Daggerfall:A Noble's Debts

A noble has disappeared along with a major fortune. Location(s): Any merchant or innkeeper Reward: A diamond Reputation Gain: see Reputation Gain/Loss ID: k0c30y03 Required Reputation: 30 reputation or more Difficulty: Hard

Your reward for this quest

Quick Walkthrough

1. Talk to a merchant or innkeeper.
2. Follow one of the quest paths to find the deed, the gold, and/or the noble.
3. Return to your employer with either the deed or the gold, or after killing the noble within the time limit for your reward.

Detailed Walkthrough

The Deadbeat Noble

Speak to a merchant or innkeeper and he may say:

"Ah, my friend. I regret to admit that I made a poor business decision, but facts are facts. I loaned a certain sum of money to a noble by the name of (noble's name), who you may or may not have heard of. The security on the loan was the deed to a valuable piece of property. Now (noble's name) and the deed have both vanished. Rumor has it that (he/she) fell on some hard time financially, but the sum I loaned is not easily swallowed by my enterprises. Tangling with the likes of (noble's name) will likely be dangerous, but I need a champion. Will you help me, my friend, in exchange for a large uncut diamond?"

Accept

The merchant or innkeeper goes on:

"That's good to hear. Now then, I have thirty days before I will be forced to dip into my capital. The deed was stolen out of a local establishment called (bank) in (first town) together with some other valuables, but the coincidence between (noble's name)'s disappearance at the same time the deed did merits investigation. (Noble's name)'s old residence was (noble's house) in (second town), which I understand is now empty. Other than that, I have no leads. I either need the gold (noble's name) borrowed, the deed to the house, or that aristocrat's head on a stick in thirty days. Don't let me down, (player's first name).

Decline

The merchant or innkeeper answers:

"I am sorry to hear that. I understand, of course, but it is disappointing."

Repossession

To complete this quest, you must return to your employer after obtaining the deed, getting the gold, or killing the noble. The deed is located in a dungeon along with a letter containing the location of a second dungeon where the noble and the gold can be found. Once you have found the deed, you can either return to your employer or go to the second dungeon to find the other two objectives. There are three main paths you can take to locate the deed:

Path 1: Thieves and Murderers

This is the easiest method of learning the first dungeon's location. If your reputation with the Thieves Guild and/or the Dark Brotherhood is at least 15, you will receive a letter from one or both factions a few days after beginning the quest:

You do not even realize that the young boy is next to you until you feel the letter slip into your hand. By the time you turn, he has disappeared, scurrying away so quickly you do not have a hope of catching him.

The letters will reveal the location of the first dungeon, and if you receive one from the Thieves Guild, they will also give you 15 to 50 gold pieces or a trinket of similar value. The letters read:

(Player's name), (Noble's name) is a thief, but not one of ours. We would like (him/her) to be caught as well. Please accept this contribution to your expenses, and this other bit of information: (noble's name) is not working alone. There is a gang of mercenaries under (his/her) direction in a place called (dungeon). Some of (his/her) treasure may be kept there as well, but I do not think (noble's name) is there. Good luck, (player's first name), and walk with Baan Dar. -- The Guild

and

Nightside Asylum Dear (player's first name), We understand that you are looking for (noble's name). Because we respect you and your work, we have decided to help you in this matter. (Noble's name) used our services once some weeks ago, and we received our payments through a small but fierce band of (his/her) allies garrisoned at a camp called (first dungeon). If you are truly interested in finding (noble's name), you would be smart to start there. Good luck and may Mephala steady thy aim. -- The Brotherhood

Thanks to your underworld friends, you can now proceed straight to the first dungeon without having to bother with any further investigations.

Path 2: Searching the Noble's House

A mysterious rock left behind by the noble

Your employer mentioned the noble had previously lived in a home in another town. Travel there, and find the noble's now-abandoned residence by asking around. Once you know where it is, gain entrance to the building by either picking the lock or using an Open spell. Inside the building you will find a random mineral on the ground. Pick up the mineral to investigate it and see:

There is a stamp on the piece of (rock) that reads (first dungeon).

Travel to the dungeon to search for the deed and a letter with the location of the second dungeon.

Path 3: Investigating the Robbery

If your reputation with The Prostitutes faction is at least 10, you will receive a letter directly from the prostitute shortly after starting the quest, allowing you to bypass the initial investigation stages:

"This is from (prostitute's name)," a voice whispers and a young courier hands you a note. Before you can react, he scurries away.

The letter reads:

Dear (player's name), I might have some information that might help your search for that rat (noble's name). If you're interested, ask for me in (prostitute's town) at a dump called (prostitute's building). And bring 10 gold pieces with you. This information ain't free. (Prostitute's name)

Otherwise, you must follow the trail of clues, starting with:

The Banker

The banker is busy investigating the robbery

Travel to the town where the robbed bank is located and enter during its normal hours. Find and speak to your contact; the information you are given depends on your reputation with The Merchants. If your reputation with the faction is less than 10, you are told:

"I'll tell you what I told (noble's name). (Bank) will reimburse all gold lost in the robbery down to the last penny. We just want to answer certain questions about the robbery itself. Things it would be best not discussed with a stranger, you understand."

Unfortunately, this path is now a dead end. You must investigate the house or receive a helpful letter to progress. However, if your reputation with The Merchants is at least 10, the banker will be much friendlier:

"Ah, good to see you, (player's first name). We are having a bit of excitement lately with the robbery and all. Only certain accounts and deposits were targetted, so (guard's name), our security agent, is looking into the holders of those accounts. Perhaps (he/she) might be able to give you more information, (player's first name). (Guard's name) is at (guard's building) in (guard's town)."

The Guard

The guard won't wait long for your arrival

Travel to the town where the guard is staying immediately, as he or she will only be there for a day or two before leaving to investigate alone. When you arrive in town, ask around about the guard until you learn his or her location, and go speak with him or her. This guard will belong to a random Knight Order; your reputation with that Order will determine the kind of information you receive. If your reputation is 10 or higher, the guard will greet you warmly and appreciate your help:

"Ah, (player's name), my friend. I think we may be able to help each other in this affair. I know where (noble's name) has gone, but (his/her) allies are making it difficult to get to (him/her). Millions of gold pieces can buy some powerful friends. I need you to cut off this connection, and then meet me so we can together cut off (noble's name) altogether. Drop this letter off in (his/her) allies' stronghold (first dungeon) and then come to (second dungeon). With luck, the letter should distract those soldiers so (noble's name) will be relatively defenseless, except for (his/her) own guards of course. Very good, (player's first name), I will be seeing you soon."

With this information, you can now proceed to either of the two dungeons, though if you follow the guard's plan and drop the letter in the first dungeon it will greatly reduce the opposition you will face in the second one. However, if your reputation with the guard's faction is less than 10, you are instead told:

"I'm afraid I can't discuss this matter with you, (player's name). This affair only concerns (noble's name) and myself, no one else. If you're really interested in helping, go chat with (prostitute's name), a prostitute who had some kind of relationship with our friend (noble's name). She'll want ten gold pieces to cooperate, and you'll find her over in (prostitute's town) in a place called (prostitute's building). Good luck, (player's first name). I may not be here when you get back, but you are certainly capable of carrying on the investigations on your own."

The Prostitute

This friendly young lady has a bone to pick with the noble as well

Note: in the absence of third-party patches, this path of investigation may be broken (see bugs). If you have not yet learned the location of either dungeon by this point, you must follow a different path.

Once you know the prostitute's location, head there and speak to her. As the guard or the letter told you, her information isn't free; talking to her brings up a prompt asking if you want to pay her. Say yes, and the kind courtesan says:

"Thank you, sweets. I've heard you're the decent sort, and I thought I'd give you a break. I was hired by (noble's name) a few weeks ago -- not for the reason you're thinkin. All I had to do was flirt with some old gaffer and get him to ask me out to dinner on a specific day. I guess to get him out of his house, because I found out later that the bloke's house was burgled while we was out. Lots of stuff was took, I hear. The old fella was cute and sweet and I felt bad about it. You may want to talk to him. His name's Chulmore Quill. Or you could go to the place where I met that (noble's name), (random residence) in (random town) and see if anyone there knows anything. Hope all this helps, (player's first name). I'd like to see old (noble's name) put away myself."

The residence the prostitute names is a random location with no additional clues (see bugs). Therefore, seek out the old gaffer she told you about. Be watchful after this meeting, as you will be randomly beset by knights until the quest ends. These mercenaries are sent by the noble, and searching a knight's corpse will reveal a note from their employer:

(Player's name) is your target, a (player's race) adventurer and mercenary. Use extreme caution and be prepared for a fight. No jellyfish this one. -- (Noble's name)

Chulmore Quill

The ringmaster was duped by the noble, and isn't happy about it

Head to the town and building where Chulmore Quill is staying, and speak with him. If your reputation with Quill is at least 10, he will give you a small amount of gold and reveal the location of both dungeons, greeting you with:

"Ah, (player's first name), my friend. Again, I have been seduced and betrayed. Truly I should join some monastery. My life would be simpler without women, (oath). Here, take this gold as my contribution toward the capture of that wicked (noble's name). I only wish I could afford to give more, but after recent events, I am impoverished. For your information, (noble's name) has two hideouts in (region), one in (first dungeon) and one in (second dungeon). I do not know which if either of these is being used currently, but I would advise you to prepare your finest blade. (Noble's name) will not go down easily. Good luck and (god's name) be with you."

If your reputation with him is lower than 10, he will only give you the location of the first dungeon (and insult your mother):

"Why should I tell you anything I know about anything? You're just a patsy of (employer's name) who'd screw me like (noble's name) screwed me or that (god's name) damned (prostitute's name) screwed me. Find some hole like (first dungeon) to crawl in, wither up, and die, you child of a chancred (player's race) whore."

If Quill only gave you the location of the first dungeon, go there and continue your search for the items your employer wants back. If you learned the locations of both, you can head to either one at your discretion.

Exploring the Dungeons

You may find yourself dogged by knights

The dungeon is protected by a literal army of rogues, spellswords, and barbarians

The stolen deed

Your employer's gold

The noble will stop at nothing to stop you

The remainder of this quest is a dungeon crawl (or two, if you wish). Travel to the first dungeon. Searching within will uncover a letter, which is about you and contains the location of the second dungeon. It reads:

I'm going to need some reinforcements if the rumors about this (player's race) are correct. Keep the deed in hiding in (first dungeon) but bring the gold and your men over here to (second dungeon). We'll discuss this further ü:when you arrive. -- (Noble's name)

Taking the letter does not cause the parchment on the floor to disappear, as there is another document to pick up. Do so, and a message pops up:

This looks like the deed (noble's name) gave (employer's name) as collaterial [sic].

Indeed, you have found the missing deed. It reads:

This document bears witness to the ownership of (deed residence) of (deed residence town) in (region). Let all who read this know that (noble's name) is the sole and rightful owner of the afore mentioned [sic] property.

Note: due to an error, the locations of the deed and the gold are transposed (see bugs). This does not affect the outcome of the quest, however.

You can return the deed to your employer and complete the quest immediately, if you wish. Otherwise, you can head to the second dungeon now that its location is known to you. If you are helping carry out the guard's plan, you already know the location of the second dungeon and can skip finding the deed entirely. However, your purpose here is to drop the counterfeit note the guard gave you anywhere inside this dungeon. Leaving the fake letter will reduce the number of enemies that will appear in the second dungeon. The false note reads:

"Change of agenda, folks. I need you in (employer's town) right away. Get over there and wait for my response. Shouldn't take longer than a few days. -- (Noble's name)

Travel to the second dungeon. This is the noble's lair; you will face considerably more resistance here than inside the first dungeon. Once you enter, along with the dungeon's normal denizens you will be randomly harassed by legions of rogues, spellswords, and (if you did not drop the guard's note in the first dungeon) barbarians until the quest ends. Fight your way through these enemies and somewhere within, you will find the noble guarding your employer's stolen gold. The noble appears as a warrior; if it is your target, a message pops up upon hitting them the first time:

You know immediately that this must be (noble's name).

And when killed:

You have slain (noble's name), without a doubt.

Nearby you will find the missing gold. Pick it up and a message appears:

This appears to be the gold that (employer's name) loaned to (noble's name).

Remember that you only need to retrieve the gold or kill the noble, but not both, to successfully complete the quest. Once you have done either (or both), return to your employer for your reward.

Reward

After you return to your employer having completed at least one of the three objectives, you hear in response:

"(Noble's name)'s trick didn't work, did it, (player's first name)? Here's the diamond I promised. Well done, my friend."

Reputation Gain/Loss

A successfully completed quest results in a reputation gain according to the table below.

Faction/Person	Reputation Gain
Questgiver's faction	+5
Questgiver's associated factions	+2

A failed quest (time limit expired) results in a reputation loss according to the table below.

Faction/Person	Reputation Gain
Questgiver's faction	-2
Questgiver's associated factions	-1

Enemies

• Random Dungeon Monsters
• Quest Target: One Warrior
• 30x One Knight every 80 in-game minutes (15% chance) after you have spoken with the whore
• 200x One Barbarian every 221 in-game minutes (10% chance) when you enter the second dungeon and didn't drop the guard's note at the first dungeon
• 200x One Spellsword every 100 in-game minutes (5% chance) when you enter the second dungeon
• 200x One Rogue every 111 in-game minutes (5% chance) when you enter the second dungeon

Notes

• Chulmore Quill is the ringmaster of the Quill Circus, which is mentioned briefly in later games in the book The Black Arrow, v1.

Bugs

• Occasionally, reading a letter will display a blank dialogue box, even if you have already read it. Repeated attempts to view the letter usually restores readability.
• The finished version of this quest contains numerous bugs which can be fixed by installing DFQFIX. These include:
  • The time limit counter for the quest never started, thus the quest would remain active until successful completion. The counter now begins as designed. Additionally, though you are told the time limit is 30 days, the actual time limit is 20 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes. This has been reset to the full 30 days.
  • Upon arrival in a quest-related town, you could ask for information about any quest NPCs who are present, even if you had not yet learned their names. Now you will only be able to ask about NPCs once you are told of them. The one exception being the banker, who is named at the start by your employer.
  • Several bugs prevented you from being able to bribe the prostitute; in fact, she may not even appear where you were told to find her. The prostitute's residence is now explicitly defined; the building will be unlocked for the duration of the quest, and you will be able to interact with her as intended. The quest dialogue was slightly altered to accommodate these changes.
  • The residence where the prostitute says she met the noble is not relevant to the quest, so it was changed to the noble's residence in the second town.
  • The journal entry that appears after speaking to the prostitute gave the wrong location for Chulmore Quill. This has been corrected.
  • The locations of the deed and the missing gold were transposed, which conflicts with the information in the letter you find in the first dungeon. The placement of the two quest objects now matches the contents of the letter; the deed in the first dungeon and the gold in the second dungeon.
  • Dialogue options for asking about the banker and the mineral sample from the noble's house were missing. These have been properly restored and can be asked about as intended.
  • An unused letter from the noble was made functional; you will receive this 25 to 50 in-game minutes after accepting the quest:

(Player's name), If you are anticipating a long and healthy career in the Bay area, I would advise dropping your pointless and doomed hounding. Tragedy is the only possible result, and the tragedy will be your own. I won't be caught, (player's first name). I have too much money to be caught. Yours truly, (Noble's name)

Additional Dialogue

If you ask an NPC about the banker, you may hear:

• "(Banker's name) works over at (bank) in (first town). Perfectly respectable sort."
• "A banker of typical tediousness. (Banker) works at (bank) in (first town)."

If you ask an NPC about the mineral sample from the noble's house:

• "Just a piece of (rock). Odd finding it lying around (residence)."
• "The (rock) seems to have some kind of stamp on it, or an engraving."
• "Looks like the stuff they used to mine out of (first dungeon)."

If you ask an NPC about the guard after he or she has left town:

• "(Guard's name) has left (guard's town). Apparently (he/she) knows where (noble's name) has gone."'
• "(Guard's name) wouldn't have left (guard's town) unless (he/she) knew where (noble's name) is hiding."
• "Everyone's trying to figure out why (guard's name) left (guard's town) so suddenly."

After you have accepted this quest, NPCs may say when asked for any news:

• "(Employer's name) sure wasn't (noble's name)'s only dupe. Lots of people loaned (him/her) gold."
• "(Noble's name) just left (second town) suddenly, leaving debts and broken hearts behind."

If you fail the quest, NPCs may say when asked for any news:

• "(Noble's name) got away with it all, looks like. I hear (he/she)'s up north with a fortune."
• "(Noble's name)'s supposedly dead. I don't believe that for a second."

If you successfully complete the quest, NPCs may say when asked for any news:

• "No one's going to try to default on (employer's name), not after that (noble's name) affair.
• "All (noble's name) proved was it's not wise to try and cheat someone like (employer's name)."

Quest Log

A Noble's Debts (k0c30y03)
Stage/ Index	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
0		(Date): I have thirty days to find the deed that (employer's name), of (employer's building), in (employer's town) was given as collaterial [sic] on a loan to a noble named (noble's name), or to find the gold (employer's name) gave (noble's name), or, if all else fails, to find the nowhere-to-be-found (noble's name). The collaterial [sic] was in (bank) in (first town), before the bank was robbed. The only other place I've been told of is (residence), (noble's name)'s old place of residence in (second town). If I am successful in any of these goals in thirty days, (employer's name) will give me a large, uncut diamond.
1		(Date): (Banker's name) told me to see (guard's name), at (guard's residence), in (guard's town), who is currently looking into the bank robbery and (noble's name) for (bank).
2		(Date): I have met with (guard's name). (He/She) has discovered (noble's name)'s location in (second dungeon). To distract (his/her) soldiers, I must drop a letter in (his/her) allies stronghold, (first dungeon), and then meet (guard's name) at (second dungeon) to get (noble's name).
3		(Date): I have met with (guard's name). (He/she) told me that (noble's name) had a relationship with (prostitute's name), a prostitute in (prostitute's town). I'll find her at (prostitute's residence) there.
4		(Date): (Prostitute's name) told me that (noble's name) hired her to distract someone named Chulmore Quill one night. I can find him at (Quill's tavern) in (Quill's town).
5		(Date): Chulmore Quill told me that (noble's name) has two hideouts, one is (first dungeon) and the other is (second dungeon).