The Elven Sword

**Enemy Level** | PC x 1
 **Quest ID** | VartheimQuest

*The Elven Sword* is a quest in which the player uncovers a complex web of deception when retrieving a stolen family heirloom, exploring themes of identity in a world where appearances can be purchased.

**My Family Sword…**

On approaching Pelgurt in Candlehearth Hall at Windhelm, the player is presented with a helpless Nord attempting to elicit aid from a passing adventurer. He explains that an Elven sword, a precious family heirloom, was stolen.

Bequeathed to him by his deceased Father, his Uncle had arranged a heavily guarded caravan to transport the sword to him. His efforts were in vain however, as the sword never reached its destination.

If the player is curious about the history of the sword, he will recount the tale of an ancestor who fell in love with a High Elf. As this relationship was frowned upon by the Altmer’s prestigious warrior clan family, the Nord ancestor resolved to prove herself a worthy mate by disguising herself as her lover and entering a tournament.

To enact the plan she visited a face sculptor in Cloudrest, and tasked the chirurgeon with replicating his features. Revealing her true identity on victory won her the desired acceptance from his family, and winning the tournament earned her the Elven sword. Thus the sword is revered as a precious symbol of acceptance. He adds that the real value of the sword lies in its inscription, declaring the holder the true heir of this couple.

Pelgurt will point the player towards Uttering Hills Cave. On accepting the quest they are given the option of requesting half of the payment up front, to which he will happily agree.

**I Can’t Wait to Tell my Uncle**

Having fought through the bandits at Uttering Hills Cave, the player will find the Elven sword on top of a set of shelves in the bandit chief’s quarters.

On returning to Pelgurt, he will be unable to conceal his anticipation and immediately ask if the sword was found. On its return he will earnestly thank the Dragonborn and reward them for their trouble, giving the player the option to push for a larger amount of gold if they wish. He’ll conclude by mentioning his plans to show it to his Uncle, who has been staying at The Winking Skeever in Solitude, trying to find clues on the sword’s whereabouts.

**Duplicity**

Pelgurt’s uncle, Vartheim, can be found in the cellar of The Winking Skeever, engaged in a heated discussion with his bodyguard, Benild. He is frantic about the authenticity of a sword, following a message from a woman about a duplicate.

Attempting to placate him, Benild posits that the message he received may not even have been from her, and suggests they travel to the woman’s hideout at Purewater Run to check. Wary of danger, Vartheim agrees on the condition that Benild hires an extra bodyguard. She notices the Dragonborn and enlists their services, but is reticent when asked for more details on the assignment.

**What is the Meaning of This?**

At Purewater Run, Vartheim is shocked to discover the corpses of his two associates, and the Benild he had taken for his long-serving bodyguard an imposter.

Addressing him as “Uncle”, she tells him that a face sculptor altered her face to mimic his bodyguard. Enraged at the treachery, Vartheim becomes hostile, lashing out at both the impostor and the player.

On looting Vartheim, the player will find the original sword and a note from Helja, informing him that while spying on Pelgurt she has witnessed him donning an identical sword, and is no longer sure that Vartheim’s is the original.

The Benild impostor takes the sword, introducing herself as Pelgurt’s Altmer cousin, Serwen, and apologises for the deception. Having established that the Dragonborn isn’t working for Vartheim, she candidly explains that Pelgurt’s original quest was a ruse to entice Vartheim’s agents, and the first sword counterfeit.

She shares her childhood recollection of the sword being awarded to her Uncle’s love at the historic tournament, and how unbearable it was to witness such a cherished symbol of unity fall into the hands of one who only desired to sell it for profit.

On discovering that Vartheim’s bodyguard shared her race, she emulated her identity by visiting a face sculptor called Ytharil, allowing her to assume a trusted position in his staff.

She concludes that she is leaving Skyrim to travel with Pelgurt to the Summerset Isle, as he has yet to visit the home of his better half, and rewards the player with 1000 gold on his behalf.

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