Tamriel Rebuilt:Iron and Blood

What's yours is mine.

Quest Giver:	Mette Black-Briar
Location(s):	Old Ebonheart, East Empire Company
Reward:	Nothing OR 600 gold
ID:	TR_m4_VA_IronAndBlood
Next → Roadside Picnic OR More Blood Than Iron
→ Next Roadside Picnic OR More Blood Than Iron

The entrance to Anbarsud

Quick Walkthrough

1. Speak to Mette Black-Briar in the Old Ebonheart company hall about her business proposition.
2. (Optional) Alternatively, speak to Erarius Verenius at Anbarsud.
3. Pay 600 gold for majority ownership of an old iron mine.
4. Meet Erarius Verenius at Anbarsud, southwest of Menaan.
5. Enter the mine to encounter Budak, and either:
   • Refuse to make a decision, make an escape, or volunteer your life.
     • Kill Budak and return to Mette Black-Briar (for 600 gold or Nothing).
   • Kill Erarius.
     • Talk to Budak about your final decision and either:
       • Accept his offer, return as a vampire and speak to Orlukh gro-Othmog
       • Refuse his offer, kill Budak and return to Mette Black-Briar (for 600 gold or Nothing).

Detailed Walkthrough

A Miner Opportunity

Mette Black-Briar, an East Empire Company representative able to disburse mining rights to old EEC interests, has a business proposition for you. Speak to her about it, and she will invite you to invest 600 gold in becoming the majority shareholder in Anbarsud, an abandoned iron mine. Pay the gold, and she'll direct you to meet the East Empire Company scout, Erarius Verenius, at the mine entrance. You can alternatively simply start the quest by talking to Erarius outside of Anbarsud.

Getting to Anbarsud

Anbarsud is easily accessed from the small town of Menaan. It lies in the Roth Roryn region, some way to the west of Old Ebonheart. You may wish to travel first to Bal Foyen via boat or guild guide, and then take the silt strider from that Hlaalu-run metropolis to Menaan. Once at Menaan, follow the path signposted to Bodrum, leading westwards from the silt strider platform, over a small wooden bridge. You'll soon reach a signposted junction - take the left fork here. You'll shortly arrive at an old quarry, with the entrance to Anbarsud sitting within.

Encounter at Anbarsud

The scout, Erarius, is standing outside the entrance, and requests your company as he inspects the mine. His instincts are telling him that "there's something a bit off with this one". Agree to accompany him, and enter the mine together.

The first sign that something is strange about this place comes in the form of the giant gate. A second one quickly follows the first, and as you activate it, the first gate will lock behind you. This does not much cheer Erarius. Return to the first gate after activating the second. An orc stands behind it - Budak . He demands that you choose which of the two of you should die today. You can refuse to choose, offer yourself, or offer Erarius.

Choosing Erarius

Choose Erarius will see Budak demand you kill him. Erarius himself will turn hostile and will need to be slain. Once the deed is done, speak again to Budak. He offers you a final decision - to become a vampire. Refuse, and he will unlock the door to attack you - kill him and return to Mette Black-Briar. Accept, and he will infect you with vampirism, and allow you to leave the cavern. Return to it in three days time, once your condition has set in fully. Budak will still be there, and he will direct you further into the cavern to speak to the clan leader, Orlukh gro-Othmog. He's found within Anbarsud: Forge, and speaking to him will finish this quest, beginning the events of Roadside Picnic

Refusal

If you refuse Budak's demand, you will either need to change your mind and kill Erarius, escape by levitating over the pit and taking the side passageway, or unlock the first gate somehow. On escaping, Budak will turn hostile. You'll need to kill him. After this, escape the mine and return to Mette Black-Briar. While not as surprised by the presence of vampires as you might expect, she will pay you 600 gold in thanks for saving Erarius. Speaking to her about the vampire infestation now will begin the quest More Blood Than Iron.

Choosing Yourself

Volunteering to be killed will see Budak unlock the gate and attack you. Unless you choose to die for good, you'll need to kill him - in which case, return to Mette Black-Briar for 600 gold (or nothing, if Erarius did not survive).

Quest Stages

The following Journal ID and Index codes can be used with the Journal console command to manually update the quest to a certain point.

Iron and Blood (TR_m4_VA_IronAndBlood)
Index	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
20		I accepted Mette Black-Briar's business proposition -- an offer for majority ownership of the mine Anbarsud. I am to meet Erarius Verenius to inspect my purchase and get its operations started. The mine is in a huge quarry southwest of Old Ebonheart, north-northwest of Arvud, and directly southwest of Menaan.
22		I met Erarius Verenius at the Anbarsud Iron Mine. He wants me to accompany him into the mine during his inspection.
25		I agreed to help Erarius inspect Anbarsud Iron Mine.
30		An Orc vampire named Budak has given us a proposition: either myself or Erarius must die and be consumed by Budak.
35		I have volunteered myself be eaten.
40		I have volunteered Erarius to be eaten.
45		I have refused to make a decision.
50		Erarius Verenius was killed.
55		Budak was pleased with my combat prowess. I have been given the choice to leave, or to become a vampire like him.
60		I have chosen to leave without becoming a vampire. Budak made sure to mention the next time we meet it will not be on friendly terms.
70		I have chosen to become a vampire of Budak's bloodline. He told me to return in a few days when the disease has progressed.
80		I was told to speak with the Orlukh leader, Orlukh gro-Othmog, deeper in the mine.
90	Finishes quest	I have met with Orlukh gro-Othmog, the leader of my new clan's bloodline.
100	Finishes quest	Budak denied me the chance to join the Orlukh due to killing one of their members.
200	Finishes quest	I have slain Budak.
210	Finishes quest	Mette Black-Briar said that the plans of the business proposition were over.
215	Finishes quest	Mette Black-Briar thanked me for investigating the mine.
220	Finishes quest	Mette Black-Briar thanked me for saving Erarius and gave me a reward.

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Up: Orlukh Clan Quests

Next: Roadside Picnic OR More Blood Than Iron