Today in Cyrodiil, spoilers version, TES: 4 Oblivion character accounts & stories Options

[Acadian]

A bath, some wine and a bit of pontificating about Divine essences that eventually leads to a task: Recover the Moon Reaver.

[macole]

20250819 I-Stranded Light Moon Reaver, Capstone Cave

A day after speaking to Firukuruzk we left Bruma to find the first junction to acquiring the Moon Reaver. First stop the nearby Capstone Cave. The cave was so close that from the entrance one could see Apple Watch to the west, Rielle to the north, and Bruma to the east.

There was evidence of occupation outside the cave’s entrance but how recent the activity we couldn’t tell. Inside Capstone Cave, everything, from the ceiling above us to the floor beneath our feet was encased in ice. This made footing treacherous for everyone except Kaleah. She just extended her talons to get a firm grip the ice.

Geez, I’m going to have to repair those boots again.

Progressing cautiously we made it to a trapper’s camp, a wooden platform raised high above the icy floor. We were investigating, searching for a red key, when we were approached by eight Skyrim trappers. They didn’t ask questions but immediately attacked.

What is it with Nords from Skyrim? The way they’ve been acting since the emperor’s assassination you’d think they were the vanguard of a Nord invasion. Yeah right, a Nord rebellion, like that’s ever going to happen.

But then again, perhaps they are because their first reaction was to fight. Within minutes, five lay dead on the floor, one fled through the exit to the right, and at least two fled down a tunnel to the left.

During our pursuit of the Nord that fled through the east tunnel, we came across an amazing sight. Someone had erected a towering arch (Better Dungeons) in Capstone Cave. It didn’t look like Ayleid construction. In fact it could have been an Arch of Triumph had it been on the Imperial City Isle.

There’s a door at the base of the left tower. It’s locked, requiring a key to get in. Unable to open the tower door we left the tower wondering who built this arch and why.

Our search for Firukuruzk’s Red Key in the east end of Capstone Cave has come up empty. Returning to the Skyrim camp we continued our search in the western half of Capstone Cave. Knowing that two hostile Nords from Skyrim had fled this way, we proceeded cautiously.

We encountered a few more hostile Nords in a small chamber of the cave. They were easily taken care of. Unexpectedly, just outside entering the door to the Capstone Grand Cavern we encountered two bandits with a MOO bounty on their heads. Cornered they braced for the fight.

The two wanted criminals V’orht and Dul gro-Ulfish were no slouches in the fight department. It took a considerable effort to claim V’orht’s shoes and Dul gro-Ulfish’s gauntlets as proof of their demise.

The western half of Capstone Cave now subdued we searched the entire section for the Red Key, once again coming up empty. Firukuruzk’s red key must be deeper in the cave complex, we entered Capstone Cave’s Grand Cavern.

A short ice-covered tunnel opened to the Skyrim Nord’s operation headquarters. Thirteen Nord trappers attacked us en masse, forcing me to call on the usual reinforcements to handle the situation.

The battle over, we search everywhere for the red key. Found a lot of gold but no key. Franticly we raced back and forth through the complex. Running past a fallen tower in our search we completely ignored its unusual design. So intent were we in our search for the red key that the similarity between this collapsed tower and the arch we found earlier didn’t register.

A tunnel took us to the top of the cavern. Here a shelf ran the entire circumference of the Grand Cavern, overlooking the operation below. Up here we found two Ayleid stepstones. Close by the stepstones was a very strange object that reminded me of a brick oven. Curiosity got me to try opening it. It wouldn’t open and we went back searching for the Red Key.

We didn’t give the oven thing or the two tower structures a second thought as we raced through the entire Capstone Cave complex searching for the missing Red Key. We must have gone through the entire cave system at least three times.

I was at a loss and about ready to give up, when we found, hidden by several large rocks and stalagmites, an unopened chest. Furthermore, hidden behind the chest sat a tiny “inscribed jewelry box” with a very hard lock.
How many times had we run past this site while not seeing this chest? Sure its coloration blended in with the cave’s features but still that was of little defense to my Ladies scrutiny.

Making the necessary preparations, I cast the spell to open the jewelry box and there nestled like a pearl in a clam sat the Red Key.

“There are you happy now?”

With great relief and joy often comes a great tiredness. We decided to spend the night at the camp in the Grand
Cavern, where there were enough beds for everyone. In the morning we’ll travel to Belda where Firukuruzk told us she had hidden a second key. Now that I know what kind of box she has placed the keys in, the Purple Key should be easier to find.

I hope.

[Acadian]

'Find the key in Capstone Cave' turned into a needle in a haystack-esque affair! Finally, success however. As you say, hopefully the next key will be less elusive.