Skyrim:Vigilant Tolan

Vigilant Tolan (RefID: xx003532)
Added by	Dawnguard
Location	Fort Dawnguard
Race	Nord	Gender	Male
Level	PC×1 (range=15-30)	Class	Vigilant
RefID	xx003532	BaseID	xx00352D
Other Information
Health	75+(PC-1)×10
Magicka	75+(PC-1)×1.7
Stamina	50+(PC-1)×3.3
Primary Skills	Alteration, Block, Heavy Armor, Light Armor, One-handed, Restoration
Class Details	Vigilant1hMeleeClass
Morality	Violence Against Enemies	Aggression	Aggressive
Voice Type	MaleNord
Faction(s)	CrimeFactionRift; DLC1HunterFaction; Vigilant of Stendarr Faction

Vigilant Tolan

Vigilant Tolan is a Nord member of the Vigil of Stendarr. After the destruction of the Hall of the Vigilant, he will come to Fort Dawnguard to seek protection. You will encounter him arguing with Isran about the recent vampire assaults when you first enter the fort.

He wears apprentice robes of Restoration, along with a pair of steel plate gauntlets, a pair of steel plate boots, as well as an amulet of Stendarr. He is equipped with a warhammer imbued with a leveled enchantment, a torch, and a potion of cure disease.

Related Quests

• Dawnguard: Speak with the leader of the Dawnguard.
• Awakening: Find out what the vampires are looking for.

Quest-Related Events

Dawnguard

During the quest Dawnguard, you will be directed to Isran if you want to join up. When you first enter the fort, you can find Tolan arguing with him:

"You were right, we were wrong. Isn't that enough for you?"

Isran: "Why are you here, Tolan? The Vigilants and I were finished long ago."
Tolan: "You know why I'm here, the Vigilants are under attack everywhere. The vampires are much more dangerous than we believed."
Isran: "And now you want to come running to safety with the Dawnguard, is that it? I remember Keeper Carcette telling me repeatedly that Dawnguard is a crumbling ruin, not worth the expense and manpower to repair. And now that you've stirred up the vampires against you, you come begging for my protection?"
Tolan: "Isran, Carcette is dead. The Hall of Vigilants... everyone... they're all dead. You were right, we were wrong. Isn't that enough for you?"
Isran: "Yes, well... I never wanted any of this to happen. I tried to warn all of you... I am sorry, you know."

Isran will then approach you and ask what you want. After Isran gets his question answered and briefs you on a mission, he'll then turn to Tolan and say:

Isran: "Tolan, tell her/him about, what was it, Dimhollow?"
Tolan: "Yes, that's it. Dimhollow Crypt. Brother Adalvald was sure it held some long-lost vampire artifact of some kind. We didn't listen to him any more than we did Isran. He was at the Hall when it was attacked..."
Isran: "That's good enough for me. Go see what the vampires were looking for in this Dimhollow Crypt. With any luck, they'll still be there."
Tolan: "I'll meet you at Dimhollow. It's the least I can do to avenge my fallen comrades."
Isran: "Tolan, I don't think that's a good idea. You Vigilants were never trained for..."
Tolan: "I know what you think of us. You think we're soft, that we're cowards. You think our deaths proved our weakness. Stendarr grant that you do not have to face the same test and be found wanting. I'm going to Dimhollow Crypt. Perhaps I can be of some small assistance to you."

Tolan will then start to leave the fort to head to Dimhollow Crypt, but you can still talk to him. When first spoken to, he'll say:

"I'll meet you in Dimhollow Crypt. I owe these vampires a debt of vengeance."

What can you tell me about Dimhollow Crypt?

"Brother Adalvald had been there not long ago. Said he found something of great importance. It must have been important to the vampires as well, for them to risk an open attack on the Vigilants."

You said something happened to the Hall of Vigilants?

"Yes. By destroying it, the vampires hoped to cripple our order's activities in Skyrim. I suspect now it was Brother Adalvald's journals they were after. He was obsessed with ancient vampire artifacts and burial sites."

What was the Hall of the Vigilants?

"The Hall was a place of respite, learning and comradeship, where a road-weary brother or sister could rest for a time in peace and comfort. Most of our learning could be found there. We always studied our enemies, so we might better learn how to defeat them. But of course, those days are gone now."

Any idea why the vampires attacked the Vigilants?

"I suspect now it was Brother Adalvald's journals they were after. He was obsessed with ancient vampire artifacts and burial sites."

Are there other Vigilants still out there?

"Of course there are. Most of us spend our lives as nomads, traveling from place to place in our endless war against evil. I wish I could say how many we numbered, but only a privileged few knew that, and they're dead now."

Should you speak to him after this, he'll say one of four possible greetings:

"Someday, we'll rebuild the Hall of the Vigilant. Mark my words, I'll see it done before they put me in the ground."

"Vampires are worse than Daedra. I wish we Vigilants had taken them more seriously while we we had the chance."

"One thing about living in Skyrim I could never stomach... all the damn vampires!"

"There will be time to honor the fallen later. For now, we've got to put a stop to these vampires."

When closing conversation, he'll always say:

"Stendarr watch over you."

Awakening

Tolan will indeed head to Dimhollow Crypt and he'll always end up there before you. Inside the first room of the crypt, you will find the aftermath of a skirmish. Three bodies lay dead on the ground, two vampires and Tolan, who fought bravely but was outnumbered. Two remaining vampires guarding the door will be discussing his fate:

"The Vigilants always had more bravery than sense."

Vampire #1: "These Vigilants never know when to give up. I thought we'd taught them enough of a lesson at their hall."
Vampire #2: "To come in here alone... a fool like all the rest of them."
Vampire #1: "He fought well though. Jeron and Bresoth were no match for him."
Vampire #2: "Ha. Those two deserved what they got. Their arrogance had become insufferable."
Vampire #1: "All this talk is making me thirsty. Perhaps another Vigilant will wander in soon."
Vampire #2: "I wish Lokil would hurry it up. I have half a mind to return to the castle and tell Harkon what a fool he's entrusted this mission to."
Vampire #1: "And I have half a mind to tell Lokil of your disloyalty."
Vampire #2: "You wouldn't dare. Now shut up and keep on watch."

Unused Dialogue

Awakening

Instead of encountering Tolan at Fort Dawnguard, you were originally meant to find him injured at the destroyed Hall of the Vigilant, where he would instead give out the first quest. After healing him, Tolan would give you the same dialogue that he does in Fort Dawnguard in the final game. However, your line of What was the Hall of the Vigilants? was instead What was this place? in order to make more sense for the setting. You could also ask Tolan the following:

How did you survive the vampires' attack?

"I wish I could say it was courage, or skill at arms that saved me. But that would be a lie. No, I am alive only because the vampires spared me. It seems they wanted to send a message to the other Vigilants still walking the roads of Skyrim. If was a foolish mistake, and I intend to make sure they learn that the hard way."

You were also meant to ask where the vampires went after the attack, but your dialogue option no longer exists. Tolan's response, however, does:

"North, I think, then they turned west and that's the last I saw of them. They mentioned some place called Dimhollow Crypt, but I don't know where that is. While you're looking for the vampires, I'll try to get us some help. Come find me at Dead Drop Falls when you've learned more."

It is notable that Tolan wants to meet at Dead Drop Falls, a cavern only accessible via Fort Dawnguard in the final game. It never has any relevance in the final game and may have once been located elsewhere.

If you spoke to Tolan but left before healing him, he would've cried out:

"Wait, please! Don't leave me for the wolves to find!"

Bloodline

This quest would've played out mostly the same way as the final game, with one major difference. You still reported to Tolan, rather than Isran, who wasn't met at this point. Also, it appears you would've returned to Tolan with Serana, before heading to Castle Volkihar.

"It's good to see you all in one piece. Who is this?"

Her name's Serana. It was her that the vampires were seeking.

"What do you mean? Why were the vampires after this woman?"

Because she's one of them.

"She's... she's a vampire? Are you a complete fool? You can't trust them! She'll turn on you the first chance she gets!"

This line of Tolan is also the only one from this exchange that still has its voice file attached, the others were seemingly all deleted.

I don't think so. In fact, I'm going to help her get home.

"Home? Well, where is that? Some dusty crypt or frigid cave? No doubt she'd like you to lead her into such a place. Then, when you're alone and beyond help, the fangs will come out!"

I can handle myself, and there are still unanswered questions [sic]

"I suppose you're right. I should have a little more faith. Just be sure to keep your eyes open and your guard up."

After bringing Serana home, you would've returned to Tolan.

"You're back, good! So, what happened?"

Any further dialogue seems to have been deleted.

A New Order

This quest was meant to be started at Stendarr's Beacon, where Tolan and other surviving Vigilants planned a meeting with Isran. The unnamed Vigilants Tolan brings with him to Fort Dawnguard in the final game were meant to appear here originally.

Isran: "They threw me out, Tolan!"

Tolan: "I know, and I'm sorry that happened. But now..."

Isran: "Well what did you expect, Tolan? Didn't I tell you? Didn't I warn you this would happen? Look at these fools, so concerned with tending their precious "beacon." Why not just scream at the top of your lungs "Here we are, monsters! We're oh so tasty! Come and get us!""

Tolan: "Isran, these vampires are different. I know you've disagreed with the Order in the past..."

Isran: "Yes, you've explained yourself. I'm supposed to just throw myself in front of you all and offer protection, am I? Years of mocking, of dismissal... and now suddenly here you are, begging for help."

You would then speak with Isran for the first time, who would then begin rebuilding the Dawnguard proper. It's unknown exactly how different the rest of the quest would've played out.

Bolstering the Ranks

During this quest, Vigilant Tolan would've seemingly relocated to Fort Dawnguard. He would've also been able to elaborate on Florentius and Isran's past:

I need to find someone named Florentius.

"Florentius? Really? I assumed Isran would want nothing to do with him."

Does Isran have a problem with him?

"Isran has a problem with most people, if you haven't yet noticed. No, this was different. He never trusted Florentius, always thought him to be trying to get attention. I can't imagine that opinion has changed."

Do you know where I can find him?

"Florentius still worked with the Order from time to time. Last I knew, he was headed to Ruunvald. But then, we hadn't heard from anyone there in a few weeks. If he's moved on, perhaps the Vigilants there can tell you where he's gone."

Bugs

• Upon entering Dimhollow Crypt, Tolan may have two copies; one dead, and one alive. The alive copy will speak as if he is still in Fort Dawnguard.
  • If the living copy dies, this can cause a bug where the quest "A New Order" fails to start after you refuse Harkon's offer. See the Bugs section of Bloodline for details ^?
  • The bugged, living copy will eventually relocate to Fort Dawnguard, where he will remain for the rest of the game. During Bolstering the Ranks, this bugged copy of Tolan will have the unique dialogue mentioned above. ^?