Oblivion:Melus Petilius

Melus Petilius (RefID: 00026FC0)
Home Town	Brindle Home
House	Melus Petilius' House
Race	Imperial	Gender	Male
Level	PC+8	Class	Champion
RefID	00026FC0	BaseID	00026B46
Other Information
Health	43 + (5+1.8)x(PC+7), PC=1-17
Magicka	100 + 1.5x(PC+7) (max=250)
Responsibility	50	Aggression	5
Essential	Until Molag Bal's Daedric Shrine Quest is begun
Faction(s)	None

Melus Petilius

Melus Petilius is an Imperial champion and former adventurer. Since his wife Vena died he instead spends most of his days at her grave, which is a short way east of his house, and has vowed to never raise a weapon again. During the related quest, the Daedric Lord Molag Bal will task you with testing his resolve.

Melus sleeps from 8pm to 4am and heads off to visit his wife's grave at 10am each day. Once there he will mourn for five hours before heading back home. Outside those times he paces disconsolately around his cabin.

He wears an almost complete set of leveled light armor, minus the helm. Each piece may be enchanted, starting at 20% chance from level 3, rising to 25% from level 6 and 30% from level 9. He carries around a humble outfit consisting of belted braies, a belted vest and braided leather sandals, but he will only equip it if his armor breaks. He also possesses a small amount of gold. Usually he carries no weapon, but during the related quest you may entice him into picking up the Cursed Mace.

Dialogue

Before the related quest, when approached he will only say:

"Just leave me. Please."

Related Quests

• Molag Bal: Goad the local do-gooder into killing you.

Quest-related Events

Molag Bal

After you have made an offering of a lion pelt to the Daedric Lord Molag Bal at his Shrine, he will task you with getting Melus to break his sworn oath:

"I want to see a man brought to the edge. And pushed. Near Brindle Home you will find Melus Petilius. A good man. An honorable man. He disgusts me. He has sworn an oath: never to raise a weapon against another man again. I want him to break that oath, and damn himself forever. You will let him kill you with this: the Cursed Mace. As you are doing this for me, I'll save your miserable life. Probably. Get out of my sight."

Travel to Brindle Home and the local denizens will fill you in on Melus's backstory:

Melus Petilius

"I know of the poor man. Did wonders for folks around here. There was no job too small for him. Killed off hordes of goblins when they attacked the town. Killed off a nest of minotaurs singlehandedly. That's all in the past now, though. Since his wife, Vena, died, we haven't seen hide nor hair of the man. Gone off by himself."

Vena Petilius

"She was a good woman, and Melus loved her as best he could. He was off fighting when she died. A sudden fever, and she was gone. Don't think he ever forgave himself for not being there when she passed. He swore then never to raise a weapon again. He lives alone now. Moved into a cabin not far outside of town. It's near where he buried Vena. I understand he visits her grave every day."

Head southwest from the main settlement until you reach Melus's cabin and the nearby gravesite where his wife is buried. If you speak to him inside his house, he will say:

"I would prefer you leave, friend. Please."

Melus Petilius

"I am Melus Petilius. Leave me in peace to mourn my wife, Vena."

Vena Petilius

"She was my wife, and I would rather not speak of her now."

If you attack him he will refuse to strike back:

"I will not fight you, friend. I have taken a vow. My gods will protect me."

If instead you speak to him while he is praying at his wife's gravesite he will angrily say:

"I would ask that you not bother me, especially in this place."

If you attack him now, he will finally react:

"I have sworn not to raise a weapon in anger, but you have offended my honor in this most holy place. Prepare to die, devil."

He will then proceed to attack you, picking up the Cursed Mace if you've left it nearby. Once he "kills" you, you will be teleported back to Molag Bal's Shrine.

Should you return to him after the quest is complete, he will be aghast:

"No... you're dead! I killed you myself! What manner of creature are you? Will I be tormented with your image forever?"

Bugs

• Melus had an additional line about his wife, presumably to be said while at her gravesite. However, the condition is bugged and you will therefore never hear it: "Please, I do not wish to speak of her. My wife is buried here, and I only wish to visit her grave in peace. It is a sacred place to me." ^?