Post by RIP TEF on Apr 8, 2007 10:47:55 GMT -5
Getting Started
Before you can start this quest, you must have already become at least a first-stage Vampire (i.e., normal Cure Disease effects will not work to cure you; Vampirism shows up in your Active Effects page). At that point, Cure Vampirism will start to show up as a conversation topic, in particular when talking with healers. Asking about 'Cure Vampirism' will lead to a referral to Raminus Polus in the Arcane University in the Imperial City. But in fact, Raminus doesn't really know much, other than that Count Janus Hassildor of Skingrad is a vampire, and may have been doing some research on a cure. So, off to Castle Skingrad you go, where you have to tell Hal-Liurz why you want to talk to the Count before she will go and find him for you. Talking to Janus Hassildor yields an interesting backstory on him and his wife and reveals that he will reward you for obtaining a Cure Vampirism potion (so he can heal his comatose wife), but still no potion. Instead he sends you off to yet another person: an alleged witch of Glenmoril who lives somewhere near the Corbolo River (your map places a marker at Drakelowe.)
Melisande's Shopping Lists
Travel to Drakelowe and you will find one inhabitant, Melisande, who will let on that she might be able to help you. But before even agreeing to help you, she requires five empty Grand Soul Gems. If you are at least level 11, there is small chance (<5%) of finding empty grand soul gems in most dungeon chests. If you are at least level 15, any of the Merchants who sell magical equipment may stock them. Places where you can always find empty grand soul gems include:
Calindil at the Mystic Emporium in the Market District has one, which can be bought or pickpocketed.
Alves Uvenim at the Leyawiin Mages Guild has one that can be pickpocketed (for example, while she is sleeping).
You can steal one from Melisande's basement (accessible through the fireplace next to her bed)
There is one available in nearby Squandered Mine while you are on this quest.
There is one available in the Crayfish Steep zone of nearby Crayfish Cave.
There is one in the Arch-Mage's Lobby of the Arcane University. It is in an unlocked display case along with two more Grand Soul Gems that are not empty.
There is one in an unlocked display case in the Mage Quarters of the Arcane University at the bottom of the staircase on the left as you enter.
The Chorrol Mages Guild has a few in locked display cases.
Once you provide Melisande with the soul gems, she will task you with finding a long list of ingredients necessary to make the potion. Several are regular alchemy ingredients: two Bloodgrass shoots, six cloves of Garlic, and five Nightshade leaves. Two are trickier: the blood of an Argonian and the ashes of a powerful vampire.
Two Bloodgrass: This is the tall red grass you see everywhere in Oblivion, so is easy to find. It can be bought in some alchemy shops as well, but due to a common bug (see Bugs) it is advisable that you harvest the bloodgrass from Oblivion.
Six cloves of Garlic: Many homes have these lying around on the dinner table or stacked somewhere else. Almost every home in Skingrad has some bunches of garlic (often 3 or 4), most often hanging from a beam in the basement; the best homes to check are Glarthir's house, Lazare Milvan's house, Summitmist Manor, and Rosethorn Hall.
Five Nightshade leaves: Nightshade is prolific throughout the West Weald. You can also find some (or maybe all) at "The Main Ingredient" in the Imperial City. The Arcane University has several growing there as well.
Blood of an Argonian: Melisande gives you a special Enchanted Dagger to use and collect the blood. You do not need to actually kill the Argonian, just stabbing your victim once with the dagger is sufficient. You can find Argonians (the lizard-like race of people) in just about any city, but of course stabbing a townsperson is likely to get you in trouble (you can yield when they try to attack you, but you will still have an assault charge and bounty). Luckily, there are some easier alternatives:
One Argonian can be found at Peryite's shrine; if you have not completed Peryite's quest, he is frozen and there are no consequences to stabbing him.
Another possible location is Veyond Cave, which is inhabited by Argonian tribesmen who will attack you on sight, making it perfectly legal to stab them back (and then probably follow through with killing them so they don't keep chasing you).
If you spared Scar-Tail in The Renegade Shadowscale, you can stab him and then yield, or just proceed to kill him.
There is also an Argonian at Azura's Shrine.
There are two instances in the arena in which you face Argonians; you must fight an Argonian archer early on, and later, three Argonian prisoners.
There is an Argonian to be killed in the quest given by Boethia. Arrive in the early stages of vampirism and fight your way through to the Argonian.
You can also cast a rage spell on any argonian, who will proceed to attack you. After you have been attacked you can collect blood from the argonian without penalty.
Ashes of a powerful vampire: This 'powerful' vampire's name is Hindaril. Ask the witch about it and she will mark his location in Redwater Slough on your map. Killing Hindaril will provide you with Ashes of Hindaril instead of regular Vampire Dust. His home is a nesting ground for vampires but they die easily (especially with Fire Damage spells). If you still have trouble you could wait until you're in the fourth and final stage of being vampire and kill them with ease. (You can kill Hindaril before starting the Vampire Cure quest; if so, you will already have the Ashes of Hindaril in your inventory).
Once you deliver all these ingredients to Melisande, she'll tell you to return in 24 hours. You'll have to go somewhere else and come back, because if you linger inside the house at Drakelowe, Melisande considers it trespassing and becomes hostile.
At last: Potions!
When you return, Melisande will have two potions ready. (If Melisande's shack is empty when you return, just wait a short while and she will reappear near the fireplace.) One of the potions (the Cure for Vampirism that appears under Potions in your inventory) is for you; you can either drink it immediately or save it for a rainy day. The other one (Vampirism Cure Potion, which appears in the miscellaneous section on the last page of your inventory) needs to be taken to Skingrad for Count Janus Hassildor's wife.
At Castle Skingrad you again need to work through his steward, Hal-Liurz. Mention the cure and she will lead you outside the Hall to the entrance to the Chamber of the Lost, which is the countess' secret chamber. Count Janus Hassildor is waiting there, as is your favorite witch, Melisande. Tell the count that you aquired the cure to give it to him. He will allow you to stay and watch provided that you keep quiet. Melisande wakes up the countess and the count explains that she can end her suffering. The countess drinks the potion, is healed from vampirism and drops dead on the bed. (You can loot her corpse for jewelry and some gold). The count tells you to let him grieve for 24 hours, then return for your reward.
Again, you need to get Hal-Liurz to fetch the Count for you. The dialog item "Reward" will cause him to given you a level-dependent amount of gold (see below).
Reward
Level Reward
1-4 250 Gold
5-9 500 Gold
10-14 1000 Gold
15-19 2500 Gold
20-24 5000 Gold
25-29 7500 Gold
30+ 10000 Gold
Note
Once cured, you cannot become a vampire again (except using the console). Porphyric Hemophilia becomes just another disease.
Before you can start this quest, you must have already become at least a first-stage Vampire (i.e., normal Cure Disease effects will not work to cure you; Vampirism shows up in your Active Effects page). At that point, Cure Vampirism will start to show up as a conversation topic, in particular when talking with healers. Asking about 'Cure Vampirism' will lead to a referral to Raminus Polus in the Arcane University in the Imperial City. But in fact, Raminus doesn't really know much, other than that Count Janus Hassildor of Skingrad is a vampire, and may have been doing some research on a cure. So, off to Castle Skingrad you go, where you have to tell Hal-Liurz why you want to talk to the Count before she will go and find him for you. Talking to Janus Hassildor yields an interesting backstory on him and his wife and reveals that he will reward you for obtaining a Cure Vampirism potion (so he can heal his comatose wife), but still no potion. Instead he sends you off to yet another person: an alleged witch of Glenmoril who lives somewhere near the Corbolo River (your map places a marker at Drakelowe.)
Melisande's Shopping Lists
Travel to Drakelowe and you will find one inhabitant, Melisande, who will let on that she might be able to help you. But before even agreeing to help you, she requires five empty Grand Soul Gems. If you are at least level 11, there is small chance (<5%) of finding empty grand soul gems in most dungeon chests. If you are at least level 15, any of the Merchants who sell magical equipment may stock them. Places where you can always find empty grand soul gems include:
Calindil at the Mystic Emporium in the Market District has one, which can be bought or pickpocketed.
Alves Uvenim at the Leyawiin Mages Guild has one that can be pickpocketed (for example, while she is sleeping).
You can steal one from Melisande's basement (accessible through the fireplace next to her bed)
There is one available in nearby Squandered Mine while you are on this quest.
There is one available in the Crayfish Steep zone of nearby Crayfish Cave.
There is one in the Arch-Mage's Lobby of the Arcane University. It is in an unlocked display case along with two more Grand Soul Gems that are not empty.
There is one in an unlocked display case in the Mage Quarters of the Arcane University at the bottom of the staircase on the left as you enter.
The Chorrol Mages Guild has a few in locked display cases.
Once you provide Melisande with the soul gems, she will task you with finding a long list of ingredients necessary to make the potion. Several are regular alchemy ingredients: two Bloodgrass shoots, six cloves of Garlic, and five Nightshade leaves. Two are trickier: the blood of an Argonian and the ashes of a powerful vampire.
Two Bloodgrass: This is the tall red grass you see everywhere in Oblivion, so is easy to find. It can be bought in some alchemy shops as well, but due to a common bug (see Bugs) it is advisable that you harvest the bloodgrass from Oblivion.
Six cloves of Garlic: Many homes have these lying around on the dinner table or stacked somewhere else. Almost every home in Skingrad has some bunches of garlic (often 3 or 4), most often hanging from a beam in the basement; the best homes to check are Glarthir's house, Lazare Milvan's house, Summitmist Manor, and Rosethorn Hall.
Five Nightshade leaves: Nightshade is prolific throughout the West Weald. You can also find some (or maybe all) at "The Main Ingredient" in the Imperial City. The Arcane University has several growing there as well.
Blood of an Argonian: Melisande gives you a special Enchanted Dagger to use and collect the blood. You do not need to actually kill the Argonian, just stabbing your victim once with the dagger is sufficient. You can find Argonians (the lizard-like race of people) in just about any city, but of course stabbing a townsperson is likely to get you in trouble (you can yield when they try to attack you, but you will still have an assault charge and bounty). Luckily, there are some easier alternatives:
One Argonian can be found at Peryite's shrine; if you have not completed Peryite's quest, he is frozen and there are no consequences to stabbing him.
Another possible location is Veyond Cave, which is inhabited by Argonian tribesmen who will attack you on sight, making it perfectly legal to stab them back (and then probably follow through with killing them so they don't keep chasing you).
If you spared Scar-Tail in The Renegade Shadowscale, you can stab him and then yield, or just proceed to kill him.
There is also an Argonian at Azura's Shrine.
There are two instances in the arena in which you face Argonians; you must fight an Argonian archer early on, and later, three Argonian prisoners.
There is an Argonian to be killed in the quest given by Boethia. Arrive in the early stages of vampirism and fight your way through to the Argonian.
You can also cast a rage spell on any argonian, who will proceed to attack you. After you have been attacked you can collect blood from the argonian without penalty.
Ashes of a powerful vampire: This 'powerful' vampire's name is Hindaril. Ask the witch about it and she will mark his location in Redwater Slough on your map. Killing Hindaril will provide you with Ashes of Hindaril instead of regular Vampire Dust. His home is a nesting ground for vampires but they die easily (especially with Fire Damage spells). If you still have trouble you could wait until you're in the fourth and final stage of being vampire and kill them with ease. (You can kill Hindaril before starting the Vampire Cure quest; if so, you will already have the Ashes of Hindaril in your inventory).
Once you deliver all these ingredients to Melisande, she'll tell you to return in 24 hours. You'll have to go somewhere else and come back, because if you linger inside the house at Drakelowe, Melisande considers it trespassing and becomes hostile.
At last: Potions!
When you return, Melisande will have two potions ready. (If Melisande's shack is empty when you return, just wait a short while and she will reappear near the fireplace.) One of the potions (the Cure for Vampirism that appears under Potions in your inventory) is for you; you can either drink it immediately or save it for a rainy day. The other one (Vampirism Cure Potion, which appears in the miscellaneous section on the last page of your inventory) needs to be taken to Skingrad for Count Janus Hassildor's wife.
At Castle Skingrad you again need to work through his steward, Hal-Liurz. Mention the cure and she will lead you outside the Hall to the entrance to the Chamber of the Lost, which is the countess' secret chamber. Count Janus Hassildor is waiting there, as is your favorite witch, Melisande. Tell the count that you aquired the cure to give it to him. He will allow you to stay and watch provided that you keep quiet. Melisande wakes up the countess and the count explains that she can end her suffering. The countess drinks the potion, is healed from vampirism and drops dead on the bed. (You can loot her corpse for jewelry and some gold). The count tells you to let him grieve for 24 hours, then return for your reward.
Again, you need to get Hal-Liurz to fetch the Count for you. The dialog item "Reward" will cause him to given you a level-dependent amount of gold (see below).
Reward
Level Reward
1-4 250 Gold
5-9 500 Gold
10-14 1000 Gold
15-19 2500 Gold
20-24 5000 Gold
25-29 7500 Gold
30+ 10000 Gold
Note
Once cured, you cannot become a vampire again (except using the console). Porphyric Hemophilia becomes just another disease.
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