Online:Lord Ethian

Lord Ethian is the husband to the Daggerfall ambassador Lady Sovelle, brought by King Emeric's fleet on a trade mission to Orsinium.

Ethian is the son of Baron Materre, a powerful High Rock noble. The Baron disapproves of his son's wife's politics and is willing to do anything to stop her negotiations with the Orcs while also ridding himself of the daughter-in-law he cannot control. Ethian is put in the middle to carry out his father's scheme. Ethian was under the impression that his father was just going to jeopardize Sovelle's negotiations, not that he was planning on getting rid of her ladyship. 

He's not held in very high esteem by the rest of the fleet members, and is considered rather useless and cowardly.  However, in the end, he stands up to his father's lackey in defense of the woman he loves.
 

Related Quests


Quest-Related Events
If you started the quest from Eshir, he'll say:
:''"First the storm. Then we crashed upon the ice. And those terrible little monsters attacked us! I just wish my wife wasn't still out there. I don't mind admitting that I'm lost without her."
:I met someone from your fleet who said you needed help.
:"Help? Of course we need help!  My wife is Lady Sovelle, ambassador to the High King. She was on her way to Orsinium to negotiate an important trade agreement. But the ships went off course, crashed in the storm. My wife disappeared in the confusion."
:You're a long way from Orsinium.
:"You want to discuss geography? Now? My wife is missing! We need to find Lady Sovelle! She was helping people off one of the wrecks, the other survivors. Captain Henrisa won't risk any more sailors, but perhaps you could search the ice for me?"
:I'll search for survivors on the ice.'''

If you bypassed Eshir, he'll say instead:
:''"My wife, she's out there somewhere! On the ice! She could be injured, dying. Or worse, those hideous little creatures might have gotten her."
:Tell me what happened here.
:"Oh, it was a disaster! We were on our way to Orsinium, my wife and I. She's Lady Sovelle, ambassador to the High King. She was coming to negotiate a trade agreement. But the ships went off course, crashed in the storm. And now Sovelle is missing."
:Orsinium is on the other side of the province.
:"You want to discuss geography? Now? My wife is missing! We need to find Lady Sovelle! She was helping people off one of the wrecks, the other survivors. Captain Henrisa won't risk any more sailors, but perhaps you could search the ice for me?"
:I'll search for survivors on the ice.

Either way...
:"High King Emeric relies upon my dear Sovelle. If she were here, she'd know what to do."
:Tell me more about Lady Sovelle and her mission.
:"My Lady Sovelle?  If it will help, I'll tell you whatever you'd like to know. High King Emeric sent her to negotiate a lucrative trade agreement with Orsinium, but it's probably too late for that now. What else would you like to know?"
:Tell me more about the storm.
::"It was powerful, practically a blizzard! I think it blew us off course, but who am I to judge such things? I'm not a sailor, and I'm terrible with directions. Sovelle says I'd get lost on my own estate if not for all the servants."
:You think it's too late to complete Lady Sovelle's mission?
::"I'm not sure how these negotiations work. That's really more of Sovelle's area of expertise. But without her, I don't know who can deal with Orsinium. We did have an Orc with us. Skordo. Sovelle thought well of him, but you know how Orcs can be."
::And what is that supposed to mean?''' (if you're an Orc)
:::''"Oh! Er, I meant no offense! I just mean that, well, Orcs can be difficult to understand. Hard to tell if you're in a foul mood or not. Skordo seems a fine sort, if a little surly. He calls me all kinds of insulting names. All in good fun, I'm sure."
:When was the last time you saw your wife?
::"The last time I saw my wife? Right after we hit the ice. The storm was raging and everything was loud and confusing. Sovelle sent me ashore with the first group of survivors. She stayed behind to help. Just like she always does. Please find her."''

While searching for Sovelle, you'll happen upon Ethian and Holbert:
:Lord Ethian: ''"Did you find my dearest Sovelle? Please tell me she's all right!"
:"Have you found my wife yet? Please tell me that you know where Sovelle is."
:We haven't found the ambassador yet.
:"Where could she be? And why did she have to stay on the ship? She cares for everyone else but refuses to safeguard herself. Skordo, you were supposed to protect her!"
:Could the captain or one of the crew have had a hand in her disappearance?
:"Impossible! The captain works for my father. She would never harm my wife. Wait! We saw the captain head toward the signal tower. If that's where Sovelle is, then I have to go there, too!"''
After speaking to Ethian, he'll realize his wife is in the nearby signal tower and makes a bee-line for it. Run after him. Once you reach the tower, you'll hear:
:Lord Ethian: ''"Help! I'm on top of the tower!"''

Make your way up to him and he'll tell you:
:''"Sovelle, she's not here. And I think maybe that mage tried to kill me! Well, maybe he was trying to kill you."
:Tell me the truth. Are you responsible for the ambassador's disappearance?
:"What? How dare you insinuate such a thing! I would never—! I'm as at a loss as to where Sovelle is as you are! My father promised we would go off course just long enough for Sovelle to miss her meeting. She wasn't supposed to be harmed!"
:What was supposed to happen?
::"We were just … it was supposed to …. The captain's worked for my father for years. My father. You just can't say no to him. He said that the captain would take care of everything. By the gods, what have I done? Sovelle will never forgive me."
:You must have some idea about where we should look.
::"I truly don't know! It wasn't supposed to happen like this.  The terrible storm. All those sailors who died. My father said Captain Henrisa would make sure that no one was harmed! We were only supposed to get into port late!"
:Let's go downstairs. We'll look for Lady Sovelle together.

:"I promise you, I never meant for any of this to happen. Sovelle must be all right. She simply has to be."

When the two of you emerge, Holbert will be waiting with news of a possible location of Captain Henrisa and Lady Sovelle:
:"Skordo found something? Oh, I hope he found Lady Sovelle. And I hope she's all right."''

Arrive at the cave and speak to Skordo.  As you get intel from Skordo, you'll notice Lord Ethian approaching the door:
:Lord Ethian: ''"I know you're in there, Henrisa! Where's my wife?"

Henrisa appears, weapons drawn:
:Captain Henrisa: "Run back to your father, you pathetic, little man."
:Lord Ethian: "Free my wife at once, you villain!"
:Captain Henrisa: "I'm going to do your father a favor."

Henrisa strikes his lordship then runs back into the cave:
:Lord Ethian: "She … she stabbed me!"
:Lord Ethian: "I feel … a bit … faint …."
:Skordo the Knife: "I did not see that coming. Go after Henrisa. I'll see what I can do for Lord Ethian."
:Lord Ethian: "Maybe I … should … sit down …."

:"I've never … been stabbed before …."
:Don't try to move.
:"I … I actually tried to fight … Captain Henrisa? I just … wanted to help Sovelle. Oh my. I think … I think I'm bleeding profusely …."
:I'll save Lady Sovelle.
:"Tell her … this was my fault. I was afraid to disappoint … my father. But I tried to … make it right. I did try. Lady Sovelle is a good wife. I wish … I wish I had been … a better husband …."
:I'll tell Lady Sovelle what you did.'''

Kill Henrisa, save Sovelle, and follow her outside only to discover that his lordship has passed.