Online:Thaddeus Cosma

Thaddeus Cosma
Location	Nchuthnkarst
Race	Imperial	Gender	Male
Health	39,959
Reaction	Friendly

Thaddeus Cosma

Thaddeus Cosma is an Imperial time traveler outfitted in full Dwemer armor. You will meet him in the ruins of Nchuthnkarst in Blackreach: Greymoor Caverns.

Thaddeus is intentionally mysterious about his origins and purpose. For instance, he starts to tell you what organization he belongs to before stopping himself. He seems to have a great deal of knowledge of both the Dwemer and time travel, although it's unclear if those two subjects are related or coincidental. He could be from any place, or any time.

Related Quests

• The Tones of the Deep: Temporal disturbances are wreaking havoc within the ruins of Nchuthnkarst.
• Castoff Destinies: Please add a description for this quest
• Chronicle of Fate: Learn what was forgotten.

Quest-Related Events

The Tones of the Deep

Thaddeus will first be encountered on a balcony within the ruins of Nchuthnkarst.

"You! Of course it's you. It simply couldn't have been anyone else, could it?"

Do I know you?

"That depends. What year is it? No, wait! Don't say it, there's already enough temporal instability going on in this place.
My name is Thaddeus Cosma and I am a member of … you know what? That's not important right now. This device, however, is!"

What exactly is that device?

"Too complicated to explain. See that scroll on that ledge there? It's a list of components I need you and your friends to track down.
Unless I fix this device, the temporal and spatial distortions will tear this place apart, along with all of us."

Right, I'll see what I can do.

Before you read the list, he will say:

"The list. On the ledge. Take it. It's important, I swear.
Unless it's time shifted again. I say, keeping anything on your person through these trips is a hassle."

After reading Thaddeus's List of Parts, Kireth and Raynor will join you:

Raynor Vanos: "Spatial distortions? That would explain these tremors!"

Kireth Vanos: "Raynor? Something's happening ...."

Raynor Vanos: "Kireth, what's wrong? Kireth? Kireth!"

Thaddeus Cosma: "Hm ... well, that's unfortunate."

Thaddeus will say:

"If you want to save your companions, find those components I listed!
But be careful. The distortions are bringing all kinds of strange creatures from across Tamriel and beyond to this very spot! Be prepared for anything. And I mean anything."

Where did Kireth and Raynor go?

"Where indeed! I suppose they could really be anywhere. The Merethic Era, the distant future, the very start of creation!
Don't get hung up on it. Rather, we should concentrate on how to bring them back … providing they haven't already perished."

How do we do that?

"Fixing this Dwemer device should realign time and return every thing and every one to its proper place. In theory.
Which is why I need those components. In light of unfortunate circumstances, the responsibility to retrieve them now falls to you."

How will we find them?

"More questions! I almost forgot what a curious creature you are.
All I can say for sure is you will know them when you see them. Now hurry along! I'll stay here and keep the device stable for as long as I can."

After you return with the requested parts:

"Hah! There you are. Did you find the parts we need? Time is of the essence!"

I have the parts. I saw some strange things ….

"Of that I have no doubt.
Now, I need to ensure the central resonator remains stable during the process. You must install the components. There, there, and there. Quickly now!"

Speaking with him again before repairing anything:

"You need to repair the machine! Need I reiterate that time is something we do not have? Hurry!"

Thaddeus Cosma vanishes

He will then help you repair the Dwarven device.

Thaddeus Cosma: "I … suppose that'll work."

Thaddeus Cosma: "Steady! Stead! Not so rough!"

Thaddeus Cosma: "Let me just adjust the … come on …."

Thaddeus Cosma: "That's it! Now, throw the lever on the overlook to reset the device! Hurry!"

Speaking to him before pulling the lever:

"What are you talking to me for? Do you want to save your companions or not?
Go throw the switch on the overlook! Move it, move it!"

With the repair completed, he will instruct you to pull the nearby lever to end the temporal disturbances.

And once you pull the switch he will exclaim "It's working, you've done it!"

As he's running towards you:

Thaddeus Cosma: "Ah hah! You've done it!"

With this done, he will say:

"Brilliant! You did it!
I'm incredibly grateful. You can't possibly imagine how uncomfortable it is to be in the wrong temporal configuration. Imagine bowel cramps, except all throughout your body. Absolutely horrid."

Where are Kireth and Raynor?

"It will be a few moments before everything reconfigures itself. They should realign to your time as I depart for my own.
So, if you have any questions, now would be the time!"

You said you were from an organization?

"Ah, yes. We're the ones who ask questions. You provide the answers, usually in the most destructive manner possible.
I'm afraid I can't be more specific. The fragility of your brain and your understanding of space and time are rattled enough as is."

Are you from the future?

He then dematerializes.

Thaddeus Cosma: "Terribly sorry! I must go! Hah, home at last!"

Castoff Destinies

While Ogle is still freaking out about finding the glyphic he lost inside Underweave, Thaddeus Cosma comes out of a portal and greets the both of you:

Ogle: "It's no use, I'm done for—wait. What is that?"

<A portal opens, Thaddeus Cosma comes out.>

Thaddeus Cosma: "For once, a pleasant surprise. I'm actually happy to see you, meddler. My work in the streams has come to fruition." (If you met him in Nchuthnkarst)

Thaddeus Cosma: "But never mind that. There's more work ahead. Over here, if you please."

You will find out that he tricked Ogle into misplacing the glyphic:

"Ah, we meet again, just as I intended. Not because of your bumbling about the planes.
You're just in time to help me. I know where the fated glyphic is, so there's no need for that silly boon. Besides, you look ridiculous." (If you completed Tones of the Deeps)

It's good to see you again, Thaddeus. You know about the fated glyphic? (If you already met him before)

"Forces beyond your understanding ordained that I must come into possession of this glyphic. Since Hermaeus Mora rarely lets such a valuable object leave his personal collection, I simply charmed the Watchling into misplacing it."

You charmed Ogle into sending the glyphic to be unwoven?

"Yes, yes, I deceived the Watchling. How morally gray of me.
Listen closely. You need me to locate the glyphic for your Daedric friend. However, the nemesis looms make my presence here tenuous. If you can shut them off, you'll help everyone."

Fine, I'll shut down the nemesis looms. What are they?

"Good! You're always one for action, aren't you?
The nemesis looms are powerful devices that unweave bits of reality. For example, these failed fates. You'll find them contained in the nullifactory, just ahead past the cells. I'll meet you there."

If you haven't met him before:

Who are you exactly?

"Thaddeus Cosma. A traveler on tides of time and reality, but it really isn't important. That's not to say I'm not important. I am, but that's neither now nor when. All you need to know is that when our paths cross, reality itself may be at stake."

After speaking to him, Ogle will be annoyed that he got charmed and will chase after Thaddeus as you continue to search for the nemesis looms:

Ogle: "You…you charmed me?"

Thaddeus Cosma: "If it's any consolation, Watchling, you performed your role admirably!"

Thaddeus Cosma: "Now to the nemesis looms. It will take the two of us to disable each loom."

Ogle: "My role? I didn't play any role in—hey! Get back here!"

<Both Ogle and Thaddeus will disappear in their own portals.>

When you reach the first nemesis loom, Thaddeus will outside of a window calling out for you to disable it:

Thaddeus Cosma: "There you are. Disable that mechanism, and I'll do the same here. That should deactivate the loom."

Once you disable the loom on your side, he will disable it on his side as well. Ogle will pop up again to argue with him before the pair disappear off to the next location:

Ogle: "There is only one role I play, and it's in service to the Prince of Knowledge! How dare you imply otherwise!"

Thaddeus Cosma: "Heh. Mora's clerk objects? I'm terrified. Come now, meddler. On to the next loom!"

Reaching the second loom:

Thaddeus Cosma: "I can already feel my presence solidifying. Come now, let's shut this one down as well."

After disabling the second loom, Ogle will appear again and feel slighted at being called a clerk and Thaddeus reassures him that his help is valued before moving onto the last loom:

Ogle: "A clerk? A clerk? What a wild underestimation of my role!"

Thaddeus Cosma: "On the contrary, I couldn't have done this without you. Onwards, the next loom is close by!"

As you continue to venture to find the final loom, you'll witness Ogle's complaints of Thaddeus' nonchalant behavior above you:

Thaddeus Cosma: "I'm solid enough to regain my sense of smell! A dubious improvement. The next mechanism, please."

Ogle: "My master's fated glyphic could be reduced to pitiful strands of temporal dust at any moment now!"

Thaddeus Cosma: "Strands of dust? Unlikely. Well, perhaps, but that's nothing to worry about now. To the next loom!"

Ogle: "Excuse me? My continued existence depends on that glyphic! Come back here!"

Reaching the final loom:

Thaddeus Cosma: "This is it, the final loom! Quickly, disable the mechanism!"

After disabling the final loom, Thaddeus directs you to go to the trash heap to find the glyphic, much to Ogle's dismay:

Ogle: "If my master's fated glyphic is destroyed, then what was the point of all this?"

Thaddeus Cosma: "Worry not. With the looms disabled we need only check the Underweave's trash heap. Onwards, meddler!"

Ogle: "The trash heap? Oh, tides take me away!"

Once you reach the trash heap, you will see the glyphic has been unwoven but Thaddeus has an idea in mind:

Ogle: "No, no, no! The fated glyphic! It's already been unwoven!"

Thaddeus Cosma: "Not ideal, but not unexpected. Meddler, a word if you please?"

Ogle: "Not ideal? I'm doomed to be tormented forever! Eternal anguish!"

Speaking to him to find out more how to salvage the situation:

"It's unfortunate we couldn't reach the glyphic before its unweaving, but all is not lost. If we work quickly, we should be able to salvage the magics still held within the fractured glyphic.
I'll need your assistance once more, of course."

You don't seem very concerned that the glyphic was destroyed.

"I took steps to prepare for this possibility. The benefit of shutting down the nemesis looms was twofold. It allowed me to maintain a more stable presence in this realm. And it unhindered my spellcasting abilities."

So what's your plan?

"We'll take the glyphic's remains to the Heart of Underweave. There, I should be able to siphon enough energy to restore it. But be prepared—the Heart may be heavily guarded.
Bring what's left of the glyphic and meet me there, meddler."

I'll get the glyphic and meet you in the Heart of Underweave.

Asking more questions:

"Let's hurry along, then! The Heart of Underweave can be found to the south, on the other side of the courtyard. I'll meet you there. Just wade across the detritus of failed fates, and go up the steps. Can't miss it."

Why didn't we come straight here if there was no chance to save the glyphic?

"First of all, the active nemesis looms muddied my sight. I had no way to know where the glyphic was. Secondly, there's no use in crying over spilled fates.
The sooner we get to the Heart, the sooner we can put this all behind us."

How can you restore the fated glyphic?

"It's a simple matter of temporal reversal. With the looms no longer operating, I'll be able to draw on the full power of the Underweave. In fact, do you have any wine you'd like rapidly aged?
I kid, of course. Let's get moving."

After picking up the remains of the fated glyphic, Thaddeus and Ogle will meet you at the Heart of Underweave:

Thaddeus Cosma: "Well done. Now out to the courtyard—we'll meet in the Heart of Underweave!"

Ogle: "Ogle has a bad feeling about this."

When you reach the Heart, he will ask you to place the fractured glyphic on the altar:

Thaddeus Cosma: "Good, you found us. Place the fractured glyphic on the altar. There's not a moment to lose."

Speaking to him before placing the glyphic:

"There's no time to lose, meddler. Every passing moment sees that glyphic dissipate further. Even I won't be able to repair it if we take too long. Place the remnants on this altar. Then give me some space to work!"

What are you going to do?

"With the nemesis looms deactivated, there's a surplus of power sitting idle within the Underweave's heart. Tapping into this reservoir will give me just the oomph I need to create a bubble of reverse time, repairing our glyphic instantly."

Will it be dangerous?

"Meddling with time is always dangerous. Not to mention utilizing unfiltered magic from the heart of an Apocryphal refinery. Or trying to repair a fragment of a fated future.
But, as they say, the planes weren't shaped by idle hands."

Once you placed the glyphic on the altar, it will be repaired while Thaddeus is channeling a spell to keep it stable:

Thaddeus Cosma: "Almost there…just a bit further… Quick! Grab the glyphic before the entropic bubble collapses!"

Ogle: "It's back! My master's fated glyphic is really back!"

Speaking to him before grabbing the repaired glyphic:

"This isn't exactly easy. Take the restored glyphic while you can!"

After retrieving the restored glyphic, Thaddeus and Ogle will meet you outside of Underweave:

Thaddeus Cosma: "Bending time really puts a kink in your neck. Let's reconvene outside Underweave. I'm sure this display of temporal magic raised a few alarms."

Ogle: "Yes, yes! Let's leave before the guards come and take Ogle away!"

Once outside, Thaddeus wants to have a look of the restored glyphic, which Ogle begrudgingly allows:

Thaddeus Cosma: "Glad to see you didn't stumble into a hole in reality, meddler. I know our many-eyed friend wants his glyphic back. Allow me a moment to study it, will you?"

Ogle: "I suppose he earned a look. But only for a moment! I'd like it returned before my master realizes it's missing."

Showing Thaddeus the restored glyphic, which turns out to be his fate:

"You really do make an invaluable field assistant, meddler. Even your Watchling friend here played his part expertly. Now please, the glyphic. I can't stand to wait any longer."

Here. What can you make of it?

"Curious. I've handled my fair share of fated glyphics, but something about this one seems almost familiar. Like a tone ringing at the edge my memory. A song perhaps. A lullabu?
How very strange."

Why did you seek out this glyphic?

"It's no secret my travels take me far and wide. I go to places far beyond what a simple compass or map might show. And in my travels, I heard an interesting rumor. That the Prince of Knowledge had found a special fate. My fate, in fact."

This glyphic holds your fate?

"I believe it does. Whether it's one fate of many, or a singular inevitable fate, I won't know until I activate it.
Funny. After all this, I find myself hesitating. Give me a moment, meddler. Perhaps take this time to calm your Watchling friend."

Speaking to him before Ogle:

"Excellent work, meddler! We even managed to avoid creating a realm-tearing temporal anomaly. Those are a nasty sight, I assure you."

After completing the quest, Thaddeus will look into the glyphic and will speak with another version of himself who warns of a cryptic decision:

Thaddeus Cosma (present): "Well. Here goes nothing, Cosma."

<An alternate version of Cosma appears.>

Thaddeus Cosma (alternate): "Thaddeus, you must listen closely. The fate of the planes depends on it."

Thaddeus Cosma (present): "So the rumors were true. Mora really did learn my fate."

Thaddeus Cosma (alternate): "Don't talk over me! Understand that when the time comes, you must say no."

Thaddeus Cosma (present): "I must say no? What in Oblivion am I talking about?"

Thaddeus Cosma (alternate): "In my timeline, things didn't go exactly to plan. But I hope you'll glimpse this causality in enough time to change our fate."

<Alternate Cosma disappears.>

Thaddeus Cosma (present): "It seems the only person who can fix a Thaddeus Cosma mess is Thaddeus Cosma. How exciting!"

After the quest, to hear his thoughts about the warning:

"I do so appreciate your help in all this. Not everyone gets the chance to learn their own fate in time to do something about it. And as far as possible fates go, that one wasn't nearly as damning as it could have been."

What do you make of that warning?

"In truth, I haven't a clue. What in all the planes am I supposed to say no to? A mystery to be sure, but I have Apocrypha's extensive libraries right at my fingertips. Can you imagine a better place to find an answer?"

So it's another mystery to solve?

"Indeed. A mystery only a Cosma could solve! This glimpse of fate wasn't a warning. It was a clue. A piece of an exciting new puzzle I've already started on.
Mora will regret not smashing this fate into dust. Farewell, meddler."

You're leaving?

He passes back the glyphic to Ogle and leaves in a portal rift:

Thaddeus Cosma: "Here's your glyphic, Watchling. And you, meddler. Do try to stay out of trouble!"

Chronicle of Fate

Thaddeus will attend the ceremony at Cipher's Midden Hall where your name will be added to the chronicle if you assisted him at Underweave.

Speaking to him:

"Meddler! Seems you're a natural at getting involved in the affairs that move and shape the planes. I won't bore you with how much celestial energy it's taking to be here right now, but….
Just know that I'm impressed."

What's next for you, Thaddeus?

"I can tell you that it won't involve time travel. I won't go near the stuff, not for a long time.
Wait, is that a paradox?"

Notes

• He is voiced by Todd Haberkorn (IMDb).
• He uses a unique facial preset unavailable to players, which is shared by Abnur Tharn.