Online:Iokkas

Iokkas is an Argonian alchemist and egg-brother to Lara-Tan, who can be found at his camp in the Cicatrice ruins. He was leading an expedition in the locked oasis caverns, to find out what happened to the town's residents during the Knahaten Flu and his egg-mother's research. Unfortunately, the group was attacked by the Blighted and was scattered. Iokkas needs help to rescue his missing companions.
 

Related Quests


Quest-Related Events
Scars of the Past
When he is first met, he will be tending to a sick Najirra on the outskirts of his camp.
:"You have come to Cicatrice in a time of great danger, traveler-friend. Toxic fumes permeate the air and corpses walk among the ruins. It is best to turn away now, before you share the fate of my dear companions."
:What happened to your companions?
:"We were exploring the nearby oasis caverns when the fumes first began to spread. Only Najirra and I were able to escape. The rest of my companions, weakened and disoriented by the poisoned air, ran farther into the caverns of the oasis."
:Is there any way to rescue them?
:''"I would need to first create an antidote. However, I require samples from corpses that have absorbed the fumes. No easy task, given that something has awoken Cicatrice's dead. They now guard the ruins from any invaders."
:I'll get these samples and bring them back to you.
:"Thank you for the aid, traveler-friend. The undead walk the ruins of Cicatrice, directly to the west. I would advise caution. Ah, so much trouble for my egg-mother's research notes. I now wonder if traveling to this town was the right decision."

You can then ask him questions.
:I need more details about what happened to your companions.
:"When we entered the caverns of the oasis, all seemed quiet. Then suddenly fumes began to surround us. The corpses which littered the ground sprang to life and attacked. Najirra and I were the only ones able to escape."
::And the rest of your group?
::"The fumes must have disoriented them, for they ran farther into the caverns. By the time we found the entrance, Najirra could barely walk. Even I, blessed as I am with Argonian blood, began to feel weak. These fumes are most dangerous."
:::Argonian blood? What do you mean?
::::"Argonians have a far higher tolerance to poison than other races, due to the nature of our homeland. That is why I was able to escape. But even so, it would be foolish to return to the oasis without first preparing."
:::I see. So that's why you're creating an antidote.
::::"Precisely. An antidote will both allow us to enter the oasis safely and heal my companions of their weakness so that they may escape. That is why we must work quickly, traveler-friend."
:Can you tell me more about Cicatrice? / Tell me more about Cicatrice
:"Once, the town of Cicatrice was a cool blessing within the scalding desert. The oasis beneath the town was clear, and many believed it had power to heal their ailments. The town prospered from these many visitors and the trade they brought."
::Why is it in ruins now?
::"When the Knahaten Flu came to Elsweyr, many hoped that the oasis would heal them. They traveled here seeking hope, but brought their ailment with them. The town was quickly overcome with this sickness. Many died."
:I want to hear more about your egg-mother's research notes. / You also mentioned searching for your egg-mother's research notes?
:"When the Knahaten Flu devastated Cicatrice, its people fled into the safety of the nearby oasis. They hoped that its healing waters could cure them of the disease. This effort was led by Nikussha, my egg-mother."
::Your egg-mother was in Cicatrice?
::"Yes. It is by her letters that I know of Cicatrice's suffering. She was a talented alchemist, and hoped to develop a cure for the flu. However, this was many years ago. I do not believe she was successful."
:::If you believe your egg-mother died, why come to Cicatrice?
:::"I hoped to find my mother's research and share her findings.  It's very likely she died here, trying to help those who had been so cruelly abandoned. Her great deeds should be shared with all of Elsweyr."

After you have collected samples of the disease from the Blighted in the nearby ruins, you can return to Iokkas. When you arrive you will witness the tail-end of an argument between him and Najirri.
:Najirra: "Then Najirra will go alone! She will not sit idle while her friends suffer!"
:Iokkas: "Please, don't be foolish! Najirra! Wait!"

Najirra will then run off in the direction of the caverns entrance. You can talk with Iokkas and hand him the ingredients.
:"I am glad to see you unharmed. Were you able to gather the samples?"
:I gathered the samples. Where's Najirra going?
:"She fears for our companions' safety. I urged her to wait, for without an antidote she will quickly succumb to the fumes as well. But Najirra refused to listen. I must begin my research. However, I still require a blossom of Arkay's lash."
:Arkay's lash?
:"A cactus with a bright pink flower. It has great medicinal properties. Would you collect a blossom for me? The cactus can be found west of here, in a small glade atop a crag. In the meantime, I'll begin to study the samples you brought."
:I'll gather the blossom.
:"Thank you once more for your aid, traveler-friend. After I create an antidote, we can enter the oasis caverns and rescue my companions. Perhaps even find my egg-mother's research notes as well."

You will be given the option to ask Can you tell me more about Cicatrice? and I want to hear more about your egg-mother's research notes.''' which will repeat the above dialogue.

After you have found the Arkay's lash blossom and encountered a strange nereid, you can return to Iokkas who will be at his alchemy workstation.
:Iokkas: "Yes, this should do it."

Talk to him to hand the blossom over:
:''"My antidote is nearly complete. All I need now is the Arkay's lash blossom. Were you able to get one?"
:I have the blossom, but I spotted a nereid in the glade. She demanded I leave.
:"A nereid? Most peculiar. I wonder if she's somehow connected to the oasis. Ah, but there is no time to speculate while my companions are still in danger. I must deliver this antidote to them. With luck, it will give them the strength to escape."
:I can deliver the antidote for you.
:"Thank you, traveler-friend! I feared to ask, but already you volunteer. Make sure to drink some of the antidote before entering the oasis caverns. And please, see if you can find my egg-mother's research notes."
:Your egg-mother's research notes?
:"My egg-mother attempted to develop a cure for the Knahaten Flu when it first struck Cicatrice. I am sure she kept meticulous notes about her progress. Such research will be vital to learning what happened here."
:I'll keep an eye out for any research notes.

He will then mix up the antidote:
:Iokkas: "Here you are, traveler-friend. Let us hope this potion has the desired effect."

If you talk to him afterwards:
:"Remember, you must drink the antidote before heading inside the oasis. I do not wish you harmed by the fumes within."

After drinking the antidote:
:"If you find any research notes, please gather them for further study. The more we can understand what happened here, the better our chances to heal this land."''

After you braved the dangers of the caverns and rescued his companions and found his egg-mother's notes, you can return to the entrance and find Iokkas speaking with his egg-sister. 
:Lara-Tan: ''"I swear, it's not the fumes. I heard someone in the central chamber."
:Iokkas: "It is all right, Lara-Tan. I believe you."''

You can now hand him Nikussha's notes, Iokkas will then learn the terrible truth about the Cicatrice Caverns' current state.
:''"Thank you for saving my companions. Were you also able to find my egg-mother's research notes? They would be invaluable to learning what occurred here."
:I was able to find some of her notes.
:"Thank the Hist. I was worried her research would be lost forever. Hmm. She writes of a nereid who lives here. And … and how her research tainted the oasis. I see. This must be the root of all the despair we have encountered."
:How so?
:"The nereid once made this oasis a place of healing. But by filling these caverns with sickness and death, it drastically changed her. She must be the one who created these fumes and raised these corpses."
:What can be done?
:"I'm afraid that the nereid must be killed. She poses a threat to all who visit Cicatrice, and by raising the dead she has defiled many. Her death, Hist willing, will also allow this oasis to finally begin to heal."
:I'll kill the nereid.

Before you go to confront Shavali the Befouled, you can ask Iokkas about his theory about the nereid.
:"With your help, my egg-mother's terrible mistake can finally be mended. Thank you, traveler-friend. For now, I'll lead my companions back to camp."
:Do you know what exactly happened to the nereid to corrupt her this way?
:"Nereids are inherently linked to the body of water they inhabit. The plague victims stayed within these caverns for weeks. Slowly, they tainted the purity of the oasis. What was once a place of healing became a place of sickness and death."
:And so they tainted the nereid as well.
:"Precisely. As the clear waters of this oasis grew polluted, so too did her spirit. Once, the nereid healed those who came to her. Now she seeks to infect and kill. She embodies the very plague which tainted her."
:So killing the nereid will heal the oasis?
:"I'm afraid it will still take many years to fully heal the oasis. But killing the nereid will begin that process. Without her to create the fumes and raise corpses, the oasis has a chance to finally be cleansed."

After you have slain Shavali, you can return to the camp where Iokkas will have managed to escort his companions back. He will be reading the notes and he can be overheard muttering:
:Iokkas: "Mmm. Not good. I was afraid of this."

He will be pleased to see that you survived. He has also learnt what his egg-mother did in full, her actions caused the deaths of the people of Cicatrice and the corruption that has plagued the caverns for years afterwards.
:"It does my heart good to see you unharmed. I trust the nereid suffers no longer?"
:Yes, I killed the nereid. Were your egg-mother's notes helpful?
:"In a way. I did learn what happened here. My egg-mother sought to create a cure for the plague. Instead, she corrupted the oasis with sickness and death. Everyone in Cicatrice died as a result of that corruption."
:She seems like she had good intentions.
:"But I did not journey to Cicatrice to seek her good intentions. There has been much animosity between the Khajiit and Argonian races because of the Knahaten Flu. My people are immune to the disease, so many believe we created it."
:What does that have to do with your egg-mother's research?
:"Through her research and sacrifice, I had hoped to bridge the gap between our people. Prove that Argonians are not the cold-blooded monsters so many see us as. But sharing what happened at Cicatrice may only strengthen the Khajiit's hatred."
:What will you do then?
:"I do not know. I must reflect on this. Still, I thank you for all that you've done. You saved my companions, found my egg-mother's research, and helped the oasis begin to heal. No small feats to accomplish, traveler-friend."

He will then hand you the  .

If you continue to talk with him, Iokkas can be asked about his companions and the future of the Oasis.
:"May your path be easy and your footsteps sure."
::How are your companions?
:::"The foul wind of our misfortune has turned into a gentle breeze. My companions are recovering well. I will monitor them closely for the next few days and see how they progress. For now, they merely need to rest."
::What will happen to the oasis now?
::"I suspect both the fumes and undead will linger for quite some time. Have no worries, though. I will make sure that its dangers are known to Elsweyr. Hopefully, an effort can one day be made to cleanse it completely."
:::Why can't it be cleansed now?
:::"The Khajiit look up to their skies, and see Dragons soaring overhead. They look across their fields, and see bloody battles raging. They have not the time nor resources to cleanse this oasis. Not now."
::::Then why did I kill the nereid?
::::"The nereid was the source of the corruption. It was her power that created toxic fumes and raised the undead. Kept alive, she would continue to do so. Now the oasis can begin to heal. It may take decades, centuries even. But it will heal."

Afterwards, he will head over to his resting companions.
:Iokkas: "How are our companions, Lara-Tan?"
:Lara-Tan: "All is well, egg-brother. Your antidote has helped them immensely."
:Iokkas: "That's good to hear."
:Najirra: "Iokkas, were you able to find your mother's research notes?"
:Iokkas: "I … yes. Our traveler-friend was able to collect them."
:Najirra: "And what did they say? What happened to Cicatrice?"
:Iokkas: "Let us speak of that after you've recovered. For now, you need to rest."

Heir of Anequina
If you helped him previously, he can be found in the Rimmen Palace, attending the coronation ceremony.
:"First you save Iokkas' companions from the dangers of Cicatrice. Then you save all of Anequina from the tyranny of Dragons! You are truly remarkable, traveler-friend."
:What are you doing here, Iokkas?
:"I came to Rimmen in order to warn the Khajiit of the dangers of Cicatrice. I did not wish for the other travelers to be harmed. I do also wonder if perhaps I should speak of my egg-mother's research."
:That's for you to decide.
:"Yes, you are right. I think I will try to help, no matter the consequences. After the celebration ends, I will find someone to speak to about my egg-mother's research. Hopefully they will understand her intentions, despite the results."''