Online:A Stranger Uninvited

Quick Walkthrough
# Talk to Xijai-Teel.
# Investigate Valrendil's camp.
# Talk to Alanya in the cave.
# Talk to Xijai-Teel atop the xanmeer.
# Recover the fragments of an ancient relic.
# Return to Xijai-Teel.
# Keep drawn spirits away from the ritual.

Detailed Walkthrough
Speak to Xijai-Teel to begin the quest, either straightaway after completing Whispers of the Wisps, or later at the top of Deep Graves' southern xanmeer:

:''"I wonder if this has something to do with our new visitor? We've never entertained an Altmer before.
:Or it may just be coincidence."
:What do you mean?
:"Valrendil seemed harmless. At first, he studied our ways. Then he began taking tokens and other discards from our rituals. That was odd, but did no harm.
:Then he was caught digging up some of our graves. He said he simply wished to examine them."
:Is he a necromancer?
:"He didn't disturb the bodies. It's something else.
:I want to understand him, but he won't discuss it with me. He's set up camp not far from here. Perhaps there are some clues there."
:I'll see what I can find out.'''

Valrendil's camp is south of Deep Graves' xanmeer. Go there and interact with the marked objects; we'll begin with a pack:

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:"WANTED: Valrendil, for dereliction of duty. Proof of his death will be rewarded by your assigned Dominion paymaster.
:Subject is delusional and prone to sympathize with enemy Argonians."

Next, read the worn spellbook on a table:

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:'' 
:"Such scrawls do your beauty no justice, my love. I will see you again, and soon."

Finally, check the crate of supplies:

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After examining all three objects, Valrendil will exit a nearby cave and notice you:

:Valrendil: "Why are you searching my belongings?"

Speak to him:

:"I came to this hallowed place to learn, not to deal with petty thieves.
:I'll report you to Xijai-Teel. She won't tolerate vagabonds on this site."
:Xijai-Teel sent me. She wants to know why you are here.
:"Of course, I should have expected this.
:Tell the generous Xijai-Teel not to fear. My work does not threaten Argonians. It is personal&mdash;the work of decades&mdash;and now I may finally have succeeded, though I must betray the legacy of the ancestors."
:What work? What do you mean?
:"My wife! I'm talking about my wife. She was ... is ... the joy of my life. Such grace as you see but once in a hundred years.
:Then death took her. I could not prevent it, but I cannot let go. She was caught between worlds ... until now."
:What have you done?
:"My wife lives! She's blessed by an Argonian reincarnation, thank the Hist! Though I wanted this, I was still amazed at how quickly she awoke in this place.
:The Dominion will execute me for desertion, so I remain here, in the home my beloved created."
:She only awoke here? May I meet her?
:"Only here. It must be the proximity to the Hist reclaiming its dead. To have her back with me&mdash;it's wonderful!
:Yes, of course, you should meet her. She's within. It just looks like a cave, but inside, she's recreated our home."''

Head through the wooden cave door nearby, and you'll find yourself in a blue-tinted recreation of a typical Altmer home. Valrendil's wife, the semitranslucent Altmer Alanya, is inside; speak to her:

:"A traveler! Welcome. Rest at our hearth as long as you wish.
:Shall I prepare you some food and drink?"
:'''Are you Valrendil's wife?
:"Of course I am! Don't I look like a beautiful High Elf noble?
:Are you with the Dominion? Did they send you to arrest my husband for desertion? Begone! He must not be bothered."
:It seems you have something to hide, spirit. What are you, really?
::"I am Valrendil's wife! I am the one he loves, the one he cares for, the one he has sought all these years. I will make him happy. Forever.
::I have no more business with you."
:I meant no offense, but your appearance is not what I expected.
::"My appearance? You cast aspersions on my beauty? My husband will throw you out!
::And he shall, for he loves me and he will stay with me forever. You, however, will not."

When the conversation is finished, you will be forcibly teleported out of the cave and cannot re-enter. Head to the xanmeer and speak to Xijai-Teel:

:"Are you well? All around you, I see marks of that spirit's tendrils.
:You have been to the Altmer's camp. What did you find?"
:He introduced me to his wife.
:"Wife? He came with no wife. How could ....
:Ah. How foolish of me. Our wispmother has assumed the form of Valrendil's dead wife. She is strong. Far greater than the simple spirit I thought her to be. This is dangerous."
:How can I stop her?
:"Legends say you cannot destroy wispmothers, just as you cannot destroy the moon or stars. No, her essence must be sealed, or else she will rise from the swamps again.
:She's taken a fancy to her new lover. This we can use against her."
:Do you have a plan?
:"I always make plans. Ssaa. We must seal her in something ancient and powerful.
:See the far xanmeers? Each holds fragments I need to make a prison. I'll prepare the ritual site. Gather the pieces and meet me where the newly dead are buried."''

You'll need to retrieve the Fragmented Stopper from the northwest corner of the ruins, and the Fragmented Urn from the northeast corner. Each artifact is in an elevated part of the ruins, on top of a glowing sigil on the floor. Let's begin with the fragmented stopper:

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Take the item, and the stonework will stop glowing. Head west, now, and get the urn:

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Once again, the stones will stop glowing, and you will need to bring the items to Xijai-Teel at the north end of Deep Graves, where you met Parash during the previous quest. Speak to her:

:"The urn you carry once contained the cursed souls of those who can never return to the Hist. It was punishment for their blasphemies against the Saxhleel.
:''It's lost some of its power through the ages, but it will still serve our purpose."
:What do we do?
:"I must conduct the rite. Your duty is simple: do not let any souls enter this circle, or they will become trapped as well.
:Let me know when you are ready."
:I'm ready. Let's begin.


Xijai-Teel will begin performing the ritual, a blue-white ball of light hovering over the urn.
:The vessel calls to souls long last!
After a few seconds, she will call out as the spirits drawn to the ritual appear.
:Xijai-Teel: "They come!"
Several Drawn Spirits (appearing as blue orbs of light) will slowly drift toward the ritual site. Hit them with a light attack to drive them back. 

If too many Drawn Spirits reach the light over the urn,  Xijai-Teel will end the ritual, saying:
:Xijai-Teel: "There are too many. We must try again."
At which point you can return to the previous dialogue to begin the ritual.

Once the ritual is complete, Xijai-Teel will walk over to a cart full of corpses. Speaking to her will complete the quest:

:"The artifact is ready. Do not unseal it until it's time."
:When should I unseal it?
:"You should take the vessel to the wispmother. She is powerful right now, so first, you must weaken her.
:Then open the vessel, so it can take in her corrupted soul."''

  

Quest Stages