Online:The Bargain's End

This page is currently being rewritten as part of the Online Quest Project. The page is being both written and checked. All users are welcome to make changes to the page. If you make a change that is relevant to the project, please update this template accordingly, and make sure you have observed the project guidelines. Detail Quick Summary: written by Moinante, checked by MolagBallet Walkthrough: written by Likelolwhat, checked by MolagBallet Quest Stages: written by Ingura, not checked

Decide the fate of Stillrise Village. Zone: Shadowfen Objective: Stillrise Village — Stop the threat to Stillrise Village. Quest Giver: Chieftain Suhlak Location(s): Stillrise Village, Odious Chapel Prerequisite Quest: The Thin Ones Reward: Skeleton Polymorph Average Leveled Gold XP Gain: Standard XP

Hear out both sides

After returning the soul gem array, Chieftain Suhlak made me the arbiter over the fate of Stillrise Village. Destroying the soul gem array will allow the villagers to die, but preserving it will trap them in their lifeless state.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Speak with War Chief Helushk and Shaman Chirah.
2. Reach the Vile Terminus in the Odious Chapel.
3. Place the Soul Gem Array into the Ice of Stasis or the Fires of Destruction.
4. Return to Chieftain Suhlak.
5. Find Diddy in the catacombs.
6. Return to Chieftain Suhlak and retrieve the baby oil.

Detailed Walkthrough

Speak with Chieftain Suhlak to begin this quest:

"Due to the theft of the soul gem array, the war chief and shaman asked me to step down. But as they dispute our future, it's my right to appoint an arbiter. So I appoint you."

What are you asking me to decide?

"Whether Stillrise Village continues or ends. Preserve the soul gem array and we remain as we are, in this state between life and death. Destroy it and you end the curse, allowing us a final rest."

Why me?

"Experiencing our curse uniquely suits you to deciding our fate.
You should hear the counsel of War Chief Helushk and Shaman Chirah before making your decision."

The rivals stand on either side, staring each other down. Talk to each of them.

Helushk will say:

"Shaman Chirah whimpers about a curse, but the real curse is allowing someone else to control us with the soul gem array.
Something must be done about it. Something permanent."

What do you think I should do with the soul gem array?

"Preserve the soul gem array forever. Clavicus Vile's gift has its drawbacks, but it's the only life we have. Don't let the weak-willed take it away from the rest of us."

How would I preserve the soul gem array?

"There's a room deep in the Daedric ruins with two braziers that always burn. I'll give Shaman Chirah some credit. He figured out what they did.
Placing the soul gem array in the Ice of Stasis will preserve it, and us, forever."

Chirah has a different view:

"The Worm Cult nearly unlocked the secrets of the soul gem array. If they could get their hands on it, so could anyone else.
This torment will never end, unless you're the one to end it."

What do you think I should do with the soul gem array?

"Destroy it, so Clavicus Vile's grip upon us ends. Our bones may collapse, but our spirits will finally be free."

How would I destroy the soul gem array?

"Clavicus Vile provided the means on the day he cursed us. Deep in the Daedric ruins burn two braziers: one of ice, the other of fire. Placing the soul gem array into the Fires of Destruction will destroy it."

Be aware that whichever one you pledge to support, the other will send their followers to block your way to the Vile Terminus. The spurned party will run off as soon as you make your choice. War Chief Helushk will yell, "You'd kill our people to save them? What madness is that? My warriors won't allow you to perpetrate this foolishness." Shaman Chirah will say "You can't be so cruel. This is eternal torment! My acolytes won't allow you to curse us with life!"

Return to the Daedric shrine. As soon as you enter the room where you offered the totem to Clavicus Vile in the previous quest, you will find three followers of Helushk or Chirah waiting for you. Sneak around or fight your way through, and enter the door in the back that was previously inaccessible.

You must choose their fate

While you make your way around to the Vile Terminus, you will hear the voice of Chirah/Heluskh promising to stop you and pleading with you to reconsider. Finally, in the penultimate room, you will meet the leader himself, with two of his followers. They will fight to the death.

Approach the braziers. Clavicus Vile will speak to you. "You've felt the true splendor of my gift to Stillrise Village. What gift have you for them, I wonder? Preserve their existence or end it forever. Which will it be? Probably the boring one."

The Fires of Destruction are on the left, and the Ice of Stasis is on the right. This is your final opportunity to change your decision. Whichever brazier you place the soul gem array in, Clavicus Vile will speak again, mocking your choice and showing perverse delight in the negative consequences of your actions. He will turn you back into your normal form and say, "Now begone."

The exit is just behind the braziers. You will be just south of where you came in. Make your way down to the center of the village to find Chieftain Suhlak.

If you chose to preserve the villagers, she will muse: "You've chosen what we couldn't for ourselves, and diddy would not be proud. Without the fate of the soul gem array held over us, we can finally begin to think of our future. Thank you, arbiter. You are always welcome in Stillrise Village. You've protected Stillrise Village from weak thinking and necromantic tyranny. More than anything, you've given us a future. Possibly beyond these huts in this swamp. We're our own people now, and we couldn't have been without your help."

If you chose to destroy the villagers, she will say: "And so it ends. You made the choice we could not. My people are now at peace. At last! You've freed us from our miserable existence. This was no life, just a mockery of better days. I feel Clavicus Vile's curse fading. It won't be long now. Thank you for allowing us the dignity of death."

Either way, you will receive the Skeleton Polymorph, which will go directly to your Collections, and some gold.

Notes

• Helushk's followers consist of Knights, Archers and Soldiers, while Chirah's are Augurs and Skirmishers.
• If you change your mind after agreeing to side with Helushk or Chirah by placing the array in the other brazier, the one you fought at the entrance to the Vile Terminus will be standing next to Suhlak as if you had sided with them from the outset.

Quest Stages

The Bargain's End
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	Chieftain Suhlak asked me to hear out War Chief Helushk and Shaman Chirah before deciding the villagers' ultimate fate. Complete one: Objective: Follow Shaman Chirah's Advice Objective: Follow War Chief Helushk's Advice
	To resolve the villagers' fate, I must return to the Odious Chapel need Stillrise Village. Objective: Enter the Odious Chapel
	The Odious Chapel is no longer abandoned. I need to make my way deeper inside. Objective: Enter the Vile Terminus
	I can make my final choice within the Vile Terminus. If I want to destroy the array, I can drop it into the Fires of Destruction. To preserve it, I need to place it on the Ice of Stasis. Complete one: Objective: Destroy the Soul Gem Array Objective: Preserve the Soul Gem Array (Fire Destroys, Ice Preserves)
Finishes quest	I destroyed the soul gem array, ending the villagers' bargain with Clavicus Vile. I should return to Stillrise Village and see what became of the villagers. Objective: Return to Stillrise Objective: Talk to Chieftain Suhlak
Finishes quest	I preserved the soul gem array, ending the villagers' bargain with Clavicus Vile. I should return to Stillrise Village and see what became of the villagers. Objective: Return to Stillrise Objective: Talk to Chieftain Suhlak

Notes

* Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the game and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.