Online:Nhalan

Nhalan
Location	Shada's Tear, Burial Grounds
Race	Nede	Gender	Male
Health	52831
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Condition	Undead

Nhalan

Nhalan is a former Nedic star priest found in the burial grounds of Shada's Tear. He was punished by the Nereid Queen Shada and forced to drink the cursed water when he protested against the pact made between his people and the nereids.

Related Quests

•  The Reason We Fight: Release an undead Nedic priest from his curse.

Quest-Related Events

When you approach, you'll hear him say, "Shada's Tear is eternally cursed, and I am most cursed of all."

Speak with him to begin the quest.

"I thought I heard the tell-tale sounds of the living outside these doors.
Be warned: the once-refreshing waters of this place run rancid with an unholy magic—a curse that grants great strength and unnatural long life, but for a price."

What is the price?

"Those who drink the waters become unstoppable, it's true. And then their flesh whithers [sic], along with their minds, and they become thralls to the one called Shada, the Nereid sorceress who first "blessed" the waters."

Who are you? How do you know so much about the curse?

"You may call me Nhalan. I was a priest of the cult of the stars in this city when it came under attack by Yokudans from across the sea.
It was then that we made our unholy bargain: we forsook the stars and pledged ourselves to the Nereids, to Shada."

Why aren't you a thrall like the others?

"I protested against the bargain. I did not trust the salvation Shada promised.
For my troubles, Shada cursed me twice. I was forced to drink the water, but to remain conscious, watching as my people slowly went mad under Shada's influence."

Is there any way to reverse the effects of the curse?

"I have thought long on whether and how the effects of the curse can be reversed.
For those whose flesh has rotted, there is no cure. But for those still in the early stages, I believe I have an answer, but I require something in return."

What is that?

"My own freedom. When I spoke out against this unholy bargain, my soul was bound to that of Zal'ik, the general who gave our people over to the nereids.
To free me, you must defeat him. But be careful. He has sealed the way with a cloud of poison."

A cloud of poison?

"This place is haunted by the visions of the past, my own memories of the events leading up to this curse.
Watch the visions to learn our fate. They will show the way to disperse the cloud of poison and reach Zal'ik."

I'll see what I can do.

Speaking with him again:

"Find Zal'ik and release me from my imprisonment in this place. Then I will share with you what I know about cleansing the water of Shada's curse."

You will see Nhalan in the second vision from the city's past.

Zal'ik: "Nhalan, you speak of treason! Do you want the Yokudans to come here, pillage everything we've built, murder us all? Do you want that?"

Nhalan: "Better a quick death to Yokudan steel than a lifetime as slaves to those creatures. We should call on the stars for protection―as our ancestors did―and have nothing to do with these nereids and their sorcery!"

Zal'ik: "I've heard enough. Take him to Shada."

After you have witnessed some visions of the past and destroyed Debruz, you can meet Nhalan again:

"That flesh abomination killed thousands of Yokudans as they assaulted this place. That you took it down so easily—could Zal'ik's magic be weakening?
In any case, the cloud of poison has begun to move."

Move? It didn't go away?

"Zal'ik was a smart man, and he went to great lengths to prevent the city from falling to the Yokudans. He would not have let his work be undone so easily.
Still, it should now be possible to move ahead, so long as you avoid the cloud of poison."

Any advice?

"Wait for the barrier to move and follow closely behind. When an opening appears, do not hesitate.
Zal'ik's resting chambers are right around this hall. Not far to go, now."

How will killing Zal'ik free you?

"When Shada cursed me, she bound me to Zal'ik's soul. She trusted that the barrier would hold against any invaders, keeping Zal'ik well-defended.
If Zal'ik falls, so too does any spell that binds me. It is as simple as that."

You can ask him more questions after this.

"Do not take Zal'ik lightly. Even as he rests now, his power is beyond most have ever faced.
If you manage to succeed, I will find you at the end of the caves."

I have some questions for you.

"It's been a long time. I may not remember as well as I should. But I will try to answer."

You were a priest in this city?

"Of an old and fading religion—the cult of the stars. Once, Nedes across these lands worshipped the stars.
By the time the Yokudans came, we were a fragmented people. Some turned to the Elven gods, others to Daedra. My people turned to the nereids."

You were a priest to the stars?

"Yes. We believed that the stars themselves were little windows that let the light of Aetherius into our world.
But even in my day, it was a dying faith. Our people seemed destined to be conquered by invaders while the stars watched."

Tell me more about the Yokuda invasion.

"I don't remember much of the invasion itself. It failed because of Zal'ik's gambit. Our army proved too strong for the Yokudans.
As to what happened to them, I don't know. I suppose they gave up in search of an easier target."

Why did the Yokudans attack the city?

"Our city was once the great jewel of the desert. A city of cool, crisp, refreshing waters in a sea of sand.
It would have been of great strategic value to the Yokudans, had they taken it."

I'd like to know about Shada's Tear.

"I always thought Shada's Tear was an ugly name for a city. It was adopted when the people first started worshipping the nereids.
I'm partial to the city's name of old: the City of Shimmering-Water-in-the-Desert. A mouthful, yes, but so poetic."

The people didn't always worship the Nereids?

"No, they did not. Once, the Nedes of the city worshipped the stars.
But water was our city's lifeblood, and that is the nereids' domain. Why plead with distant stars, when you have powerful sorceresses in your very midst?"

Once you have found Zal'ik's burial chamber and killed the general, you can return to Nhalan:

"You have done what the Yokudans could not. You have slain Zal'ik. You have given me my freedom.
And yet, forgive me if I feel no joy. Zal'ik was a brave man. He only wanted to save his people."

So did you.

"Even so, I have no right to gloat. If Zal'ik had taken my counsel, our people would have been slaughtered by the Yokudans."

You promised to tell me everything you knew about the curse.

"Indeed, I did. I have recorded all of my centuries of learning here in this book. I believe there may even be a way to cure someone who is still in the early stages of the madness.
Let it help you and your people, if it can. It is too late for mine."

He will then hand you his journal which you can bring to Tishi at the nearby camp. He distintegrates and fades into the aether.

Nhalan: "Finally … this life is over. I can rest now."

Nhalan: "If you are to go after Shada, you will need to defeat her maiden below who corrupts the water. I … wish you the best."

Notes

• Despite looking like a draugr, Nhalan is a Nede and therefore unrelated to those Nordic forms of undead.