Daggerfall:A Fateful Song

Execute a bard who composed a scandalous song about a local noble. Location(s): Any Dark Slayer of the Dark Brotherhood Reward: Random Gold Reputation Gain: see Reputation Gain/Loss ID: l0b10y01 Required Reputation: 10 reputation or more Difficulty: Hard

Bards don't like a fair fight

Quick Walkthrough

1. Talk to a Dark Slayer in a Dark Brotherhood guildhall.
2. Head to the specified dungeon.
3. Find and kill the bard within.
4. Return to the Dark Slayer within the time limit for your reward.

Detailed Walkthrough

Swan Song

Speak to a Dark Slayer, who says:

"Here's a rather amusing accounting that may appeal to your morbid sense of humor. Seems there's this untalented bard with a penchant for rude limericks about former patrons. As it turns out, (his/her) knowledge of geneology [sic] was lacking, and (he/she) sang a song about an incestuous duke to (his/her) new patroness, the duke's daughter. Interested in accounting this uncouth artiste for (random gold) gold pieces?"

Accept

The Dark Slayer goes on:

"I thought it would appeal. Apparently, the bard is aware of our contract and is hiding in a dismal hole called (dungeon). Shouldn't be more than a minor scuffle, but do not let down your guard. A desperate songster can be an unpredictable adversary. Be back in (time limit) days to collect your accounting fee. Good luck."

Decline

The Dark Slayer answers:

"Did I misunderstand you, or did you really say no? How do you expect to appreciate the rich tapestry of humanity if you don't have time to butcher a lousy musician?"

Making the Bard Face the Music

This quest is a standard dungeon crawl. Travel to the dungeon named by the Dark Slayer and enter it. Find and kill your target within. When the bard is dead, you receive a notification:

You have slain (bard's name).

Return to the guildhall for your reward.

Reward

When you report back to the Dark Slayer after successfully assassinating the bard, he says:

"Ah, did you stay to hear the final note from that boorish instrumentalist? Here's your cut for being the instrument of the bard's requiem: (random gold) gold pieces. Enjoy."

Reputation Gain/Loss

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

Faction/Person	Reputation Gain
Dark Brotherhood	+5
Dark Slayers	+5
Associated factions	+2

A failed quest results in a reputation loss according to the table below.

Faction/Person	Reputation Gain
Dark Brotherhood	-2
Dark Slayers	-2
Associated factions	-1

(Allies/Enemies affiliations for listed factions are not considered in the tables)

Enemies

• Random dungeon monsters
• Quest Target: One Bard

Notes

• This is one of only two quests in the game (along with The Assassin) in which a Bard-type NPC enemy can be encountered.
• This is one of the few Dark Brotherhood quests with a concrete reward.

Additional Dialogue

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

• "I wonder whether that duke really did have incest with his daughter."
• "That poor Bard couldn't even carry a tune anyhow."

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

• "Well, (bard's name) may have moved on but we'll always remember (his/her) songs."
• "I hear that duchess is madder than a magister about the bard getting away."

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

• "They say you can still hear (bard's name)'s mocking song in the breeze at night."
• "I, for one, am happy that (bard's name)'s dead; (he/she) was an awful bore."

If you successfully complete the quest, the quest giver may later greet you with:

• "Ah, hello, (player's first name). 'Tis music to my eyes to see thee again."

If you failed the quest, the quest giver will greet you with:

• "How can I greet thee, (player's first name)? You have failed to slay the bard. A very sour note on your record, indeed."

Quest Log

A Fateful Song (l0b10y01)
Stage/ Index	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
0		(Date): The Dark Brotherhood has sent me to assassinate a bard by the name of (bard's name) and be back to (building) of (town) in (time limit) days. This bard is apparently in hiding in a dungeon called (dungeon).