Reluctant Steward

Haughty, Sardonic, and in Need of Sustenance

While speaking with Neloth—sometimes after completing three or four previous Side Quests or minor tasks for the haughty Dunmer—he suddenly demands to know if you’ve seen Varona, as he’s feeling peckish. Answer that you haven’t seen his steward, and he demands you find her. You can answer Neloth regarding his attitude and receive put-downs in varying degrees of savage sarcasm, but the fact still remains: Varona is missing.

Exit Neloth’s tower and make a few inquires among the other servants. The best places to engage in scuttlebutt are the two side structures. Enter either Tel Mithryn Kitchen or Tel Mithryn Apothecary, and speak to Ulves Romoran or Elynea Mothren. Both mention that Varona went to Raven Rock to arrange for more supplies. This brings up a compass point to the northwest of your current location.

Brilliant, Robust, and Blindingly Obedient

Varona’s trip to Raven Rock was waylaid rather badly. She unfortunately didn’t make it; she was attacked by the hated Ash Spawn who roam the southern foothills. Trek northwest from Tel Mithryn, passing the giant fungal growths until you find Varona’s corpse and three or four Ash Spawn gathered around it, in the wilderness just east of the Harstrad River.

Deal out revenge to these Ash Spawn and then examine the still-fresh corpse of Varona Nelas. When you do, your quest updates. This might be a good opportunity to take the key she was carrying, too. It opens the modest dwelling in Tel Mithryn, which you can inspect at your leisure.

As expected, when you return to Neloth in his high tower, he expresses breathtaking insensitivity toward the death of his steward. You also inform him that Ash Spawn were responsible. But there are more pressing matters, such as the brewing of tea—Neloth requires a new steward immediately, if not sooner! He believes that Raven Rock would be a great place to find a new servant, as “they are in awe” of him there. His requirements for a steward? Someone with a brilliant mind, robust physique, and blinding obedience. He seems to be describing a thrall, rather than a servant.

Weak-Willed, Emaciated, and Exceptionally Insolent

Head over to Raven Rock and stroll the main thoroughfare, searching for a suitable replacement steward. Amazingly, Neloth’s opinion of himself isn’t shared by the citizens of this town. A few examples are listed:

• Dreyla Alor isn’t interested, as Neloth is as loony as a Skooma addict. He once wanted her father to import a live white mammoth. She may point you toward a fellow named Drovas.

• Grover Mallory collapses in a fit of hysterics at the mention of such an idea. If you’re a member of the Thieves Guild back in Skyrim, and you’ve completed Thieves Guild Quest: Taking Care of Business , he points you toward a fellow named Drovas.

• Geldis Sadri, the innkeeper in The Retching Netch believes Neloth to be soft in the head; apparently the lunatic wizard talks to Mudcrabs! However, Geldis has an apprentice who’s hard up for coin: Try Drovas.

Desperate times call for desperate measures; locate Drovas Relvi, a shifty-looking character located in The Retching Netch, and ask him if he’s interested in the job. After pondering employment with a crazed Telvanni wizard, he’s happy to leave Raven Rock. Perhaps a little too happy? He’ll gather his belongings and head there immediately. You don’t need to chaperone him.

Quest Conclusion

Back at Neloth’s tower, inform Neloth you’ve found a new steward. Neloth is rarely impressed, and this isn’t one of those occasions; Drovas makes dreadful canis root tea, but he’ll do for now. As a reward, Neloth offers you the use of his staff enchanter, located in this chamber. You receive a reward of coin, too.

• Staff Enchanter Key
• [Leveled] Gold

Postquest Activities

Neloth is particularly taken with staffs, and has constructed a Staff Enchanter to allow him to create them without the usual hassle.

The Staff Enchanter room also contains an Arcane Enchanter, useful for enchanting your own items in between quests at Tel Mithryn. On top of it, you may find the Black Book known as “The Hidden Twilight.” Reading it will transport you to Hermaeus Mora’s realm of Apocrypha, beginning Solstheim Side Quests: Black Book: The Hidden Twilight.

You may also wish to inquire how Drovas is working out; it seems the new steward brought more than a few belongings with him from Raven Rock...Consult Solstheim Side Quests: A New Debt for further information.