Online:The One That Got Away

This page is currently being rewritten as part of the Online Quest Project. The page is being both written and checked. All users are welcome to make changes to the page. If you make a change that is relevant to the project, please update this template accordingly, and make sure you have observed the project guidelines. Detail Quick Summary: written by The Silencer, Enodoc, Legoless, Tib, checked by Talyyn Walkthrough: written by Tib, Legoless, Talyyn, Cambionn, not checked Quest Stages: written by Tib, 204.112.37.122, Talyyn, not checked

Help Zeira with a personal matter. Faction: Thieves Guild Quest Giver: Note from Zeira in the Thieves Den Location(s): Marbruk (Greenshade); Haven Wayshrine, Volunidai's Manor (Grahtwood) Shornhelm (Rivenspire); Aswala Stables Wayshrine, Volunidai's Manor (Alik'r Desert) Stormhold (Shadowfen); Tal'Deic Grounds Wayshrine, Volunidai's Manor (Deshaan) Abah's Landing Prerequisite Quest: Prison Break Reward: Unidentified Bahraha's Curse Weapon Pirharri the Smuggler Average Leveled Gold 10 Reputation XP Gain: Standard XP ID: 5553

Help Zeira tie up loose ends

A matter involving Nicolas requires the guild's attention, and Zeira wants me to handle it personally.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Collect the note from Zeira in the Thieves Den.
2. Meet Zeira at Hew's Mane in Abah's Landing.
3. Travel to the tavern in Marbruk (Greenshade), Shornhelm (Rivenspire), or Stormhold (Shadowfen).
4. Speak to Chief Inspector Rhanbiq and obtain the key to his strongbox, located at the same location.
5. Speak to Bellulor Chatterbeak in the local Outlaws Refuge.
6. Travel to the wayshrine near Haven (Grahtwood), Aswala Stables (Alik'r Desert), or Tal'Deic Fortress (Deshaan).
7. Use the nearby rowboat to travel to the manor house across the water.
8. Speak with Volunidai.
9. Find the entrance to the manor's cellar.
10. Locate and confront your quarry.
11. Return to Hew's Mane and inform Zeira of your actions.

Detailed Walkthrough

Soon after rescuing Zeira from the Iron Wheel, she will send you a note, requesting you meet her in Abah's Landing.

[PlayerName]:
"I have new information on Nicolas that requires your attention and discretion. Meet me at Hew's Mane, just off the Promenade in Abah's Landing.
—Zeira"

I should meet Zeira at Hew's Mane.

The Desert Falcon

Go to Hew's Mane. Zeira will be waiting for you while drinking there. Talk to her and she tells you the Iron Wheel's ship which Nicolas was on got capsized in a storm and Nicolas among others would have been swept into the sea. As there is no body, both Zeira and Magnifica Falorah don't believe it, so she asks you to find out what really happened with Nicolas. Although she won't ask you to kill him should you find him alive, she makes clear she will gladly accept this case the (not in-game enforced) guild's no murder rule. She sends you to someone calling himself the "Desert Falcon", who's last known location would be a tavern depending on your alliance (Marbruk for Aldmeri Dominion, Shornhelm for Daggerfall Covenant, Stormhold for Ebonheart Pact). Go to the allocated place, and you will find Chief Inspector Rhanbiq, who will no longer be Chief Inspector. Turns out, he also doesn't believe Nicolas died in the storm. His dialogue will vary slightly depending on your choice during the first Thieves Guild quest Partners in Crime. If you stole the Giovessen Skull, you will need to persuade him to let you help. Once you've got his help, he'll give you the key to his strongbox and tells you where he suspects Nicolas to be. For further info, he sends you to find a snitch named Bellulor Chatterbeak. The exact location will depend on your alliance.

Tracking your quarry

Grab the contents from Rhanbiq's strongbox and go to the outlaws refuge in your current area to find the Chatterbeak. Chatterbeak will not talk to you at first, so you will either have to persuade & lie or intimidate him, or pay gold to cover his bar tab. Any of the methods will result in the same information. He will tell you he's now pretending to be a painter, and has gotten himself a High Elf widow lover which he called "My darling Volu", to who's home they were headed. He also tells you Nicolas plans to marry her as soon as they returned to said home. The exact location will depend on your alliance, sending you either to a manor near Tal'Deic Fortress (Ebonheart Pact), Sentinel (Daggerfall covenant), or Haven (Aldmeri Dominion). Leave the outlaws refuge and go to the allocated location. Here you'll find a rowboat, use this to go to the mansion. Inside the Mansion, you find a woman named Volunidai, Nicolas's "darling Volu". She seems to know Nicolas by a new alias, "Vantus", and will not allow you to speak to him then send you away. Instead of leaving, find a way into the mansion and find Nicolas, who you will hear shouting thinking you're Volunidai after entering.

Confront your quarry

Talk to Nicolas. He will tell you he expected you sooner or later, but hoped later than this. He claims he has truly retired and is a changed man. When blaming him for betraying the guild, he claims he hadn't and that Velsa's retirement is the cause, as she would've led the others back to Abah's Landing but was absent due to said retirement. Although he doesn't want to blame Velsa, he keeps telling how good the plan would've been. At this point, you have a choice to make.

Telling his wife

Nicolas will be visibly upset as he really seems to love Volunidai, but won't stop you. Go outside and talk to Volunidai. She will be furious about the suggestion that Nicolas is a liar. Telling her of his past actions will make her doubt him, but she won't take your word for it. Show her a wanted poster of Nicolas, and she will be in shock. At this point, another choice will present itself. You can either tell Volunidai to report him to Rhanbiq, tell her to protect her money, or to make him pay. The latter two will cause him to leave to Elden Root, where he can be found fishing near the Outside Inn, or to Deshaan, where he can be found fishing near the Undaunted Enclave. Telling her to report him to Rhanbiq will cause him to disappear as he's sent to Taneth for trial.

Letting him be

Nicolas will thank you and go outside to speak to his wife.

Killing him

Nicolas will die and Volunidai grieves his death, never knowing her husband's true identity.

After you have decided what to do with Nicolas, return to the Hew's Mane in Abah's Landing and talk to Zeira. Tell her what became of Nicolas. No matter how you handled it, Zeira will accept your judgment and the quest will be completed.

Gallery

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  Discover the identity of Desert Falcon

• 

  Find your way to the secluded manor

• 

  The one that got away - almost

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  "She didn't want you to beg. She wanted you dead."

Notes

• Prior to Update 39, this quest required you to have reached Thieves Guild Rank 10.
• Despite physically picking up Zeira's note when starting the quest, it's not added to your quest items.
• The wanted poster of Nicolas that Zeira gives you isn't added to your quest items.
• Volunidai won't exist at her manor before starting the quest or reaching the related objective.
• Despite being seen entering her manor to confront Nicolas if you reveal the truth to her, Volunidai and Nicolas are nowhere to be found inside after this stage of the quest.

Bugs

• It's possible to use the sit prompt for the seat Zeira is in at Hew's Mane, causing you to clip into her. ^?
• It's not required to read the content of Rhanbiq's strongbox to trigger the next objective. Only interacting with the chest is. ^?
• Nicolas' dialogue when first entering Volunidai's manor lacks audio to match the subtitles. ^?
• When using the kill option, Nicolas will react with a significant delay to being stabbed, resuming his scared animation for a few more seconds before finally falling over dead. ^?

Quest Stages

The One That Got Away
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	I should meet Zeira at Hew's Mane, a tavern in Abah's Landing. Objective: Talk to Zeira
	Zeira suspects Nicolas escaped from the Iron Wheel. She learned of someone called the "Desert Falcon" who has been asking about Nicolas. She asked me to find and approach the Desert Falcon in the Greenshade city of Marbruk. Zeira suspects Nicolas escaped from the Iron Wheel. She learned of someone called the "Desert Falcon" who has been asking about Nicolas. She asked me to find and approach the Desert Falcon in the Rivenspire city of Shornhelm. Zeira suspects Nicolas escaped from the Iron Wheel. She learned of someone called the "Desert Falcon" who has been asking about Nicolas. She asked me to find and approach the Desert Falcon in the Shadowfen city of Stormhold. Objective: Find the Desert Falcon in Marbruk Objective: Find the Desert Falcon in Shornhelm Objective: Find the Desert Falcon in Stormhold
	The "Desert Falcon" is Rhanbiq, former Chief Inspector of the Iron Wheel! I should speak with him and learn his interest in this matter. Objective: Talk to Rhanbiq
	(If you convinced him to help) Rhanbiq seemed willing to help. He provided me with a key to his strongbox, which contains all his notes on the trail Nicolas left behind. Objective: Retrieve Rhanbiq's Notes
	(If you failed to convince him) Rhanbiq was unwilling to help. He also said I should stay away from his things. I should search them and see what I can find. Objective: Search Rhanbiq's Things
	Rhanbiq learned Nicolas was spotted in town. He suspects a local named Bellulor may know more, but has been unable to track him down. I should search for Bellulor in the Marbruk Outlaws Refuge, in Greenshade. Rhanbiq learned Nicolas was spotted in town. He suspects a local named Bellulor may know more, but has been unable to track him down. I should search for Bellulor in the Shornhelm Outlaws Refuge, in Rivenspire. Rhanbiq learned Nicolas was spotted in town. He suspects a local named Bellulor may know more, but has been unable to track him down. I should search for Bellulor in the Stormhold Outlaws Refuge, in Shadowfen. Objective: Find Bellulor Chatterbeak in the Marbruk Outlaws Refuge Objective: Find Bellulor Chatterbeak in the Rivenspire Outlaws Refuge Objective: Find Bellulor Chatterbeak in the Stormhold Outlaws Refuge
	I should speak with Bellulor. He may know where I can find Nicolas. Objective: Talk to Bellulor
	Bellulor confirmed Nicolas was in town with a High Elf he called "Volu." They were to be married when they returned to her manor in Grahtwood, somewhere near the city of Haven. Bellulor confirmed Nicolas was in town with a High Elf he called "Volu." They were to be married when they returned to her manor in the Alik'r Desert, somewhere near the city of Sentinel. Bellulor confirmed Nicolas was in town with a High Elf he called "Volu." They were to be married when they returned to her manor in Deshaan, somewhere near Tal'Deic Fortress. Objective: Find Nicolas in Grahtwood Objective: Find Nicolas in Alik'r Desert Objective: Find Nicolas in Deshaan Objective Hint: Find A Rowboat to Reach Nicolas' Hideaway
	I located the manor belonging to Volunidai, the High Elf seen with Nicolas. I should speak with her and see what I can learn of his whereabouts. Objective: Talk to Volunidai
	Volunidai said her husband is an Imperial man named Vantus, not Nicolas. When I asked to speak with him, she insisted I leave. I should find a way into her manor. Objective: Find a Way Into Volunidai's Manor
	Nicolas and Vantus are the same person. I should decide what to do with him. Zeira left his fate to my discretion. Objective: Confront Nicolas
	(If you decided to ruin his marriage) I decided Nicolas should lose everything important to him. I should speak with Volunidai and convince her that her husband isn't what he seems. Objective: Tell Volunidai About Nicolas
Finishes quest	(If you tell Nicolas to stay away from Abah's Landing) Nicolas is unharmed. I should return to Abah's Landing and inform Zeira of his fate. Objective: Report to Zeira
Finishes quest	(If you choose to reveal Nicolas' secret and ruin him) Nicolas is ruined. I should return to Abah's Landing and inform Zeira of his fate. Objective: Report to Zeira
Finishes quest	(If you kill Nicolas) Nicolas is dead. I should return to Abah's Landing and inform Zeira of his fate. Objective: Report to Zeira

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.