Morrowind:Catch a Spy

Search for a Telvanni spy who has infiltrated the Guild. Quest Giver: Ranis Athrys in Balmora Location(s): Balmora, Ald'ruhn, Sadrith Mora, Vivec Prerequisite Quest: Kill Necromancer Tashpi Ashibael Reward: 2 Scrolls of Summon Golden Saint, Soul Drinker Disposition: +15 (Ranis Athrys) Reputation Gain: +5 (Mages Guild), +1 Reputation ID: MG_SpyCatch Required Rank: Journeyman

There is something wrong with Tiram Gadar's credentials.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Talk to Ranis Athrys in the Balmora Guild of Mages for duties.
2. Travel to all the Mages Guild branches and ask about spies.
3. Acquire Tiram Gadar's credentials.
4. Return to Ranis Athrys.

Detailed Walkthrough

Duties

Ranis Athrys in the Balmora Guild of Mages believes that the Guild has been infiltrated by a Telvanni spy. You are to visit the Guild halls in Ald'ruhn, Vivec, and Sadrith Mora in order to find the spy and report back to Ranis.

Finding the Spy

Of course, the logical thing would be to just grab the Guild Guide, otherwise that's a lot of walking to do. In the Ald'ruhn and Balmora guild, nobody seems to have any idea about the spy. In Sadrith Mora, Skink-in-Tree's-Shade does suspect there is a spy but suggests that you check in Vivec where the Guild decisions are actually made. In Vivec, Trebonius Artorius denies the existence of spies, saying that his advisor Tiram Gadar keeps an eye out for that sort of thing. If you inquire further, Trebonius will give you Tiram's credentials which appear to be forged (Ocato's name is spelled wrong). Tiram will deny any accusation if you ask about the authenticity of the credentials, and every time you bring the topic his disposition towards you will drop by 5.

You may tell Trebonius that Tiram Gadar is the Telvanni spy (who is very likely to be the actual spy); however, since Tiram is Trebonius' most trusted advisor, Trebonius will deny the truth and ignore your accusation, and your disposition with Trebonius will go down by 5 if Tiram Gadar is still alive.

Upon returning to Ranis with the phony credentials, you are rewarded with an increase in Disposition, a Reputation point, two Scrolls of Summon Golden Saint, and Soul Drinker, an enchanted Daedric Dagger.

Getting Ranis Athrys in Trouble

There's an alternate ending to the quest if you let Itermerel and Tashpi live (during the Escort Itermerel and Kill Necromancer Tashpi Ashibael quests, respectively). When you talk to Trebonius, lie to him and report that Ranis Athrys is the spy and she will be kicked out of the Guild, with you still getting credit for completing the quest. You will still receive a Reputation point this way, in addition to some Faction Reputation, but you'll miss out on the scrolls and dagger that Ranis would have given you.

Notes

• Quest stages 35, 50, 60 and 70 are never set. They seem to suggest that tracking down the spy originally involved more sleuth work.
• If you have killed Trebonius, you will be unable to complete this quest and Tiram will still attempt to direct you to him.

Bugs

• If you ask Trebonius about Tiram Gadar and then immediately kill Tiram before asking Trebonius for his credentials, Trebonius will have no valid reply to the credentials topic.

Quest Stages

The following Journal ID and Index codes can be used with the Journal console command to manually update the quest to a certain point.

Catch a Spy (MG_SpyCatch)
Index	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
10		Ranis Athrys believes there is a spy in the Mages Guild. I have been ordered to question Guild members in Ald'ruhn, Vivec, and Sadrith Mora. I am not to take any action against the spy, but to report back to Ranis Athrys.
35		I told Ranis Athrys about Movis Darys in Ald'ruhn, but she is convinced that there is another spy in either Vivec or Sadrith Mora.
50		Tiram Gadar told me he is a "special advisor to Guildmaster Trebonius on Dunmer issues."
60		Sirilonwe told me that Trebonius consults Tiram Gadar before making any important decision.
70		Malven Romori told me that Tiram Gadar showed up recently and gave his credentials to Trebonius.
80		Guildmaster Trebonius gave me Tiram Gadar's "credentials." They are obvious forgeries. Even Ocato's name is misspelled.
100	Finishes quest	I told Ranis Athrys about the spy Tiram Gadar. Ranis will deal with this issue herself.
110	Finishes quest	I told Archmage [sic] Trebonius that Ranis Athrys was a Telvanni Spy.

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