Daggerfall:To Assist the Fate

Quick Walkthrough
# Talk to a Merchant or an Innkeeper.
# Travel to the specified dungeon.
# (Optional) Wait for a letter from the Thieves Guild.
# Choose whether to retrieve the gem, kill the cousin, or kill the former lover.
# Travel back to your employer within the time limit and collect your reward.

Detailed Walkthrough
Cheating Heart
The Merchant or Innkeeper quest giver says:

:''"Imagine the purity of my delight when my sniveling, cheating lover of the past two years was abducted and presumably killed. Then imagine my despair when I discovered that the  (lover's description) was still among the living. Next, imagine my amusement when (his/her) kidnappers demanded a ransom. Finally, please imagine my annoyance when (his/her) cousin actually agreed to pay the ransom. This cannot be. I need someone to make certain that the ransoming fails. Will you help me?"

Accept
The merchant or innkeeper goes on:

:"(Oath), (oath), and (oath). The way I see it, there are three ways to stop this ransoming. One is to make sure that dear (lover's name) accidentally dies before the ransom date in (time limit) days. Of course, I don't know where (he/she) is, so that's a difficult one. The next option is to see to (his/her) cousin's accidental death within the same time frame. Now, (cousin's name), that's the cousin, lives in (dungeon), which is a well-fended fortress. So there's a difficulty there. Finally, you could remove the (gem) from (cousin's dungeon) that (cousin's name) plans to use for the ransom. Whatever way you do it, be back here with the news in (time limit) days or sooner, and you'll be (random gold) gold richer. Good luck, old (player's race)."

Decline
The merchant or innkeeper answers:

:"(Oath), what an attitude. Your selfish morality will get you in trouble some day."

Stopping the Ransom
thumb|right|The cousin is not willing to part with the gem without a fight
thumb|right|The ransom, a diamond
The quest can proceed along either of two paths:

If your reputation with the Thieves Guild is greater than ten, you will be approached about twelve hours after you accept the quest:

:A nondescript fellow slips a note into your hand, winks, and departs.

Check your inventory for the note, which is from the Thieves Guild:
 
If you have not yet discovered it, the dungeon will now be revealed on your map. Travel there and find the lover within. Upon seeing you, the lover will be frightened to death:

(Lover's name)'s heart gives out at the shock of seeing a (player's race) mercenary."
"Come violent death," (lover's name) says, quaffing a draught of poison. "I will be reunited with my true love (employer's name) in the hereafter."
"Assassin! Assassin!" (Lover's name) expires of hysteria.''

Return to your employer once the lover is dead to collect your reward.

If you didn't get the letter (or don't want to follow its suggestion), you should instead travel to the dungeon mentioned by your employer. Either find the gem and bring it back, or find and kill the lover's cousin. The gem and the cousin will be at the same location within the dungeon. The cousin will immediately attack you, and shout when hit:

''"Why, you bloody, bollocky (player's race), that hurt!"
"You probably think that hurts, don't cha?"

When the cousin dies, a notification appears:

"(Lover's name)'s cousin, (his/her) only hope, is launched into eternity."
"(Cousin's name) will not be ransoming anyone now."

You also will get a notification when you pick up the ransom gem:

:You have found the (gem) (cousin's name) was going to use to ransom (lover's name).

After you have slain the cousin or taken the gem, return to your employer and collect your reward. However, you cannot keep the gem if you successfully complete the quest.
 

Reward
When you come back after accomplishing the task, your employer will greet you, by saying:

:"So, poor (lover's name) won't be coming home? Well done, my friend. Here's the (random gold) gold pieces I promised. Best money I ever spent."''

Reputation Gain/Loss
 

Enemies
Random dungeon monsters
Quest Target:One Knight

Notes
While the gem and the cousin will be found at the same quest location, you will not get any additional reputation or reward if you steal the gem in addition to killing the cousin.
The kidnapped lover may be being held in the same dungeon as the cousin and the gem, but will not be at the same quest location as them.
As long as you don't return to your employer after you have found the gem, it will remain in your inventory and won't vanish once the quest is over, unlike most quest items.

Additional Dialogue
After you have accepted this quest, NPCs may say when asked for any news:
''"Poor (employer's name). Grief is terrible. You know, (he/she) looks ten years younger."
"(Cousin's name) suspects that (employer's name) doesn't really want (lover's name) back."
If you fail the quest, NPCs may say when asked for any news:
"(Employer's name) is furious with a (player's race) named (player's name) for some reason."
If you successfully complete the quest, NPCs may say when asked for any news:
"It looks like (lover's name) really never will come back to (town)."
"(Employer's name) is now deeply in mourning for (lover's name). It's very sad."
If you successfully complete the quest, the quest giver may later greet you with:
"You saved me from that corpulent toad (lover's name), (player's first name). Don't think I forgot."'
If you failed the quest, the quest giver will greet you with:
"I asked you to do one thing, and I gave you three ways to do it. And you failed. Why should I talk to you, you pickled vat of dung patties?"

Quest Log