Online:Prisoner Dilemma

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Free several Pact prisoners from the Lion Guard and identify the turncloak. Zone: The Rift Quest Giver: Thragof Location(s): The Lion's Den Concurrent Quest: A Valuable Distraction Reward: High Leveled Gold XP Gain: High

Prisoner Dilemma

Three Pact soldiers were kidnapped in the Lion's Den: Hilka, Hald, and Fjar. Their commander, Thragof, is certain one of them is a traitor. He has tasked me with identifying the traitor and freeing the others.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Collect the prisoner transcripts (optional).
2. Find the traitor and free the other prisoners.
3. Report back to Thragof.

Detailed Walkthrough

In the Lion's Den, near the eastern exit of the Giant's Crush or east of the main Covenant camp (where Senior Scout Justal's note lies, if you are completing A Valuable Distraction concurrently) crouches a man named Thragof. He seems out of place, and you can speak to him to find out why.

"Divines be praised, a friendly face! I've been hiding out here since the Covenant ambushed my team. They took three prisoners.
I tracked them to a nearby camp. I'd rescue them myself, but there's a slight wrinkle …."

What's that?

"One of them is a traitor. Has to be. They knew we were coming. Trouble is, I don't know which one, and I need someone to investigate.
You look capable. You willing to help me out?"

I can help. What do you need?

"Their names are Hilka, Hald, and Fjar. They were taken off to be interrogated.
Find out which one is the traitor and free the others—there should be interrogation transcripts up ahead. Leave the traitor to die. I'll meet you further up the hill."

I'll find those transcripts and single out a traitor.

Transcripts

To find both the transcripts and the prisoners, head south along the path from either place you found Thragof to the next Covenant camp.

Hald's Interrogation Transcript (map) says that he was the unwilling "guest" of the interrogating agent for eight weeks at some point, and ended up revealing useful information.

Hilka's Interrogation Transcript (map) tells us that she hates Thragof, and believes he is an incompetent leader and that the rest of the command isn't too bright. Her words show a certain level of contempt for her superiors.

Fjar's Interrogation Transcript (map) informs us that he is happily married to a Breton, and doesn't believe the Covenant is all terrible since they treat him more gently. He agrees with the interrogator's sentiment of "Family is more important than anything else, even the king".

All three transcripts could be used an example of their respective subject's guilt, and all that's left is to question the prisoners themselves and find the turncoat.

Questioning the Prisoners

Once you have reached the prisoners, you can question each of them before making a decision.

Talking to Hald, he confirms that he was previously captured by the Covenant and broke under torture.

"They came out of nowhere. Swarmed us."

Thragof sent me. He's sure one of you is a traitor. Is it you?

"What? That's insane! Their alchemist interrogated me three times. Tortured me! Why would he torture me if I was a traitor?"

I found a transcript of your interrogation. You gave the Lion Guard information.

"That was years ago, in Daggerfall! I was captured and tortured for days.
Yeah, I broke. But I didn't give them anything of real value. Certainly nothing that would be useful now."

I'm freeing you. Make for the rally point.

"Thank you! You won't regret this, I swear!"

It'll be just a moment.

Talking to Hilka, it's clear she is abrasive and doesn't particularly like others.

"It's about time someone came after us. What are you waiting for? Set me free!"

Thragof said one of you is a traitor. What do you have to say for yourself?

"Don't be an idiot. What reason would I have to turn on the Pact?"

I saw a transcript of your interrogation. You hate your superiors.

"I hate everybody. I'm a misanthrope, not a traitor.
Listen, I can be a pain in the arse, but I'm a good soldier. I'd never betray the Pact. One of those two whining idiots has to be your man."

I'm untying you. Meet Thragof at the rally point.

"It's about time. I'm getting out of here."

Hold still.

Talking to Fjar, he is pleased to see you but brushes off your questions.

"You're a welcome sight. My toes are close to frostbitten!"

Thragof thinks one of you is a spy.

"That's ridiculous! Why would the Covenant tie up their own spy?"

I saw a transcript of your interrogation. Did Thragof know you were married to a Breton?

"Why would he care? My tailor's a Khajiit, but that doesn't make me a Dominion spy!
There's no conspiracy. We were ambushed, simple as that."

I'm freeing you. Make for the rally point.

"Eight be praised! I can't wait to see my family again."

Don't move.

Additionally, in a tent beside the prisoners is the Missive to Alchemist, but this offers little information in determining who to leave behind. After you have made your decision and freed two of the three prisoners, you can make your way back to Thragof. The fastest way is to head southwest and through the Abandoned Tunnel, and then to jump off the platform in the cliff into the water below. This way, the entrance and Thragof are only a short walk away.

Reporting back to Thragof

When you return to the entrance, the two prisoners you freed will say something to their commander as they arrive.

Hald "Returning to duty."

Hilka "Not rid of me yet, sir."

Fjar "Fjar, reporting in, sir."

Speaking to them, each prisoner will thank you in their own way, but this is completely optional.

Hald:

"I thought they'd kill us, for sure. Good to be among friends again!"

Hilka:

"You did good. I think you made the right call."

Fjar:

"I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't come along.
My wife is pregnant. I'm going to ask her to name the child in your honor."

You can then talk with Thragof and tell him who you left behind.

Hald left behind	Hilka left behind	Fjar left behind
"Two of my scouts came back. Who was the traitor?" I left Hald behind. "So it was Hald? Damn. He was tortured years ago, in Daggerfall. I don't think he ever recovered. That's no excuse for treason, but it still makes me sad. Thanks for your help. The Pact appreciates your loyalty."	"Two of my scouts came back. Who was the traitor?" I left Hilka behind. "It figures Hilka was the traitor. You know she tried to punch me out once? Well, I'm not going to shed any tears. Thanks to you, I have my scouts back, and you gave me the cover I needed to secure their exit. You're a credit to the Pact."	"Two of my scouts came back. Who was the traitor?" I left Fjar behind. "Fjar? Really? I've known him for years, but I guess I didn't really know him at all. Makes me sad. Thanks for your help. The Pact appreciates your loyalty."

You will then receive your reward of gold. Once you accept it, the two remaining prisoners will have a discussion.

If Hald was left behind, Hilka will be pleased to see him go and Fjar will be doubtful of his guilt.

Hilka: "I knew that coward was a liability. If I ever see Hald again I'll gut him myself."

Fjar: "Get off it, Hilka. You can't honestly think Hald was capable of this."

Hilka: "Why because he had it rough? That only makes him more susceptible. He didn't have the stomach for the work anymore. Kind of like some other people I know."

Thragof: "All right, knock it. Let's just get through the rest of today without losing anyone else."

If Hilka was left behind, Hald will be doubtful that she would do this and Fjar will do his best to justify your choice.

Hald Windtorn: "Is it true? Did Hilka really sell us out?"

Thragof: "It seems so."

Fjar: "Come on, Hald. You know how angry she is. I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner."

Hald Windtorn: "Yeah, but treason? Doesn't that seem a bit too, I dunno, subtle? Besides, she's the most patriotic of all of us."

Fjar: "Overcompensation."

Hald Windtorn: "Yeah. Maybe."

If Fjar was left behind, Hilka will advocate for targeting civilians and Hald will be horrified by it.

Hilka: "Fjar was the traitor? Family-man Fjar? I could kill that Daedra-spawn. Thragof, give me a month and dispensation, and I'll have his entire family in Pact hands."

Hald Windtorn: "Stendarr's Mercy, Hilka. Don't you think that's taking it a bit far?"

Hilka: "A traitor's a traitor, Hald. All traitors get what's coming to them."

Thragof: "Nobody's getting anything right now. Cool off, the both of you. Fjar's not getting away from us. If the higher ups want Fjar, you'll be the first to know."

Notes

• The quest marker that directs you during the first stage of the quest is misleading, and instead takes you to the exit of the area. It is possible to climb up the rocks to the exit, but it is difficult.

Quest Stages

Prisoner Dilemma
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	I need to find the interrogation transcripts of the captured Pact soldiers in order to discern the traitor among them. Once I've done that, I should free two of the soldiers and leave the traitor to die. Objective: Free the Loyal Prisoners Objective Hint: Find the Interrogation Transcripts
	(Stage Text depends on who is freed) Hald and Hilka are free. I should head to the rally point. Hilka and Fjar are free. I should head to the rally point. Hald and Fjar are free. I should head to the rally point. Objective: Talk to Thragof at the Entrance to the Lion's Den
Finishes quest	I must tell Thragof who I left behind. Objective: Talk to Thragof

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.