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Elder Scrolls

The Path of the Incarnate is the tenth quest in the main questline of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, after "Mehra Milo and the Lost Prophecies." This quest involves the Nerevarine locating the Cavern of the Incarnate, forms the Third Trial of the Seven Visions of the Nerevarine and a significant part of the main quest.

Background[]

"The eye of the needle lies in the teeth of the wind.
The mouth of the cave lies in the skin of the pearl.
The dream is the door and the star is the key."
―Wisdom's Test[src]

Objectives[]

  • Consult with Nibani Maesa about the lost prophecies.
    • Learn of the Seven Trials.
  • Speak with Sul-Matuul about the Third Trial.
  • Obtain several artifacts from Kogoruhn (south east of the Urshilaku Camp).
  • Return to Sul-Matuul.
    • Learn the riddle of the Third Trial.
    • Speak with the other Ashlanders to solve the riddle.
  • Travel to the hidden Cavern and speak with Azura.

Walkthrough[]

After the departure of Caius Cosades for the Imperial City during the previous quest, the Nerevarine must return to the Urshilaku Camp to continue the Main Quest. Once there, as Cosades instructed, the Hero must speak to Nibani Maesa about the Lost Prophecies, which they received from Gilvas Barelo. She will consult with her ancestors in her dreams, requesting that the Nerevarine return after the moon has come and gone. 

The next day, after conversing with her ancestors, Nibani now believes that the Hero is the reincarnated Nerevarine, and tasks them to fulfill the Seven Trials (two of which have already been completed). She then advises to seek the counsel of Ashkhan Sul-Matuul.

Kogoruhn[]

KogoruhnNoFog

Kogoruhn

After speaking with Sul-Matuul, the Nerevarine is sent on a task to prove themselves a warrior. The task requires of the Hero to obtain three items from the Sixth House stronghold Kogoruhn: a Corprus Weepings, a House Dagoth cup and the Shadow Shield. This test will fulfill the Second Trial, which states that the Nerevarine is immune to Corprus and all other Diseases.

Kogoruhn itself can be found to the southeast of the Camp. The stronghold has many areas, but only four are accessible from the exterior, two of which contain the Dagoth cup, and the Weepings. However, the Shadow Shield lies deep within the underground tunnels of Kogoruhn.

The Corprus Weepings and the House Dagoth cup can easily be found in the Dome of Pollock's Eve. The Shield is located in the Bleeding Heart caverns, under Kogoruhn. The whole area is guarded by many Dagoths and Ash Creatures. After retrieving the shield, the Nerevarine must return to Sul-Matuul to complete the task.

The Third Trial[]

Sul-Matuul is surprised by the Nerevarine's return, although, true to his word, he informs the Nerevarine of the Third Trial. The Third Vision, which corresponds to the Third Trial, states that "In caverns dark Azura's eye sees/and makes to shine like the moon and star". Sul-Matuul explains that the Nerevarine must travel to the Cavern of the Incarnate to speak with the Daedric Prince Azura, although he does not reveal the location of the cave.

The Nerevarine must first solve the riddle to find the location of the hidden Cavern. This can be done by speaking with various members of the Ashlanders in the Urshilaku Camp. Once the riddle has been solved the Nerevarine will journey to the Cavern.

Cavern of the Incarnate[]

Cavern of the Incarnate Door

Cavern of the Incarnate

The Cavern of the Incarnate can be found by first traveling to Falasmaryon, before heading towards the Daedric shrine of Zergonipal. Near the Daedric shrine, to the south, a path that leads through a Valley can be found. The entrance is marked by two large pointed rocks on each side of the valley. These rocks are known as Airan's Teeth, which are referred to, in the riddle, as the "teeth of the wind." The Nerevarine must proceed down that valley, which winds around at the end. The final parts of the riddle refer to the enchantment that hides the Cavern's entrance, which only opens at dawn (6–8 AM) or dusk (6–8 PM), when Azura's star is visible in the sky.

Upon entering the Cavern, the Nerevarine will pick up the Moon-and-Star from the hands of Azura's statue. This causes visions as the voice of Azura is heard:

AzuraStatue

Azura's Statue

"Nerevar Reborn: Incarnate. Your first three trials are finished. Now, two new trials lie before you: seek the Ashlander Ashkhans and the Great House Councillors. Four Tribes must name you Nerevarine. Three houses must name you Hortator. My servant, Nibani Maesa shall be your guide. And when you are Hortator, and Nerevarine, and when you have stood before the false gods and freed the heart]] from its prison, heal my people and restore Morrowind. Do this for me, and with my blessing."
―Azura[src]

Moon-and-Star

The Moon-and-Star ring

Thus, the Nerevarine, with Azura's blessing, must now be declared as the Hortator of each of the Three Great Houses of Vvardenfell and the Nerevarine of the four Ashlander Tribes. After the visions, the former Nerevarine's ghosts will appear, and each of them will offer gifts to the Hero, if they are spoken to.

The Nerevarine will then, return to Sul-Matuul and Nibani Maesa, in the Urshilaku Camp, to inform them of Azura's task. Nibani will provide further guidance to the Hero.

Completing this quest begins the Persecution of the Nerevarine and Public Notices will start to appear in various places.

Rewards[]

(Optional) Gifts from the former Nerevarines:

Videos[]

Journal[]

The Path of the Incarnate – A2_6_Incarnate
ID Journal Entry
1 I told Nibani Maesa of the lost prophecies, and what Gilvas Barelo said about them. She has told me to leave her while she consults the ancestors in her dreams. I'm to come back when the moons have come and gone to hear her judgement.
  • Quest accepted
3 The moons have come and gone, and it is time to return to Nibani Maesa and hear her judgement.
5 Nibani Maesa says she has been chosen as my guide on the path of the Nerevarine. She says I must pass the Seven Trials of the Seven Visions. The first two trials, my particular birth and my cured corprus disease, are already passed. For the third trial, I must go to Sul-Matuul, the guardian of the Nerevarine cult, and he will tell me what to do. When I have fulfilled the third trial, I must return to Nibani Maesa for guidance with further trials.
10 Sul-Matuul has given me the following quest. Go to Kogoruhn, the ancient halls of House Dagoth. Get three tokens: 1. corprus weepings from a corprus beast, 2. a cup with the mark of House Dagoth, and 3. the Shadow Shield, which lies on the Tomb of Dagoth Morin, in the lava tunnels deep beneath ruined Kogoruhn. If I bring him these three tokens, he will reveal to me the secret of the Third Trial of the Nerevarine.
15 I have passed Sul-Matuul's Warrior's Test. Now I must find the Cavern of the Incarnate, a secret place sacred to Azura, and look for the moon and star of the prophecies. To find the Cavern of the Incarnate, I must solve a riddle: the eye of the needle lies in the teeth of the wind -- the mouth of the cave lies in the skin of the pearl -- the dream is the door and the star is the key. Sul-Matuul called this riddle 'Wisdom's Test,' and says take counsel of the wisdom of the tribes to find the way.
20 An Ashlander says the 'eye of the needle' in the riddle may be a tall rock column in the Valley of the Wind. The Valley of the Wind is a valley on the northeast slopes of Red Mountain. The entrance to the valley is marked by Airan's Teeth, two tall rock spires.
22 An Ashlander says there is a place called 'Airan's Teeth' in the Valley of the Wind. Two rocks spires mark the entrance to the Valley of the Wind, and they bear the name of the seer, Airan, who is blessed by Azura. These might be the 'teeth of the wind'. The Valley of the Wind is a valley on the northeast slopes of Red Mountain.
24 I was asking about the skin of the pearl when I mentioned the Needle, in the Valley of the Wind. The Ashlander said there was whitish rock at the top of the Needle. That might be the 'skin of the pearl' I'm looking for.
26 Nibani Maesa thinks that 'the star is the key' refers to Azura's Star that appears in the sky only in the magical hour between day and night, at dawn and twilight.
28 Nibani Maesa says that, if the star is the key -- Azura's Star -- then the door may be seen only at dawn and dusk, when Azura's Star is in the sky. Then the star would be the 'key' that opens the door.
29 Nibani Maesa says, if the door is only seen at dawn and dusk, then it may be that the mouth of the cave is hidden or magical, and cannot be seen except when it is 'opened' by the 'key' -- Azura's Star.
50 I saw Azura in the Cavern of the Incarnate. I received the Moon-and-Star, an enchanted ring, and I am the Nerevarine. I have passed the first three trials. Now I must show Moon-and-Star to the ashkhans of the tribes and the councilors of the houses. Each tribe must call me Nerevarine. Each House must call me Hortator. These are the next two trials. Nibani Maesa shall be my guide. I must return to her and seek her counsel.
52 The spirit of Peakstar warned that now that I bear the Moon-and-Star, and will be recognized as the Nerevarine, I must be ready for hatred and fear from the Temple, from Ordinators, and from Tribunal Faithful of the Great Houses.
54 Peakstar says I must be chosen as 'Nerevarine' by the Ashlanders and 'Hortator' by the Great Houses. These are titles of war leaders chosen to unite the Dunmer in times of need. I must prove a war leader is needed, and be chosen as that war leader. I must tell how the Tribunal used profane tools of the Dwarves, and betrayed and misled the people. I must tell about the threat of Dagoth Ur and the Sixth House, and how the Tribunal can no longer contain them.
60 Nibani Maesa reminded me of the Fourth Trial of the Seven Visions: 'A stranger's voice unites the Houses./Three Halls call him Hortator.' When I have been named 'Hortator' by each of the three Great Houses of Vvardenfell, I will have passed the Fourth Trial, and should return to Nibani Maesa for further guidance.
62 When a greater enemy threatens, the Great Houses put aside their quarrels and choose a Hortator, a single war leader to lead all the Houses. Only a Great House council can name a Hortator, and all councils must agree. Nibani Maesa says I must go to Redoran Council, Hlaalu Council, and Telvanni Council, prove to each that the threat of Dagoth Ur warrants uniting under a Hortator, and persuade each to name me 'Hortator'. This is how I must pass the Fourth Trial.
64 Nibani Maesa reminded me of the Fifth Trial of the Seven Visions: 'A stranger's hand unites the Velothi/Four Tribes call him Nerevarine.' The Four Tribes are the four tribes of Vvardenfell, the Urshilaku, the Ahemmusa, the Zainab, and the Erabenimsun. When I have been named 'Nerevarine' by each of the four Ashlander tribes of Vvardenfell, I will have passed the Fifth Trial, and should return to Nibani Maesa for further guidance.
66 In times of great danger, the Ashlander tribes unite under a single war leader. If I can prove to the Urshilaku, Ahemmusa, Zainab, and Erabenimsun tribes that I am the Nerevarine, and that the tribes must unite against the threat of the Sixth House, then each ashkhan will declare me 'Nerevarine' and war leader of all tribes. This is how I must pass the Fifth Trial. I must go to all the tribal ashkhans, but my friend Sul-Matuul should be the first and easiest to persuade.
70 The ghost of Peakstar gave me a belt and pants.
  • Quest complete
72 The ghost of Hort-Ledd gave me a book and a robe.
  • Quest complete
74 The ghost of Erur-Dan gave me a spear and cuirass.
  • Quest complete
76 The ghost of Idrenie Nerothan gave me a probe and lockpick.
  • Quest complete
78 The ghost of Ane Teria gave me a book and a mace.
  • Quest complete
80 The ghost of Conoon Chodala gave me an axe and a pair of boots.
  • Quest complete
The Path of the Incarnate – A2_6_Ane_Teria
100 The ghost of Ane Teria gave me a book and a mace.
  • Quest complete
The Path of the Incarnate – A2_6_Conoon
100 The ghost of Conoon Chodala gave me an axe and a pair of boots.
  • Quest complete
The Path of the Incarnate – A2_6_Erur-Dan
100 The ghost of Erur-Dan gave me a spear and cuirass.
  • Quest complete
The Path of the Incarnate – A2_6_Hort-Ledd
100 The ghost of Hort-Ledd gave me a book and a robe.
  • Quest complete
The Path of the Incarnate – A2_6_Idrenie
100 The ghost of Idrenie Nerothan gave me a probe and lockpick.
  • Quest complete
The Path of the Incarnate – A2_6_Peakstar
100 The ghost of Peakstar gave me a belt and pants.
  • Quest complete

Trivia[]

Appearances[]


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