Online:Captain Thayer

Captain Thayer is a Breton member of the Shornhelm Guard doing recruiting in the town of Hoarfrost Downs. However, she is having trouble gaining recruits.
 
 

Related Quests





Quest-Related Events
When you first arrive in Hoarfrost Downs, you can overhear her reporting to General Tibbin.
:Captain Thayer: "Sorry Sir, I tried, but no one here is willing to enlist."
:General Tibbin: "Unacceptable, Captain. Either deliver me recruits or deliver me your resignation."

The Wayward Son
If you approach her afterwards Thayer will explain her problems and you can offer to help her recruit the three potentials she has scouted. She will start with the easiest prospect.
:''"What will I do now? Without the Shornhelm Guard I'm nothing. I told the general. I'm a soldier, not a recruiter. But now I'm to be discharged if I fail? It's not right. I've tried to do my duty, but I can't force people to enlist."
:You can't find new recruits for the Shornhelm Guard?
:"Not a single one. Montclair's war has decimated our ranks and people now see enlisting in the guard as a foolhardy proposition.  I have a few prospects, but they seem to have no sense of duty. I don't know. Maybe my manner is just too harsh."
:Is there some way I can help?
:"Certainly. I have one prospect who should be simple—Martin Dathieu. He's in the stocks for Mara's sake, but I can get him released if he enlists. When I spoke to him, however, he was stubborn and rude. Perhaps you can talk to him?"
:I'll go see if I can convince Martin to enlist.
:"I've already spoken with the constable, and he agreed to release Martin if the young man will enlist.  I simply can't understand why a criminal would choose the stocks over doing his duty for his kingdom."

You can then ask her about the reasons for needing more recruits.
:Can you tell me why the guard needs new recruits?
:"Because Rivenspire is a mess. Bloodfiends roam across the land. Montclair loyalists attack our towns. Need I say more?"
:Can't the other noble houses provide soldiers?
:"Yes, but this. Let's face it, this new civil war has taken its toll."''

If you're still in the process of recruiting Martin, she will say:
:''"Have you made any progress with Martin? I hope you won't give up. For my sake, and for the sake of Shornhelm. We need soldiers."

She does not have high hopes for your success and you recruit Martin, General Tibbin will come by once more. When reporting back to her after convincing Martin to enlist, she is very pessimistic.
:"You've certainly done your due diligence. I really appreciate the efforts, but I had a feeling it wouldn't work. Some people just have no sense of duty, and I guess Martin falls into that category."
:Actually, I convinced Martin to enlist.
:"You did? Excellent! I don't know what you said to him but I don't care. It's my duty to get new recruits and you helped me fulfill it. Thank you. I'll have the deputy release him and we'll get him whipped into shape in no time." 

You receive a Shornhelm Guard Armet as a reward.

The Bandit
Captain Thayer needs more recruits and decides to ask for your assistance once more.
:"You really have the knack for this. While I'm getting Martin released, I wonder … would you be at all open to taking a crack at another one of my stubborn prospects? Her name's Shuga. She's got a mouth on her, but she'd make a good soldier."
:Why doesn't Shuga want to enlist?
:"She wouldn't admit it, but I think she's some kind of bandit and that's why she doesn't think much of the Shornhelm Guard.  She called me some rather rude names. In fact, I lost my temper. But you … you have more patience."
:Are you sure you want to recruit a bandit?
:"If it was up to me, no. But our numbers are low and we can't be picky. Besides, I'd rather risk the life of a bandit in battle than some poor girl who's never even swung a sword. If you're willing to speak to Shuga, she's over by the ironworks."
:I'll talk to Shuga and see how it goes.

Speaking to her again:
:"I know Shuga's probably going to give you some lip, but keep in mind that kind of spunk can sometimes translate into real grit in battle. If you run out of patience, though, just knock her out. We can wait and rouse her at the training camp."''

Returning to the Captain after recruiting Shuga, she still doesn't completely trust your abilities.
:''"Oh, well. It was worth a try. I knew she was something of a long shot, with an attitude like that. I'd probably have been forced to beat her down every other day just to keep her in line. Maybe it's better that she won't enlist."
:Actually, I convinced Shuga to enlist. 
:"You did? Well, I'll be an Argonian's aunt! I really didn't think you could pull that off. You missed your calling, my friend. You should have been a recruiter. You can't seem to fail."'' 

You receive a Shornhelm Guard Baldric as a reward.

The Lover
After two successes Thayet has one more recruitment job for you, she believes this one will be the hardest. If you haven't started the quest yet, she will say "If I can just get one more recruit, it will be an even three."

Speaking to her:
:''"While we're waiting for Shuga to finally get here, what do you say to taking on the most unlikely prospect of the bunch? If you can recruit this young man, I'll eat my dagger. He's … awkward."
:What makes this recruit so difficult?
:"Julien Rissiel. That's his name. He seems like a sharp young man, and he's had a little training. The problem is that Julien is more interested in chasing girls than glory. Some might even say he's pathetic. But he is a prospect."
:Any ideas on how I should approach him?
:"I don't know. I tried to tell him that no girl can resist a man with a few scars, but that didn't seem to sway him. Unfortunately, I lost my patience after that and now he won't even come near me. If anyone can convince him, though, it's you."
:I'll talk to Julien Rissiel.

Speaking to her again:
:"It's hard for me to relate to someone like Julien. The young men in my home town never even noticed me. I tried to get their attention by challenging them to duels. But when I beat them, that just made it worse. So I joined the Shornhelm Guard."

When you return after your recruitment efforts, she will want to comfort you after your perceived failure. 
:"Don't feel bad. I knew Julien was a hopeless case. A man who's sick in love is a sad man indeed.  I feel sorry for him, really. Enlisting would have probably helped set him straight."
:Actually, Julien's decided to enlist.
:"I can't believe it. I said I was going to eat my dagger, didn't I? I hope you'll let me off on that one. I'm really embarassed. Here I couldn't manage to get a single recruit, and you come behind me and get three."
:Are there any other prospects?
:"None that are worth our time, and I'll have my hands full whipping these three into shape anyhow. The general's jaw's going to hit the dirt when I march them in. I'll tell him I had help, of course. I don't want him assigning me this duty again."'' 

You receive a pair of Shornhelm Guard Sollerets as a reward. With Captain Thayet's recruitment is a success, she will order her recruits to march out.
:Captain Thayer: "All right, recruits. Fall in! I want to see the prettiest march to Shornhelm in history!"

The Crown of Shornhelm
If you helped her out with the recruitment before attending the coronation of the new ruler of Rivensprie, she can be found at Shornhelm Castle with her recruits. She can be asked how they are doing, though her answers may differ depending on how you convinced them to join previously.

If you told Martin the truth about his father's heroic actions:
:''"A finer group of soldiers never served in the Shornhelm Guard. Julien and Shuga have both turned out to be valiant warriors. And Martin, that young man is a natural leader. He's a war hero now, too. He saved dozens of lives in battle the other day."

If you convince Martin to enlist to support his family:
:"A finer group of soldiers never served in the Shornhelm Guard. Julien and Shuga have both turned out to be valiant warriors. And Martin's distinguished himself, too. I actually think he's got the makings of a strong leader."''

If you have bail Martin out by telling him that his friend won't bail him out:
:''"It's good to see you here. It's long overdue for Rivenspire to get a new ruler!  As you can see, Julien and Shuga are here. They've surprised even me with their valor in battle. Sadly, we lost Martin. He went down fighting, though. That's something."

If you failed all persuasion and intimidation options:
:"My friend from Hoarfrost! These two wouldn't be here if not for you. You should be proud. Julien and Shuga have turned out to be great soldiers. Martin couldn't cut it, though. Abandoned his post one night. I hear he's back in the stocks again."''