Online:Nilwen

Nilwen
Location	Northeast of Ivarstead
Race	Wood Elf	Gender	Female
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Faction(s)	Thieves Guild

Nilwen

Nilwen is a Wood Elf living in a small shack located north of Ivarstead. She is beset by deadly "great beasts" from all sides and will ask for help from any nearby adventurers. In reality, she is a dangerous criminal, tricking passing travelers into fighting giants and then looting their corpses.

Related Quests

• Fierce Beasts of Ivarstead: Help a frightened woman make Ivarstead safer.

Quest-Related Events

When you find her in her shack, she will cry out:

"I'm so helpless! Won't someone help me?"

She will beg for your help to defeat a monster to feel safe:

"Y'ffre's bones! A brave adventurer! Please, won't you help me?"

What are you doing in this shack?

"Shack? This is my home! It's not much, but it keeps the weather off my head. My home is the least of my problems!"

What problems?

"Beasts! Death is all around me. The worst of them is Lockjaw, a monster without equal!
He lairs in a fallen tree to the south. If only someone dared kill him for me!"

I'll take care of Lockjaw for you.

Talking with her afterwards, she continue to plea for your help.

"If you can truly slaw Lockjaw, I'll sleep much easier. Please, save me from this foul beast!"

After you've dealt with Lockjaw, she will be effusive with her praise.

"You've returned! And all in one piece. What a hero!"

You sent me to kill a rat.

"Wasn't he terrifying though? Such big teeth and such sharp claws! I shudder to think of what he might have done to a helpless Bosmer like me. He's really dead?"

Yes, he's dead.

"I prayed nightly for a champion to deliver me from these beasts. And now you're here, my savior!"

Anyone could kill a rat.

"Are all heroes so modest? But danger still lurks. A deadly beast called Greatclaw lives nearby. Last night I saw it kill a man by dropping a tree on him!"

I'll deal with Greatclaw.

No, I'm done with this.

"Oh, mercy! I'm just a Bosmer, what chance do I have against such fierce beasts? I can only pray my death is swift and not too painful."

Nilwen will be unsubtle in her prompting.

"Oh, I'm so little and helpless. I don't know what I'll do without someone brave and strong to save me."

Once Greatclaw is defeated, you can return with the news. Nilwen will then ask you to deal with one more monster.

"Tell me, brave adventurer! Is Greatclaw truly dead?"

Greatclaw was a bird.

"Well, but it was a great big bird, wasn't it? Huge! With a cruel beak and massive claws?"

No, just a normal bird. It flew away.

"The foul beast fled, knowing you'd slay it, my champion! I fear him no longer. What would I do without you?
I beg you to help me one last time!"

What is it?

"Cracktooth! A terrifying Goblin. I could never defeat him, small and helpless as I am. But I know a brave, powerful champion like you can slay him easily!
His camp is to the east, across the river."

Yeah, yeah. I'll go kill the little guy for you.

I'm not falling for this again.

"Oh, please. Don't fail me now, when the danger is greatest!
Save me from the evil Goblin. I promise you'll be well rewarded."

She will sound worried if you talk with her once more.

"I know Cracktooth will come for me. I'm so helpless! What will I do?"

After you find and deal with Cracktooth, you can return to Nilwen with the news. She will break character somewhat once you explain what happened.

"Oh, dear! Did my champion lose his nerve? Please, you must stop Cracktooth!"

Cracktooth is dead.

"He's … wait, what? You found an actual Goblin?"

No, I found a giant. I killed him.

"Well, you know. Goblins, giants—they're all great big beasts to little me.
But what's important is you saved me. My hero! Thank you so very much. Here, have some coins."

If you exit the conversation before turning in the quest, she will alternatively say:

"I can't believe you killed the giant. Really? Wow, uh, that's great."

What about my reward? (Leads to quest completion dialogue)

If you talk with her after being paid, Nilwen will be short-spoken and will tell you her travel plans.

"Oh, you're back. I was just leaving. To, um, Valenwood. Yeah. Well, bye!"