Markarth

Online:Vows and Oaths

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Detail
Quick Summary: written by Kallykat, Jeancey, Anonymous Anomalocaris, not checked


Walkthrough: written by Anonymous Anomalocaris, checked by MolagBallet


Quest Stages: written by HoodBot, Jeancey, FolkPunkDruid, checked by MolagBallet
Help the Chief-of-Chiefs put an end to the long-lived feud between the Eagleseer and Six-Ford clans.
Zone: The Reach
Quest Giver: Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear
Location(s): Hroldan Ring, Briar Rock Ruins
Reward: Ring of the Unrequited
Average Leveled Gold
XP Gain: Standard Experience XP
ID: 6590
Oversee the handfasting rite
The Reach clans Six-Fords and Eagleseers don't get along. They plan to rectify that through the marriage of two of their young members, Eslyn and Madearn. A handfasting rite must be performed to announce their intention to marry.


Quick Walkthrough[edit]

  1. Find Eslyn and Madearn.
  2. Talk to Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear.
  3. Find Eslyn and Madearn.
  4. Talk to Eslyn and Madearn.
  5. Find Vateshran Barth.
  6. Free Vateshran Barth and escort him to safety.
  7. Talk to Vateshran Barth.
  8. Find the Lover's Coil Fragment at Karthspire Lea.
  9. Find the Lover's Coil Fragment at Faolan's Ire.
  10. Return to Hroldan Ring.
  11. Determine the fate of the Six-Ford and Eagleseer clans.

Detailed Walkthrough[edit]

Find Madearn and Eslyn

Family Feud[edit]

Along the western portion of the Hroldan Ring, you can find a gathering of Reach leaders who are arguing amongst themselves. They appear uneasy of each other and of your approach. Among them is the Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear, who beckons you, an outsider, to teach the feuding clans to behave like proper Reachmen. The Chief-of-Chiefs tells you that the Eagleseer and Six-Ford clans have an ancient feud, but have turned to her guidance to end the feud. She has proposed to wed the chief's children and unite their clans. She wishes for you to bless the couple and provide instruction on unity to the two betrothed, Eslyn and Madearn.

You may speak with the representatives of both clans, asking about the clans' feud and the wedding between Eslyn and Madearn. Chief Eagleseer and his brother Evroch do not believe Madearn is worthy to marry Eslyn, believing such a marriage would weaken their bloodline. They will not speak to an outsider about what caused the feud between their clans. Chief Six-Ford knows that his son Madearn is a poor fighter and hunter, but a decent scout. He sees the marriage as a way to weaken and humiliate the Eagleseer Clan. Alongside Chief Six-Ford is Drisene, who defers to the judgement of the clan chief even though she seems to not want the marriage to be blessed.

Head north a short distance towards the handfasting cave, where Eslyn and Madearn were left to await the wedding ceremony. You enter the cave to find it decorated with Reach totems and ritual candles: however, the couple is absent. In their place is a hastily written note to the Chief-of-Chiefs signed by both Eslyn and Madearn. According to the note, the betrothed do not wish to go through with the ceremony. You should run back to Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear to report what you have found.

Returning to the Chief-of-Chiefs, she seems exasperated at the clan leaders' unwillingness to solve the feud. You tell her what you found in the cave and read the letter to her. She is upset at the news, and believes Madearn and Eslyn to be too young and hot-blooded to see the advantages of the arranged marriage. The Chief-of-Chiefs insists that the couple must be wed in order to end the clans' ancient feud and implores you to find Eslyn and Madearn.

The Search[edit]

Head to the area north of Hroldan Ring, where the Chief-of-Chiefs believes the pair might be hiding. Tracking them northward, you'll find a decorative Blue Bead typical of Reach courtship rituals. There is also a Decorative Feather and a Worry Stone carved with the symbol of the Six-Ford clan. The trail then leads eastward, where you'll find a Cloth Fragment torn and dropped in haste. This leads to a makeshift camp where the two betrothed are hiding.

The vateshran's camp

You must now talk to Eslyn and Madearn. Eslyn objects to the idea of an arranged marriage, as well as the responsibility and expectations it comes with. Madearn reveals that he secretly promised to marry Drisene in his youth, and that breaking the engagement would be dishonorable. Both Eslyn and Madearn admit to not knowing the origins of their clans' feud, and wish to speak to a respected Vateshran named Barth. They suspect he may know the origin of the feud, and think he can come up with a better solution to end it.

The vateshran has dropped his shillelagh

Head southwest until you find Vateshran Barth's camp: it's right next to the Briar Rock Wayshrine. Barth's camp is empty, save for a book which conveniently contains the story of a bloody battle between the two clans. Tracking west of the camp, you find the Vateshran's Knobby Stick and a Thornroot witch's Flint Dagger. Eslyn and Madearn fear the Thornroot witches have captured him. You need to head to Briar Rock Ruins and rescue Vateshran Barth.

Rescue the Vateshran[edit]

You'll find Vateshran Barth bound inside the Crypts, about to be sacrificed by hagravens. Escort him out of the ruins and safely back to his encampment. Eslyn and Madearn appear to be getting along better, although it seems more like mutual respect rather than any sort of love. Ask the Vateshran about the feud between the Eagleseer and Six-Ford clans. He relays the tale of two lovers who fashioned a totem known as the Lover's Coil to symbolize their love. However the totem broke, and this was taken as a sign that the marriage was not blessed by the Spirits, leading the lovers to separate. Their love turned to hate, which radiated trough their descendants and their clans. Eslyn and Madearn believe that reuniting the broken Lover's Coil will be a sign to the clans to end the feud.

Madearn escorts Vateshran Barth back to Hroldan Ring to retell the tale to their clans. Eslyn head to Faolan's Ire to find one half of the totem while you head to Karthspire Lea to find the other half. You travel northeast to the Lea, which is located just west of the Rebels Retreat Wayshrine. Once there you find a small graveyard with six dirt mounds. In one dirt mound you find the Lover's Coil Fragment. Madearn runs up to you, out of breath and upset at himself that he wasn't able to aid in recovering the fragments. He is worried about Eslyn and asks you to aid her in recovering the totem fragment at Faolan's Ire.

Escort Barth to safety

You'll head east to Faolan's Ire, which is located next to the Lost Valley Wayshrine. It seems the area known as Faolan's Ire is now home to a group of giants and their mammoths. Madearn arrives as well after worrying for Eslyn's safety. The Lover's Coil Fragment is in a cairn at the camp. With sufficient skill and timing of the giants, it is possible to sneak the Coil out of the camp if you don't feel the giants and mammoths deserve to die for an untimely choice of camp. After retrieving the Coil, you should talk to Eslyn, who reveals that she is falling in love with Madearn.

Return to Hroldan Ring to mend the fragment. There, Vateshran Barth relays the tale of the feud's origin to the clan chiefs and to Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear. The Chief-of-Chiefs is angered at how long it took you to bring back the betrothed; it seems that in your absence, the clan chiefs almost called off the engagement. She insists that the symbol of the broken totem and the story of the original lovers is not enough to solve the clans' feud and wishes to continue with the arranged marriage.

You have a choice: you can decide to give your blessing to the couple and start the wedding ceremony, or you can proclaim that the wedding will not happen and seek to end the feud without resorting to an arranged marriage.

If you choose to continue with the wedding, you will go to give your blessings to Eslyn and Madearn. They are hesitant, but agree that it is for the best of the clans. You also can counsel Madearn about his engagement to Drisene; you have the choice of telling him he can still choose to marry Drisene instead of Eslyn to preserve his honor and his word, or you can tell him that Drisene will understand and that she'll find a better partner. You can then attend the betrothing ceremony between Eslyn and Madearn. If you convinced Madearn to wed Eslyn, then Drisene will run off crying. If you convinced Madearn to wed Drisene, then both clans will resume their feud. In either case, you can speak to Vateshran Barth after the ceremony to end the quest and receive your reward.

If you chose to not give your blessing to the couple, Vateshran Barth will warn that the feud will continue to needlessly tear the clans apart, causing even more senseless death, even if he trusts in Madearn and Eslyn. The Chief-of-Chiefs foretells that you've doomed the clans with your decision. The Clan leaders storm off, promising to avenge their honor. Eslyn and Madearn, however are convinced that they can lead the clans to peace without needing to resort to arranged marriage. They vow to lead the clans to peace in the future.

Quest Stages[edit]

Vows and Oaths
Finishes Quest Journal Entry
Chief-of-Cheifs [sic] Cannear asked me offer my blessing to Eslyn and Madearn. I should find them in the handfasting cave to the north of Hroldan Ring.
Objective: Go to the Handfasting Cave
Optional Step: Talk to the Six-Ford Clan
Hidden Objective: Talk to Chief Six-Ford
Hidden Objective: Talk to Drisene
Optional Step: Talk to the Eagleseer Clan
Hidden Objective: Talk to Chief Eagleseer
Hidden Objective: Talk to Evroch
I went to the handfasting cave to offer the couple a blessing, but Eslyn and Madearn weren't there. I should see if I can locate any clues as to where they may have gone.
Objective: Find Eslyn and Madearn
Eslyn and Madearn left a note for the chief-of-chiefs that suggests they abandoned the handfasting and ran away. I should let Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear know.
Objective: Talk to Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear
Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear asked me to find Eslyn and Madearn and convince them to return to Hroldan Ring. She suggested I search north of Hroldan Ring for them.
Objective: Find Eslyn and Madearn
I found Eslyn and Madearn. I should speak with them.
Objective: Talk to Eslyn
Objective: Talk to Madearn
I asked Eslyn and Madearn what more they know about the feud between their clans. I should listen to what they have to say.
Objective: Listen to Eslyn and Madearn
Eslyn and Madearn think if they find a way to end the feud between their clans, they won't need to go through with the handfasting. We need to find a vateshran to learn more about the feud's origin.
Objective: Find Vateshran Barth
Optional Step: Talk to Madearn
Optional Step: Talk to Eslyn
I found the camp, but the vateshran is nowhere to be seen. The intended couple thinks he's been captured by the Thornroot clan and taken into the nearby ruins. I need to search the ruins to find him.
Objective: Search for Vateshran Barth
I found the vateshran tied up in Briar Rock Ruins. I should free him.
Objective: Free Vateshran Barth
Vateshran Barth wants me to guide him out of the Briar Rock Ruins to safety.
Objective: Escort Vateshran Barth to Safety
Now that I safely escorted the vateshran out of the ruins, I should speak with him.
Objective: Talk to Vateshran Barth
Vateshran Barth agreed to tell me more about the origin of the Six-Ford and Eagleseer feud. I should meet him back at his camp to speak with him further.
Objective: Go to Vateshran Barth's Camp
I made it back to the vateshran's camp. I should speak with him about the feud now.
Objective: Talk to Vateshran Barth
Eslyn and Madearn think they can resolve their clans' feud by repairing an ancient heirloom, the Lover's Coil. I should search the Karthspire Lea for a fragment of it.
Objective: Travel to Karthspire Lea
I made it to Karthspire Lea. I should look around for a fragment of the Lover's Coil.
Objective: Find the Lover's Coil Fragment
Objective Hint: The Coil Fragment Is Buried Near a Pillar
I found the fragment of the Lover's Coil just as Madearn appeared at Karthspire Lea. I should speak with him.
Objective: Talk to Madearn
Madearn wants me to find Eslyn. I should head to Faolan's Ire where she went to search for the other fragment of the Lover's Coil.
Objective: Find Eslyn
I found Eslyn, but she needs help recovering the Lover's Coil fragment at Faolan's Ire. It's currently inside a Giant's camp. I should see if I can retrieve it.
Objective: Gather the Lover's Coil Fragment at Faolan's Ire
I retreived [sic] the Lover's Coil fragment from the Giant camp. I should let Eslyn know.
Objective: Talk to Eslyn
I should meet Eslyn, Madearn, and Vateshran Barth near Hroldan Ring.
Objective: Go to Hroldan Ring
Now that Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear knows the story of the Lover's Coil, I should speak with her and inform her of Eslyn and Madearn's plan to end the feud in lieu of the handfasting.
Objective: Talk to Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear
Optional Step: Talk to Vateshran Barth
(If you decide to convince Eslyn and Madearn)

I decided to convince Eslyn and Madearn to go through with the handfasting. I should speak with them about my decision.

Objective: Talk to Eslyn
Objective: Talk to Madearn
I should watch Eslyn and Madearn complete the handfasting rite at Hroldan Ring.
Objective: Watch the Handfasting Rite
Finishes quest☑ (If you successfully convinced Eslyn and Madearn)
Eslyn and Madearn completed the handfasting rite, ensuring an end to their clans' feud. I should speak with Vateshran Barth about the future of the Six-Fords and Eagleseers.
Objective: Talk to Vateshran Barth
Finishes quest☑ (If you let Madearn decide)
Eslyn and Madearn nearly completed their handfasting, but Madearn decided he could not break his vow to Drisene and both clans have resumed their feud. I should speak with Vateshran Barth about the future of the clans.
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.