The Soul Cairn is a dangerous place. While there are fewer marauding daedra, you now have to deal with undead horrors of all types. There are no healing crystals here, so tread carefully and use your resources wisely.
Quick WalkthroughEdit
- On this level, you will again gain some insight into the taking of Battlespire, mostly from two recently deceased Battlemages. There are ghosts, wraiths, and Morphoid Daedra to combat on this level, all quite tough to defeat. You must find the Oht, Ayem, Hekem, and Yoodt Sigils of Entry and three control rods to move on to Level 4, a domain of Nocturnal called the Shade Perilous.
- You start out at Point A. Pick up the scroll from your companion at point B.
- Get a Oht Sigil of Entry from a Morphoid Daedra at Point C.
- Read the sixth plaque on the left at Point D for answers to the riddles.
- Talk to the Praeceptor's wraith at Point F. Agree to perform the ceremony and get a Gem of the Hero (a healing item).
- Dive into the water and turn the wheel at Point H. Continue swimming to the area near Point I.
- Kill the Morphoid Daedra at Point I to get the Ayem Sigil of Entry. Turn the two wheels here.
- (Optional) Swim to the underwater tunnel between M and N and read the scroll there to easily banish the wraiths.
- Enter the boat at M to visit Paxti Bittor's wraith at N and get a Yoodt Sigil of Entry and another note from Vatasha/Josian.
- Get a Hekem Sigil of Entry from the Morphoid Daedra at Point K.
- Open the coffins and talk to the Ideal Masters at Point L. Get the rod in the northeast corner.
- In the room with the rotating platform near Point O, grab another rod in the southeast corner.
- Get the last rod at Point Q.
- Talk to the Ideal Master at Point S to get details on how to activate the gate.
- Go to the Chapel of Love at Point T, turn on the mana streams, put the three rods in the pedestal up top, and operate the gate using the words "Shade Perilous" to go to Level 4.
Detailed WalkthroughEdit
Point A - Entry HallEdit
This is the destination from the great teleporter at Point K on Level 2b. Be prepared for a fight, as you will be immediately met by an assortment of the Soul Cairn's denizens; these include Ghosts, Wraiths, Skeletons, and Morphoid Daedra.
Point B - Hall with LedgeEdit
Near where you arrived you find another scroll from your friend, warning you to stay away from the wraiths since apparently they cannot be killed. This is not entirely true, but they are extremely dangerous opponents. Later on, you will find an easier, and much quicker, way to get rid of any wraiths in your path. Additionally, calling them "mad as a loon" will sometimes calm them down enough to not attack.
Moving onward to the next room, you come to a split in the path and a plaque which gives some insight into this strange place:
- [[A stained glass window depicts, to one side, many people laboring hard, burdened with great loads, and suffering the agonies of war and death. On the other side the people put down their burdens and are transfigured by a blazing green light which strips them of their tattered soiled garments and leaves them in a perfect splendor of body and spirit. Beneath the window is a simple inscription:]]
- THE SOUL CAIRN
- Once they struggled, hammered, cried
- Fought for justice, honor, pride.
- Now from time and tide released
- They guard and serve in silent peace
Point C - Elevator HallEdit
The two hallways from Point B converge in this large hall. Both sides can be approached from either floor, but beware of pitfalls. A shallow pool dominates the room, and a few potions can be found scattered about. A Morphoid Daedra patrols the upper level, and carries an Oht Sigil of Entry. Kill it and take the Sigil. Ghosts and Wraiths also haunt this area, so be cautious.
Point DEdit
This hallway is adorned with many plaques devoted to the history of the Soul Cairn. On careful inspection, you will notice the sixth one on the left is different. This inscription is quite odd:
- First Coffin: Grave
- Second Coffin: Life
- Third Coffin: Boat
- Fourth Coffin: Pig
- Fifth Coffin: Coffin
Remember these, as they will come in handy further on.
Point E - Sand GardenEdit
A pair of Oht Sigils of Warding block the way here, denying passage to anything beyond. Fortunately, the Oht Sigil of Entry you found at (Point C) allows free passage.
Point FEdit
Past the Sigils at Point E, you encounter another wraith. If you attempt to converse with it, you soon find out that the spectre was once Kirel Aman, the Praeceptor Superior of Battlespire. He was captured and forced to tell all by the Daedra, then cursed to an eternal torment as a wraith. He also tells you of possibly the only way to kill a wraith (other than to kill its creator and master). If you agree to perform the ceremony and Kirel's soul is destroyed, it leaves behind a Gem of the Hero (heals health with many uses).
Point GEdit
These three hallways are blocked by Ayem Sigils of Warding. Not being able to find the appropriate entry sigil nearby, it looks like your only option is to go for a swim. Take care that you aren't carrying to much weight, otherwise you will sink like a rock and drown. You find the Sigil of Entry for these passages later on at Point I.
Point H - Water Room EastEdit
Two rooms are accessible on either side of the courtyard at Point F. Each contains a very wide, very deep pool. Assorted potions may be found scattered about, and roving undead guard the area.
There is a handwheel deep under the water. Turn it to cause the third platform at Point I to rise.
Under the surface, the north wall of each pool is broken by a large cavern. These lead to the pool at Point I. Additionally, the two caves are connected by a smaller cave about halfway in. A Coffer of Restoration can be found near its western end.
Point I - Three Rocks RoomEdit
You emerge from the water on the north side of the room. Numerous enemies and haunt this space, beware of their long-range spells. The south exit is the other side of Point F, and still warded. Exits to the east and west connect to the rooms with the pools via Points J, but are warded by more Ayem Sigils.
There is an exit to the north on the second floor, but the gap is far too wide to cross at the moment. Taking a look at the floor, there are three sections that do not appear contiguous with the rest; turning the handwheel at Point H will have caused one of these to rise (revealing a hidden potion in the process), but the other two must also be activated to close the gap.
The southern exit also contains a lift to the corridor's upper floor, which extends into the main chamber slightly. Head up, and confront the Morphoid Daedra lurking there. After destroying him, take his Ayem Sigil of Entry. Turn both handwheels next to where he was found, and watch as the remaining two platforms rise up to form a path across the room. Jump across and head out the northern exit.
Point JEdit
On one side of these rooms you find a cupboard which does not open when you attempt to get in. A careful search will reveal a mechanism on the opposite side of the room which causes them to open, revealing some useful items. Beware of wandering enemies.
The eastern alcove contains an interesting scroll; read it and you will learn a mantra with allows you to convince the Skeletons to fight alongside you.
Point K - PeekabooEdit
A Morphoid Daedra patrols this area, and carries a Hekem Sigil of Entry, which you need to pass the wards at Point O. Relieve him of this item.
Point L - ChapelEdit
You find three coffins in this room, two of them protected by riddles. Using the answers from a plaque you found at Point D you know the two answers to be "grave" (alternatively "tomb" or "crypt") and "pig" (alternatively "hog" or "swine"). Inside each coffin you will find some items as well as a bluish crystal that, when touched, begins to speak. Each gem appears to be the soul of an Ideal Master, the leaders of the Soul Cairn. They aren't interested in helping you unless you agree to perform a strange ritual. The ritual loses its appeal when it is revealed that this ritual will kill you, so move on, but remember what the Masters told you. In the northeast corner of the room you find an object called the Rod of the Pilot. Take it, even though its purpose isn't yet clear.
Point M - West DockEdit
You find a boat here, tied to the dock. If you don't wish to swim again, click it to get in. Steering the craft takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it the vessel affords easy passage across this small lake.
Halfway between Point M and N is a small cavern which is not marked on the overview map. Hop off the boat and navigate an underwater passage to enter. Within, you can find some useful potions and other items scattered about, guarded by random enemies. Additionally, head up the western slope to find a scroll. Read it to learn a phrase which will banish any wraith on this level simply by talking to them. This will be especially useful when you reach N.
Resting on the lake bottom are a pair of chests, one each near the piers on the east and west ends. Additionally, in the water to the left of the pier at Point M lies a Coffer of Restoration.
Point N - East DockEdit
At the other end of the lake is another dock. Here, you find a small alcove containing several useful potions and items, all guarded by the Wraith of Paxti Bittor, the traitor who caused this whole mess. Listen to his story and you will learn that, in turn, the Daedra betrayed and killed him, turning him into a wraith. He mentions the name of Sirran Angada, a minion of Jagar Tharn who betrayed him and had a hand in taking over Battlespire. Unfortunately, Angada uses a transmorph spell to appear as anyone he wants to, making him difficult, if not impossible to find. Bittor will lose control of himself after a short while, so you must avenge the deaths of the battlemages by ending whatever life Bittor has left in him. You can easily kill him by using the scroll from the hidden cave, or fight a long and arduous battle.
Among the items on the dock are another letter from your friend, who seems to be barely surviving. They were able to leave behind a Yoodt Sigil of Entry for you, which will be useful, along with some potions.
Point O - Disc RoomEdit
A pair of Hekem warding runes float here. Using the Sigil of Entry you found at Point K, you can pass through them unhurt. The room beyond is dominated by a strange rotating device, which can be very disorienting if you aren't careful. The room to the west and alcove to the east contain numerous helpful items, so take what you need. In the southeast corner of the room, you will find a Rod of the Pillar. Take it and head onwards.
Point PEdit
There is a Yoodt Sigil of Warding here which blocks your path unless you have the Sigil of Entry left for you by your friend at Point N.
Point Q - AnteroomEdit
In the northwest corner, you find a Rod of the Passage cleverly hidden near a column. Take it.
Point R - Coffin RoomEdit
In this small room you find another coffin locked by a riddle. Using the answers you found previously, you find the answer to be "boat" (alternatively "a ship", "rowboat", "craft", "vessel", "skiff", or "dinghy"). Once again you fail to get any sort of useful information from the soul within, but there are some items to loot.
Point S - Coffin RoomEdit
A similar coffin and soul gem lie in this room, but with no password protection. After a good deal of discussion, this Ideal Master proves more helpful than his compatriots, describing in detail what you need to do to activate the teleporter in the Chapel of Love (Point T). You need to collect the three Rods (Points L, O and Q) and insert them into the pedestal between the two mana beams (which you must first turn on). Once this is done, the gate will open and take you to any destination in the outer realms, provided you know its name. If you have read the scroll your friend left you at Point B, you know the Daedra are headed to a place known as Shade Perilous.
Point T - Chapel of LoveEdit
Here you find the device mentioned by the Ideal Master at Point S. Following his instructions, flip the switches at the base of each pillar on the north and south to turn on the mana streams. Jump into the pool of water to teleport atop the device, then put the three Rods into the pedestal. Once the path is open, head down to the double doors, and say "Shade Perilous" when asked your destination. Step inside and you will be off to Level 4.
EnemiesEdit
- 9x Ghost
- 17x Morphoid Daedra
- 18x Skeleton
- 27x Wraith
NotesEdit
- The three control rods also confer magical effects if used. When used, their conditions will deteriorate until they reach 0%, but they are still usable afterward and can be inserted into the pedestal as normal:
- The Rod of the Pilot restores your health.
- The Rod of the Pillar restores your Spell Points.
- The Rod of the Passage allows you to cast a fireball spell.
BugsEdit
- Wraiths may not give the banish dialogue. Re-read the scroll, then try the incantation again. The only banishment dialogue that works begins with "With these words..." If this option does not appear, exit the conversation and try again.
- The Gem of the Hero may sometimes appear in the game world but not in the inventory window, making it impossible to obtain.
- It is possible to walk on the water between points M and N in this level. ?
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