Online:The Fading Tree

Quick Walkthrough
# Talk to Lataryon.
# Investigate Shrouded Hollow.
# Find the Fading Tree.
# Defeat the attacking Wood Orcs.
# Return to Shrouded Hollow and talk to Laniriel.
# Talk to Erunor at the Fading Tree.

Detailed Walkthrough
A Strange Village
To begin the quest, talk to Lataryon near the Wilderking Court Dolmen. He will tell you about how he camped in the nearby cave, and that when he woke up there was a whole village there. He says that you can investigate the village inside the cave if you wish. Head inside the nearby Shrouded Hollow to investigate this.

Once you are inside the village, a Bosmer runs up to you to welcome you. She says that the village has an oath with the Wilderking allowing them to travel to the cave every hundred years or so. She says that she doesn't know much about the oath, however, and that you can talk to her husband Erunor if you want to know more. He is currently at the choosing ceremony at the Fading Tree.

The Choosing Ceremony
Go through the cave towards the quest marker to go to the Fading Tree. Erunor can be found there, as well as multiple other Bosmer. Talk to him, and he is rather secretive about the oath; he says it's not his place to say anything about it and that you can ask the current caretaker in charge of defending the tree, Henodras. Talk to Henodras and he is a bit distrustful of you, but he realizes that the Wilderking would not let you enter if you were hostile towards the village. As his oath binds him to provide you with knowledge, he tells you about the choosing ceremony; where the new caretaker is chosen once the old caretaker becomes too old to continue protecting the Fading Tree while the village is gone. As the ceremony begins, a shroud of green leaves surrounds Erunor. He is the new caretaker! However, celebrations are short; Laniriel runs in, warning everyone that the village has been attacked by Wood Orcs.

Village Defense
Laniriel asks you to defend the village by burning the Wood Orcs' tents outside, and killing their leader, in order to distract them and cause them to retreat. Go through the cave, killing the Lhurgash orcs as you go, and leaving via the south exit. This leads to the orcs' encampment. You must burn three tents and kill the leader. To burn a tent, walk up to it and interact with it; this causes you to burn it with a torch. The leader (War Captain Muzgash) can be found outside the forge building, near a Shaman. He has quite a bit of health, and could be a problem to less well-geared characters, but he shouldn't be too hard. Once he is killed and you have burnt three tents, head back inside Shrouded Hollow.

A Tough Decision
Once you are inside the cave, go and talk to Laniriel again. She praises you for saving the village; but she doesn't yet know about Erunor's selection to be the next caretaker. Tell her of this and she is worried; she reveals she is pregnant, and Erunor doesn't know. She desperately wants Erunor to stay so that he can help her look after the child, and begs you to go convince him. As you arrive, you see Erunor being declared the new caretaker. Tell him that Laniriel is pregnant and he is shocked, because he as a complication as well; the Fading Tree is weakening and needs a caretaker to look after it. Everyone else is ready to leave, so no one else can be appointed as caretaker. You must now decide whether you want Erunor to stay and look after the tree, or leave and look after his child.

If you tell him to stay, he honors your decision and asks you to return to Laniriel and inform her of this. She is distraught, but accepts his decision and says that she'll ensure that her child knows him and the sacrifice he made. Laniriel will reward you with some leveled gold and the  .

If you tell him to go with his family, he accepts the fact that they need him, and takes your advice as a sign that the Wilderking is pleased with their services and won't let anything happen to the Fading Tree. You must then meet him inside the Shrouded Hollow, where you can watch a short conversation between Laniriel and Erunor. Before leaving, he tells you his decision was the correct one, and if the Fading Tree doesn't survive, at least he will be with his family. Erunor will reward you with some leveled gold and the  .

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