Online:General Dathieu

General Dathieu was a Breton and King Ranser's most loyal advisor during his war against High King Emeric. But after suffering too many losses and seeing his mental state deteriorate, Dathieu betrayed and killed Ranser at the Traitor's Tor.

His living family members can be found at Hoarfrost Downs, comprising his wife, son, and daughter.
 

Related Quests


Quest-Related Events
thumb|right|General Dathieu's Skull
After finding General Dathieu's skull in a tower, you'll hear his voice "introducing" himself:
:General Dathieu: ''"Think me Ranser, do you? No, I am not the mad king. I am his betrayer. Enter the past and hear my tale—a traitor's tale, it is."''

At this point, you will relive the events of King Ranser's final hours as one of his lieutenants. You will need to report to Dathieu who can be found on stairs outside the tower.
:''"Lieutenant! Where in Oblivion have you been? Those damn sleep scrolls were useless against the brutes! The Orcs breached the walls, and we're down to just a few dozen men, including the King's Guard.  I'm afraid it may be time to surrender." 
:Do we have any other options?
:"King Ranser just wants us to keep fighting to the bitter end. Seems he wants to go out in a blaze of glory.  Can't say I'm fond of that strategy, but the king's beyond reason. That damn mage he had gave him some fool notion he wants us to try."
:What is it that he wants us to do?
:"Before he vanished, Reezal-Jul told the king about this last ditch enchantment that would help us hold the tor.  We're supposed to take these packets of magical powder and pour their contents into the braziers in each of the towers."
:What will that accomplish?
:"Kill the Orcs? I don't know. What I do know is that this is our last chance, and you're the only soldier I'd trust to even make the attempt.  If it doesn't do anything, go up and tell the king. Maybe he'll realize it's time to surrender."
:All right. I have my orders then.'''

Continuing to speak to him, he will reveal his own thoughts on the king's mental state.
:''"Go as fast as you can, Lieutenant. Until we've tried this, the king won't even talk about surrender. We have to get him to come around before it's too late."
:You think the king's gone mad?
:"I don't know what to think. There was a time when I would have followed King Ranser into Oblivion, but since Markwasten Moor, he hasn't been himself. It seems his hatred for Emeric has completely consumed him."

After you have used the powder on the braziers, you can tell the General what happened before reporting to the King Ranser.
:"You poured the packets into the braziers and nothing happened? That's it then. We have no choice but to surrender. Go tell the king. I'll be down here. Praying that he sees reason."

When you report to the King about the powder and braziers, he will explain that was supposed to happen and to relay his orders to General Dathieu to have the remaining forces charge the Orcs. Meanwhile, the General will have hoped that Ranser saw reason.
:"Well? Now that the foolish experiment with the braziers has failed, has the king come to see reason? Does he realize this fight cannot be won?"
:On the contrary. He plans to charge the Orcs' ranks.
:"Then he has truly gone mad. There's no reason to waste further lives defending this lost cause. The king will just have to be restrained. Have you seen Captain Taern? She and I should do this together."
:The king said he had already sent orders to Captain Taern.
:"Damn it, and knowing her, she'll follow orders without question and get the King's Guard killed. You'll have to find Taern and convince her to stand down. If she refuses, look for that chest of sleep scrolls, and just use one to knock them all out."
:Are you going to confront the king?
:"Yes. It's actually probably best I go alone.  At this point, I'll do whatever it takes. I'll give the king one last chance to listen to reason. But if he won't, then I'll just have to make him see things my way."
:All right. I'll go deal with the King's Guard.'''
thumb|left|''"Your Majesty, you've clearly lost your mind…"''thumb|left|''"…I'm sorry, but you leave me no choice."''thumb|right|"Traitor! We shall live forever, but not you. I curse you and will scatter your bones! Die, you treacherous dog!"
Speaking to him again:
:''"As if being defeated wasn't tragic enough. I can't believe we have to focus the king to surrender. Nonetheless, I can't ask the men to throw away their lives for a lost cause."

After attempting to delay Captain Taern, you can return to the tower to find the King and General arguing.
:King Ranser: "Stop acting like a coward, Dathieu! I am your king and I will lead you to victory today."
:General Dathieu: "Your Majesty, you've clearly lost your mind. I'm sorry, but you leave me no choice."
: 
:General Dathieu: "It is done. No further lives need be thrown away today."''
: 
:King Ranser: ''"Traitor! But your feeble betrayal won't stop Reezal-Jul's magic! We shall live forever, but not you. I curse you and will scatter your bones! Die, you treacherous dog!"''
thumb|right|King Ranser and the General fight
The vision will then end and you will need to try and explain things to Scholar Cantier. You can then search for the rest of the general's bones around the ruins. Once you have assembled them, General Dathieu will reform as an undead skeletalon who means to finish what he started.
:General Dathieu: "I am whole again! Meet me where I slayed the mad king. Perhaps I can finally end this horrid existence."

When you arrive at that spot you saw in the vision, King Ranser will be waiting and Dathieu will rush in:
:General Dathieu: ''"Ranser! You madman! It's time to finish this!"
:King Ranser: "I couldn't agree more. I'll shatter your bones this time, Dathieu."

When you defeat King Ranser:
:General Dathieu: "The mad king has fallen! Come, we need to talk."''
thumb|left|The spirit of General Dathieu
The skeleton will then walk into the tower and Dathieu's spirit will appear. Speak with him to put him to rest.
:''"Over the years, I've questioned many times whether what I did was right. I wanted to save my soldiers' lives, but I only helped King Ranser spread his curse. Now, whether right or wrong, I am redeemed. The curse is lifted and the dead can rest."
:The undead are gone from the ruins?
:"Yes. They are at peace. Even King Ranser, I suppose. He was a wise and courageous king at one time, you know. I hope what happened here does not further damage his legacy. That is beyond my control, however. Goodbye, my friend, and thank you."''