Lore:Quill of Gemination

Winterhold

Quill of Gemination

"The quill was supposed to allow me to duplicate any writing I'm viewing in exacting detail. I'm sure you can understand how useful that would prove in a business situation, especially where signatures were involved." —Maven Black-Briar

Quill of Gemination is a unique custom-made enchanted quill. It is no ordinary writing instrument; its remarkable ability to replicate text with meticulous precision made it a priceless tool, particularly when it came to the delicate task of securing signatures. The true marvel of this quill lay in its ability to flawlessly duplicate any writing it transcribed, ensuring that no detail was lost in the process. To function correctly, the quill relies on a unique and confidential ink formula known exclusively to its commissioner.

History

Maven Black-Briar

Vald's lost shipment

A few years before 4E 201, Maven Black-Briar, a wealthy clan matriarch of Riften commissioned the Quill of Gemination. This exceptional quill was fashioned by the wizards of the College of Winterhold with whom she had a connection. Understandably, the wizards of Winterhold requested a substantial amount of gold as compensation for their work. To safeguard her interests and maintain control over this remarkable tool, Maven took the precaution of ensuring that the quill required a unique ink formula known solely to her. This clever move ensured that the quill would be of little value to anyone outside of her immediate influence.

The quill never reached its intended destination, as her hireling Vald was entrusted with the responsibility of delivering it to Maven. She instructed him to meet the Winterhold caravan on the western shores of Lake Honrich to ensure a discreet arrival without attracting unnecessary attention on the roads. However, to Maven's great disappointment, he lost his way in the mist and steered his boat directly into a treacherous cluster of rocks. This unfortunate incident resulted in the precious quill being plunged into the watery depths below. Vald's inability to recall his precise location, coupled with Maven's futile efforts to recover the quill, have unsurprisingly left him indebted to Maven.

In 4E 201, a member of the local Thieves Guild took it upon themselves to help settle Vald's debt to Maven as a favor unrelated to the quill. Their efforts led to the successful recovery of the quill. The quill, an invaluable asset in Maven's business dealings, was safely returned to her possession. As a result, Vald was completely absolved of all his debts to her, though she made it clear that she expected him to leave Riften immediately. It is also possible that the quill was never recovered, and thus it did not return to Maven's possession.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Skyrim article.