Online:Into the Outside

Help recover some stolen Dwemer artifacts. Zone: The Rift Quest Giver: Solvar Location(s): Avanchnzel, Riften Reward: Aetherian Average Leveled Gold XP Gain: Standard XP ID: 4318

Malsia emerges from Aetherius through a portal opened by the Skystones in her house

I found a note on the charred corpse of an assassin who was sent to kill a mage named Malsia. She stole Dwemer artifacts and plans to open a portal to someplace. The Mages Guild wants her dead.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Find Giruss in Riften by speaking to Itan-Nur on the lower docks.
2. Go to Malsia's House south of Shor's Stone and activate the Skystones.
3. Talk to Malsia.

Detailed Walkthrough

At Avanchnzel, the corpse of an armored Dunmer named Solvar can be found outside the entrance. By inspecting it, the following observations occur:

<This corpse is badly burned. His death was recent, no more than a day ago. A note on the body may explain what happened.>

<Read the note>

"The target's name is Malsia. The Mages Guild wants her dead, something about her trying to open a portal. Whatever the reason, she must die."

<Continue reading.>

"She's headed to Avanchnzel to gather Dwemer artifacts. Kill her when you find her. Be careful, she's handy with fire. Once the job is done, find me under the docks in Riften for your pay.

"Signed, Giruss."

I should look for this Giruss.

Giruss is located in a warehouse on the lower docks of Riften. An Argonian fisher named Itan-Nur can be found outside the door, and can be spoken to about Giruss.

"The fish have stopped biting for some reason."

Where I can find Giruss? (grammar as written in-game)

"Depends. Why are you looking for him?"

I found a body I think he knows something about.

"Go through the door behind me."

Giruss is found inside along with some mercenaries, where he can be confronted about Malsia.

"I don't know you. State your business and don't make me angry."

I found your note about Malsia. Your assassin failed, but I'll take the job.

"I already told the Mages Guild we tracked her to the house and she disappeared. Are you from the damn guild or are you just looking to die?"

[Intimidate] Go ahead, threaten me again.

"On second thought, here you go.
This map shows Malsia's house. We can't find her, but there's something set up in there. Go see for yourself."

If you feel that way about it, I'm leaving.

This will exit dialogue. Talking to him again will provide the same dialogue options.

Just answer my question.

Giruss will order one of his mercenaries to attack you.

Giruss: "Someone kill this bastard."

A random mercenary from the room will then attack, including the only other named one. Defeat the single mercenary that attacks you, then talk to him again.

"Damn the Mages Guild. You can do your own dirty work from now on."

Where's Malsia?

"This map shows her house. We can't find her, but there's something set up in there. Go see for yourself."

He provides you with a map to her location.

At Malsia's House, her journal can be found atop a nightstand. Read it to find out what happened to her:

<There are hastily drawn symbols and writing on this page.>

<Read the journal.>

"The guild's sent assassins after me. Now that I have the skystones, I must begin right away."

<Continue reading.>

"If I reach the Aetherius, my soul may be torn from my flesh. The soul gem should protect me."

<Continue reading.>

"The skystones may not be able to hold the portal open. Should they fail, I'll be trapped. But I'll take the risk. I must find where the portal leads."

There are three Skystones inside the house, mounted on Dwemer contraptions Malsia stole. They must all be activated (likely in no particular order), shooting out beams of light that meet to open a portal. Malsia will then emerge from Aetherius, where she can be confronted:

<Malsia holds a broken soul gem in her hand.>

Malsia! Can you hear me? Malsia?

<Malsia doesn't respond. It seems her fears have come to fruition―her soul has been torn from her body.>

You are then rewarded with a staff called Aetherian and Average Leveled Gold.

Notes

• Though the jobs the Mages Guild instructed were to assassinate Malsia and retrieve the artifacts, neither of these are accomplished during the quest, and the player does not so much as report the outcome to Giruss. The warehouse that he was found in cannot be entered again.
• If attacked by a mercenary, the one who attacks you is only a copy of one of the mercenaries in the room, while the original simply continues doing what they were doing before. This includes Bekfrydde the Edge, who will still be sharpening her blades on the western side even as a duplicate of her attacks you.

Quest Stages

Into the Outside
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	The assassin's note was signed by someone named Giruss. I should go to the docks in Riften and look for him. Objective: Find Giruss in Riften
	Giruss is in one of the warehouses below the docks of Riften. I should speak to him. Objective: Confront Giruss
	I should talk to Giruss. Objective: Talk to Giruss (If you didn't Intimidate)
	Giruss's map pointed to a location North of Riften. I should head there to find Malsia and the stolen artifacts. Objective: Find Malsia and the Artifacts
	I should read Malsia's journal. It might tell me what she intended to do with the artifacts. Objective: Read Malsia's Journal
	Malsia sought to open a portal to the Aetherius. It looks like she succeeded but the portal collapsed on her. Turning the skystones might reopen the portal, enabling her to return. Objective: Use Skystones to Open the Portal: 0 / 3
Finishes quest	Malsia is back. I should speak to her. Objective: Talk to Malsia

Notes

* Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the game and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.