Online:God of Schemes

Use the power of the Amulet of Kings to defeat Molag Bal.

Quest Giver:	The Prophet
Location(s):	The Harborage, Heart's Grief
Prerequisite Quest:	Council of the Five Companions, The Final Assault
Next Quest:	Cadwell's Silver
Reward:	Great Axe of the Titanborn or The Emperor's Blessing or Sword Saint's Blade 1 Skill Point Soul Magic Rank 6 Leveled Gold
XP Gain:	Very High
Required Level:	45
Recommended Level:	50
Solo Only:	Yes

Confront Molag Bal

The time has come to confront Molag Bal and reclaim my soul.

Quick Walkthrough

Talk to the Prophet in the Harborage.
Talk to Abnur Tharn.
Talk to Mannimarco in Heart's Grief.
(Optional) Free Mannimarco.
Talk to Abnur Tharn in the Seat of Tyranny.
Choose a Companion.
Receive Akatosh's blessing.
Defeat Molag Bal.
Reclaim your soul.
Talk to Meridia.
Talk to the surviving Companions.
Talk to Cadwell.

Detailed Walkthrough

The Prophet will appear to you once you have ended the Planemeld, provided you have reached at least Level 45, and will call you to the Harborage for the final fight. Go to the Harborage and talk to him.

Once you arrive in Coldharbour, talk to Abnur Tharn. Defeat the titan and enter Heart's Grief.

Confrontation with Mannimarco

Speak with Mannimarco

Heart's Grief is filled with traitors from various quests, but the central prisoner is your immediate target. Defeat the guardians and torturers, then talk to Mannimarco.

"You! Come to gloat at my torment? Or is your appearance here a part of it?"

Mannimarco? You're still alive?

"I am neither alive nor dead. I am trapped in a gout of ash and bile and swirling vapors. My ears are filled with the screams of a thousand nails being drawn. And the pain! The pain is endless."

Why is Molag Bal keeping you here?

"I am his plaything. And an abject lesson to others who would thwart him. My plan was flawless. My machinations were executed to perfection. I would have been a god, if not for you."

"My only consolation is that you will know this pain, soon enough."

I'm here to defeat him and take my soul back.

"Arrogant, presumptuous, egotistical twaddle! That bit of costume jewelry is nothing compared to the Master's power."

"I expect I'll be seeing you soon. My only joy for the rest of eternity will be hearing your tortured screams!"

I could release you if you wish.

"After all that's transpired? I killed you, you simpleton. I saw your life gutter and fade like a candle flame in a tempest. My undead servants drank your blood and I reanimated your corpse."

"Do not taunt me with such hilarity."

So be it.

After you finish talking to him you can choose to free him if you want. You need to press the release mechanism next to him. However, he says you will regret your decision and disappears. He cannot be sacrificed to power the Amulet of Kings.

Around the room you will find other servants of Molag Bal who you are able to free if you so choose; these include the Duchess of Anguish from the Halls of Torment, Prince Naemon and Javad Tharn from the Aldmeri Dominion storyline, Faolchu and Septima Tharn from the Daggerfall Covenant storyline, Aera Earth-Turner and ^(?) from the Ebonheart Pact storyline, and Aelif from the Fighters Guild quest chain.

Proceed out of the Vestibule and along the Path of Woe to the Seat of Tyranny.

The Sacrifice

Mantling the power of Akatosh

Wait for the Companions to assemble in the Seat of Tyranny, then talk to Abnur Tharn. You need to pick which companion to sacrifice: Varen, Lyris or Sai. You can talk to each one, or you can choose to tell the one you want directly. Once you have made your choice, you need to stand on the yellow rune circle and wait for the ritual.

"Divines of Tamriel! With this vessel of your power, the Amulet of Kings, I call upon your strength! Let this noble sacrifice be a testament to our desire to set things right and restore balance to the Mundus! Your champion stands ready! Accept this offering and imbue this vestige with your glory! Let the will of Molag Bal be denied!"—Abnur Tharn

You are surrounded by golden light and lift into the air for a moment. However, there is no time to lose: you must vanquish Molag Bal.

Molag Bal's Defeat

With the power of Akatosh, you burn through the walls of Molag Bal's castle and head up the stairs to the right. The Daedric Prince summons an army of Dark Seducers, but they are no match for you and one hit kills them. You burn through more walls, easily defeating daedroths and titans.

When you come to a chasm, you use one of your new powers, Aedric Command, to reshape the rocks into a bridge. You defeat a group of titans, then prepare for the final battle with Molag Bal.

You approach the Daedric Prince. Suddenly, you are lifted up, and Molag Bal starts to crush you in his fist. However, you use the Sacrifice of Courage, which hits him with a fiery beam and causes parts of his face to flake off. Molag Bal, infuriated, lands on your level and begins to fight with you.

He uses a combination of single attacks, which you cannot dodge, an area of effect attack, which occurs after he jumps onto your previous location, and an attack similar to the Doshia fight from the Fighters Guild quest Anchors from the Harbour. Once he reaches about half health, he will summon a group of titans, who attack you at the same time as Molag Bal. Once he reaches very low health, he will appear dazed, then teleport in front of you and drop to his knees. You summon a golden two-handed sword and slice his arms off.

Then you are transported to the Colored Rooms, Meridia's realm of Oblivion.

A Realm of Light and Color

Reclaim your soul

"Come forward, Vestige. You are safe, for now. Something precious has been riven from Stone-Fire's being. I have brought it here for you to reclaim."—Meridia

At the end of the northern path is a glowing figure—your soul. You reclaim it, and listen to the spirit of Molag Bal.

"I congratulate you, little insect. Your sting is formidable. You have bested me and released a thousand times a thousand souls back into the Mundus. For the moment, your world is spared, but my grand scheme has only begun to unfold. Excellent. Your power shall prove useful in the coming conflicts. The dark machinations of Oblivion are far more complex than anything your mortal senses can comprehend. You've made a great and terrible enemy this day. Your world would have been better off if the Planemeld had succeeded. Had you bowed before me and accepted eternal servitude, I would have protected you. There are worse masters than I. Far worse."

"You are but a phantom here in my domain, Stone-Fire. The mortal prophecies of the Scrolls have been fulfilled. Leave this place and return to your pit!"

Talk to Meridia.

"Your soul is restored. I can see its light within you. And you have saved your world from a great calamity. But know this, mortal. The forces of Oblivion are legion, and the God of Schemes is but a single player in a complex battle for supremacy."

What happened to Molag Bal?

"You have wounded him gravely. It will be some time before his power is restored."

Where is the Amulet of Kings?

"As your enemy fell, the one you call Abnur Tharn took Chim-el Adabal and fled. He returns to the land from whence he came, the place you call Cyrodiil."

He took the Amulet with him?

"The Amulet's power has been expended for a generation or more. The Imperial will not be able to use it, nor will he profit from it, though he will spend many frustrated years in the attempt."

Did we succeed? Is Tamriel safe?

"The tear in the veil between Oblivion and Nirn has been repaired. Your world is safe, for now."

What of my lost companion?

"Gone forever, but their memory remains. I can see the light burning brightly behind your eyes. Your friend is a part of you now, just as the strength of the Divines burns like a flame within your renewed soul."

What about me?

"Your story has only begun. Molag Bal still has plans for you. In many ways, these events played out to his advantage. And you have attracted the attention of the other Daedric Princes, as well."

What must I do?

"The war between mortal kingdoms is still ravaging your world, but your true enemies are not mortal. If you are to be prepared for the coming conflicts, you must fully comprehend what is at stake. You must live among those you make war upon."

The other alliances?

"Indeed. When you return to Tamriel, go to the place you call the Harborage. My gift awaits you there. It will allow you to travel to other lands and hide your true nature from those who would see you as a foe."

Can you send me there?

"I have no more desire to keep you here than you had to remain in Coldharbour. I shall return you to your little den in the wild. Your surviving companions await you there. Are you prepared to leave?"

Yes, I am ready.

She returns you to the Harborage where her gift awaits.

Epilogue

Depending on whom you chose to sacrifice, the remaining two survivors will have different dialogue. If you choose to sacrifice Varen, Lyris Titanborn and Sai Sahan tell you that they discussed helping Kasura rebuild the Abbey of the Blades weeks ago. They leave together, confident there will be more adventures to come. If you choose to spare Varen, he chooses to leave and fade into obscurity. Lyris or Sai realizes his or her love for the other but decides to help Kasura.

Cadwell calls you over after you finish talking to the Companions. He tells you that he contacted Meridia when you were fighting Molag Bal and that your sacrificed companion will always be with you as their spirit appears near the crystal. He tells you the crystal is Meridia's gift, which allows you to experience the other alliances.

Your reward depends on the Companion you decided to sacrifice. If you chose the Prophet, you will receive his restoration staff. If you choose Lyris, you get her two handed axe, and if you choose Sai, you get his sword.