Beyond Skyrim:Cyrodiil/Renod Even-Toned

Renod Even-Toned (RefID: xx0650A5)
Home City	Bruma
House	Renod's House
Race	Nord	Gender	Male
Level	10	Class	Bard
RefID	xx0650A5	BaseID	xx0650A1
Other Information
Health	121	Magicka	88
Stamina	76
Primary Skills	Speech
Morality	No Crime	Aggression	Unaggressive
Faction(s)	CYRBrumaRenodsHouseFaction; CYRCrimeFactionBruma; CYRTownBrumaFaction

Renod Even-Toned

Renod Even-Toned is a talentless Nord bard who has been terrorizing the citizens of Bruma with his screeching. During the related quest, you must get him to stop singing, or silence him for good.

You will first meet Renod when entering the Jerall View Inn, where he is performing. After this he will retire to his house, where he sleeps from 10pm to 8am every night. After breakfast, at 10am on weekdays he heads to the market stalls until 3pm, when he visits Ice-Wind Traders for three hours. He heads back home for dinner at 6pm and then spends the rest of the day relaxing at home until his bedtime. The only change to this schedule is on Morndas, Middas and Fredas, when he visits the Cathedral of St. Martin from 12pm to 3pm, and on weekends, when he stays home all day.

Renod wears fine clothes, farmer's gloves, a Third Era Colovian fur helm, a necklace of minor haggling and a pair of fine boots. He also carries the key to his house, a copy of the Niben Herald, a flute, a drum and lute.

Related Quests

• The Screeching Songman: Rid the good people of Bruma of a talentless singer's screechings.

Dialogue

When confronting him, Renod's arrogance is apparent:

"Away with you, rube."

"You are not fit to stand before me! Begone, wastrel."

"Oh, look. A bumpkin."

"Come to speak to the best bard in all Tamriel? Unsurprising. Go on, then. Speak."

So you're a bard?

"I am the most illustrious bard in the entirety of Tamriel, I promise you that! Much better than any of the bumpkins from the Bards College - that I graduated too, of course."

You graduated the Bards College?

"Of course I did! What, you think Renod Even-Toned, a master bard and true artiste, would be rejected from the Bards College? Of course not!"

You seem very confident about your ability.

"Of course I am! A true Nord knows that boasting is appropriate when it is called for, and Renod Even-Toned knows this well! Or are you insulting my ability, bumpkin? Don't tempt me..."

Tempt you to do what?

"To clonk you over the head! With my flute, or my lute, or bludgeon you with my fiddle? I know! I will travel to Daggerfall, grab one of those fancy Breton harps, and spank you with it. Ooh, or I could slam you with a tambourine so vigorously that every Bruma citizen could hear it? That'd make you the joke of day: "Oh look, there goes the Tambourine Man!"? Hmm... Tambourine Woman just doesn't have the same ring to it. Tambourine Lady, maybe? Hmm... How's that sound, pissant rube?"

If you comment on his hat, he is outraged:

What's with the hat?

"The hat? The HAT? You dare refer to it as... a HAT? This, bumpkin, is a Colovian fur helm! They were all the rage back in the Third Era, though their popularity has since waned. But I, the illustrious Renod Even-Toned, am spearheading their revival! Not only am I a pioneer of music, I am also a pioneer of fine fashions. Soon, when you see all and sundry walking around sporting them, you'll know, in the back of your mind, that Renod Even-Toned was there first!"

It looks completely ridiculous.

"Ridiculous? Ridiculous?! You wouldn't know high fashion if beat you senseless! So, let's not tempt... high fashion, huh, pissant rube?"

Yes, very fashionable.

"A-ha! Another convert to the new fashion of Third Era Colovian fur helms! Soon every ruffian will be wearing them, so droll and unoriginal are they."

Mhm. I see.

"Indeed, you do. Gaze upon the visage of my Third Era Colovian fur helm, for its originality is sadly fleeting."

Quest-Related Dialogue

When first entering the Inn, you will be treated to a horrific bardic performance by Renod:

Renod: "Valenwood's color, streaming anew, into... Sinew. Sinew, to which it is streaming, for the Bosmer, they love the sinew. The sinew the Bosmer love, ohhhhhh."

Renod's distressing performance

Eventually, owner Stantus Faleria will step in to stop him and get into a heated argument:

Stantus: "Renod, you're distressing the customers."

Renod: "Distressing? I am distressing the customers?"

Stantus: "That's what I just said, yes."

Renod: "You are... you dare... how dare you?! I am outraged! You hire me to play songs in this bar that is so far below my standards, and now you proclaim my music is distressful?! I am done with you, Stantus! And I am done with this shoddy excuse for a tavern! I am done with you, Stantus! And I am done with this shoddy excuse for a tavern! I'm off for the Restful Watchman, your top competition! How about that, huh?! And you... you talentless, tasteless fiends! How dare you insult my music?! Could you do better?! No, you couldn't, because I was trained at the Bards College in Solitude and I am the foremost practitioner of the art of song since Svaknir himself! You are all nothing more than jealous maggots, grasping for ways to insult me and belittle my talent! And to that I say, GOOD. DAY."

With this, he will leave the inn and head straight home. After this, while walking around Bruma, you will hear various mutterings about Renod:

"Who in Oblivion told that guy he's a good singer? I've heard Daedroths do better!"

"Damn it, if only that infernal bard would shut his mouth..."

"There's some bard down at the tavern, playing a real awful racket. Hope he leaves soon, or we might just have to run him out of town."

"Have you heard that bard, Renod? He's probably one of the worst musicians I've ever heard. And I've heard the wailing of ol' Caraltus Cock-Eyed."

"You know that "bard", Renod Even-Toned? Yeah. I hear the Jucanis paid him to watch over and entertain their kid Banus while they were out of town. Apparently his attempts at lullabies scared the child so much he ran away from the bard and cried in the street until his parents got back."

Eventually, you will be directed towards beggar Reln-Tei, who has been leading efforts to get the bard to shut up:

I've been told you're interested in getting Renod to shut up.

"I am. I try to be fairly humble, but sitting here day after day not being able to hear myself think for the racket he's causing, it dries my scales."

Would shutting Renod up really mean that much to you?

"He's causing me to get no sleep whatsoever. Of course it would."

If you agree to help, you can find Renod in his house and immediately challenge him:

I'm here to speak with you.

"You there! A traveler! In my house? Why, of course, you are here to sample the sweet sounds of Renod Even-Toned and his lute! Or his flute?"

I'm here because your neighbors are complaining about a noise nuisance.

"Noise nuisance? Noise nuisance! What do you take me for, some alleyway wastrel? I am a bard, you impudent fool! How dare you speak to me in such a manner?! And whoever complained - such nerve..."

They complained, not me.

"Ah, yes, but you were the messenger boy/girl, weren't you? You were the one who came to deliver their infernal message. Indeed, whoever it was that complained is likely an agent of Mehrunes Dagon! For who else would have such distaste for the beauty of music?"

Have you ever considered perhaps you're not as good as you think?

"You insolent whelp! I am outraged! You barge into my home and then proceed to insult me! I am done with this conversation!"

You're keeping them awake at night.

"Then they should have asked me to play lullabies! That would have been sufficient! I believe one of those goes something like, you know... "In the great, green tomb, there was a chaurus, and a draugr that had been dead since Sundas, and a picture of a guar jumping over the Mundus..." ...that kind of thing. They could have asked for that. But no! Instead they proclaim me a nuisance! The nerve. The nerve!"

Either way, you can ask him what you can do to change his mind:

Is there anything I can do to convince you?

"First you insult me, then you offer me aid? How... unexpected. At least you're learning your place. Yes, I suppose there is something you can do. My prized lute is missing, and I am forced to use this shoddy replacement. It is impacting my ability to perform greatly. It is even making my renditions of "Valenwood's Color Streams Anew Into Sinew" sound worse. "Valenwood's Color Streams Anew Into Sinew"! That is a basic ballad! Absolutely basic! So, go and fetch my lute. Some thief took it, probably. Somewhere here in Bruma, I imagine. Off you go. Time's-a-wasting."

Do you have any idea who stole the lute?

"Nope, none at all. Try asking the ruffians over at the Restful Watchman. That's where most of the riff-raff like to drink themselves into a stupor."

What can you tell me about the Restful Watchman?

"They call it a tavern, but I'd call it more of a bunkhouse for the homeless and destitute. It's where the lazy, idle and untalented go to live their shallow, miserable 'lives'. They drink themselves stupid, vomit everywhere and then collapse into their frayed, jute cloth 'beds'. At least they feed the lice. Disgusting place. Unfit for one such as myself, so you won't find me renting a room there. That, I can guarantee."

I'm not going to fetch your lute.

"Then your neighbors' precious little ears are going to continue being treated to my delightful music."

I'll get your lute if you promise to stop being an annoyance to your neighbors.

"Annoying?! I will try to hold my rage, for now. But do not try my patience, rube. Go fetch the lute, before I clonk you over the head with my flute!"

Head over to the notorious tavern and Crouches-In-Crevices will admit:

"We kicked that old horker out of here a little while back. Can still hear him from his house across the way. It'd be nice to get rid of that nuisance. Here's the truth. Yes, I took it. It was made out of a fine oak and encrusted with some rubies. Good gold, friend. So, I sold it. To some of my most prolific business partners."

After telling you his bandit counterparts reside in Capstone Cave, he will also suggest a potential option:

"We drove Renod out of the Watchman, and he's no doubt had the same happen at the Jerall View. He's out of work. I'm sure you've seen the hilarious 'bardic masterclass' posters he's putting up all around Bruma in the hope of keeping a roof over his head. Well, tell him he's got a new venue to play at. Tell him to go to Capstone and play."

Should you decide to slay the bandits and retrieve the lute yourself, Renod will be delighted once you return:

I have the lute.

"Wonderful! You have served your purpose, rube, and for that, I am extremely surprised. Go, now, and know that you are tolerated by Renod Even-Toned."

What about you being a noise nuisance?

"Ah, yes, that insignificant matter. I will cut out the night-time rehearsals and keep them for the morning. That is what you wanted, yes? And do not speak of this again, lest you lose my tolerance... rube."

Alternatively, you can negotiate with ringleader Grushnag gro-Arkul to bring Renod over for a residency. In this case, you can suggest the idea to Renod:

I have a job offer for you.

"A job offer? For me? Why, of course! A truly refined character has discovered my renowned talents, and wants a piece of the pie! Everyone wants a piece of Renod Even-Toned!"

So, will you go?

"Anything to get away from these unappreciative, abrasive rubes."

Then why aren't you moving?

"Oh, isn't it obvious? You must lead me to this venue. I am not traversing the dirty, unclean Jerall wilderness alone."

Once you're prepared to make the trip to Capstone Cave, let Renod know:

I'm ready to take you to your new job.

"Go on, then. Off you go. Lead me to my destiny, rube!"

Renod's odd performance at Capstone Cave

Upon arrival, a confused Renod will comment:

"Quite an unconventional location for a new tavern, but I imagine it will be quite the hotspot soon enough! And who better to serenade the customers than Renod Even-Toned?"

He will then ask:

Renod: "Well, here I am. Where is the innkeeper?"

Grushnag: "Innkeeper? Heh. What fairy tale have you been feeding this old merrymaker?"

Renod: "Bandits? Bandits?! What do you take me for? Some desperate, failed entertainer? I am outraged!"

Grushnag: "Do you want work or not? Would you rather us all turn on you?"

Renod: "Of course I want to work! Okay, I will do it, at least until my music is more appreciated by the... more refined of Tamriel."

Grushnag: "First we want to hear you play. Then we'll decide if you're good enough."

Renod will ready himself and commence:

Renod: "I told the netch, go play fetch, and he did, indeed, look most perplexed. So upon him, did I cast a hex, then, tired, so I did rest."

Grushnag: "Yeah, yeah, that sounds great! Welcome aboard!"

Renod: "Finally, someone who appreciates my talents! Onwards, to your, errm, establishment!"

As he turns to enter the cave, however, Grushnag will cut him down and turn to you:

"Glad that's taken care of. Hmph. To think you tried to pass that guy over on us. Now, leave. Yes, I'm letting you live. The death of that old giant's toe left me in a pleasant mood. Oh, and you can take any loot he had on his corpse. My treat."

Notes

• Despite Renod claiming he will visit the Restful Watchman after being kicked out of the Jerall View, and despite Crouches-In-Crevices confirming that he did steal Renod's lute, the bard will never actually set foot there, instead heading straight home.