Investigator Vale in Vvardenfell Content . " I didn ' t come all the way to Vvardenfell just to see the sights , councilor , " Investigator Vale said as she examined the bust of Almalexia that sat atop Councilor Vobend ' s desk . " Although I must say I find your land and your people to be quite enticing . " " Then why are you here , Vale ? " Councilor Vobend demanded , his tone indicating that he was out of patience with the woman from High Rock . " Because I asked her to come , Father , " said Velnea , the councilor ' s daughter , as she strode into the chamber . " I care about what happened to Master Adren , even if House Hlaalu would rather pretend that he never existed . " Vobend collapsed heavily into his chair , suddenly exhausted by the weight of his responsibilities . " We ' ve been over this a hundred times , Velnea , " Vobend sighed . " Master Adren died . It happens . Not every death hides a conspiracy or a murder . " Investigator Vale gave Velnea a dazzling smile before turning back to address her father . " I ' ll be the judge of that , my dear councilor , " she said with evident excitement . " After all , it ' s what I do . " < nowiki > * * * < / nowiki > Vale and Velnea walked side by side beneath the massive mushrooms that towered behind Master Adren ' s alchemy shop . The old alchemist had been Velnea ' s beloved mentor since she was a young girl , instructing her in the alchemical arts as well as encouraging other academic pursuits . There was a garden toward the back of the area , displaying a harvest of plants and flowers favored by alchemists . An easel was set up nearby , holding a canvas that showed the alchemist sitting beside his beloved garden . The painting was not quite finished . " Adren always told me I could be anything I wanted to be , " Velnea mused . " I didn ' t have to become a merchant or a trader if my father ' s life didn ' t appeal to me . He … encouraged me to … dream . " " Sounds like he was a wonderful person , " Vale said cheerfully as she marveled at the nix - hound that wandered over to investigate the strange visitor . " And what is your dream , dear Velnea , if you don ' t mind me asking ? " Velnea blushed , hesitated , and stepped over to the unfinished painting . She said , " I want to be a painter . I love to draw , and Adren helped me develop my talent . Landscapes , portraits , still lifes … I ' ve created quite a body of work and he said that each new painting was better than the last . I was in the middle of this one when … . I miss that old alchemist . A lot . " Vale bent down to examine the ground beneath one of the tree - like mushrooms . " And this is where you found the alchemist ? " she asked . Velnea shivered and clutched her arms tightly . " Yes . I came by to visit . When I couldn ' t find Adren inside his shop , I assumed he had come out here to read or tend to his garden . Instead , I found him lying there , face up and eyes open . I ' ll never forget the sight of him . " The investigator stood up and scanned the rest of the backyard . " You said nothing was missing ? Hmm . According to your painting , one of the flowers has disappeared . " Velnea looked at the unfinished painting and saw the vibrant and exotic bloom rising from the patch beside the image of her mentor . Then she examined the garden and let out a squeak of surprise . " You ' re right ! I can ' t believe I didn ' t notice that before ! It ' s gone ! " " And if your depiction is accurate , the missing plant is a rare crimson dragonthorn , " Vale said . " A much sought after plant when it comes to alchemy . And this discoloration on the stem of the mushroom . That indicates that the surface of the fungus interacted with a garlic snail and produced a plume of noxious gas . Quite toxic , as I understand it . " " A garlic snail ? In Adren ' s garden ? He was too good a gardener to allow such a pest to take root among his mushrooms , " Velnea said . " Then murder it is , my dear , " Vale said . " Tell me , did Adren have any rivals among the local alchemists ? " < nowiki > * * * < / nowiki > Investigator Vale entered Dirani ' s flower shop and walked confidently toward the older Dark Elf who was busy working on a floral arrangement that included flora and fungi . Following behind Vale were Velnea and a House Hlaalu soldier . Vale paused to sniff at the arrangement - in - progress before she stepped over to a large pot containing freshly turned soil . Sticking out of the soil was a crimson dragonthorn . " Well , that ' s an extremely rare flower , " Vale said , bending to examine the plant more closely . " And look . It has the same small yellow dots on the petals , just like in your painting , dear Velnea . " Dirani looked from Vale to the soldier and back again , clearly nervous and sweating uncomfortably . " What … what are you implying ? " she eventually managed to stammer . " I never imply , " Vale said , placing her hand on a glass case sitting on the counter . The case contained a small colony of garlic snails . Vale tapped the side with one long , slender finger . " I ' ll say the words plainly . You murdered Master Adren so that you could acquire his prized crimson dragonthorn . " " That ' s … that ' s preposterous ! " Dirani protested . Then she turned and ran out through the back of the flower shop . The Hlaalu soldier followed quickly after her . " She ' s going to get away , " said Velnea , disappointment evident in her sad voice . " Nonsense , my dear , " Vale said . " Your soldier seems more than capable of apprehending an old woman . Now what do you say ? I ' d love it if you ' d paint my portrait . Tell me , how do you feel about nudes ? "