Dragonhold

Online:Chiaroscuro Crossroads

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Detail
Quick Summary: written by MolagBallet, not checked


Walkthrough: written by MolagBallet, not checked


Quest Stages: written by HoodBot, checked by MolagBallet


Help a Twilight Cantor perform an exorcism.
Zone: Southern Elsweyr
Objective: Black Heights — Help a Twilight Cantor expel the seeping darkness.
Quest Giver: Adara'hai, Kiza
Location(s): Black Heights, Passage of Dad'na Ghaten
Reward: Paint-Stained Ring
Wall of Life Brush
High Leveled Gold
XP Gain: High Experience XP
ID: 6396
Help Adara'hai with her exorcism
I met the Twilight Cantor, Adara'hai, and her sister, Ka'ishka, in the village of Black Heights. Ka'ishka's husband, Vijari, is terminally ill and needs to perform the last rights of his faith, but something is not right at the Wall of Life.
or
A local around Black Heights told me that a Twilight Cantor recently arrived in town and believes that spells trouble for their community.


Quick Walkthrough[edit]

  1. Find Vijari at the Wall of Life and ring the Khenarthic Bells.
  2. Go to Vijari's House.
  3. Investigate the visions of the past.
  4. Find the paint ingredients.
  5. Meet Adara'hai at Colorworks.
  6. Walk the Passage of Dad'na Ghaten and vanquish Dak'radhi.
  7. Speak with Vijari.

Detailed Walkthrough[edit]

Adara'hai performing her exorcism

When you arrive at Black Heights, you may notice two Khajiit speaking about someone's death. Inquiring further with Adara'hai reveals that she is a Twilight Cantor, and that her sister, Ka'ishka, has called her here to perform an exorcism. Ka'ishka's mate, Vijari, has always been ill, and he's nearing the end of his life. He apparently made a trip to the Wall of Life, where the residents of Black Heights paint their mark before they pass on to the Sands Behind the Stars. Ka'ishka is worried that there is something unclean at the Wall of Life, and Adara'hai asks that you clear the way along the path to the wall so that she may investigate.

While walking along the path, it is apparent that something is off. Glowing blue portals are scattered here and there, with hoarvors and spiders spilling out of them. The Wall of Life itself is in an alarming state. If you've previously helped Adara'hai cleanse the Temple of Seven Riddles, you will know exactly what's wrong with it—the influence of the dro-m'Athra pervades the wall. It is unclean. And Vijari is in the thick of Lorkhaj's incessantly beating heart. Adara'hai sees this and knows that you need to move him immediately. Talk to him and see if he isn't too far gone.

The vision fades

Vijari is speaking in rhymes and he can't see anything. He manages to tell you that "Khenarthi is the key". There are Khenarthic Bells on either side of the Wall of Life. Adara'hai tells you that you need to break the Heart of Lorkhaj's tempo, as it is too loud for her songs to break through the Darkness. You must do so by ringing the bells by the mural. Once you ring Khenarthi's holy bells, the Darkness will retreat. Adara'hai tells you to meet her back at Vijari's House so she can assess the situation.

When you arrive, Vijari is laying in bed while Adara'hai performs the Dusk-Canticles. Unfortunately, she can't perform the exorcism alone. She needs you to take the cantor's tonic, which is on the table by her bag. The Wall of Life isn't the true source of the corruption. Something is reaching out for Vijari, and Adara'hai can't break its hold without knowing more about the nature of the subject. The cantor's tonic will allow you to see what clings to Vijari, and follow it to whatever else it has touched on Mundus.

A distraught father seeks salvation

Drink the tonic. There is a cracked decanter on a table by the front door. When you observe it, you'll notice something happening within the house. The projection of a Khajiiti male and his ailing mate appears at the bed where Vijari is supposed to be. From their conversation, you can deduce that they are Vijari's parents. Vijari's mother is too weak to get up, and she dies before she has the chance to make her pilgrimage to the Wall of Life. The next vision is found at the fountain outside of Vijari's house and down the road to the east, and is triggered by the wishing coins within. Vijari is speaking unintelligibly, as he has fainted. His father, Dak'radhi, helps him up, obviously fearing for his safety. Some dried paint on the bridge leading towards the Colorworks triggers the next vision. Dak'radhi is praying to Khenarthi on the bridge when a voice calls out to him, claiming Khenarthi never cared about his weak wife or his sick child. It is the Shadow of Namiira, and she claims that Khenarthi has forsaken Dak'radhi and his kin. Namiira offers a safe haven in the Dark for Vijari, and claims that Dak'radhi can save his son with her aid.

Cross the bridge the rest of the way and enter the painter's warehouse by the lake. A claw-worn brush by an easel near the entrance will show you the next scene. Vijari is visiting his father while he works at the warehouse. Dak'radhi insists that Vijari should go to bed, as it's late. Vijari obeys as Dak'radhi ominously suggests that he will "not be gone forever." Head back up the road and enter the Colorworks. A darkly stained mortar triggers the final memory. Dak'radhi begins mixing paint. He and the Shadow of Namiira list off the ingredients: The blood of a flightless bird (too ugly for Khenarthi's skies), Petals, blue as the sky (for numbing dreams are as close as Dak'radhi will come to the clouds), and the skin of Khenarthi's fallen children (torn down by her own claws). When the paint is ready, Namiira orders Dak'radhi to paint his mark on the Wall of Life.

A ritual of renewal

Return to Adara'hai at Vijari's house with this new information. She has managed to wrest Vijari back from the Darkness, but whatever pulls him from behind the mural won't let go. Adara'hai seems taken aback when you mention that Dak'radhi is behind this. It doesn't matter that Namiira took advantage of his fear and grief; the fact of the matter is that Dak'radhi is a Bent Cat who doesn't know that he's corrupt. This makes him exceptionally dangerous. If Dak'radhi's sole desire is his son, that connection is far too strong for Adara'hai to break. You'll need to seal the cracks in the Wall of Life that allow the Darkness to seep through. When you tell her about Dak'radhi's paint ingredients, she notes that they sound more like reagents for a ritual than ingredients for paint. Adara'hai needs you to bring her these ingredients, and tells you to ask Ka'ishka and her husband more about them. If Dak'radhi mixed his paint with ingredients he could find nearby, Ka'ishka and Vijari may be able to tell you where to find these things, as they know the area around Black Heights better than Adara'hai does.

Ka'ishka seems troubled when you tell her of the ingredients, but she notes that terror birds stalk outside the village when asked about the blood of a flightless bird. Vijari tells you about the petals and the skin. Vijari takes medicine made from blue poppies for his pain, which gives him strange dreams. On the skin of Khenarthi's fallen children, Vijari points you in the direction of the white sycamore tree, which is sacred to Khenarthi. White sycamore bark makes the purest white paint.

You can find terror birds in the wild along the path leading towards Black Heights from the south. Kill a few and collect some Terror Bird Blood. Blue poppies can be found in the grass around Khenarthi's Breath Temple. Gather some Blue Poppy Petals for Adara'hai. For white sycamore bark, you need to cross the bridge near the Black Heights Wayshrine and move past the Dragonscour to a cliff overlooking the lake at Black Heights. Trees thrive on the lonely cliff, and you can harvest White Sycamore Bark there without issues.

Ring the bells to light the way

Bring the ingredients to Adara'hai at the Colorworks. You'll notice Ka'ishka and Vijari are here, too. Since Dak'radhi poured all of his hate and anguish into his art when he defiled the Wall of Life, Vijari needs to paint with love and peace when makes his mark on the wall to restore the mural. Adara'hai will consecrate Vijari's paint as he and Ka'ishka mix it. Ka'ishka will light Vijari's path, and Adara'hai's prayers to Azurah will lend Vijari's paint the power to drive back Namiira's Darkness. She informs you that you don't have a lot of time, as Vijari's health is failing him.

Vanquish Dak'radhi

Your job now is to walk the path to the Wall of Life and clear the way for Adara'hai and company to come to the wall. When the way is clear, ring one of the Khenarthic Bells at the wall to signal that it is safe for Vijari to arrive. Ka'ishka is horrified by the state the Wall of Life is in, and Vijari assures her that they can make it whole together. This is where the real work begins. While Vijari works on restoring the Wall of Life, you and Adara'hai need to walk the Passage of Dad'na Ghaten and exorcise Dak'radhi from the Mundus. The Passage of Dad'na Ghaten is where the Khajiit of Black Heights go after they've painted their mark on the wall. Along the way, they ring the bells to inform Khenarthi of their passing. You may very well have to ring these bells if the Passage is corrupted like the wall is.

The Wall of Life made whole

Enter the Passage of Dad'na Ghaten through the overgrowth to the right of the Wall of Life. Just as Adara'hai feared, the Passage is corrupted by the Great Darkness. You'll need to cut a path through the dro-m'Athra and ring the Khenarthic Bells along the passage to cleanse the area. The first bell is up the hill just outside of the entrance cave. The second bell is further along the path. Dak'radhi is near the end of the passage, and you will need to subdue him as Adara'hai performs her exorcism. Song alone is not enough to purge him from this world.

Upon Dak'radhi's defeat, his spirit emerges, and Adara'hai binds him. Suddenly, Vijari appears, as he was able to walk the passage safely with the help of your bell ringing. Dak'radhi begs Vijari to join him in the Dark Behind the World, but Vijari refuses. He doesn't fear death like his father does, and admonishes his father for going down this path. Adara'hai encourages you to strike the Advent Bell at the end of the Passage to finally purge Dak'radhi's spirit from Black Heights, despite his protests. When the bell is struck, Dak'radhi disappears, and Adara'hai exits the passage, as you need to make sure the corruption has been cleansed from the Wall of Life before coming to any conclusions.

The Wall is restored, and Vijari would like to speak with you in his final moments. He thanks you for all you've done before finally passing on. Speak with Adara'hai after he's gone. She will thank you again for your help here.

Quest Stages[edit]

Chiaroscuro Crossroads
Finishes Quest Journal Entry
I should try to find this Cantor and see what brought them here.
Objective: Find the Twilight Cantor
Latest start Vijari has gone to the Wall of Life, located in a cave beyond the rear of town. Adara'hai asked me to help her find him and assist in any exorcism she needs to perform.
Objective: Head to the Wall of Life
Hidden Objective: Find the Wall of Life
We found Vijari at the Wall of Life, but he is enthralled by some grotesque mural flowing with shadowy energies. Adara'hai told me to try snapping him out of his trance.
Objective: Talk to Vijari
Vijari seemed to be chanting something in response to me, though it was cryptic at best. Adara'hai might have some idea what he was babbling about.
Objective: Talk to Adara'hai
Adara'hai thinks Vijari meant we need to ring the Khenarthic bells by the Wall of Life. She's overwhelmed by the terrible drumming in our ears, so it's up to me to strike the bells.
Objective: Strike the Right Bell
Objective: Strike the Left Bell
The Khenarthic bell's peal drowned out the terrible drumming and broke Vijari out of his trance. Adara'hai is leading him home and asked me to meet them at Vijari's house.
Objective: Go to Vijari's Home
Vijari still seems to be in the grip of some dark power. I should ask Adara'hai about what's happening to him.
Objective: Talk to Adara'hai
Adara'hai said that the connection between Vijari and whatever drew him to that mural is too strong to break by prayer alone. She needs me to drink her cantor's tonic to see their spiritual connection and try to learn more.
Objective: Drink Cantor's Tonic
I drank the cantor's tonic and can now see a dark energy clinging to Vijari and other things connected to the source of this corruption. I should learn all I can from these residual memories.
Objective: Study the Residual Darkness: 0/5
The darkness clinging to Vijari comes from his departed father, Dak'radhi, who became a dro-m'Athra in a misguided attempt to save his son from a premature death. I need to get back to Vijari's house and inform Adara'hai.
Objective: Return to Vijari's House
The darkness clinging to Vijari is coming from his departed father, Dak'radhi, who became dro-m'Athra in a misguided attempt to save his son from a premature death. I should tell Adara'hai what I learned.
Objective: Talk to Adara'hai
Dak'radhi's memories showed me the ingredients he used to make his cursed paint. Adara'hai asked me to retrieve them and meet her at the Colorworks in Black Heights.
Objective: Collect Petals, Blue as the Sky
Objective: Collect Skin of Khenarthi's Fallen Children
Objective: Collect Blood of a Flightless Bird
I have all the ingredients Dak'radhi used for his cursed paint. I should bring them to Adara'hai at the Colorworks.
Objective: Return to the Colorworks
I have all the ingredients Dak'radhi used for his cursed paint. I should ask Adara'hai what she's planning to use them for.
Objective: Talk to Adara'hai
Adara'hai plans to have Vijari make his own paint, which she will consecrate, and use it to cleanse the mural at the Wall of Life. She asked me to clear a path for them, and ring the Khenarthic bells to signal it's safe.
Objective: Return to the Wall of Life
I arrived at the Wall of Life and the darkness that permeated the cave has returned. I need to strike a Khenarthic bell to drive it out and signal that it's safe for the others to join me.
Objective: Return to the Wall of Life
Objective: Ring a Khenarthic Bell
The Khenarthic bell cleansed the area for now and Vijari, Ka'ishka, and Adara'hai have joined me at the Wall of Life. I should speak to Adara'hai about what comes next.
Objective: Talk to Adara'hai
Adara'hai's plan is for us to enter the Passage of Dad'na Ghaten to hunt for Dak'radhi while Vijari works to cleanse the Wall of Life. The entrance is to the right of the Wall, obscured by overgrowth.
Objective: Enter the Passage of Dad'na Ghaten
The Passage of Dad'na Ghaten is overflowing with darkness from Namiira's realm and her vile servants. We need to fight our way through and ring the Khenarthic Bells while we search for Dak'radhi.
Objective: Cleanse the Passage: 0/3
We found Dak'radhi at the end of the Passage of Dad'na Ghaten. We need to banish him back to the Dark Behind the World.
Objective: Defeat Dak'radhi
I destroyed Dak'radhi's body, but it's not enough to banish him from our world. Adara'hai told me to strike the Advent Bell to finish the exorcism.
Objective: Strike the Advent Bell
The Advent Bell banished the Great Darkness from our world and Dak'radhi along with it. We should return to the Wall of Life and see if Vijari was able to cleanse it as well.
Objective: Return to the Wall of Life
The grotesque mural is gone and the Wall of Life is restored, but Vijari seems to be nearing the end of his life. He's asked to speak to me.
Objective: Talk to Vijari
Finishes quest☑ The Wall of Life is restored and Vijari has passed on. I should speak to Adara'hai if our exorcism was successful.
Objective: Talk to Adara'hai
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.