Prince Naemon

"I'm sorry. I was just speaking with the High Kinlady. And now you've interrupted us. Excuse us, please?"

"I suppose congratulations are in order."

What is your name? "I'm Prince Naemon. Ayrenn's brother, husband to Kinlady Estre."

What do you think of the Queen's goals here? "I'm relieved she's finally come to her senses! A woman of royal blood, off doing who-knows-what in the wilds? Ridiculous."

"Hmm. You look familiar. Have we met before?"

The Queen asked me to meet her here. "Ah! Vulkhel Guard, of course. Welcome to Tanzelwil. Perhaps you'll get through Her Majesty where we could not.

"Queen's favourite, I'm glad you're here. We came to Tanzelwil to honor the spirits of our ancestors, and now they seem bloody well determined to kill us all."

Why would your ancestors try to kill you? "An excellent question, for which I have no answer. My dear sister, your Queen, brought us here to perform a ceremonial ritual. Its a bit of political theater, really. Gain the blessings of the dead and all that rubbish."

Is the Queen in any danger? "If danger doesn't find her, she'll seek it out and invite it home to dinner. She's in the ruins just ahead, conspiring with the Battlereeve. They're determined to complete the ceremony. Do be a loyal subject and see she survives. Won't you?"

I'll see what I can do "I swear, It's like being home for New Life Festival. The family's been drinking since noon, and everyone wants you dead."

Who are these people? "Oh, you know how it is. In the waters off the island, there are great sea beasts. Smaller creatures cling to their sides, eating off the scraps they leave behind. It's the same with the nobility on land."

Why does the Queen have to do these rituals? "Tradition! Whenever a new monarch takes the throne, there are endless rituals and ceremonies. I myself was halfway through the eighty-eight days of liturgical chanting required to take the throne. Then my dear sister returned."

You were going to take the throne before the Queen returned? "Oh yes. When our father, King Hidellith, may he reign in glory, passed away she was slated to being the ceremonies. But then she left. Just … poof. Gone, before she even entered the Sapiarchs' Labyrinth."

Is that another ceremonial duty? "Just so. And so it fell on me to spend the requisite three thousand five hundred and fifty-five days studying Altmeri custom and ceremoniarchy. Ahem. But I digress."

"Yes? Quickly, now. Don't leave your mouth to hang agape."

King Camoran Aeradan says there are some problems with the Khajiit Embassy. "That again? My sister- Queen Ayrenn foolishly committed to build a Khajiit embassy, months ago. Everything was to be handled through Ambassador Tarinwe at the Altmer Embassy."

Why has it been delayed? "No. You don't get to question me. Not after you slew High Kinlady Estre. Do you think I'm one to have a chat with the person who killed my wife? That we'll break out the sylph-mead and share a good laugh?"

She gave me little choice. "[?]"

[Persuade] I think Queen Ayrenn trusts you to put the Dominion's interests before your own. "Hmph. I suppose that's my burden. Very well. I won't give you the satisfaction of doubting my loyalty. You were asking about the Khajiit?"

Yes. What could have delayed the embassy's construction? "Ask a stonemason. I have to prepare for the ratification ceremony before Queen Ayrenn's arrival. I can't be troubled with such minor issues. If you care to pursue the matter, speak with Ambassador Tarinwe at the Altmer Embassy."

What's a ratification ceremony? "An archaic Wood Elf ritual. If she dances to their tune, Queen Ayrenn will be recognized by the heavens as a worthy candidate for emperor of Tamriel. Rubbish, if you ask me."

Why did Queen Ayrenn offer to build the Khajiit an embassy? "To promote harmony, she'd tell you. The same reason she picked this bizarre tree city as the Dominion's capital. She wants every member of the Dominion to feel as though they're equal."

You disagree with Queen Ayrenn's plans? "Oh, we need to unify against our enemies. And having a High Elf in charge is paramount to our success. But do we really need all this coddling? The ratification ceremony, the business with the embassy … more problems due to "harmony.""

"I'd expected you would solve problems at the embassy, not cause them! Do you realize what's happening out here? Never mind. Explain what you were doing in that storeroom."

Ambassador Tarinwe told me to search the storeroom. "Why would she do that? Oh, never mind. Well? What did you find?"

The supplies reserved for the Khajiit are useless. "Typical bureaucratic corruption. I expected better of the ambassador. No matter, supplies can be replaced. What about the Khajiit embassy? Did she say why construction hasn't begun?"

She said she hired a local work crew to collect stone from the nearby ruins. "What do you mean, "collect stone?" That should have happened months ago. They should be ready to build it! I'll talk to the ambassador myself. Put the fear of the Dominion into her."

The ambassador said she was heading to look for you. "Hmph. I'm surprised we didn't pass each other on the road. Get to those ruins and find that work crew. I want to know why they haven't done their jobs. I won't have Queen Ayrenn's word impugned by someone else's incompetence."

"I heard what you said to the king. Ambassador Tarinwe, a traitor; my wife's killer, a loyal servant; and I, Queen Ayrenn's representative in Elden Root, required to thank you for your efforts. Very well. I'll provide no reason to question my duty to the Dominion."

What will happen to Ambassador Tarinwe? "We'll interrogate Ambassador Tarinwe until we know the extent of her treason. Then she'll die, as all traitors must. But no matter. Your efficiency in resolving this matter was commendable, and the Dominion rewards its servants."

"Ambassador Tarinwe's betrayal could not have been more absolute. She knew the details of the ratification ceremony, which puts Queen Ayrenn at risk. It's my sister's own fault. She thought to appease the Silvenar and the Mane by agreeing to this foolish process."

What do you mean? "The ratification ceremony ends with the Orrery, an ancient device beneath Elden Root. It will divine Queen Ayrenn's capacity to become empress, or somesuch. But Ambassador Tarinwe assisted in the preparations. I must assume she tried to sabotage the proceedings."

Will you cancel the ceremony? "Doing so would make Queen Ayrenn look weak. No, we must proceed. You've proven your competence, so I'll ask you to speak with Meleras. He's an expert on the Orrery and knows what must be done. Quite pleasant, once you grow accustomed to the smell."

I'll speak with Meleras. "The preparations for this ratification ceremony seem endless. But I'm up to the task."

Why can't Queen Ayrenn delay the ceremony? "She asked how she could prove herself their rightful leader. The Silvenar suggested the Orrery nonsense, and the Mane agreed. Of course, neither will be present to see it, yet my sister is held to her pledge. How unexpected."

Why aren't they here? "Khajiiti political excuses are impossible to discern. I know the Mane will not be present, and that's all I care to know. As for the Silvenar, he died on Khenarthi's Roost. Thought he could negotiate with the filthy Sea Elves."

Will any of Queen Ayrenn's allies witness the ceremony? "King Camoran Aeradan. It's beneath his city, so there's no turning him away. And myself, of course."