stop until we find Nathyn. I should accompany Dacia to keep her safe from the afflicted test subjects. Objective: Search the Caverns
	A magical projection of Sathile Dreloth appeared before me and Dacia. I should speak with Sathile. Objective: Talk to Sathile
	Dacia and I were confronted by a magical projection of Sathile Dreloth. I should talk to Dacia about what we just heard. Objective: Talk to Dacia
	We've almost made it to the isolation tower, which means we're close to rescuing Nathyn. Objective: Enter the Isolation Tower Hidden Objective: Kill Tower Guardian
	We've made it inside the isolation tower. I should find Nathyn so we can rescue him. Objective: Find Nathyn
	We found Nathyn Dreloth, but he warned us to stay back from the wards keeping him isolated. I should talk to him to understand more. Objective: Talk to Nathyn
	We've been discovered by Sathile Dreloth. I should talk to her about Nathyn and Dacia. Objective: Talk to Sathile
	Dacia has a choice to make, and she wants to know what I would decide if I were in her place. Complete one: Advise Dacia to Stay or Advise Dacia to Go
Finishes quest	(If you advised Dacia to stay) I should talk to Dacia about her decision to stay with Nathyn at Tel Dreloth. Objective: Talk to Dacia
Finishes quest	(If you advised Dacia to leave) I should talk to Dacia about her decision to work for Sathile again and search for a cure for Nathyn. Objective: Talk to Dacia

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.