Old Friends Old Friends is a side quest given by Neloth , after the completion of " Briarheart Necropsy . " Background . Tel Mithryn is under attack by an unknown force . Ash Spawn killed Neloth ' s previous steward and part of his tower mysteriously withered . After Neloth assigns to the Dragonborn the task of finding him a new steward , and after the withered part of Tel Mithryn is repaired , a third attack causes Neloth to reveal to the Dragonborn his suspicion that the attacks are organized – the same suspicion that Captain Veleth has about the attacks on Raven Rock . Neloth gives the Dragonborn the task of discovering the source of the attacks . Walkthrough . The quest becomes available once " Healing a House " or " Reluctant Steward " and " Briarheart Necropsy " are completed . Travel to Tel Mithryn and encounter several Ash Spawn outside . Upon killing them , head into the main tower and notify Neloth of the attack . He states that its not a coincidence that the events that have taken place occurred , and states that someone must be behind the attacks . Find the source . He gives you Neloth ' s Ring of Tracking which will help identify the culprit . Put on the ring and head east along the coast of Tel Mithryn to a small graveyard surrounded by Deathbell s ( due north of the main tower ) . When within a hundred feet of the location , a sarcophagus starts to glow purple , and fade . This is Ildari Sarothril ' s sarcophagus and inside is a Heart Stone . Collect it , then return to Neloth to tell him the stone was in Ildari ' s grave . Neloth thinks Ildari , his former apprentice , is behind the attacks . He believed she was dead , but there was no body in the grave . Next , he casts a divination and finds that she is in Highpoint Tower . He reveals : " " So , Ildari does live after all . She thought she could hide from me , but she can ' t ! She ' s holed up in Highpoint Tower . Go rip that thrice cursed heart stone from her chest . " " Asking if he is coming along , he replies : He parts with : " " Be sure to bring back an amusing story of how Ildari died . " " Highpoint Tower . Traveling to Highpoint Tower , the entry was previously blocked , but the ash has been cleared . The path to the door can be reached by a nondescript crevice on the northern side of the mound . Ash spawn are guarding the entrance which will need to be taken care of . Upon entering Highpoint Tower , head down the stairs . If Dragonborn explores the caverns , there are numerous geodes including ruby , emerald and sapphire to the southwest upon descending the stairs . Deep underground , the fort contains a prison where Niyya , a miner , is locked up . If released , she reveals that she and the other miners took pity on Ildari , thinking she was badly injured , and she repaid their kindness by attacking them in the night . She imprisoned most of them for her personal experiments . Further exploration will reveal a large cavernous area where Ildari is holed up with ash guardian s and ash spawn . She taunts " " You ' ve gone far enough . Neloth is a fool to think he could send some low life to finish me off . " " and retreats further into the ruins where there are further ash spawn . She can be found and fought in a final chamber , and the battle ends with the Dragonborn ripping out the Heart Stone that was keeping her alive . Return to Neloth . Upon returning to Tel Mithryn , Neloth greets the Dragonborn with " " You ' re alive . I hope that bodes ill for Ildari . " " Inform him she is dead and he responds : Neloth gives the Dragonborn a staff , and also makes them a Hireling of House Telvanni as a reward . Asking him what it means to be a member of his house , he remarks : " " For now , not much . But in a few decades when I return to Vvardenfell , you would be seen as Morrowind nobility . In the mean time , we would keep a bed and chest here for you . " "