Online:Melina Cassel

Melina Cassel is a Breton vampire of House Ravenwatch, who will deliver messages to you in Dusktown and is a way of starting the Greymoor Chapter quests while in Blackreach. She is one of their younger members and is close to Fennorian.

She is a skilled enchanter and may have been encountered previously through letters as a hireling who would procure crafting materials for the Enchanting skill line. She can also be met in a series of encounters in  The Reach.
 

Related Quests





Quest-Related Events
The Vampire Scholar
She'll call out to you in front of Dusktown, ''"Fennorian's friend! Over here!"

Talk to her and take her message.
:"Oh, there you are. I was supposed to deliver a message for you from Fennorian, but I couldn't find you. I gave it to Princess Svana in Solitude."
:What did the message say?
:"I have no idea. Reading other people's messages is rude and unladylike. I never engage in such actions! But the princess had no such qualms about opening the letter. She said if I did happen to see you, that I was to send you to the Blue Palace."
:Did Svana say anything else?
:"Just that she was still having trouble convincing her father about the extent of the coven threat. And she seemed very interested in getting Fennorian to help you with that. I'm sure Fennorian will assist you in any way he can. He's good like that."
:I'll go to the Blue Palace and talk to Svana.

After accepting the quest, she talks about Fennorian.
:"Speaking of Fennorian, I'm sure he isn't purposely sending me off to do these little errands. He's just busy with his research. We get along splendidly. Everyone says so. He's just painfully shy. He'll come around. You'll see."''

The Gray Host
While in Dusktown, she'll call out to you, "Over here!"

Talk with her to see what she has to say.
:''"There you are. It's a maze down here. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find you, but they really want to see you up in the palace."
:Who wants to see me in the palace?
:"Princess Svana, of course. Her father still refuses to act, so the princess has decided to take matters into her own hands. Luckily, she has my darling Fennorian to assist her. He has a plan for dealing with the harrowstorms, I hear."
:Is Fennorian all right?
:"I'm not sure. I haven't had a chance to talk to him since the events at Tzinghalis's stronghold. Look, Svana and Fenn need you. They're waiting at the Blue Palace."
:All right, I'll go see Svana at the Blue Palace.
:"It sounds like my dearest Fennorian suffered greatly at Tzinghalis's hands. Please, make sure he's all right before he rushes off into the next bit of danger. He's too brave for his own good sometimes. Oh, but don't tell him I said that!"

You can ask how she learnt this from way down in Blackreach.
:I was wondering, how do you communicate with the palace from down here?
::"Ah, you want me to reveal one of House Ravenwatch's greatest secrets. Well, that isn't going to happen. Let's just say that Fenn and I—all of the Ravenwatch, really—have a way to communicate and leave it at that."

Greymoor Rising
She will call you over with, "Quickly! Over here!"

Melina will have an urgent message to return to Svana in the Blue Palace.
:"Things are coming to a head and they need you in the Blue Palace! You heard about High King Svargrim, right? What am I saying, you were there! Of course, you were there! But Princess Svana, she wants all her allies around her for this."
:What does the princess want now?
:"What do you think? The princess just learned that her father is an evil vampire and he's about to unleash a harrowstorm on Solitude! She needs to figure out how to stop him—and she needs your help to do it!"
:How can I help?
:"Get up to the surface and go to the Blue Palace. I'm sure the princess and Fenn have a plan. They'll fill you in on it when you arrive. Good luck and gods speed, adventurer."
:I'll go to the Blue Palace and talk to Svana.

You can speak with her after accepting the quest.
:"So much of what happens next rests on Fennorian's shoulders. I hope the pressure doesn't get to him. He's such a sensitive soul."
:What do you mean, it rests on Fenn's shoulders?
:"Obviously, Fennorian's elixir is key to protecting Solitude from the harrowstorm. He has to make enough to distribute, and he has to do it quickly without making the slightest mistake. That's a responsibility he won't take lightly."

Daughter of the Wolf
This time, Melina will call out to you with, "I'm glad I found you."
:"It seems like the worst of the storm in the city above has passed. Princess Svana sent word. You're needed in Solitude."
:What's going on?
:"Solitude has been through much. Now is the time to heal and rebuild. But they can't do it alone. They need Princess Svana. And Princess Svana needs your counsel."
:I'll find Princess Svana in Solitude.
:"Gods willing, we've reached the end of this awful business. The land has enough scars."''

With the harrowstorm situation winding down, you can ask what's next for Melina Cassel.
:What will you do now?
:''"Wait for orders from the Ravenwatch. I'll get a new assignment, eventually. Maybe one that includes Fennorian, if I'm lucky! Sooner rather than later, I hope. I think I'm actually starting to like it down here."

Other Dialogue
After accepting a quest from Melina, you can ask Melina about herself and House Ravenwatch. This dialogue will be the same in all the quests she is involved in.

:Who are you, by the way? / Who are you again?
:"Oh, that's right! We've never had the pleasure. Melina Cassel of House Ravenwatch, at your service! I trust Fennorian explained what that means, so I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say that I'm here to help."
:So you're also a vampire?
:"Indeed! Count Verandis provides a safe haven for our kind and teaches us how to live with our special gifts in a manner befitting nobility. It can all be a bit suffocating, but without his rules we wouldn't be any different from feral beasts."

:What's your relationship to Fennorian?
:"Oh, we're very close. Maybe it's because we're the youngest members of the house, but there's a connection between us that goes beyond just familial kinship. I'm sure he'd tell you the same if you asked."

 

Encounters
thumb|right|Melina in the Reach
First Encounter
Melina can also be found in the Reach in a series of encounters. The first time you approach her, you may overhear her psyching herself up:
:Melina Cassel: "Melina Cassel … how do you always find yourself in a mess?"

When spoken to she will introduce herself and you have the chance of offering her some advice:
:"Oh! My apologies, I was lost in thought. You see, I thought … no, never mind. Have … we met before? Gods above, how can the Ravenwatch ever trust me with more assignments with a memory like mine …."
:Who are you?
:"Right. Right! Melina Cassel at your service. I belong to House Ravenwatch—a junior member."
:What are you doing out here?
::"Having a bit of a crisis. I could use advice. I joined the Ravenwatch to make a difference for vampires and mortals. But all I do is deliver messages, supplies. I may be younger than the others, but … should I ask to get more important tasks?"
::Keep trying. You may not like what you do now, but everyone starts somewhere.
:::"Hah. I tried telling myself that, but it helps to hear someone else say it. I'll do my duty, but won't lose sight of why I joined the Ravenwatch. I'm glad I bumped into you. You give good advice."
::I don't know.
:::"Ugh, I'm sorry for just throwing that at you. You should know better than to bother random people, Melina …. I can leave you alone. Thanks for listening."
::What's the alternative?
:::"I … don't know. Do I leave the Ravenwatch? No, that wouldn't do. I can't give up my dream of making a difference. It's just too hard—seeing such a big gap between what you want to do, and what your actual day-to-day."
:Tell me more about the Ravenwatch.
::"Lord Verandis Ravenwatch formed a group of vampires who seek a peaceful coexistence between our kind and mortals. We try to stop any of our kind that upset that balance. Oh I guess I just blurted out that I'm a vampire. I'm good, though, I swear"

If approached afterwards, Melina will thank you for your advice:
:"Thanks again for your help. I don't get a lot of chances to talk to people in my line of work—at least, people who aren't other Ravenwatch members. An outside perspective provided some clarity."
:Do you worry about encountering the Gray Host out here? (Appears only after giving advice)
:"Not particularly. Those vampires and werewolves calling themselves the Gray Host … well, they aren't the same as the Gray Host from history. If you just think like a vampire, you know how to avoid their attention."

Second Encounter
The second time you approach her, you may once again overhear her psyching herself up:
:Melina Cassel: "Come on, Melina … you can do this …."

Speaking with her a second time, Melina may apologize for what happened previously:
:"Oh! Hello again. Wow, I was just thinking of you. Look, about the last time we spoke, when I was having … well, a moment. In the middle of nowhere. And then you came along—I wanted to say I'm sorry."
:Why are you sorry?
:"Because—well, because I don't wish to be the kind of person who pours their heart out to a passerby. Just because I'm not happy with some assignment. People out here have real problems."
:Like what?
:"The Gray Host attacking people both in the Reach and Western Skyrim, for a start. Ravenwatch agents who put their lives at risk—Fennorian, Gwendis, Adusa-daro. And here I stand, gazing at my navel."
:I think you're being hard on yourself.
::"Really? I wonder sometimes. Half of my days I feel like everyone is glaring daggers at everything I do. The rest of the time, I wonder if they know I exist. I should take a step back. Clear my head, so others can count on me."
:I don't know what you want me to say.
::"Ugh. Of course when I try to apologize for babbling at you, I end up babbling at you. I'll leave you alone, now."
:How do you see your navel through your armor?
::"Huh? Oh. It's just an expression."

If approached afterwards, Melina will thank you for your advice:
:"Once again, you guide me through   problems. I stay in your debt"
:What's your mission this time? (Appears after giving her advice to not be hard on herself)
:"The Ravenwatch wants to form contacts with a vampire coven just over the border, in Falkreath. They've heard our overtures before, but with the Gray Host on the march, we hope that they'll be inclined to accept this time around."

Third Encounter
The third time you approach her, you may hear her lament:
:Melina Cassel: "Does he even know you exist, Melina …?"

When you speak with her for the third time, Melina will mention her personal feelings:
:"Still running around out here, hmm? A lady might start to feel like I have a secret admirer. Don't I wish. As if I didn't have enough problems in that part of my life …."
:What are you talking about?
:"Well, I may as well tell you. Your past advice helped me immensely. I feel as though I can trust you. There's … someone in the Ravenwatch. The more I try to get close to them, the less it seems to work."
:Who is it?
:"Oh I'd rather not say, if you don't mind. I tend to bring them up too much in conversation as it is. And while I like to think we share a bond-we're both younger members of the Ravenwatch-nothing ever comes of it."
:Have you told them how you feel directly?
::"No, not exactly. but maybe I should. Before you started giving me advice, I would have just mooned over Fe… that other member of the Ravenwatch from afar. It's decided. The next time I see them, I'll tell them straight out how I feel."
:I don't have a lot to say about this.
::"Ah. Did I overstep? I overstepped, didn't I. Classic Melina …. I will leave you be."
:What would you want to come of it?
::"Well …. Candlelight, flowers a place that doesn't crawl with danger at every turn. Not many bards tell romance stories about vampires, but we can still feel love, you know.."

If approached afterwards, Melina will state that she resolved to talk with her crush:
:"Of course, now that I resolved to talk to them about my feelings, I have to actually figure out what I'm going to say. I feel like I can do this, though! Perhaps that heroic confidence of yours has rubbed off on me. Well, a little bit."
:When will you see them next? (Appears after giving her advice to tell her crush directly about her feelings)
:"Gods, with all that House Ravenwatch has endured lately, it could be next sunrise or it could be half a season from now. I hope it's closer to the latter, so I have some time to practice. Ah! I'm shaking with excitement! Or nerves. Both, probably."

Fourth Encounter
The fourth time you approach Melina, she sounds upset:
:Melina Cassel: "You've done it now, Melina …."

Speaking with her a fourth time, Melina will talk about her mission:
:"What a relief to run into a familiar face out here, especially after everything that happened to me today."
:What happened?
:"Well … let's keep this between us, all right? I may have … botched a mission. My first real mission. Pretty, um, badly. And I don't know what to do about it."
:What happened?
:"I was meant to stop the Gray Host from recruiting a clan of vampires. I tried to convince them that they'd just be used as pawns. But … they all ignored me. My mission failed. How can I explain this to the rest of House Ravenwatch?"
:Not every mission ends up a success. The Ravenwatch should understand that.
::"I hope you're right. I remember Gwendis, Adusa-daro and the others turning up at Castle Ravenwatch after something went wrong. And they still get sent on important tasks. I just have to feel confident that I did everything I could, and move on. "
:I don't have any advice for you.
::"I feared you might say that. But it's my problem to deal with. I can have to sort is out … somehow. Thanks anyway."
:What did you say to these vampires?
::"I told them the truth&mdash;the leaders of the Gray Host only want them as fodder. The only vampires the Gray Host cares about are its legions from the first era. They see everyone else as just means to an end. But my words must have rung hollow."

If approached afterwards, Melina will thank you for your advice:
:"I have to think about what to put in this report. What can we learn to stop the next band of vampire recruits from joining up with the Gray Host? Assuming I get another chance …."
:Do you know what your next mission will be?
:"I need to craft a message to send to some contacts the Ravenwatch has in Alik'r. It should catalogue information about persons of interest in the Gray Host. Which should be right up my alley! Speaking of which, I better get to work on that …."

Fifth Encounter
The fifth and last time you approach her, you may hear her calling you:
:Melina Cassel: "Hello, my friend! Quite glad to see you again."

During your fifth encounter, Melina will thank you again for everything.
:"Friend! I hoped I'd bump into you another time. I have something I wanted to say to you."
:What it is?
:"Just … thanks. It's funny, I practiced this whole big speech about how your advice got me through some tough times. How I feel like a better person because I met you … but you know what? Thanks is simpler."
:Don't mention it.
:"Before we met, I was an insecure wreck. Or it felt like I was. But I don't think myself into a downward spiral as much anymore. I feel more confident. Like the person I wanted to be when I first joined the Ravenwatch."
:That's good to hear.
:"Apparently the rest of the Ravenwatch noticed my attitude changed as well. Now I nearly have more missions than I know what to do with. Reconnaissance, reports, diplomatic work …. In fact, I should get back to it. Farewell, friend."

If approached afterwards, Melina will thank you for your friendship and bid you farewell:
:"I always feel glad to see you. But I may not cross paths with you for the foreseeable future. Off to new lands!"
:What's next for you?
:"Apparently the rest of the Ravenwatch noticed my attitude changed as well. Now I nearly have more missions than I know what to do with. Reconnaissance, reports, diplomatic work …. In fact, I should get back to it. Farewell, friend."''

After finishing conversation during the fifth encounter, you are rewarded with the achievement, A Friend in Deed.

Correspondence
Below is the correspondence she sends you while she acts as your hireling.



Related Achievements
There is one achievement associated with this character: