Walkthrough: Part One - The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Guide - IGN (2024)

Walkthrough: Part One

In the Beginning...

Now that you've got a good idea of how things work in Morrowind, it's time to tackle this beast. And while Morrowind is definitely a game best enjoyed by blazing your own path through, we realize that getting started in this complicated world can yield confusion. We'll take you through, step-by-step, the beginnings of your quest, and make sure that when we leave you to your own devices, you'll be ready for anything.

Character

Step One? It helps to build your character like the one listed below. As you'll see, I've chosen the combat path --believe me, it makes the game a lot easier.

Race

Redguard
Class: Custom
Specialization: Combat
Favorite Attributes: Strength, Personality

Major Skills:

• Long Blade
• Light Armor
• Block
• Conjuration
• Mercantile

Minor Skills

• Acrobatics
• Athletics
• Enchantment
• Speech craft
• Armorer

Sign

The Lady

Once you're done with the paperwork, it's time to move on.

Seyda Neen

You're told to take your papers to the guard at the door... Go ahead and pick up your papers from the desk, but don't go to the guard quite yet. There's a shelf in the back of the room with a bunch of items on it. Looking around, you'll see the Limeware Platter - it's worth 650 gold, and at this point in the game, it's worth it. Snatch it, go into your inventory, and drop the Platter on the ground - you'll be accosted by the nearby guard, but since you "don't know what you're doing," he lets you off with no punishment, except taking back what was stolen... but since you dropped it on the ground, he can't take it from you, and now that 650 gold Limeware Platter is free for the taking. Believe me - you'll want it to begin your capitalistic mercantile practices.

With your Platter in hand, head towards the door by which the guard is standing, walk through it, and go into the room on your immediate right. You'll be prompted to test out your combat techniques with a free weapon - take it, for now. Head through the door on the other side of the room, it's time to go meet Sellus Gravius (but not before you obey the prompt, and grab that ring from the barrel).

Speak with Sellus Gravius, and he can give you some background information on Morrowind (as can just about everyone). Before you leave him, ask him about duties - he'll give you a package and a little gold, and tell you to deliver it for him. He tells you to find Caius Cosades in Balmora, and that's our first quest. If you did not notice there is a bookshelf behind him. If you look at the eye level shelf all the way on the right you can see a key. Use your sneak to steal the key without getting caught. When you exit the room there should be a locked door right across from you, and the key fits! Enter the room and go to the right. You can plunder all of thoes barels and boxes for all they are worth (the better stuff is up the stairs). You can make tons of money by selling it to Arrille at his Tradehouse across town.

Balmora

You arrive at the south end of Balmora, on the west side of the city-dividing river. Cross the river, and find the South Wall Corner Club - this is where you were sent. Do some asking around, and you'll find out from Bacola Closcius (upstairs) that Caius is at home - thankfully, it's not far away. Follow his directions to Caius' home (just north of the Corner Club), enter his shag-pad, and talk to him about your errand. He'll set you up as a member of the Blades, and as such, you'll perform various tasks in order to build your rank. Caius gives you some cash (200 gold), and tells you to get yourself stacked, as well as get a cover-job at one of the various Guilds in Balmora. Congratulations - you're somebody, now!

To get yourself even more prepared for your grand quest, go to the local armorer on the west side of Balmora. He has some more Chitin Armor to round-out your wardrobe - buy one of everything you can (Chitin Armor that is). Now locate the Balmora Fighters Guild - it's just east of you.

Enter the Fighters Guild and head upstairs - speak with Eydis Fire Eyes. She'll ask if you want to join the Fighters Guild - say yes! Talk to her some more and she'll give you your first orders. Apparently someone in town is having a problem with Cave Rats. Before you head out on that, though, stop by the supply chest near the exit - since you're a member of the Fighters Guild now, you can take from it freely. (balmora-map.jpg) (balmora-view.jpg)

Drarayne Thela's Cave Rats

Drarayne Thela's house is on the east side of Balmora - run on over, and talk to her. She'll tell you there's one Cave Rat trapped in her room (oh, for the sake of the pillows!). Open the door, stab the Cave Rat in the head, and it should die with two hits. That should be no problem at all. Now as Drarayne said, there are two more Cave Rats upstairs, in the attic. Exit the home, and go up the stairs outside. The room is dark, but you should have no problem knocking out the two pests. If you do have any troubles, make use of the Redguard's Adrenaline Rush power, and knock those rats up-something-vicious. When you've done such, go speak with Drarayne and collect your reward (if she gives you less than what Eydis told you you'd get, you're not alone). Report back to Eydis and let her know that the mission is completed.

Shulk Mine Egg Poachers

Enter the egg mine, and make your way through the cave (see the maps). There are some small Kwama Foragers that'll attack you, but they're easily nixed by a couple stabs. It's a good idea to leave alone the creatures that don't attack you - you could compromise your health too much if you try and kill everything in sight. When you do make your way to where the egg poachers are, fight them one at a time, by approaching only one at a time. They should be fairly easy kills. If not, again, make use of your Adrenaline Rush power (and remember that since it's a power, you can only use it once every twenty-four game-hours).

Once you've decimated the surly miners, make your way back to Balmora to report to Eydis. And if you're feeling adventurous, stop by the Tharys Ancestral Tomb for a small taste of what to come when you go out exploring.

Telvanni Agents

Ask ol' Fire Eyes for some more orders, and she'll give you a briefing on some crooks who are stealing ebony from the Caldera Mining Company, just southwest of Caldera. To get to Caldera, you'll probably want to have the Mages Guild teleport you, and thankfully, the local Mages Guild is right next to the Fighters Guild in Balmora. Enter the Mages Guild, go downstairs and talk to Masalinie Merian - she can teleport you to Caldera.

Festering Witch

If you dare to walk up to the nude Nord, ask him about this Festering Witch - apparently, the pair made with the love, and then she made off with his gear (including his beloved Cloud Cleaver axe). Agree to help him out, and find that Festering Witch. To do so, follow the path north, taking a right at the Y-intersection where you met the nude Nord, and when you reach another Y, take another right (see the map). Eventually you'll find the Festering Witch on the side of the road - ask her about the Cloud Cleaver and she'll tell you some story... You could go through the drama, but it's best to just poke her with your sword and run away, letting the nude Nord take care of the rest (if you decide to fight her, beware - she has some magic spells and a nasty enchanted spear). Pick the Cloud Cleaver off her body, and give it back to the Nord - he'll reward you by giving you some fighting tips, effectively boosting your stats. All right, back to the Telvanni agents...

Telvanni Agents, Continued

Make your way back to where you found the naked guy, and this time head south at the Y. Follow the maps to Ashanammu Cave - this is where you'll find the Telvanni agents. Beware, though - they've set one agent outside the cave as a lookout. Talk to him about the Telvanni Agents, and he'll attack you. He's an archer, so rush him down and back him into a corner - he should go down without much problem. Pick the armor of his body (it's worth something!), and head into the cave. (telvanni-map2.jpg)

This cave is tiny, and the other three Telvanni Agents aren't far from the entrance - you're going to have to fight all three at the same time. Better hope you've got your Adrenaline Rush prepped - use the power, and head around the corner. The three Agents will attack you, but you should take them down quite easily in your Adrenaline Rush state. Raid their corpses for spoils, and head back to Eydis Fire Eyes in Balmora.

Code Book

If you're feeling a little exhausted from travel, don't worry - this next quest shouldn't be long. Speak with Eydis Fire Eyes about another order, and she'll ask you to retrieve a Code Book from Sottilde in the South Wall Corner Club. Hey, you know where that is! Take the short walk over, and you'll find Sottilde right as you enter the Corner Club. Speak with her, but before you mention the Code Book, bribe her with some gold until her disposition towards you is around 80 (100 gold should do the trick). Once that's done, ask her about the Code Book and she'll kindly hand it over. Simply bring it back to Eydis (when she asks for it, give it up!).

Coninue Walkthrough...

Morrowind coverage on IGN PC