Online:A Deadly Secret

Quick Walkthrough
#Search for Councilor Jirich.
#Talk to Milona Hanus.
#Talk to Eveli Sharp-Arrow.
#Find Councilor Faleria and Councilor Sophus.
#Search Councilor Jirich's Manor.
#Report to Councilor Lovidicus in Leyawiin Castle.
#Meet with Councilor Abor at Fort Blueblood.
#Warn Councilor Faleria and Councilor Vandacia.
#*Councilor Faleria
##Travel to Tidewater Cave and talk to Councilor Faleria.
#*Councilor Vandacia
##Speak with Councilor Vandacia in Gideon.
##Talk to Elam Drals in Twyllbek Ruins.
#Talk to Councilor Lovidicus in Leyawiin Castle.

Detailed Walkthrough
Starting the Quest
Having arrived in Blackwood, speak with Captain Rian Liore outside of Leyawiin after picking up the quest in the Collections Menu or getting it from Brigadine Antonius.

Like the other quests beginning Chapter storylines, there are several ways to begin A Deadly Secret:
You can find the prompt to start it in the Collections Menu under the Stories sub-section and Chapter tab. This will lead you to Captain Rian Liore in front of the northwestern Leyawiin gates or on the docks.
If you are near the wayshrines of Leyawiin, Gideon, or Telepe, you can encounter Brigadine Antonius, who will have the following dialog:
:Brigadine Antonius: "You there! The Ivory Brigade has need of you!"

Approach and speak with him to find out more.
:''"You look like you've got your wits about you. Care to make a bit of extra gold working for Leyawiin's Ivory Brigade? I've been asked by my captain to find someone who can handle themselves. We need help with a delicate situation."
:What's the situation?
:"Deadly secrets. Assassins. Murder! And now apparently a councilor has gone missing. Between the war, bandits, and cultists, the Ivory Brigade is like the Nord that tries to plug a leaking cask of   only to realize he doesn't have enough fingers!"
:What do you need me to do?
:"Talk to my commander, Captain Rian Liore. You can find him just outside the city gates, trying to appease some of the nobles. Tell him I sent you and he'll put you right to work, I'm sure."
:I'll go speak to Captain Rian Liore.'''

 
A Conversation with the Captain
However you start the quest, the next step in the quest will be to talk to Captain Rian outside the city walls. When you first meet him he is busy reassuring a trio of nervous nobles, saying:
:Captain Rian Liore: "You have my word. If the councilor is in Leyawiin or the surrounding countryside, the Ivory Brigade will find her."
: 
:Captain Rian Liore: "You there. A moment of your time, please."

Speak with him to find out what's troubling the city.
:"Leyawiin has problems enough, and now the predictions of the Wood Elf archer seem to be coming true. Damn these old Imperial secrets! Councilor Jirich has disappeared and my Ivory Brigade is spread thin as a sliver of butter on day-old bread."
:Tell me more about this Wood Elf archer and the Imperial secrets.
:"The Wood Elf, Eveli Sharp-Arrow. She brought news that the Dark Brotherhood was targeting members of the Elder Council. All because of some secret of the Longhouse Emperors. We took her warning seriously, but Jirich refused brigadine protection."
:You think the Dark Brotherhood harmed Councilor Jirich?
:''"With that guild of assassins, I'm not sure what to think. But Jirich is missing and I don't have enough brigadines at the ready to conduct a proper search. You look capable. So, care to earn some gold and help us determine the councilor's fate?"
:I'll try to find Councilor Jirich.
:"Here. Let me update your map. These are places Jirich visits during her daily routine. If something befell her, it happened somewhere along this path. Meanwhile, I have Eveli Sharp-Arrow checking locations in the city. She was very eager to help."''
 
He marks two spots in the Leyawiin swamps on your map, and you are then able to ask him about the missing Councilor, the situation in the city and its mode of governance, the locations he highlighted for you to search and Eveli Sharp-Arrow, your cheerful Wood Elf companion. Additionally, if you have completed the prologue quest The Emperor's Secret, you are also able to confirm her rather fanciful-sounding story about the Dark Brotherhood assassinating Farrul Lupus. At this point you can either enter Leyawiin to see the sights, shops, and wayshrine or get right to the Captain's investigation. 

thumb|right|Too late
Searching the Swamps
You're going to cross the bridge heading east of Leyawiin and follow the riverbank south, then head up a dirt path east until you reach a cave. You'll find a Letter to Councilor Lovidicus atop a rock inside the cave. Once you've read it, exit the cave and head back across the bridge, towards the Event Exchange. Once you reach the Event Exchange, head north up the islet. There, you'll find the councilor's picnic site and a Letter from Farrul Lupus.

After you read it, you'll be approached by Milona Hanus:
:Milona Hanus: ''"Councilor Jirich? Oh, pardon me! You're not the councilor."

Talk to her.
:"Apologies. I heard you stumbling about and thought it might be Councilor Jirich."
:Who are you?
:"Oh, no one important, I assure you! I'm simply one of the councilor's aides. I help her with paperwork mostly. Run errands. That sort of thing."
:Captain Rian sent me to find the councilor. He thinks she might be in danger.
:"She initially refused the captain's offer, but she received a letter that made her … uneasy. Last I saw, she was headed back to the city by way of the eastern gate. But she never returned to her manor, so I came to look for her. Please, find her!"''

Milona asks you to check the area around the eastern gate for Councilor Jirich. Head south along the riverside, back towards the bridge near the event exchange. You'll find Councilor Jirich dying in the water, leaning against a broken stone stele of Argonian make. There's a Mysterious Note by her side: it appears to be a Dark Brotherhood calling card. Speak to her in her final moments.
:"I refused to believe … but Farrul … Lovidicus … they were right."
:What happened to you, councilor?
:''"I was attacked … an assassin …. You must warn the others … the councilors … Leovic's secret. It will be … the death … of us … all …."

Just then, Eveli Sharp-Arrow shows up. Get her up to speed on the situation.


Warning the Councilors
Eveli wants you to check up on Councilor Faleria and Councilor Sophus. Sophus lives in a cabin with his wife and dog north of Undertow Cavern. Faleria is staying at a fisherman's hut along the coast south of Leyawiin. Pick one to warn; it doesn't matter which. You'll find Sophus dead a ways away from his home. 

Faleria is alive, and she's being guarded.
 
  

Quest Stages