Strife:The Virtuoso GM page

Players don’t see this page; spoiler warning.

Italicised words and "dialogue" can generally be said straight to the players with no modifications.

Quests here are instead stylised as 'acts' instead. Each act is initiated by The Virtuoso, and goes in order of act 1, 2, 3, then 4. Also note that there are no rewards for individual act completion; all rewards are gained upon completing Act 4, i.e., when the quest-line is completed.

The Virtuoso act 1: Places, please!
Location(s): Sadrith Mora, Nchardumz, Ibar-Dad, Black Shalk Cornerclub (Vivec Foreign Quarter).

Art requires a certain cruelty...
Throughout the game before starting this quest-line, players hear about people just going missing with no indication to location or cause. Upon reaching 5 reputation and finishing Vivec Informants, players can enter Sadrith Mora to find ''a hundred strong crowd gathered around a man sitting in a heightened open slave cage. He is beautifully playing a violin with the crowd in stunned silence. The party is seen and acknowledged by the violin players as he keeps on playing.'' The party should wait for the performance to end, but any attempts at interruption will not disturb the violin player. Upon finishing he beckons the party over as the crowd disperses.

''The violin player starts talking. He has a hard white mask with a wide brimmed hat on, he is also wearing a cloak.'' He speaks in a male, deep, proper voice:

"To meet you is an honour, I'm sure you've heard a lot about myself too. To meet you under these conditions is favourable, I am at my best only during the performance. You will call me The Virtuoso; I have elaborate plans for you."

He continues: "Being back in my homeland, is a sweet sadness. The Arena will be the place of my final performance, my magnum opus, but I have been rejected from a performance there. The world is cruel... But it does not have to be ugly; I will entertain, for I am a slave to this passion. Yes, we will move forward with my plans, I need you to acquire some select artefacts for me, Vaermina's Skull of Corruption and Herma-Mora's Oghma Infinium. A large task, that I know you can handle."

If the party agree, they may go to a mages guild for leads. It just so happens rumours point to the group of mages: Edwinna Elbert, Darane Mencele, Ranis Athrys, Eraamion, Chanil-Lee, Senilias Cadiusus, Trebonius Artorius, and Procyon Nigilius, who all are seeking Daedric artefacts and like The Virtuoso, have caught wind of various Daedric artefacts being in Vvardenfell also. A list is on their possession, or the information can be persuaded from them; either way the artefacts locations are revealed. Gathering both artefacts can be done in either order.

Oghma Infinium
This book is being held in a locked chest Nchardumz in Nchardumz, Lower Level. I recommend littering this dungeon with more Dwemer enemies, as to make players work a little more than is in the game. When they go to take the Oghma out of the chest, a small and agile Alfiq-raht jumps out the chest instead and snatches the book and runs for the exit; the players must catch the Khajiit to be in combat with them, to win and get the book. The Alfiq-raht will cast their power on low health, with it fighting for them if they die and it spawns. They will cast a random destruction spell on a random, in-range target and have 120HP and too much magicka to worry about. Their story is that they "used a scroll to teleport inside to get the book, but didn't think about how to get out".

Note: to roll a random destruction spell, first roll a d21 for the magical effect then roll for the spell. For example, rolling a 12 will get you fire damage. Then roll a d6; on a 5 for example they cast Fire Storm.

Skull of Corruption
This staff is being held in a cave called Ibar-Dad by a sorcerer wielding the Skull, who's name Badama Andarys. While this shouldn't be too hard of a fight with her alone, though she does have the Skull, which its effect is the same as is in Oblivion, meaning a fight against 1 person could turn into many.

Returning to The Virtuoso
As of right now, these artefacts are unusable to the players. ALL rewards including these are given after the 4 quests are finished.

The players can return to Black Shalk Cornerclub to speak to The Virtuoso; if they do not have the artefacts he has not arrived to the cornerclub yet. The cornerclub is eerily empty, unlike the lively foreign quarter's inner canton just outside, with no bartender even, the doors to rooms are locked if the players try to open them, and will not open under any circumstance, there is no noise or life in the rooms. From now until the end of part 4 (And now, the curtain rises...), the cornerclub is like this; The Virtuoso may be out if they come back between missions for no reason. He is sitting on a main table with his feet up, and addresses the party:

"Right. On. Cue. You have them?" He leads the party to his room and party gives artefacts. "Fabulous." He examines the items carefully, especially the book. "They are as poetic as the legends... But I think I like the book more" he looks at the Skull "symmetry is so boring." He puts the book into his large satchel, but notably leaves out the staff.

With continued dialogue, the next act starts.

The Virtuoso act 2: Our performance begins.
Location(s): Black Shalk Conerclub, Hall of Justice Secret Library (Vivec) or Holamayan, any mages guildhall.

Talent justifies all actions...
From the last act, The Virtuoso is holding the staff across his lap, he says: "But this performance... This performance needs more... zazz. Have any of you heard the legend of explosive powder? It was a fiery powder used in the Illiac Bay, as of the second era. It fell out of style because of mages, they can do everything it can and more, but I am a one man show, no mage, and serve a discerning clientele. If you could, get me a recipe for this powder. It is forbidden knowledge, but talent justifies all actions; I've heard rumours of a hidden Vivec library, or a monastery of monks that collect literature of the same effect. Either way," he looks at the staff "shall we dance?" ''He starts dancing with the staff as a duet. During his steps he says:'' "One, two, three, four, two, two, three, four."

Retrieving the recipe
The players may now leave the cornerclub, they can retrieve the recipe from either the Hall of Justice Secret Library or Holamayan. This is made significantly easier if the quest Mehra Milo and the Lost Prophecies is done, as the library is freely usable if they utilise this asset. Either way for both libraries it will need to be area searched with a group luck roll to rolled, and a majority success to find the recipe:

'''"Fire Bomb", to be formally written. 3.5:1 of Kindlepitch:Fire Salts.'''

Unluckily, the recipe is made from kindlepitch, an ingredient that is not used at all often in Vvardenfell, nor is produced in the region. If they bring it back to The Virtuoso, he looks at the instructions carefully in silence, then after about 20 seconds he says: "These were clearly designed by a caveman. That and kindlepitch is non-native," he gives back the recipe "you'll need to find a more native substitute, maybe the mages guild can tell you more about what this does."

Creating a pseudo-kindlepitch
Upon enquiring with any mages guild alchemy merchant or alchemist, they search bookshelves for a journal containing older ingredient information. They read out to you that Kindlepitch was known to have drained strength and restored health. If the players have a high enough alchemy knowledge, they can discern a recipe for this. If the players do not, then this alchemist can now be persuaded for the knowledge with a 100G bribe, on-top of the usual persuasion technique at a 75 disposition requirement. They will tell you to mix a 1:1:1 ratio of Saltrice, Raw Glass, and Resin to garner the same effects and make a pseudo-Kindlepitch (with an alchemy roll or bribing an alchemist 100G).

Players may either get an example of this, or just return to The Virtuoso, who now has the staff out of sight. Either way he will want a demonstration:

Returning to The Virtuoso
The players must mix (with an alchemy roll or bribing an alchemist 200G) their pseudo-kindlepitch and fire salts. If they demonstrate, igniting the explosive powder into a small bang, The Virtuoso is giddy: "Ah! Sing for me! This is delightful, I like a violent composition. Oh," he looks at his robes "if that got my outfit dirty, I'm going to be so annoyed. Either way, we cannot get euphoric for there is more to be done." Dialogue is continued in the next act.

The Virtuoso act 3: The stage is set.
Location(s): Black Shalk Cornerclub, Zaintiraris.

Art should terrify...
As a continuation from the last act, The Virtuoso goes on: "This is the last, I swear of it, then your reward will come. Have you heard of the Brush of Truepaint? Woven from Dibella's hair herself allowing the artist to paint only the most immersive of pieces; art should terrify, how could I do that with a normal brush? While you've been busy, I've tracked down it's location, only problem is my other 'obligations' cause me stress. It's very simple, track down this for me, in the depths of Zaintiraris and I finally reward your efforts, my darling exclusive secret service people."

Journeying to Zaintiraris
The quest to journey to Zaintiraris sounds like the easiest part, but it is not. The party here is interrupted one after the other by as many random miscellaneous quests as possible. Make sure to skip the ones that have already been started or completed. Note that these encounters are moved to the area of the party during the journey; they have been specifically chosen as to not matter much for where the party is. The following is the encounters in order: Players can skip any of these by rejecting the NPCs quests, and once all of these are skipped and or done, they will have arrived at Zaintiraris.
 * 1) A Falling Wizard
 * 2) Recovering Cloudcleaver
 * 3) Umbra, except they just find Umbra
 * 4) Widowmaker
 * 5) Nels Llendo
 * 6) The Lady's Ring, except the ring is lying in the road
 * 7) The Man Who Spoke to Slaughterfish
 * 8) The Paralyzed Barbarian
 * 9) The Scholars and the Mating Kagouti
 * 10) Divided by Nix Hounds

Zaintiraris
Upon arriving at Zaintiraris, the dungeon is completely normal except for two details: Also note that everyone in the dungeon is a worshipper of Sheogorath, so not quite mentally there to some degree.
 * Dryngheid, the Nord outside Zaintiraris, is completely naked like the previous 3 Nords, but is surprisingly not asking anything, and just standing there in the cold minding his own business.
 * Haki the Halt, the Nord Battlemage, actually wields the Brush of Truepaint as a weapon. He is also a master investigator, and can discern things about people and their past easily. He will travel in-between dimensions he paints in combat depending on what he knows about the party; maybe he's even heard rumours of the party and can use that to his advantage. He can also paint weapons best suited to him against the party. Other than this, not much else can be said as this boss is adaptive depending on the parties backstories, races, and builds; the improvisational work is up to the GM.

Upon killing Haki, the party gets the brush and may take it back to The Virtuoso.

Returning to The Virtuoso
As well as noticing again that people around the city look even more tired and somewhat distressed than last time, upon arriving back at the cornerclub, players roll a disadvantage intelligence roll. Players that succeed notice a faint red trail on the floor, from one side of the cornerclub to the locked rooms. Players that fail do not notice this. The Virtuoso speaks: "You have the brush? I've outdone myself this time. I feel... Inspired." He takes the brush and goes to pick up a canvas from the new stack of canvas in the cornerclub. "I know I said this was the last, same with my art. I swear each performance is the last, but I lie every time..." Dialogue is continued in the next act.

The Virtuoso act 4: And now, the curtain rises...
Location(s): Black Shalk Cornerclub, Vivec Arena and St. Olms Cantons, Hall of Justice or the Justice Offices, Sha-Adnius.

Smiles and screams...
He goes on while setting up the easel: "It's no doubt you've killed less than innocent people for me, but consolation is that with my technique, killing blooms into artwork. Your killing may land me in hot water so to speak; I am being investigated for this, as a masked newcomer to Vivec. They talked to me, but I did not give them the time of day, and sometimes, silence is loud. This means I cannot sort our venue situation, I need you to talk to the Arena drillmaster Mevil Molor, he can help us. Oh, and I need a Senche tiger, I think I saw that they have one; I have a thirst for melodrama, and so do my clients. Smiles and screams, I bring both. Once I'm clear, I will hear about it, so meet me at the Arena underworks once you have that tiger under control. Now! I must paint alone, this excitement, you've awoken something inside me." The party may now leave the cornerclub.

The party does not know the location of Mevil, but is common sense that he is in the Arena. Either way, rumours will point to a Dunmer male of the Vivec Arena Canton Fighters Training area, in the western corridor of the waistworks.

Mevil and the Senche
Upon arrival to Mevil Molor he looks exhausted, nervous, and speaks fast, as does everyone in the city right now; everyone seems on edge. The party can ask about the venue they need, to which he goes: "Uhh, yeah so I'll tell you the same thing I told this 'violin' player: if someone's being investigated they lose city privileges, including canalboats, arena visits, and other luxuries until it's concluded. I'm sorry, until he's clear I can't really do anythin'. Just coverin' my ass before I can cover others." This indicates the party need to clear The Virtuoso's name before anything else. If asked about the Senche Mevil says: "You need a venue before, y'know. I respect it though, art should terrify..." He pauses "S-sorry, I don't quite know why I said that, haven't been myself lately; I think I saw that somewhere?"

The party can start with the Hall of Justice or Justice Offices, any Tribunal Temple Acolyte there can be persuaded on above 75 Disposition, or bribed 1000G to clear the investigation. They can also be ordered to drop the investigation if you are above Acolyte rank in the Tribunal Temple.

Upon returning to Mevil after the investigation drops, he is just sitting down on his desk staring at the wall. He says: "Oh, it's you. Does this mean we can put in the request now for the Arena?" After the party explains the investigation is dropped, he says: "Oh, g-good. Do you need anything?" The party can now ask after the Senche; he says: "Oh, a tiger? What a terrible arrangement." He shakes his head as if clearing something from it. "You'd want to ask after the trainer, he's just through that door."

The party can go through the door (this room does not exist in the actual game), and sitting on a large rug at the desk surrounded by crates is a Senche. She says: "How can I help?" The players ask after the tiger. "Ah, you need a Senche TIGER, how ironic." she pauses, gathering herself "we don't keep them, they're not a thing most people here even know about, and before you ask I'm not doing it. I'm not degrading myself to that level, plus I'm tired, I think those 'sleepers' are giving everyone nightmares right now. Try Addhiranirr, in the St. Olms underworks, they know how to get things. Tell her Jo'nna sent y-, actually I think you've already met her, word gets around."

Addhiranirr knows exactly where to get one: "Yes... Tigers here are rare, no? Fuzzy creatures, more destructive than the most angry-est of Alfiq. Head to Sha-Adnius; Addhiranirr would tell you to buy it from them but Addhiranirr knows you'll just kill them."

Sha-Adnius and the (other) Senche
When Journeying to Sha-Adnius with arena staff, on a failed group luck roll, a random uncompleted encounter from 3.2 will also happen again.

Sha-Adnius is the same as normal, except the slave cage is split in two, with one half containing the normal slaves, the other containing a vicious Senche Tiger. Upon finishing the dungeon, the Senche Tiger is a formidable foe; they have 500HP, and they behave like a Male Senche with base stats. The parties goal is to get it to any of the following states: so the Arena staff can come through to cage it and transport it back to Vivec.
 * Under 10% HP (below 50HP)
 * Unconscious
 * Paralysed for 60+ seconds
 * Charmed for 60+ seconds
 * Any other reasonable forms of subduing (except death)

Once this is finished, the preparations are in place, the party can go and see the final performance...

Breathe in the atmosphere, and through my work, you shall transcend...
''Upon arrival to the Arena underworks, the place is packed with animal handlers, dancers, choreographers training The Virtuoso's work, and other cast members. The Virtuoso himself is in a quiet corner, currently speaking to a small Dunmeri child about a beautiful painting. The party can overhear him telling the child to'' "memorise this, and the brush will do it for you. You know your parts and this is the painting; can you do this? Perfection isn't good enough; there is no room for error." ''The boy nods; and The Virtuoso sees the party as the child stares into this painting of hills and woods. He walks over: "Breathe in the atmosphere, and through my work, you shall transcend" he hands the party tickets to his show'' "this is my reward to you; it's a performance you do not want to resist seeing, for I was paid to put on a killer show. Now, I love to perform, but I hate crowds, please leave and take your seats in the arena, and experience that delightful moment, before the curtain, goes, up..."

The party can go up to the arena and take their seats.

''The actual arena itself is normal, except wooden scaffolding lines the ceiling, with platforms intertwining and curtains draped in a circle around the middle of the arena. After a short amount of time, the curtains lift, revealing The Virtuoso alone, with his violin. With no communication, and as the crowd hushes, he begins playing his violin beautifully. As time passes, more and more dancers begin to arrive through the arena floor gates, telling the story of a young Dunmer boy through interpretive dance to the backing of The Virtuoso's violin. This Dunmer boy is the one The Virtuoso talked to earlier. He had a gift for the arts training and training under a father figure's influence to paint; at this point the boy paints a beautiful painting, the same one The Virtuoso told the boy to copy earlier, behind The Virtuoso. The boy secretly hated it with his true love turning to being the violin. As the boy started playing the violin, The Virtuoso modified his playing to suit the harsh tones and slow rhythm of a first time player getting acquainted to the instrument, but as time went on the playing picked up, from a comedic, strained sound to a magnificent orchestra of new sounds one could never imagine a violin playing. The story continues, telling how the boy was sucked into the violin, playing so often he shut out others, as each dancer left the arena one by one, eventually leaving the arena himself. The Virtuoso continues playing with no breaks for applause, instead the crowd synergising their applause with the foreshadowing immense displays of instrumental skill. All is well until the worried gasps of shock accompany the release of the Senche Tiger into the arena. The tiger circles round and round The Virtuoso, distracted my periodic screaming of onlookers, with The Virtuoso expertly modifying his pace to match that of the tiger's galloping. As the crowd assumes safety, the tiger is no longer distracted and sprints over to The Virtuoso, tearing him apart with its claws as he continues to play the violin in time with swipes, accentuating the fury of the tiger. Assuming the rope at the top of the scaffolding is one to save The Virtuoso, cast members pull it, sending down decapitated body parts and liners of blood of any and all races to the screaming of witnesses who now are either frozen in horror or making a break for the exits. The mutilated half-corpses distract the tiger, and the still standing Virtuoso rests the violin on his chest with his strap, still playing beautifully and dry from the warding of the Skull of Corruption, stuck in the dirt smoothly by him under the cover of pandemonium. He pulls out the Oghma Infinium from his belt, smears the outside skin with blood, opens it, and as he reads it begins to take off his mask. But before his face is visible his entire body explodes into ash sending everything flying, ripping the painting and tiger to shreds, with the bang of his body ending the playing of the violin on beat and perfectly.''

After this performance, the party is now the only ones left in the arena, everyone has flooded out of the canton. The players can go down to the site of The Virtuoso's performance. The only things that are left except gore are a few un-destroyed magical items: This is now the end of The Virtuoso quest-line. The party may leave, and the mess cleaned up after a day with the arena back in normal operation. The cornerclub The Virtuoso used permanently closes with everyone except Huleeya missing as she now stays in Jobasha's Rare Books. Everyone else in Vivec no longer looks exhausted and is back to their normal speech patterns and selves.
 * Skull of Corruption with the same mechanics as in Oblivion, stuck in the sand floor next to the site of the explosion.
 * Oghma Infinium with the same mechanics as in Daggerfall, open and on the floor mysteriously clean of blood.
 * The Virtuoso's wide brimmed hat, that fell daintily onto the top of the Skull.

Thank you, I hope you enjoyed.