Inside Castle Volkihar: "Do you have a moment to talk?" What's on your mind? "That Moth Priest, Dexion. He said we needed two other Elder Scrolls. I think I know where we can start looking." Why didn't you say something earlier? " " What is it between you two? "Ever since he decided to make that prophecy his calling, we kind of drifted apart." Do you trust Harkon at all? "It's not a question of trust... he's just obsessed with the prophecy. And from what I could tell, a thousand extra years of obsession haven't made him any better. We should have found him a hobby." Does Harkon even care about you anymore? "You know, I've asked myself the same thing. I thought... I hoped that if he saw me, he might feel something again. But I guess I don't really factor in at this point." "I don't even think he sees me as his daughter anymore. I'm just... a means to an end." So where is this Elder Scroll? "We need to find my mother, Valerica. She'll definitely know where it is, and if we're lucky, she actually has it herself." You said you didn't know where she went. "The last time I saw her, she said that she'd go somewhere safe... somewhere that my father would never search. Other than that, she wouldn't tell me anything. But the way she said it... "someplace he would never search." It was cryptic, yet she called attention to it." Sounds like she was being cautious. "Maybe. What I can't figure out is why she said it that way." We can't waste time on cryptic clues. "If you have a better lead than this, I'm all ears." Maybe your mother didn't trust you, either. "That's always a possibility. She was almost as obsessed as my father by the time she shut me in. But I can't worry about that now. We need the scroll, and she's our only lead." "Besides, I can't imagine a single place my father would avoid looking. And he's had all this time, too. Any ideas?" Hiding with the Dawnguard? " " Sealed away like you were? "I don't think so. She said she wanted to stay awake in case the situation was resolved. It had to be one of us, and, well, she's so much more powerful than I am. It just made sense for her to be out here. Anything else?" "Wait... that almost makes sense! I used to help my mother tend a garden in the courtyard here. All of the ingredients for our potions came from there. She used to say that my father couldn't stand the place. Too... peaceful." Isn't that pretty risky, staying around the castle? "Oh, absolutely. But my mother's not a coward. That is... I don't think we'll actually trip over her there. But it's worth a look." "True. But I know a way we can get to the courtyard without arousing suspicion." "Trust me. I lived here for a very long time and I know every nook and cranny." "There's an unused inlet on the northern side of the island that was used by the previous owners to bring supplies into the castle. An old escape tunnel from the castle exits there. I think that's our way in." Let's go to the castle's secret entrance. " " Actually, I have some things to do first. "Don't let me stand in your way, then. I'll be at the dock whenever you're ready." Can't it wait? "Well, you could waste a lot of time trying to figure out our next move, or you could let me help. Your choice." If refused to go to the inlet: "I'm ready if you are." Let's go to the castle's secret entrance. "Come on. It's just around the side." Actually, I have some things to do first. "Don't let me stand in your way, then. I'll be at the dock whenever you're ready." If approached again: "Yes, what did you need?" Any clues about the other Elder Scroll? "Dexion said something about that scroll. What was it... something to do with dragons I think? Maybe we should try asking at the College of Winterhold. Sounds like something they'd know about." Were you and Valerica close? "Before my father became obsessed with the prophecy, mother and I spent quite a bit of time together. She was very fond of her alchemical garden in the castle courtyard. She taught me quite a bit about cultivating quality reagents." So you always got along? "Like the best of friends. I would never hesitate to share anything with her." But then it all changed. "It was very sudden. It was almost like one day we were a normal family, and then the next I didn't know who they were. I'd try to visit my mother in the garden, and she'd quickly shoo me away saying she was much too busy." That's why we're headed there? "She had to be up to something in that garden. I'm hoping it's a clue that will tell us where she went." Tell me about your family. "There's not a whole lot to tell. You've already seen my father's obsession. My mother's not a whole lot better, but you'll see that soon enough." Were you close with them? "My father... no, not really. I did spend a lot of time with my mother, but she saw me more like a protege than a daughter." It sounds like you don't like either of them very much. "It's not that simple. I guess it never is with families, is it?" "What about you? What were your parents like?" They were good people. I miss them. "Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't mean to bring up a bad memory." We should keep moving. "Right behind you." It's fine. "Let's... uh... let's just keep going." We're very close. I can't wait to see them again. "You're a good son." We should keep moving. "Right behind you." I try. "Yeah. Let's... uh... let's just keep going." We didn't really get along. Best that I haven't seen them in a while. "That's too bad. Do you know how they're doing now?" Nobody hears from them much anymore. "Oh. I... I see. Let's... uh... let's just keep going." No, but we're all better off this way. "That makes sense. Let's... uh... let's just keep going." I never knew them. I grew up alone. "I know how that feels. I mean... I know it isn't the same thing. But I was a pretty lonely child, myself." Do you still feel lonely? "Not as much. Let's... uh... let's just keep going." That's too bad. "It is. Let's... uh... let's just keep going." "I can't wait to see the courtyard again." During the journey to the courtyard: "Yeah, just around this bend."

"Castle looks so big from down here. I mean, it is big, but, well, even bigger."

"The old water cistern. On some days, this would smell just... be glad you weren't here then."

"Take the left up here. This is one of those weird double-barred security measures that my father put in when he got more paranoid. If we follow that path around, we can find the other switch."

"This leads out to the courtyard. Just head for the door." In the ruins: "Yes? What did you need?" Did you spend a lot of time down here? "I like to explore. My parents almost never let me off the island, so yeah, I poked around down here a lot. It was a little... quieter... back then. Guess a little vampire girl was enough to scare off the rats." You sound like you were a weird little kid. "I was. But I think I turned out ok." That sounds pretty lonely. "It was. But I got used to it." You talk about being lonely a lot. "Well, growing up the way I did, you get used to it." Do you still feel that way? "A little bit. That's... one of the reasons I wanted to come with you." You parents didn't make it easy on you. "No, they didn't. But that's why I like being out here with you." "But... what about you?" What about me? "Do you get lonely? Are there... people in your life?" You mean, do I get lonely? "Yeah. Is it just you, or do you have... people in your life?" I'm married. (Lie) "Oh. I didn't even know. Is it a happy home?" We have a happy life together. "Good. You deserve that much." We're not close anymore. "That's too bad. You deserve to be happy." "Anyway, this is all very touching, but don't we have some more important things to worry about right now?" I try not to rely on others. "Does it bother you that I'm here?" I'm glad you're with me. "Me too. Anyway, this is all very touching, but don't we have some more important things to worry about right now?" I'm used to a little more quiet on my journeys. "Well, I'll be out of your hair soon enough." I have lots of friends. "Well, I guess now you have one more." I'm glad you're with me. "Me too. Anyway, this is all very touching, but don't we have some more important things to worry about right now?" I'm used to a little more quiet on my journeys. "Well, I'll be out of your hair soon enough." At the courtyard: "We've mad it to the courtyard. Oh no... What happened to this place? Everything's been torn down... the whole place looks... well, dead. It's like we're the first to set foot here in centuries. This used to lead into the castle's great hall. It looks like my father had it sealed up. I used to walk through here after evening meals. It was beautiful, once. This was my mother's garden. It... do you know how beautiful something can be when it's tended by a master for hundreds of years? She would have hated to see it like this. Wait... Something's wrong with the moondial here. Some of the crests are missing and the dial is askew. I didn't even know the crests could be removed. Maybe my mother's trying to tell us something?"

"I'm telling you, there's something strange with the moondial."

"If we had the crests, we wouldn't have to keep hanging around this lovely place." What's so special about the moondial? "Well, as far as I'm aware it's the only one in existence. The previous owners of the castle had a sundial in the courtyard, and obviously that didn't appeal to my mother. She persuaded an elven artisan to make some improvements. You can see the plates that show the phases of the moons, Masser and Secunda." Does it work? "That's the thing... what's the point of a moondial? I always wondered why she didn't just have the whole thing ripped out. But she loved it. I don't know. I guess it's like having a piece of art, if you're into that sort of thing." So what exactly am I doing to it? "Hard to say. Maybe if we found the missing crests, we could figure it out." What happened to the castle courtyard? "If I had to guess, I'd say the moment mother fled the castle, father went on a rampage. Knowing him, anything at all that reminded him of her was just destroyed." Then he just walled it off. "It appears that way. I suppose he wanted to put the past behind him. Perhaps if he had spent more time with us, he would have recognized the beauty for himself." "Look around for the missing crests. Even in this mess, they should stick out." After placing the crests: "Very clever, mother. Very clever. I've never been in those tunnels before, but I'd bet they run right under the courtyard and into the tower ruins. Well, at least we're getting closer. Let's go." Inside the ruins: "I've never even seen this part of the castle before. Be careful. I don't know what might be around." "We're getting close, I'm sure of it." Do you know this place? "I had always just assumed that the other tower was completely destroyed inside. My mother kept this a secret, even from me. She must have been up to something she thought was dangerous." "Not that I ever saw. My mother had a bit of a thing for magical constructs. Not... not what you're thinking. She just found them fascinating." "Turns out my mother is sneakier than I thought. I wonder what she's hiding?" Upon reaching the gargoyle room: "I don't think we've reached the top yet. I'd bet there's some kind of secret passage around here."

"Leave it to my mother... always smarter than I gave her credit for." Upon finding Valerica's Study: "Look at this place. This has to be it! I knew she was deep into necromancy. I mean, she taught me everything I know. But I had no idea she had a setup like this. Look at all this. She must have spent years collecting these components. And what's this thing? I'm not sure about this circle, but it's obviously... something."

"Let's take a look around. There has to be something here that tells us where she's gone." What exactly are we looking for? "My mother was meticulous about her research. If we can find her notes, there might be some hints in there." Your mother maintained quite a laboratory. "I had no idea that her laboratory even existed. She had an alchemy setup in her drawing room, but nothing that even comes close to what's here." What did she research? "Looking at the equipment and materials, it looks like she was trying to advance her necromancy." To what end? "I don't know. Certainly not longevity. Kind of a waste of time for a vampire." "I remember she used to keep a small journal. See if you can dig it up." Upon finding Valerica's Journal: "Any luck yet?" I've found your mother's notes. "You did? Let me see them." What's this "Soul Cairn" that she mentions? "I only know what she told me. She had a theory about soul gems. That the souls inside of them don't just vanish when they're used... they end up in the Soul Cairn." Why did she care where used souls went? "The Soul Cairn is home to very powerful beings. Necromancers send them souls, and receive powers of their own in return. My mother spent a lot of time trying to contact them directly, to travel to the Soul Cairn itself." If she made it there, we'll find her. "That circle in the center of the room is definitely some type of portal. If I'm reading this right, there's a formula here that should give us safe passage into the Soul Cairn." What do we need? "A handful of soul gem shards, some finely-ground bone meal, a good bit of purified void salts... Oh... damn it..." What's wrong? "We're also going to need a sample of her blood. Which... if we could get that, we wouldn't even be trying to do this in the first place." You share her blood. "Hmmm. Not bad. We'd better hope that's good enough. Mistakes with these kind of portals can be... gruesome. Anyway, enough of that. Let's get started." Are all of those ingredients here? "Oh, definitely. Mother would have plenty of those materials in her laboratory, you just need to find them." "Having trouble finding those ingredients?" Anything you can tell me about the Soul Cairn? "The Soul Cairn is a tiny sliver of Oblivion, the realm of the daedra. It's ruled by unseen beings known as the Ideal Masters." Why was your mother so fascinated by it? "Honestly, I don't know. Necromancers are always interested in souls, though, so that probably has some kind of interest." What exactly are the Ideal Masters? "Nobody really knows. As far as I've heard, no one's seen them and returned to Tamriel to tell about it." Then how are you sure they even exist? "I've read stories. Stories about fools that managed to... communicate with them. You give the Ideal Masters souls, they give you powers to summon the undead. It's all very business-like." Fools? Why do you say that? "Because most of the stories end with the Ideal Masters duping the necromancers, who end up dead or wishing they were dead." "They shouldn't be that hard to find. Shelves, tables... should be easy to find. She wouldn't have hidden them." After collecting the ingredients: "Get the ingredients in the vessel and let me know when you're ready."

"Just get all the ingredients into the vessel." After placing the ingredients: "Then the rest is up to me. Are you ready to go? I'm not entirely sure what this thing is going to do when I add my blood." Can I ask you something first? "Of course. What is it?" What will you do if we find your mother? "I've been asking myself the same thing since we came back to the castle. She was so sure of what we did to my father, I couldn't help but go along with her. I never thought of the cost." It sounds like she did everything for your sake. "Possibly. I guess even a vampire mother is still a mother. She worried about me. About all of us. But she wanted to get me as far away from my father as possible before he really went over the edge." I don't know what she was thinking. "Neither do I. She always seemed happy, before we heard the prophecy. Then it all changed. She became a different person. They both did." It sounds like she was pretty selfish. "She wasn't, always. But I think you're right. She was practically smirking as we left home. Almost like she was proud of herself. Like she didn't want to just stop my father... she wanted to stick it to him, too." We won't know until we find her. "Yes... yes, you're right. I'm sorry. I just didn't expect anyone to care how I felt about her. Thank you. Are we ready then?" Let's get that portal open. "All right. Here goes." I have some preparations to make, first. "I'll be here. Don't take too long, now!" I'm ready. "Okay, here goes." When the portal opens: "By the blood of my ancestors... She actually did it... created a portal to the Soul Cairn. Incredible."

"Incredible. Simply incredible."

"I'm ready when you are." If not a vampire and attempted to enter the Soul Cairn: "Are you alright? That looked painful." It was. What happened? "Now that I think about it... I should have expected that. Sorry. It's hard to describe. The Soul Cairn is... well, hungry, for lack of a better word. It's trying to take your life essence as payment." So there's no way in, then. "There might be, but I don't think you're going to like it. Vampires aren't counted among the living. I could probably go through there without a problem." Are you saying that I need to become a vampire? "Not your first choice, I'd guess." There has to be another way. "Maybe. We could just "pay the toll" another way. It wants a soul, so we give it a soul. Yours." Wouldn't that kill me? "My mother taught me a trick or two. I could partially soul trap you, and offer that gem to the Ideal Masters. It might be enough to satisfy them. It would make you a bit weaker when we travel through the Soul Cairn, but we might be able to fix that once we're inside. Maybe." Those are my only options? "I'm sorry. I wish I knew a better way, something that would be easier for you. Just know that... whatever path you choose, I won't think any less of you. Sometimes things just have to be done. I know that better than anybody." If approached again: "Have you made up your mind?" I don't see another way. I'll become a vampire. "Are you sure? I'm willing to turn you, but you need to think it through. You'd become the very thing you've sworn to destroy. I don't know how the Dawnguard will react." You're right. Let me think about it. "I understand. Take your time." I'm ready. "Turning someone is a very... personal thing for vampires. It's intimate. For us. I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you into this." In that case, I'm glad you're the one doing it. "Let's not waste too much time, then." I understand. "Good." Let's just get it over with. "As you wish." "I promise to try and make this as painless as possible. Hold still." Soul trap me. I won't feel right as a vampire. "Are you sure? I'm willing to do it, but you need to think it through. You'll remain mortal, but you'll find yourself weakened within the Soul Cairn." You're right. Let me think about it. "I understand. Take your time." I'm ready. "I know this is difficult for you. I hope you trust me. I'd never do anything that could hurt you." I trust you completely. "Thank you. Let's not waste any more time then." Don't worry about it. "Oh. Good." Let's just get this over with. "As you wish." "I promise to try and make this as painless as possible. Hold still."