Online:Cipher Huzmargo

Cipher Huzmargo
Location	Rectory Corporea
Race	Khajiit	Gender	Male
Health	39,959
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Follower	During Lost in Thought
Faction(s)	Ciphers of the Eye

Cipher Huzmargo

Cipher Huzmargo is a Khajiit follower of Hermaeus Mora who can be found outside the Rectory Corporea.

Related QuestsEdit

• Lost in Thought: Assist a Cipher in troubleshooting equipment failure at Rectory Corporea.
• Chronicle of Fate: Learn what was forgotten.

Quest-Related EventsEdit

Lost in ThoughtEdit

As you approach him on the road, he calls out to you:

Cipher Huzmargo: "Ah, mortal. Hello? Over here."

If you wait a bit longer, and approach him again:

"Ah, an adventurer. Would you mind sparing a moment in helping a cipher in need?

Speak with him to see what is going on:

"Thank the fathoms! My name is Cipher Huzmargo and I watch over the nearby Rectory Corporea. I am in desperate need of an adventurer who can help me reestablish order here.
The chorus is in disharmony, you see? Watcher's whiskers, what will we do?"

Slow down. What's going on?

"The Rectory houses one of Hermaeus Mora's most prized magical apparatuses. The vessels that comprise it suddenly began to fail, and now the whole thing risks collapse! Huzmargo knows not how! Or why! Nor why? Nor why!
He needs help!"

How can I help?

"The faulty vessels destabilized the entire apparatus—dislodging focus crystals, warping valves, and prompting leaks throughout the system!
Huzmargo needs someone to protect his backside and make repairs. You would take Nirni-gold as payment, yes?"

Yes. I'll help you repair the Rectory.

After you agree to protect Cipher Huzmargo while he checks and repairs the Rectory, you can ask him some additional questions:

"First, we need to reset the magicka focus in the Corporea Secretus—an outbuilding to the northeast. Tide-King willing, that will reduce the instability.
I only hope we're not too late. The chorus cannot endure these conditions for long!"

That's the second time you've mentioned a Chorus. What is that? / You mentioned a chorus before. What is that? / You mentioned a chorus before. What were you talking about?

"The Chorus? It's the whole reason this place exists! The Rectory, I mean, not Apocrypha.
But what is it? Hmm. How to explain. It is the combined output of all the Rectory's vessels—a powerful, decentralized entity."

What does this entity do?

"It dreams of things. Teaches us things. Honestly, it will be easier to explain once you see how it works.
You have questions, I know. But trust Huzmargo, it will all make sense soon."

You said it's dangerous. What will we face in the Rectory? / You said our journey will be dangerous. What will we face in the Rectory?

"Well, danger comes in many forms, yes? Depending on the severity of the leaks, we may face arcane anomalies, bursts of raw magicka, or even structural instability.
Then, there's the arcanovores."

Arcanovores?

"Yes, yes. Beasts that consume magicka. Surely you have these on Nirni? Dremnaken? Irksome little tomeshells? No? Yes? Ziss'vo. They are so annoying!
Anyway, many of these beasts stalk the grounds now. Gnawing on things. Growling. Very scary!"

Do you think they've caused any damage to the Rectory?

"Well, whatever they're doing, Huzmargo is certain it is not helping matters."

What do you do here, exactly?

"Who, Huzmargo? I am just one of the Tide-King's many, many servants. I oversee the Rectory's facilities, monitor the vessels, clean the instruments, and so on.
Lots to do. Busy, busy! Until something like this happens."

How did you wind up in Apocrypha?

"The same as you, I expect. Huzmargo read many, many books. The sermons of Amun-dro, of course. But also the Rites of Sangiin, Noctra's Hissing Codex, that sort of thing.
What can Huzmargo say? He is a book worm, yes?"

And one of the books sent you here?

"Yes. Hermorah's Tome of Tides. Huzmargo can still see the cover when he closes his eyes. Moist. Supple. Constantly leaking ink and foam. A beautiful thing.
A few nightmares, hallucinations, extra limbs, var var var. You know how these things go."

So, you became a cultist as soon as you arrived?

"Huzmargo does not like this word, cultist. But yes, it did not take long before I became a cipher. And I've seldom had cause to regret it!"

When you arrive in the Corporea Secretus, Cipher Huzmargo will immediately see the damage:

Cipher Huzmargo: "What a disaster! Huzmargo hopes the vessels remain intact."

Talking with Huzmargo at this point:

"Such disarray! Huzmargo had only just finished a deep cleanse of the facilities last week, and now these creatures shamble all over it. The work of a cipher never ends.
Resetting the focus should help get things back in order."

Further into the Corporea Secretus, you find the Magicka Focus which appears to be intact.

Cipher Huzmargo: "Thank the Tides! The vessels in this room seem largely intact."

Before you restart the Focus, you can ask Cipher Huzmargo about the unconscious people around the room:

"Tide-King be praised! It seems the beasts did not breach the Secretus completely, and the vessels are in good health.
Resetting the focus should bring them back into harmony with the rest of the Rectory's occupants."

Wait, what are all these bodies doing here?

"Bodies? What are you—? Oh. You mean the vessels. I forget that non-ciphers get a little confused when they come here.
Let me take a few steps back. Welcome to the Rectory Corporea—Hermaeus Mora's library of minds."

A library of minds?

"Yes. Well, mostly. It's not the most exact metaphor. But the broad strokes are apt.
The vessels have their minds joined together in service to Hermaeus Mora. Their combined psyche—the Chorus—thinks and dreams and my master listens."

Are they prisoners?

"What? No. No, no, no. Every vessel here willingly entered a pact with Hermaeus Mora. They surrendered their bodies and minds to the Rectory for a fixed period of time. In the end, they will receive … well, whatever it is they wanted from the Eye."

I see.

As you approach the Magicka Focus, Cipher Huzmargo will notice something that shouldn't be happening.

Cipher Huzmargo: "What's happening to that vessel? Quickly, reset the magicka focus!"

<The nearby Comatose Body twitches erratically.>

Speaking with Huzmargo before resetting the Focus:

"We shouldn't wait to reset the focus. Huzmargo does not know what will happen if the Rectory remains discombobulated, but he doubts it's good for the vessels!"

When you use the Magicka Focus, the Comatose Body staggers out of the pod:

Comatose Body: "Another failed body. I will be free!"

<The body then falls to the ground and dies.>

Cipher Huzmargo: "Watcher's whiskers …. What was that?"

Talk to Huzmargo to discuss what just happens:

"I've been tending to the vessels in the Corporea for many, many years, and never before have I seen a thing like what just happened. That vessel—it just talked to us! It moved! That should not be possible."

What do these bodies normally do?

"Normally they just lie there! The Rectory's magic keeps the vessels healthy while their minds serve the Chorus. They—they don't just get up and say scary things before keeling over!
Wait. This vessel is dead? Oh no!"

Do the vessels die if they try to break free?

"They never try to break free! But if they did … I suppose it is possible. Even the gradual extraction can cause stress. Nosebleeds. Seizures.
But something the vessel said… "another failed body." Those were its words, remember?"

Yes. He spoke about his body like it didn't belong to him.

"Precisely. This worries Huzmargo the most. Something may be toying with the vessels in the Rectory and killing them in the process. But Huzmargo doesn't know what could do such a thing.
We should check the Rectory Archives. They are just next door."

All right, let's go investigate the Rectory Archives.

Speaking to him at this point:

"The Rectory Archives are housed nearby.
Joining minds is a delicate process. To think something could interfere with the Rectory's apparatus and freely access the Chorus …. Huzmargo hopes the archive will shed light on it."

Once you arrive at the Rectory Archives, Cipher Huzmargo will get to work:

Cipher Huzmargo: "Huzmargo will start with these manuals. You will check the other tomes, yes? Look for anything on vessel disturbances."

Speaking with him while you search the archives:

"We need to understand what could be waking the vessels. Tide-King willing, the archives will have what we need."

You can find the two books, Conversations with Sleeps-Fitfully and Administrative Ledger, Entry 3,412, once you have read them Cipher Huzmargo will ask for an update from you:

Cipher Huzmargo: "Finished reading? Let's talk."

Talk to him to pass on your findings:

"Ziss on these archives! Huzmargo doesn't see anything useful in these books. Did you have better luck?
Tell Huzmargo what you learned from yours. Anything that would explain what's happening to the vessels? Why some move and speak?"

One of the books spoke of the Chorus as a "shared vision."

"Yes, yes. Some say it is like a dream-world where the minds of all in the Chorus can wander freely. Interacting with one another while the Great Eye studies them.
What else did you learn?"

Apparently, outside forces cannot affect the Chorus.

"At least that narrows the scope of our research. The disturbance must originate from within the Rectory, or even the Chorus itself!
Press on to the Esoterica Corporea to the north. It houses our preparatory instruments and an auxiliary somnambulum."

An auxiliary what?

"Somnambulum. One of the devices that grants entry to the Chorus, sustains the vessel, and so on.
Examining one might provide us with some clues without disturbing the other vessels. Or, without disturbing them more, at any rate. I'll meet you there."

All right, I'll meet you in the Esoterica Corporea.

Before you head to the Esoterica Corporea, you can ask Huzmargo some more questions:

"Huzmargo will try and learn a bit more here. Go ahead, and he will catch up with you."

What is the Esoterica Corporea?

"The Esoterica Corporea acts as the entry point for newly interred minds joining our Chorus. An important process where any slight mistake could irrevocably harm one's mind."

How long do minds stay in the Chorus?

"It depends entirely on their contract. Some may spend their entire lives as part of the Chorus in exchange for a promised fortune or magical knowledge. Others may only spend a few winters. But I assure you each mind is as important as the last."

As you approach the Esoterica Corporea, Huzmargo notes the issue is getting worse:

Cipher Huzmargo: "By the tides! The vessels writhe like worms on a hook. Like before—reset the focus!"

You will find one of the Comatose Bodies is upright as you get close to the Magicka Focus:

Comatose Body: "I will get out!"

Cipher Huzmargo: "There! Another one speaks!"

<Comatose Body dies>

Cipher Huzmargo: "Another choral mind awakening! But that voice …. Quickly, reset the focus. I have an idea."

If you speak with him before activating the Magicka Focus:

"Quickly, walker, reset the focus! Mora willing, it will quiet these poor vessels!"

Once you have used the Magicka Focus:

Cipher Huzmargo: "I think I understand what's going on. We should speak, adventurer."

Speak with Cipher Huzmargo to see what he has figured out:

"After witnessing that vessel speak, I fear I now understand the source of our problem.
It seems a rogue mind is traveling through, and tampering with, the Chorus. A crisis that Huzmargo did not think possible until now."

A rogue mind?

"Yes—a troublemaker, disconnected from the Chorus. It keeps trying to escape through a connected body, but the attempts prove fatal every time.
Out here in Apocrypha, we have no hope of isolating it. But if one of us entered the Chorus …."

One of us?

"Well, you. Obviously. Huzmargo must oversee the procedure and monitor the apparatus, yes?
I would not suggest it if we had any other way of finding the rogue mind. But every moment we delay puts another vessel at risk! So, will you do it?"

All right, I'll enter the Chorus and look for the rogue mind.

"Ah, yes! Wisdom and bravery. You are a true child of Mora!
Let's proceed to the next room. The auxiliary somnambulum is there. It will allow you to enter the Chorus, but you will not travel alone. Huzmargo will guide you from here."

Once you reach the somnambulum, Cipher Huzmargo will activate it:

Cipher Huzmargo: "There. That's the somnambulum. I'll prepare it for you."

<Purple magic gathers in Cipher Huzmargo's hands.>

You can talk to Cipher Huzmargo before entering the Chorus:

"Do not worry. Huzmargo has performed this procedure hundreds of times. My record is flawle—er, my record is very, very good."

What can I expect to find in there? / What can I expect inside the Chorus?

"We must rush the process, so I am sorry to say you won't feel the chorus' warm embrace.
You will likely arrive on the lowest level of the Chorus—what we call the cognitive substrate."

What is that?

"The substrate? It is like a mental cistern full of subconscious impulses, suppressed urges, and so on. Very dangerous! Rectory mind-sentinels patrol it for anomalies, though, so it is not too scary.
Of course, you are sort of anomalous."

So, these mind-sentinels might attack me?

"That is likely, yes. But look on the bright side! Not only are you saving the vessels–you're also testing the tolerance levels of the Chorus' immune system. Fascinating, yes? No? Yes!
Just be ready to defend yourself."

Have you encountered a rogue mind before?

"Never! This is wholly unprecedented.
I almost wish I had more time to study it. The fortitude necessary for a mind to break free from its body? To travel through the Rectory's magicka flows unimpeded? It's as astounding as it is terrifying."

Huzmargo guides you within the Rectory Network

After you use the device to enter the Rectory Network, a project of Cipher Huzmargo will appear:

Cipher Huzmargo: "There you are! I pray this isn't too disorienting? Let's discuss our next move."

Talk to Cipher Huzmargo to see what you need to do:

"Welcome to the Chorus—or its lowest levels at any rate.
We call this the cognitive substrate. Few members of the Chorus visit this place, but it connects to all the Chorus' other regions. The perfect hiding place for a rogue mind, yes?"

How are we going to find him?

"To enter the chorus, every vessel signs a pact. You think of flimsy parchment contracts, yes? Not so in Apocrypha! It is an anchor that binds the vessel's mind.
No one can travel far from their pact, and Huzmargo has a spell that can sniff it out."

Finding this pact will lead us to the rogue mind?

"At the very least, it will tell us who the mind belongs to.
I do not know what shape the spell will take inside the chorus. Each vessel's perception of the space is unique. But it should be easy enough to manipulate and follow."

All right, let's give it a try.

You will receive the Querier spell and the projection of Cipher Huzmargo will follow you around as you look for the rogue mind's pact.

"The querier isn't Huzmargo's finest work, but it is nonetheless quite sleek, five-claw. Follow its magic and we should find the rogue mind's pact."

As you progress, Huzmargo will comment:

Cipher Huzmargo: "Be cautious. The chorus' mind-sentinels will see you as an intruder. Stand ready to defend yourself, yes?"

Following the Querier spell you soon find the book contacting the pact:

Cipher Huzmargo: "There! This is our pact, yes? Have a look. It might tell us something about our quarry."

You can then read the Pact of the Daggerfall Devil, to which will Huzmargo will comment:

Cipher Huzmargo: "The Daggerfall Devil?"

Speak with Cipher Huzmargo:

"The Daggerfall Devil? Watcher spare us!
On the one claw, it makes sense that a serial killer in the chorus would be the cause of our troubles. On the other, there a serial killer in the Chorus. And it appears that he wants out."

So, if we deal with this Daggerfall Devil, the Rectory will stabilize?

"Yes? Yes! But dealing with him means killing him—a task that is a little more difficult than just stabbing his choral manifestation. Huzmargo would need to make sure the Daggerfall Devil couldn't flee to another body and hide."

Can you do that?

"Huzmargo thinks so. But we will need to act at the same time. Like two claws pinching a well-oiled grape.
Huzmargo will need to leave you to find the body while you find the mind. The pact, thankfully, provides us with some inkling of where to look."

Tell me how to find the Daggerfall Devil's mind.

"Leaping into other people's bodies may have caused some mnemonic bleed. Elements of his psyche—memories—could have broken loose.
I'll tune the spell to seek out his memories. If you can find enough of them, it should lead us to his mind's core."

Let's find these memories.

Cipher Huzmargo will wish you luck as you go look for the memories:

Cipher Huzmargo: "Best of luck. To both of us."

You will go through the Rectory Network to find and observe the memories of the Rogue Mind. Once you have found three of the memories, you will hear Cipher Huzmargo's voice:

Cipher Huzmargo: "Can you hear Huzmargo, friend? Huzmargo isolated the rogue mind's vessel! You should be able to dispatch him now!"

Once you have fought and defeated the form of the Daggerfall Devil, you will need to also find his mind and destroy it. It will be nearby and resemble a black orb with a green outline:

Cipher Huzmargo: "There! That's the Daggerfall Devil's mind!"

After you destroyed the mind Cipher Huzmargo will tell you it is time to go:

Cipher Huzmargo: "You did it! I see no trace of the Daggerfall Devil in the registry. Now quickly, adventurer, return to your body!"

Once you leave the Network, Cipher Huzmargo will welcome you back:

Cipher Huzmargo: "Welcome back, adventurer. I hope your time in the chorus wasn't too disorienting. Let's talk outside."

Meet Cipher Huzmargo outside and speak with him to complete the quest:

"Ah, fresh air. Better, yes?
According to my instruments, you made it out of the Chorus with nary a scratch on your psyche. How are your memories? Any confusion? Dizziness? No? Good!"

So, the Chorus is safe now?

"Safe from immediate danger, yes. But stress levels among the vessels are still far too high. I must inspect each mind and vessel to ensure their well-being.
You have a strong mind! If you have the time, I would certainly enjoy studying it."

Oh, no. I uh … have things to do.

"Of course, of course. Huzmargo is sure our Prince has plans for you beyond the Rectory Corporea. But, do keep the offer in mind!
You did a great service for us, friend. I suppose the time has come for payment, yes?"

Thank you.

"Perhaps one day you'll hear the harmonious songs of the chorus. But for now, know that all the minds housed within the Rectory are grateful for your help. As am I."

If you leave a return to the conversation at this point, he will say the following:

"Hermaeus Mora and the Rectory Corporea owe you a debt, adventurer. One we will never forget to repay."

You're welcome. (Leads to quest completion dialogue)

After you have completed the quest, you can ask a few more questions:

"Our Prince will be happy to hear of your involvement. It's a shame that you can't stay. To study a mind as unswayable as your own would truly be a pleasure.
Think about it. Farewell."

What will you do now?

"Huzmargo supposes a fair amount of cleaning and vessel repair. But don't worry, It won't be long before Ciphers hear of your success and return to the Rectory. Once I have a team together I'll be sure to tend to our surviving minds."

Chronicle of FateEdit

If you helped Cipher Huzmargo previously, he will attend the ceremony in Cipher's Midden:

"Huzmargo is overjoyed to see you again. Have you given any more thought to becoming an official addition to the Rectory's Chorus? Even a short stay. Perhaps just a century or two? Think it over! The Rectory's doors will always be open to you."

Is there a risk that a rogue mind will take over the Rectory again?

"I'd say that risk will always be there, yes. But if it happens again, I'll be prepared. Thanks to you!"

He will be one of the voices to support you during Scruut's speech:

Cipher Huzmargo: "Incredible, considering they also helped rid the Rectory Corporea of a rogue mind causing havoc."