Skyrim:Erandur

Erandur (RefID: 00024280)
Home City	Dawnstar
Location	Windpeak Inn, Nightcaller Temple
Race	Dark Elf	Gender	Male
Level	PC×1.5 (range=6-50)	Class	Priest
RefID	00024280	BaseID	0002427D
Other Information
Health	142-508
Magicka	50
Stamina	83-377
Primary Skills	Restoration, Speech, Alchemy, Conjuration, Smithing
Morality	No Crime	Aggression	Unaggressive
Essential	Yes, until decision point in Waking Nightmare
Follower	Yes
Voice Type	MaleDarkElf
Faction(s)	DA16VaerminaDreamFaction; PotentialFollowerFaction

Erandur

Erandur, once known as Casimir, is a Dark Elf priest of Mara investigating the nightmares plaguing Dawnstar. While investigating, you will be directed to Erandur, who is also looking into the problem. This will start the quest Waking Nightmare.

He wears a set of hooded monk robes with a pair of boots. He carries a leveled mace of the best possible quality and two leveled potions of healing. He also carries a torch, a belted tunic and the key to Nightcaller Temple. He relies on three spells, specifically Lesser Ward, Firebolt, and Flames, though he also uses his mace.

Related Quests

• Waking Nightmare: Relieve the people of Dawnstar from Vaermina's curse.
• Rebuilding the Blades: Recruit new members for the Blades.

Quest-Related Events

Waking Nightmare

Erandur can be found in the taproom of Windpeak Inn, busily reassuring the town's residents to trust in Mara:

Irgnir: "It's a curse! It has to be! I've got to get out of this town."
Fruki: "Irgnir, get a hold of yourself. They're just dreams. Please tell her, Erandur."
Erandur: "Listen to your friend, Fruki. They are just dreams, my dear. I assure you that it is quite normal."
Irgnir: "It's the same dream over and over again. You think that's normal? It's evil I tell you!"
Fruki: "Erandur, she has a point. You keep telling us no harm will follow these dreams, but they must be an omen."
Thoring: "Give him a chance to speak. He's trying to help us."
Erandur: "Everyone, please. I'm doing what I can to end these nightmares. In the meantime all I ask is you remain strong and put your trust in Lady Mara."
Irgnir: "I... I will. Thank you..."

When spoken to directly:

"What troubles you, my son/daughter?"

What's wrong with everyone around here?

"The entire town is being plagued by horrible nightmares. They're in serious danger but I'm afraid there's little I can do about it."

You then have three options to pick from:

Topic	Dialogue
What could you do, anyway? Dreams aren't real.	"These dreams are manifestations created by the Daedric Lord Vaermina. She has an awful hunger for our memories. In return, she leaves behind nightmares, not unlike a cough marks a serious illness. I must end her terrible influence over these people before the damage becomes permanent."
Don't be ridiculous. Dreams are harmless.	"In any other circumstance, I'd agree with you. However, these aren't normal dreams. The Daedric Lord Vaermina's voracious hunger for memories is responsible for these visions. The nightmares are an echo of her presence as she feeds."
Then leave. This isn't your problem.	"Turn my back on these people when their lives could be at stake? I should say not. Those dreams are not just visions, they're a footprint left by the Daedric Lord Vaermina as she drains these people of their memories!"

Any option leads to:

What's your plan?

"I need to return to the source of the problem, to Nightcaller Temple. Perhaps you'd be willing to assist me in that regard?"

What do you mean, "return"? You've been there?

"I've already said too much. If anyone overhears what we're saying, it could start a panic. I would simply ask that you trust me and help me end Dawnstar's nightmares."

Topic	Dialogue
I trust you. How can I help? / I've decided to help you end the nightmares.	"Wonderful! My lady Mara will be quite pleased! Nightcaller Temple is only a short walk from Dawnstar. Come, we must hurry."
I can't trust you. You're hiding something.	"Your concerns are understandable; trust is a very difficult commodity to come by these days. I can only give you my word as a priest of Mara that my intentions are honorable."

If you reject helping him:

Sorry, I can't.

"I understand. If you should change your mind, I'll be here."

Once you accept the quest you can ask him about Vaermina:

Who is the Daedric Lord Vaermina?

"Vaermina resides in a strange realm known as Quagmire... a nightmarish land where reality shifts upon itself in seemingly impossible ways. From her citadel at the center, she reaches forth to collect our memories, leaving nothing in return apart from visions of horror and despair."

What does she do with the memories?

"Who can say? Perhaps she collects them for display like works of art in a nonsensical art gallery. Whatever the case may be, her intentions are far from benevolent."

Walking to the Temple

Erandur warns you of the dangers before entering

While walking towards Nightcaller Temple, Erandur will talk about the temple and the priests who lived there:

"The tower on that hill is our destination. People around here call it the Tower of the Dawn. I'm not familiar with the tower's history, but it was deserted for quite a long time before Nightcaller Temple was established inside. When the temple was active the priests would rarely be seen in Dawnstar. They preferred to live a solitary existence. The temple's been abandoned for decades now. Ironic isn't it... a ruin within a ruin? There's a small shrine to Mara I established inside the tower's entry hall. I was hoping to seek spiritual guidance from Her. Perhaps my prayers were answered and your reason for stumbling across Dawnstar is more than a mere coincidence. Follow me, it's this way. It feels good to finally have a chance to help these people. Helplessly watching them suffer's been difficult."

Before entering, he will inform you of the dangers you are about to face:

"Years ago, this temple was raided by an orc war party seeking revenge... they were being plagued by nightmares just like the people of Dawnstar."

Were they successful?

"No. Knowing they could never defeat the orcs, the priests of Vaermina released what they call "The Miasma," putting everyone to sleep."

Why is it dangerous if they're asleep?

"I'm concerned that when this place is unsealed, the Miasma will dissipate and they'll awaken; both orcs and priests alike."

What does the Miasma do?

"The Miasma was created by the priests of Vaermina for their rituals. It's a gas that places the affected in a deep sleep. Because the rituals would last for months or even years, the Miasma was designed to slow down the aging process."

Is the gas dangerous?

"Sadly, yes. The longer an individual is exposed to the Miasma, the more the mind can become damaged. Those who've been under the effect of it for extended periods of time have been known to lose their minds entirely. In some cases, a few never awoke at all."

Nightcaller Temple

Erandur opens the way

When you enter Nightcaller Temple Erandur will walk to the back of the room and cast a spell on the back wall:

"Give me just a moment, and I'll have this open."

Once inside, he will say:

"Now I can show you the source of the nightmares. Over here.
Behold the Skull of Corruption, the source of Dawnstar's woes. We must reach the inner sanctum and destroy it. Come, there's no time to lose."

When you reach a doorway blocked with a barrier, he will say:

"Damn it. The priests must have activated this barrier when the Miasma was released."

Looks difficult to breach.

"Impossible actually. Hmm, I wonder... There may be a way to bypass the barrier, but I must check their library and confirm it can be done."

You seem to know an awful lot about this place.

"I suppose there's no point in concealing the truth any longer. My knowledge of this temple comes from personal experience. I was a priest of Vaermina."

Topic	Dialogue
Why keep it a secret?	"When the orcs invaded the temple, I fled. I left my brothers and sisters here to die."
You should have told me the truth.	"Yes, you're right. I should have, but I didn't know what to say. When the orcs raided the temple, I fled. I left my brothers and sisters behind to die."
I knew it! You're a liar!	"And what would you have me say? Sorry for following the misguided teachings of a mad Divine? Sorry for stealing memories from children? Do you realize when the orcs attacked, I was only concerned with myself? I fled... and left my brothers and sisters behind to die."

"I've spent the last few decades living in regret and seeking redemption from Mara. And by Her Benevolence, I will right my wrongs."

How can the Skull be affecting Dawnstar?

"Lore holds that the Skull of Corruption holds a constant hunger for the memories of others. The Skull has been out of touch for so long, I fear it's gained the ability to reach out on its own and try to feed. What it does with these memories is just conjecture and an argument for scholars and historians to this very day."

"I still have my key to the library. Whenever you're ready, let's move on."

All right. I'm ready.

"This way... the library isn't far."

Erandur checks The Dreamstride for a way past the barrier

Entering the library, Orcs and devotees begin to reawaken. Once they have been dealt with, Erandur will say:

"Barring any more interruptions, perhaps we can locate the information I need."

What am I looking for?

"We're looking for a book of alchemical recipes called "The Dreamstride." The tome bears the likeness of Vaermina on the cover. It should be here somewhere. If you check around the shelves around the balcony, I'll check around the lower level."

As you search for the book, he will comment:

"This library used to be filled with arcane volumes. Now look at it; almost everything's been burned. I hope the tome we need is still intact."

Once you have found the book:

Found it.

"Let me take a look... Mara be praised! There is a way past the barrier to the inner sanctum. It involves a recipe for a liquid known as Vaermina's Torpor."

Is that some type of potion?

"Yes. The Torpor grants an ability the priests of Vaermina called "The Dreamstride"; using dreams to travel distances in the real world."

That's impossible.

"I assure you, the Dreamstride is well known in Vaerminian Lore."

That's amazing!

"Quite amazing, yes. Alchemy and the blessings of a Divine distilled down into a ingestible liquid."

Either option will have him end with:

"Sadly, I have yet to see it function in person."

I'm going to be your test subject, then?

"As a sworn priest of Mara, the elixir won't work for me. The Torpor will only work for Priests of Vaermina, or the unaffiliated."

Sounds dangerous. How can you be certain?

"I will not lie to you, there is some risk involved. The last time the Torpor was imbibed could have been decades ago. But I swear upon Lady Mara that I will do everything within my power to prevent any harm from befalling you."

Forget it! It could kill me!

"No, all my research points in the opposite direction. This is the exact liquid the priests would drink. The only question in my mind is whether you will be granted The Dreamstride. Otherwise, the worst that could happen is a bad aftertaste. I swear upon Lady Mara that I would never let any harm befall you."

Do you know where we can find the Torpor?

"I believe there is a laboratory in the east wing. If we proceed there, we should be able to locate a sample."

What will The Dreamstride feel like?

"You'll be viewing the memory of another through your own eyes and with your own body. Those around you will perceive you as normal and you will find the words you utter may not be your own. Thanks to all of these odd principles, there is quite a lot of debate as to whether this is really a dream or just the machinations of Vaermina."

Following Erandur to the laboratory, more Orcs and Devotees begin to awaken. Once you have fought your way past them, Erandur will say:

"Now that they've been dealt with, we need to find the Torpor."

How will I know what it looks like?

"It should be in a small bottle, very similar to a potion. I'll begin searching up here."

Once you find the Torpor:

"I'm relieved you discovered a bottle intact; this place looks as though it was ransacked by the orcs. So... I've taken us this far, but you need to guide us the rest of the way. Drink."

Here? Now?

"Dawnstar's fate rests in that tiny bottle. The longer we wait, the more damage Vaermina could be doing to those poor people. I understand your hesitation, but I promise you that it works."

How will I know when to awaken?

"I will watch over you as you slumber to ensure your safety. If I deduce anything is amiss, I will use my arts to bring you back. Otherwise, I am uncertain what will end your Dreamstride. Perhaps when Vaermina's curious appetite has been filled."

After drinking the Torpor, you will see what happened when the Orcs attacked Nightcaller Temple through the eyes of Erandur.

Release the Miasma

Dreamstrider

Thorek: "The orcs have breached the inner sanctum, Brother Veren."
Veren: "We must hold. We can't allow the Skull to fall into their hands."
Thorek: "But... no more than a handful of us remain, brother."
Veren: "Then we have no choice. The Miasma must be released."
Thorek: "The Miasma? But, brother..."
Veren: "We have no alternative. It's the will of Vaermina. And what about you, Brother Casimir? Are you prepared to serve the will of Vaermina?"
Casimir: "I've made my peace. I'm ready."
Veren: "Then it's decided. Brother Casimir, you must activate the barrier and release the Miasma. Let nothing stop you. Brother Thorek, we must remain here and guard this Skull with our lives if necessary."
Thorek: "Agreed. To the death."
Veren: "Then let it be done. Farewell, my brothers!"

Once you exit the dreamstride and deactivate the barrier, Erandur will be amazed:

"It... it worked. Mara be praised! You vanished after drinking the Torpor and materialized on the other side. I have never seen anything quite like it."

Topic	Dialogue
It was remarkable... As if I were really there.	"How I envy you. I can only imagine the excitement of seeing history through the eyes of another! Sadly, I am resigned to just reading of its wonders through my research of the Skull."
It served a purpose.	"After what you just experienced, you are not amazed? I am at a loss for words."
Are you mad? I could have died!	"I thought I was clear regarding the dangers that awaited you within the Dreamstride. However, this hardly matters any longer as you appear to have exited unscathed."

We can discuss it later. We need to proceed.

"Indeed. My reverence for Vaermina's machinations should not take precedence over our mission. My apologies. The inner sanctum lies ahead. We must reach the Skull and put an end to Dawnstar's troubles. Lead on, my friend."

Old friends, Veren and Thorek

As you walk through the temple towards the Skull of Corruption, you meet Erandur's old friends Veren and Thorek:

Erandur (Casimir): "Wait... Veren... Thorek... you're alive!"
Veren: "No thanks to you, Casimir."
Erandur (Casimir): "I no longer use that name. I'm Erandur, Priest of Mara."
Veren: "You're a traitor. You left us to die and then ran before the Miasma took you."
Erandur (Casimir): "No. I... I was scared. I wasn't ready to sleep."
Veren: "Enough of your lies! I can't allow you to destroy the Skull, Priest of Mara."
Erandur (Casimir): "Then you leave me no choice!"

After defeating Veren and Thorek, Erandur will say:

"I... knew Veren and Thorek. They were my friends. Is this punishment for my past? Is it Mara's will to torment me so?"

You can say:

Topic	Dialogue
We had no choice.	"Yes. You're right. If they needed to die so that Dawnstar could live, then it was worth the price."
They were trying to kill us.	"And had they succeeded, Dawnstar's fate would be sealed. You have a unique way of looking at things, my friend."
Maybe they were right. Don't destroy the staff.	"No! You mustn't listen to them. They speak only lies and deception. Had we aided them in releasing the Skull, they would use it to wreak havoc across Skyrim. They... they had to die."

Erandur calls upon the power of Mara

He will then continue:

"It's time. The Skull must be destroyed. If you'll stand back, I'll perform the ritual granted to me by Lady Mara."

As he approaches the Skull of Corruption he will seek the help of Mara, chanting:

"I call upon you, Lady Mara! The Skull hungers. It yearns for memories and leaves nightmares in its wake. Grant me the power to break through this barrier and to send the Skull to the depths of Oblivion!"

As he is calling for help from Mara, Vaermina will speak into your mind, trying to persuade you to kill Erandur before he destroys the Skull of Corruption. If you let Erandur live and destroy the Skull of Corruption, he will remark:

"Forgive me if I don't appear relieved... this temple has taken its toll on me."

You can reply:

Topic	Dialogue
Are you going to be all right?	"In time, I believe I will."
So, we're done, then?	"Yes. The Skull has been destroyed and Dawnstar is safe."
How about some compensation?	"Being a humble servant of Mara, I have little in the way of gold or coin, but perhaps I can offer you something better... companionship."

When approached again, he will reveal Nightcaller Temple to be his new home and offer his assistance as a follower as a reward:

"I'd constructed a meager shrine to Mara in the antechamber where we entered. My intention was to spend the rest of my years here, burying the past and praying for forgiveness. But instead, I wish to offer my services to you. If you ever wish to journey with me, I'll be here." Your only dialogue option is to thank him, and he'll reply "There's no need to thank me. What you did was for the people of Dawnstar. If anyone should be thanked, it should be you."

Follower Dialogue

Location	Dialogue
Winterhold	"The College of Winterhold is an amazing sight. I've never set foot on the grounds, but always wanted to."
Karthwasten	"The Forsworn haven't been kind to Karthwasten. I've heard rumors that they've attacked this place without mercy."
The Pale	"I grew up in The Pale. This land was my home for most of my life... and for a Dunmer, that's quite a statement, I assure you."
Falkreath	"We should bow our heads in silent reverence for those who are interred in Falkreath's cemetery."
Temple of Mara	"I've always wanted to make a pilgrimage here to the Temple of Mara. Thank you for bringing me here... you've made me quite happy."
Markarth	"Watch your step, Markarth has quite a reputation thanks to the Silver-Blood family. I wouldn't advise crossing them."
Whiterun	"What an amazing city. I've actually never managed to visit Whiterun, but I always wanted to."
Windhelm	"Windhelm is absolutely freezing. How can these people tolerate it?"
Solitude	"I was a student at the Bards College for a short time... until my affiliation with Vaermina was discovered. I haven't been back to Solitude since."
Riften	"I've heard Riften's home to the worst Skyrim has to offer. I hope we don't run into any trouble while we're here."
Vampire Lair	"Her Benevolence has taught me patience and mercy, but these vampires deserve none of it."
	"A good friend of mine was infected by a vampire long ago. He killed himself rather than change into one of those... things."
	"Vampires are utter abominations. We need to do everything in our power to destroy them."
Warlock Lair	"Being a priest of Vaermina put me very close to dark sorcery at its worst."
	"Let's try and stay together, the sorcerers in these places tend to... well, harvest bodies for parts."
	"I've seen my share of black magic, but that's all in the past now."
Draugr Crypt	"This place must be cleansed. These draugr were once living beings and they deserve better."
	"These poor souls... suffering in eternal servitude."
	"The thought of the dead rising... makes me sick to my stomach."
Bandit Camp	"Bandits know nothing of pity or mercy. No need to show them any either."
	"A group of bandits descended on Dawnstar once... if it wasn't for the guard, who knows what they could have done to the place."
	"Bandits are the worst lot. They'd steal from their own mothers given the chance."
Military Fort	"I thought I heard footsteps. Be careful."
	"When I was a young acolyte of Vaermina, I paid my dues in a shrine located within the catacombs of a fort in Cyrodiil."
	"I served as a healer in a fort not unlike this one long ago."
Dwarven Ruin	"I can't imagine what happened to the dwarves. How could a race with the capability to build a place like this simply vanish?"
	"I've never been inside a dwarven ruin. They are simply astounding."
	"Did you hear that? A metal on stone sound... hmmm, perhaps it was nothing."
	"This place could be massive... very easy to get lost. We have to be careful not to lose our way."
Nordic Ruin	"What a marvel of engineering. The ancient Nords were ingenious builders."
	"Ugh, this place... horrible."
	"Watch yourself, these Nordic ruins are notorious for their traps."
	"These ruins are old, maybe a thousand years or more."
Cave	"Why anything would chose [sic] to reside down here is beyond me."
	"These caves... they harbor ill omens, I can sense it."
	"Trust in Mara... she'll protect us in this dark place."
	"I don't like the looks of this place... not at all."
When nearing an object/room of significance	"Impressive. Damn impressive."
Anywhere	"I don't know what persuaded you to assist me when we met in Dawnstar, but I'm glad you did."
	"I've done a lot of... questionable things in my life. Serving Vaermina was a horrible mistake, and I hope Mara will forgive me one day."
	"I was recruited as an acolyte of Vaermina as a young elf. I had no real childhood to speak of... we weren't permitted to socialize."
	"I've always felt a great deal of guilt running from Nightcaller Temple and leaving my friends to die. I'll never forgive myself for that."
	"After running from Nightcaller Temple, I wandered Skyrim for years until I was taken in by a priest of Mara who lived in Morthal."
	"Finding Mara was the greatest moment of my life. I'll never forget the warmth that spread through my heart when we embraced."
	"It was a bit difficult to come to the ways of Mara at first, but my fellow priests were kind and quite patient with me."
	"I've never admitted this before, but I've killed more than I care to admit. I'll just leave it at that."
	"My parents are long dead, but they lived wonderful lives... I have no sad stories to tell about them. Perhaps one day I'll visit their resting place."
	"I've been enjoying this journey with you. Not for the wealth we've accumulated, but just being [sic] carry Mara's will to every corner of Skyrim."
	"It's wonderful to be able to sleep soundly, don't you think?"

Notes

• The Skull of Corruption is part of the Oblivion Walker achievement. Allowing Erandur to destroy it will make you unable to achieve this, unless you obtain two Daedric Artifacts from the quest Ill Met By Moonlight.
• He is one of the few followers that will comment on the area you are in at the moment.
• Despite being a self-proclaimed priest of Mara, Erandur will still invoke Azura's name in combat like any other Dunmer. This is just inherent to his voicetype, as the generic combat lines aren't conditioned to not be used by Erandur.
  • Additionally, Erandur does have unique combat lines referencing Mara ("For Lady Mara!", etc.), but these lines are only heard during the Waking Nightmare quest.
• Due to his robes taking up both his head and body slots, he will not equip body armor except when given a helmet or circlet, or if he is inducted to be a Blade.

Bugs

See also Skyrim:Waking Nightmare#Bugs

• If dismissed, he will return to Nightcaller Temple; however, if you wish to get him again as a follower, he may not reappear and seems to disappear from the game entirely.
  • A good way to avoid this from happening is to dismiss him at the Temple.