Online:Sotha Sil

Sotha Sil (lore page)
Home City	Brass Fortress
Location	Ceporah Tower Cogitum Centralis Elegiac Replication
Race	Dark Elf	Gender	Male
Health	15,000
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Faction(s)	Psijic Order (honorary member)

Sotha Sil

Sotha Sil, or Seht, is a wizard-mystic god of the Dunmer, the least known of the Tribunal, and the creator of the mysterious and hidden Clockwork City.

Related Quests

• Where Shadows Lie: Save the Clockwork God.
• The Light of Knowledge: Meet Sotha Sil and Divayth Fyr at the Elegiac Replication.
• The Astronomer's Apprentice: Restore the corrupted memory stars inside the Mnemonic Planisphere.
• Buried Memories: Defend Artaeum from invasion!
• A Necessary Alliance: Figure out a way to get into the Crystal Tower with the help of Clavicus Vile and Mephala.
• The Crystal Tower: Ascend the Crystal Tower and put an end to Nocturnal's machinations.
• A New Alliance: Attend a meeting with the Proxy Queen to ensure the Crystal Tower is protected.
• A Memory of Mystery: Save Sotha Sil's laboratory from hostile invaders.

Quest-Related Events

The Strangeness of Seht

Inside the Clockwork Basilica, Sotha Sil can be heard berating a disciple:

Sotha Sil: "No! No! No! It's wrong. It's all wrong! Go back and do it again."

Ernse Eldri: "I—I apologize, Lord Seht. Please, forgive my stupidity. I shall correct the survey at once!"

Sotha Sil: "I hope you will—for your sake. Next time you bring your living-god a Radial survey, you'd better make sure it's accurate!"

Ernse will run off in tears. If you speak to him,

"Yes, what is it? I have much to do. Much to attend to. Speak."

You're Sotha Sil?

"Of course I am. And you are Divayth Fyr's aide. Yes, I've heard a great deal about you. You struck a blow against corruption in my fortress, correct? You're to be commended.
Now, speak your business."

I just wanted to meet you.

"A worthy goal. Very worthy indeed. I am a god, after all.
Tell me—now that you've had the opportunity to meet me, how do I strike you?"

You're just as majestic as I imagined.

"Majestic. Yes. A fitting description.
You shall go far here in the Clockwork City, aide of Fyr. I pardon you for interrupting me and grant you my blessing. Go forth, and honor me, the Clockwork God, with your labors."

I'm a little underwhelmed.

"Underwhelmed? By me? Count your blessings that I have other matters to attend to, mortal. I have half a mind to show you just how powerful I am.
This city is mine! If you wish to dwell in it, I suggest you learn respect!"

Sotha Sil being impersonated by his Shadow.

Once you've set your scheme with Divayth Fyr in motion, you'll witness the living god give a lecture:

Sotha Sil: "Greetings, Apostles. It seems I must disrupt your labors yet again."

Sotha Sil: "My dear friend, Divayth Fyr, informed me that some of your number may be experimenting on my blessed factotums."

Sotha Sil: "I will remind you yet again - my beloved factotums serve as an extension of my divine will. Accost them, and you accost me."

Sotha Sil: "In the past, I have encouraged a child's curiosity and accepted minor blasphemies. But my generosity has limits."

Sotha Sil: "Know this—any servant of the Clockwork God found tinkering with factotums shall face severe sanction."

Sotha Sil: "In this place, my word shapes, constructs, and controls. My authority is absolute."

Sotha Sil: "Keep to your modest experiments. Seek discovery outside the walls or in the confines of your own cloisters."

Sotha Sil: "Such is the will of Seht—The Mainspring Ever-Wound. Obey."

Sotha Sil: "Now. Are there any questions?"

Flip the switch to the light and Sotha Sil will be exposed as a fake. He'll scream and flee to the next room:

Sotha Sil: "Arrrgh!"

Provost Varuni Arvel: "What is that? What's happening?"

Chancellor Gascone Dusant: "After him! Someone seize that imposter!"

Where Shadows Lie

Sotha Sil: "You trespass, Ur-dra. The Clockwork City shall bear your weight no longer. Begone."

Nocturnal: "You achieve nothing, little godling. The Triad looms upon Summerset's shores. All that is shall be ours!"

Divayth Fyr: "Well done, my friend. Enough theatrics, Luciana. On your feet. Luciana …?"

Sotha Sil: "We should return to the surface. This is no place for mortals."

Once everyone departs from the Cogitum Centralis, Sotha Sil can be found in the Sotha Loqutorium of the Clockwork Basilica, where you can then speak to him to complete the quest:

"The prisoner. At last.
You are early … or perhaps late. It makes little difference. I'm glad you've come. Tamriel owes you a debt."

Are you fully restored?

"Restored. Yes. I reclaimed my shadow, and with it, knowledge of what transpired and what's to come.
But those calculations will keep. I owe you a boon. Service, like all equations, demands precise reciprocity. I wonder, what would you ask of me?"

What kind of gifts do you offer? Can you give me power? / What other gifts do you offer? Can you give me power?

"Power. Interesting. Power to what end, I wonder ….
You possess a great well of potential—unexplored depths, hidden by self-doubt and narrow perspective. Feel no shame. I know something of self-doubt. I can reveal this potential, if you wish."

What about the Skeleton Key?

"Clever. At another time, in another place, I would gladly part with it. In truth, I have no interest in Daedric baubles.
Unfortunately, the Shadow Queen still lurks on our threshold. I must send this key far away. Farther than your feet can carry you."

Luciana collapsed during the battle. Can you help her? / Do you have the power to help her?

"Altruism. A rare trait.
Luciana will die. If not here and now, then elsewhere and later. I can delay her death if you wish, but to what end? Consider carefully. Luciana means a great deal to me, but grief cannot be avoided—only deferred."

I've made up my mind

"Ask, and you shall have it."

I want power.

"Then you shall have it—along with a prize from my vault. This treasure is, and always has been, yours.
Put these gifts to good use … or do not. Triumphs await regardless. We are, all of us, bound by our natures. Your nature demands victory."

Please save Luciana.

"It is done. The recalibration may take some time, but the proctor will make a full recovery. I know she will put this gift to good use.
Please, take this as well! A token from my personal collection. It is, and always has been, yours."

If spoken to before completing the quest but after choosing an option, Sotha Sil will have more to say.

If power is chosen:

"You should know that great power brings its own sorrows, even for those with the wisdom to wield it."

It's what I want.

If you chose to save Luciana:

"A noble, if short-sighted, choice to save Luciana. But then, the long view brings its own perils.
Where will she go from here? Perhaps you can help her decide."

The Light of Knowledge

"Strange. I spent lifetimes here in the world of tangible-forms, but each time I emerge from the throne, it's like I'm seeing it for the first time.
Broken, impoverished … beautiful."

What will you do now?

"It seems I must delay my work for a time.
When I reclaimed my shadow, I learned a great deal. Daedric plots. Alliances and betrayals. The return of things lost in time … the loss of things the world thought certain. I have much to do."

Can I help? What do you need?

"In the short-term, I need Divayth Fyr. He took his leave to attend to matters outside my fortress. I wish to speak with both of you in a more private setting.
Please, find Fyr and then meet me at the Elegiac Replication."

I'll find him and meet you there.

"We will speak in time. First, find Divayth Fyr. I wish for both of you to meet me at the Elegiac Replication—a memorial south of here.
Our discussion should be away from prying eyes and ears … even those of my own people."

Where is Luciana now?

"You will find her in her retreat, here in the basilica. My factotums tend to her wounds even as we speak. Of course, you already know how this will end. I hope that knowledge brings you some measure of peace."

At the Elegiac Replication:

Sotha Sil: "Thank you both for coming."

Divayth Fyr: "Of course, old friend. You seem troubled. More troubled than usual, I mean."

Sotha Sil: "Perceptive, as always. I do not wish to diminish your achievement, but Nocturnal's defeat here will be short-lived."

Sotha Sil: "What's more, she does not act alone. A third enemy looms at the edge of my sight."

Sotha Sil: "Their covetous eyes are now fixed on the Summerset Isles."

Divayth Fyr: "Then we should inform the rest of the Psijics. They'll need to prepare."

Sotha Sil: "I will inform them personally. I have a separate task for you, Divayth."

Sotha Sil: "Take the Skeleton Key. Keep it hidden for as long as you can. I trust that this task pleases you? After all, your love of such trinkets is what brought you here in the first place."

Divayth Fyr: "Sometimes I wonder if you see too much. I will keep it safe."

Sotha Sil: "Farewell, Divayth Fyr. We will not meet again."

Divayth Fyr will leave through a portal and Sotha Sil will turn to the memorial:

Sotha Sil: "I haven't visited this memorial for centuries. But even I need reminders every now and again."

You can then to talk him personally:

"Do you like this place? It took me the better part of a decade to perfect it. Every stone and flower tells a story. Tales of how things were … how they ought to be.
I thought about destroying it on more than one occasion. I'm glad I didn't."

I have questions.

"I know. Ask, and I will answer truthfully. Just know that the truth often fails to satisfy."

Who are you really? / I stand ready. Can you at least tell me who you are before you go? Who you are really? / Do you really care about the people that much? Who are you really?

"You expect something grand, but I promised you the truth.
I am only what time and circumstances made me. Son of a lost house. Friend to a fallen king. Some will tell you that we are the product of our choices. I've never found that to be the case."

But you're supposed to be a god, right?

"I am whatever the people need me to be. A guardian. An oppressor. For some, too distant. For others, too meddlesome. I am the canvas upon which they paint their dreams and resentments. A vessel for their hopes and doubts.
A mirror. Nothing more."

If you believe that, why even call yourself a god?

"I don't.
But my companions, Vivec and Almalexia see their divinity as essential. Godhood brings them joy and purpose. They find meaning in the theatrical. Who am I to deprive them of that?"

What are your feelings on Almalexia? / What about Almalexia?

"Almalexia defies simple analysis. I doubt she could even describe herself accurately.
To understand Almalexia, you must first understand the value of fiction. Vivec fancies himself the poet, but in truth, Ayem is the greater storyteller."

How so?

"Vivec knows the boundaries that separate fact from fiction. He knows them so well that's he's learned how to break them. He exists inside his verse, but recognizes the lies. The contradictions.
He both does, and does not believe his own tales."

How is Almalexia different?

"She believes her tales implicitly. As does everyone else. Her capacity for deception appears limitless. She sows lies like a master gardener sows seeds, and the harvest of trust and adulation is breathtaking in scope."

Does that bother you?

"Not in the slightest.
As I said, we are, all of us, bound by our nature. Almalexia does what she does because she cannot do otherwise. It will not end well. But then, even the best endings rarely bring joy."

What do you think of Vivec? / And what about Vivec?

"Vivec is my brother. He knows my struggles and I know his. That knowledge makes our relationship … complicated. To truly know someone is as much a curse as it is a blessing."

What are his struggles?

"Regret. We are bound by that at least.
He also suffers a kind of enslavement. Not unlike my own, in fact. Beauty holds the keys to his shackles. Beauty, and a love of great works. Great heights. His appetites are insatiable, thus his despair."

Despair?

"Yes. A poet's despair.
Vivec craves radical freedom—the death of all limits and restrictions. He wishes to be all things at all times. Every race, every gender, every hero, both divine and finite … but in the end, he can only be Vivec."

And that's not enough? To be a god hero?

"Not even remotely."

What is all this for? The Clockwork City. / What is all this for, anyway? The Clockwork City? / I will remain vigilant. But I have to ask—what is all this for? The Clockwork City.

"I sometimes ask myself the same thing.
May I confess something to you?"

Of course.

"I suffer from a peculiar ailment. Shall I describe it?
I bear the cruel weight of certainty. Total, absolute, relentless certainty. People rarely comprehend the luxury of doubt — the freedom that comes with indecision. I envy you."

Didn't you just say that you question whether the City is worth the effort?

"Indeed. But such questions are flaccid—cursory indulgences that come and go in an instant.
The truth is that my actions, both good and evil, are inevitable. Locked in time. Determined by chains of action and consequence."

So … you were forced to build the Clockwork City?

"Compelled.
This City serves a noble goal. The redemption of Tamriel. The unification of competing forces. The destruction of the Daedra. Unfortunately, it is an endeavor build [sic] upon a lattice of corpses. Betrayal. Untold horrors. Do you understand?"

Maybe?

"Maybe. The word I covet above all others.
Hold to that word, my friend, and never let go."

Yes.

"Then I pity you."

No.

"Good. I pray you never do."

What did you want to talk to me about? / Thanks for the insight. Now what did you want to talk to me about? / Changing the subject, what did you want to talk to me about?

"I instructed Divayth to run from the battle that is to come. Now, I urge you to run toward it.
Long ago, I brokered a truce with the Princes of Oblivion. This pact bound eight Princes to an oath—that they would never again set foot on Tamriel."

If that's true, how did Nocturnal attack us in the Cogitum?

"Nocturnal was not present when the Princes signed the Coldharbour Compact. Thus she flouts its restrictions.
Now, this is important—Nocturnal does not act alone. Two other Princes lie in wait. Clavicus Vile and Mephala."

If Divine Blessings has been completed:

I already defeated Clavicus Vile in Vvardenfell.

"Defeated? Forgive my candor, but Clavicus Vile cannot be defeated through force of arms. Neither can Mephala."

Otherwise:

Who are Clavicus Vile and Mephala?

"Schemers. A Prince of foul bargains, and a Prince of lust and conspiracy. They pose a significant threat to mortals when they act alone. When they act in concert, especially with Nocturnal present, the threat becomes existential."

So what should we do?

"I have preparations to make outside my Clockwork realm. You must stay vigilant. Take heed of any Daedric incursions and stand ready to fight.
The Prisoner wields great power, making reality of metaphor. We will need you before the end."

Why do you keep calling me the Prisoner?

"A fool's hope, perhaps. I should explain.
Look around you. All of this exists because it must exist. I stand here, in this place, in this moment, not because I wish to, but because I have to. A result of action and consequence."

So wouldn't that make you the prisoner?

"Clever … but incorrect.
The Prisoner must apprehend two critical insights. First, they must face the reality of their imprisonment. They must see the determinative walls—the chains of causality that bind them to their course."

You haven't done that?

"I have. But I fall short of the second insight.
The Prisoner must see the door to their cell. They must gaze through the bars and perceive that which exists beyond causality. Beyond time. Only then can they escape."

You don't see the door?

"I see only unsteady walls.
If the people of Tamriel must exist inside this cell. I will make sure that the walls are stable, the gaps are sealed, and all who remain stay safe within it."

I have no other questions.

"I've met few heroes like you. Very few. I take this matter of the Triad upon myself, but in truth, you may be the one that saves us. The Prisoner who frees the world.
We shall see. Farewell."

The Astronomer's Apprentice

In the Mnemonic Planisphere, throughout the related quest, excerpts from a flashback projection of Sotha Sil speaking with Orvas will appear. The full memory is later played out at the end of the quest:

Sotha Sil: "Stewardship of my memories carries a high price, Orvas. One that you must pay willingly."

Orvas: "I understand. I'd sacrifice anything to serve you, my lord."

Orvas: "Even my memory."

Amili Lloryn: "Wait. The sacrifice is … his memory?"

Sotha Sil: "So be it. I'll leave you the knowledge of this spell, to bestow upon your successor when the time comes."

Orvas: "Of course, my lord, but … will it hurt?"

Sotha Sil: "You will not remember."

Amili Lloryn: "No! It can't be!"

Orvas: "Augh!"

The flashback projection will fade and the present-day Astronomer will speak to his apprentice:

The Astronomer: "Now you know the truth. It is time."

Amili Lloryn: "You never told me of this sacrifice! My life, yes, I'll give it. But my mind? My whole being?"

The Stars floating throughout tubes in the Planisphere have a chance to say a quote by Sotha Sil:

• "Our soldiers are useless against the sheer volume of Kagrenac's machines. We're sending those mer out for slaughter."
• "You want me to do the impossible, Vivec? I may have power, but even I cannot overcome whatever Dumac has found."
• "We can use that to our advantage. Kagrenac's machines will be useless once they lie at the bottom of the sea."
• "My friend, what have I become?"
• "I'll need to regulate the water cycle to create the proper humidity needed for a breathable atmosphere."
• "The Celestiodrome will need to have rotating girders for proper topography to be formed."
• "Soul gems are common power sources, but ultimately ineffectual for more ambitious designs."
• "Factotums will need a voice. Something consistent but easily replicable. Perhaps something comforting."
• "We've cursed them all. They'll be cast out. Disgraced."
• "Let us not think of what it is, but what could be. A more efficient energy source that could power the most complex machine."
• "We made a pact. A vow! How could I have done this?!"
• "Animus geodes are far more powerful than common soul gems, but their uses still remain limited."

Buried Memories

You'll find him in the Relic Vault once you return from killing K'Tora in his mindscape.

"A Sea Sload. Interesting. I haven't dissected such a specimen in an exceedingly long unit of temporal measurement."

Where are Valsirenn and the Ritemaster?

"Valsirenn took the Ritemaster to Ceporah Tower to administer to his wounds. Luckily for you, I arrived in time to help Valsirenn open a path out of the Sload's dying mind.
What did you learn before the mindscape collapsed?"

K'Tora made a deal with Daedric Princes and altered the Ritemaster's memories.

"Yes, I surmised as much. The triad of Daedric Princes has become bold in its attempts to influence Nirn, though influence seems to be the least of their goals.
The Sload, however, was unable to harvest whatever memory it sought from the Ritemaster."

K'Tora wanted to learn where the Ritemaster hid something called the Heart of Transparent Law.

"That revelation … disturbs me. I feared the Crystal Tower was too tempting a target for the Daedric triad. I need to ponder the full implications of their plot.
Meanwhile, I suggest you go to Ceporah Tower and see how the Ritemaster is faring."

If you speak to him again, he says:

"You have given me much to consider before I can determine the path ahead of us.
For now, check on the Ritemaster. Valsirenn took him to Ceporah Tower to utilize the services of the Psijic healers."

A Necessary Alliance

Sotha Sil in his study

Speaking to him in study:

"How unusual. The Psijics know better than to disturb me in my private study. And the Ritemaster has kept me waiting for an inordinate amount of time.
That leads me to a single conclusion—the Ritemaster has not returned from the Dreaming Cave."

If you've completed the Clockwork City, Sotha Sil will instead have a different greeting:

"How unusual. The Ritemaster has kept me waiting for an inordinate amount of time, but instead of Iachesis, here comes the savior of the Clockwork City.
That leads me to a single conclusion—the Ritemaster has not returned from the Dreaming Cave."

The Ritemaster is dead. Nocturnal killed him.

"That is unfortunate. I enjoyed my infrequent talks with Iachesis. Ah, well.
Now if you don't mind, I have preparations to make before I take my leave."

You're just going to leave? But I thought you had information to share with the Ritemaster?

"I am and I did. But the Ritemaster is no longer in a position to receive that information.
Now, once again I ask—"

If you've not done the Clockwork City, you'll say:

We need your help to stop Nocturnal. Tell me what you were going to tell the Ritemaster.

"A demand? Interesting.
Then hear my words. Nocturnal stole a secret I thought well hidden. I developed a technique for utilizing life energy as a source of power. I suspect she will use that technique to amplify the Crystal Tower."

What will amplifying the Crystal Tower do?

If you've completed the Clockwork City, instead you will ask:

This is related to what happened in Clockwork City, isn't it? You have to tell me.

"A demand? Interesting.
Your assumption is correct. Nocturnal's true purpose in invading my realm was to steal my secret for utilizing life energy as a power source. I suspect she plans to use my technique to amplify the Crystal Tower."

What happens if the Crystal Tower is amplified?

Either way...

"The Crystal Tower exists on multiple planes of reality simultaneously and possesses capabilities we do not fully understand. We must assume that Nocturnal's options are infinite.
I suggest you find Valsirenn and inform her of this development."

Nocturnal's no longer working with the other Daedric Princes.

"I find it hard to believe that Nocturnal, Mephala, and Vile worked together for as long as they did. Daedric Princes aren't known for their willingness to share.
With the Heart, Nocturnal moves one step closer to gaining control of the tower."

Why is the Heart so special?

"Transparent Law, the crystal at the top of the Crystal Tower, anchors its metaphysical structure to all realities. With the Heart, she can restore the crystal, utilize its capabilities, and make herself master of the tower."

How can the Crystal Tower exist on multiple planes at the same time?

"The tower straddles every reality. Its true purpose remains lost to time, but I theorize it was created as a watchtower of sorts. A doorway to everywhere.
It stands to reason, then, that the tower is the key to omnipresence."

How does that help Nocturnal?

"Imagine a Daedric Prince who can exert influence throughout the multiverse at the exact same moment in time. Nocturnal could become infinite.
If she accomplishes that, then her power would multiply accordingly. She would be... without limits."

The Golden Knight will then enter:

Darien Gautier: "You need to go to Valsirenn's study right now. There's a problem.

Darien Gautier: "He's really … tall."

Sotha Sil: "Knight of Meridia, stay and talk with me."

The Crystal Tower

Sotha Sil teleports away

Speaking to him in his study:

"The Tribunal has been warned. They will make preparations in case the efforts here fail. I doubt that even they can weather the resulting storm if the worst comes to pass.
As I calculated, your actions will determine the outcome of these events."

Is that why you sent for me?

"In part. Determining the possible consequences of disparate actions becomes easier when studying the primary catalyst. You have a tendency to fill that role in almost all situations.
What happened after the Sapiarchs failed to attune the diamonds?"

I made a deal with Vile to reach the Crystal Tower and Mephala is considering attuning the diamonds.

"A bold move. Still, I see the logic. Who better to send against their betrayer than the mortal who bested their plans at every turn? If Mephala agrees, you'll be able to assault the tower.
I just wish I knew what Nocturnal hopes to accomplish."

Nocturnal plans to use the Crystal Tower and the Sea Sloads' abyssal pearls to remake reality.

"I'm not sure that's within the capability of the Crystal Tower, but if she uses my technique for siphoning life energy to super-charge the tower—hmm. An interesting application of the magic of the abyssal pearls.
It could work, I suppose."

What do you mean?

"If Nocturnal uses the life force of Nirn to increase the power of the Crystal Tower, she can then use the same technique to steal the energy of the Daedric Princes as she invades their realms.
Infinite connections, infinite power. Ingenious."

So what do we do to stop this?

"Gather your companions and meet me in the Dreaming Cave. We must contact Vile and Mephala so you can enter the Crystal Tower, recover the Heart of Transparent Law, and repair the tower crystal.
That will require a burst of divine energy, though."

We need divine energy to repair the Transparent Law crystal?

"Transparent Law, the crystal at the top of the tower, is as much metaphysical as it is tangible. Only divine energy can reconnect the Heart and make the crystal whole.
Of course, Nocturnal is aware of this as well."

Why does this matter?

"If Nocturnal performs the restoration and once again merges the Heart with Transparent Law, her connection to the tower will become unbreakable. She truly will ascend to an infinite state of being."

So what do you suggest I do?

"You must enter the Crystal Tower and recover the Heart. Then find a relic filled with divine energy and repair Transparent Law. Only then will the tower's innate defenses reengage and repel Nocturnal's influence.
In theory, anyway."

Once you've talked with your companions and are ready to proceed to the Crystal Tower:

"This is the moment of truth. Once we begin, nothing can stop the rush to the grand conclusion. Make sure you have everything you need before I activate the Dreaming Cave."

I'm ready to begin the assault of the Crystal Tower.

He will then contact Mephala:

Sotha Sil: "Oriandra, Valsirenn, assist me. Let us open a path and not keep the Prince of Secrets waiting."

Mephala: "Sotha Sil, the false god. I should have expected to see you."

Sotha Sil: "Lady Mephala. Will you honor the agreement you made with this mortal?"

Mephala: "I am always true to my word. Now, send forth the mortal who consistently avoids the tangles of my webs. We have much to discuss."

After Barbas enters the portal, Sotha Sil counsels you one last time:

Sotha Sil: "Get the Heart and restore the crystal known as Transparent Law. But remember, you'll need a relic of divine energy to accomplish that."

Speaking to him before entering the portal:

"Heed Mephala's advice and keep your companions close to the diamond. Without it, you would be lost in the darkness between realities.
Now, recover the Heart and restore Transparent Law. Just remember, you must find a relic imbued with divine energy."

Speaking to him upon your return from the Crystal Tower:

"As I had predicted, your efforts were successful. A slight chance is all probability requires. There is no such thing as impossible odds. You are proof of that."

Transparent Law was made whole by the power of the Dawnbreaker.

"Was that Meridia's plan all along? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Your perseverance paid off, however. You never gave up, even when the darkness was unbearable. And because of that, the Crystal Tower is safe again."

We lost friends along the way, though.

"Life and death. It's all part of the ongoing circle. As long as you remember them, they will never be forgotten."

Won't Nocturnal just try again?

"It took Nocturnal hundreds of years to put all the pieces of her plan into place. And you wiped it all out with a single thrust of the Dawnbreaker. There will be other plans, I'm sure, but this particular threat is over."

So what happens next?

"Next? Every action we take can tip the balance of the flow of time. Bask in the moment and realize that you have done well, my mortal friend. You have saved the Crystal Tower. Saved Summerset. Saved reality itself.
Even I could not have done better."

He will then disappear into a glowing portal, saying:

Sotha Sil: "For now, I must attend to other matters."

A New Alliance

You will be directed to his quarters where upon entering, he'll say:

Sotha Sil: "Here you are again. I thought such an outcome likely."

Speaking to him:

"The time has come for my departure. I've always felt a sense of peace in Artaeum, but also … discomfort. A consistent dilemma within me, which seems to have only grown.
I'll be glad to get back to the Clockwork City. There's much to do."

Much to do?

"While you confronted Nocturnal, I worked within the shadow of your efforts. Negotiations with both Clavicus Vile and Mephala were held, and a compromise was decided upon.
The two have agreed to a compact. An end to their direct meddling."

So does this mean they won't make trouble for us anymore?

"Knowing the nature of Daedra, I doubt that shall be the case. However, any direct interference within Nirn should cease. While the terms are met, of course.
As for Nocturnal, it seems she's returned to the shadows."

Do you think Nocturnal will strike again?

"Perhaps. She likely contemplates her next course of action even now, given such a defeat. It may be centuries before she makes another attempt. Then again, could be days.
Such is the chaotic nature of the Daedric Princes."

Before you go, Valsirenn wants you to join a council she's putting together.

"I must decline. Valsirenn may see me as an ally, but to Summerset I am a foreign interloper. An enemy of the state. My participation would not be welcome.
The need for my presence has come to an end. And so, I must depart."

Thank you for all your help.

Sotha Sil delivers some parting words before taking his portal back to the Clockwork City:

Sotha Sil: "And so the gears turn once more. Ever changing, yet ever the same. With you always in the center, it seems."

Sotha Sil: "I take no pleasure in such distractions from my work. Still, I would not dislike it if we spoke again. Farewell."

A Memory of Mystery

While in the Telvanni Peninsula, you can come across Thoryn Armas who asks for your help against the Painted Eye who are invading Kemel-Ze—a Dwemer ruin that was also the location of one of Sotha Sil's laboratories. Once inside you quickly learn there is a traitor and need to assist the factorum Protus with solving the issue. While searching for modules to repair Protus, you come across recordings of Sotha Sil and his early experiments:

In the room where the Percipience Cortex and Cognition Cluster is found, the following recording plays:

Sotha Sil: "In desperation, all things consume one another."

Sotha Sil: "Is this a sign of imperfection, or is this the fundamental truth of creations? Is it separate from the morality of the mortal world?"

Once you have repaired Protus, they will ask for your help in finding Mnemonic Fragments, in the laboratories on the lower level of Kemel-Ze. You will come across several recordings showing both Sotha Sil and Protus.

Near the elevator, you see a recording of Sotha Sil looking over an inactive Protus:

Sotha Sil: "Time wears you down to nothing. You break and stagnate. How do I keep you functioning after I leave?"

At another point:

Sotha Sil: "Others believe in chaos. They think their choices give them agency."

Sotha Sil: "I know differently, and yet I find myself hesitating. Am I actually worried my actions lead to failure?"

In the Laboratory of Sparks, you can witness the following recording:

<Sotha Sil and Protus are showing to be standing next to three corpses.>

Sotha Sil: "You think. You talk. You move and you have a name. What is missing?"

<Sotha Sil extands his hand and uses magic on the Protus with him.>

Sotha Sil: "You, Protus, have more purpose than half of all mortals. So why aren't you better than them?"

<The figures in the memory disappear.>

Protus: "The Creator left before I could learn the answer to his question."

While in the Floral Atelier, you can witness the following recording:

<Sotha Sil is shown observing a flower.>

Sotha Sil: "I've studied countless specimens, none are without flaws yet all achieve a sort of beauty."

Sotha Sil: "Is that it? In order to create a form this pure, must I master the art of irregularities?"

<The figures in the memory disappear.>

Protus: "It took the creator a long time to differentiate mandatory flaws from those he could improve upon."

While in the Fauna Study, you can witness the following recording:

<Sotha Sil is shown crouching next to a verminous fabricant.>

Sotha Sil: "Given time, your joints will wear down. Your precision footpads will dent and crumble."

Sotha Sil: "But, in this moment—and only this moment—you are perfection itself."

<The figures in the memory disappear.>

Protus: "Self-repair was the only way the Creator could circumvent inevitable deterioration."

Once you have gathered the fragments, Protus will be fully online and the pair of you have to stop Niphlas Drethan from reaching the inner laboratory and using the Probabilis. Once you have killed Niphlas, the following will happen:

Protus: "Hidden directive activated. Dreaming …"

<A purple light gathers around their head and they slump forward unmoving. The image of Sotha Sil appears on the platform in front of them.>

Sotha Sil: "It works. I knew it would, but combining Mnemonic Fragments in this way is complicated."

You can then speak with this image of Sotha Sil:

Have Completed Clockwork City:	Have Completed Summerset Only:	Otherwise:
"The savior of my Clockwork City, I knew you'd be the one I spoke to. It's not often that one bound by mortality comes to my attention more than once. Most, like Nilphas Drethan are wisps of smoke in the fires of time."	"The hero who saved Summerset, I knew you'd be the one I'd speak to here. It's not often that one bound by mortality comes to my attention more than once. Most, like Nilphas Drethan are wisps of smoke in the fires of time."	"Hello, mortal. I am a memory gestalt facsimile. Sotha Sil in all but flesh. I see Nilphas Drethan's bid for control over the Probabilis is over. Good. He lacked the capacity to understand it."

You knew Nilphas Drethan would do this?

"Even as a Mnemonic Fabrication, I know that many will take issue with my work. Nilphas Drethan tried to reconcile his beliefs with reality and his answers fell short. He leapt to false conclusions, as he was always going to."

Why didn't you stop him?

"I could not. Just as he could not stop himself from committing this act. Cause and effect are matters of fact.
Now that the Drethan event is concluded, Protus will receive new safeguard directives. When we are through, speak to Protus."

I have nothing I want to speak to you about now. I'll talk to Protus. / There's nothing else I want to ask. I'll talk to Protus. (Ends Conversation)

I'd like to ask you some questions.

Met Sotha Sil Previously:	Otherwise:
"You didn't sate your curiosity the last time we spoke? Very well, ask your questions. I'll answer you truthfully, though I cannot promise that you'll find my answers more satisfactory this time."	"You want to talk again? Very well, since you protected my laboratory I'll allow it."

You keep saying you're a Mnemonic Fabrication. You're not Sotha Sil?

"Mnemonic Fragments store memories. I sought to use the memories to create an artificial animus. Alas, all I was able to achieve was the appearance of a fully developed soul. I am a convincing lie—artificial, perhaps more than Protus."

How do you know about the last time we met?

"I know because the Sotha Sil who made me knew.
Knowledge, foresight—whatever name you give it, it is my burden."

Why do you keep talking like you are Sotha Sil?

"Such is the duality of my mind. I know I am not the true Sotha Sil, but my memories are his. My thoughts mirror his.
I speak like him, because the memories allow for only one way of speaking. I exist only for the sake of this conversation."

What will happen to you after this ends?

"Protus will preserve the Mnemonic Fragments so I will not fall to ruin, but I will not grow or develop either. I will be stuck in stasis until such time as circumstance alters my course. I hope my original does not face the same fate."

Why is the Clockwork Probabilis still functional?

"The progression of time is linear. It expands in both directions at a fixed rate. Nilphas Drethan activated the Probabilis, therefore it must be functional so that it could be activated.
Do you think leaving it the way I did was irresponsible?"

I guess you did what you had to.

"A platitude, but still you are correct. I followed my only course of action."

Yes, of course.

"You seem resolute in that.
The truth—which is what I promised—is that this wasn't your decision to make. It was mine. I did what I had to as you would have done in my position, regardless of the outcome."

Why study all these different things?

"My laboratories here in Kemel-Ze were the beginning of a much larger project. I knew where my experiments and tinkering would lead, but without starting here, those goals would never be achieved. Because I knew my success, I also knew my course."

If you knew where this was going, why did you need to tinker?

"I could offer you a convincing lie, but I did promise the truth.
Knowing and understanding are entirely different. I knew what I needed to create down to every gear and wire. But still, I did not understand a single piece."

So you experimented in order to understand?

"Precisely. I suppose you could say that I worked backwards and in doing so found more answers than I thought I had questions."

Once you have completed your conversation with Sotha Sil's memory fragment, it will disappear and you can talk with Protus to complete the quest.

Notes

• Sotha Sil is considered an "honorary member" of the Psijic Order and has his own study within the Ceporah Tower on Artaeum.
• He is voiced by actor Matthew Jayson (IMDb).
• Sotha Sil's health value is 39,959 at the end of Where Shadows Lie and at the start of The Crystal Tower.

Gallery

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  Sotha Sil in The Throne Aligned

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  Sotha Sil imprisoned with the Skeleton Key binding him

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  A shrine to Sotha Sil in Provost Varuni Arvel's quarters.

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  Sotha Sil in The Dreaming Cave

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  Artwork commemorating ESO's 10th anniversary