Battlespire:Ideal Master
The Ideal Masters are the malevolent beings that rule the realm of Oblivion known as the Soul Cairn. Typically, they do not physically manifest themselves in the realm, instead preferring a type of omnipresence; however, Ideal Masters have been known to take the form of a giant soul gem, which can be used as a conduit through which the individual can communicate or drain the life essence of an approaching mortal. The Ideal Masters eternally seek souls to bring to the realm, where they become eternally trapped. The Masters view this as peaceful eternal life, although the undead who reside there view it as a curse. Individual Masters have names, so exalted that they cannot be spoken. They call themselves the Makers of the Soul Cairn, and were once mortals themselves.
For more information, see the main lore article.
A number of Ideal Masters can be found on Level 3. They are resting in sarcophagi, some of which require solving a puzzle to open. Most of them are unwilling to help you unless you enter their service, which you cannot actually do since it would require your death. The one found at Point S however can be persuaded to tell you how to reach your next destinatioin, the Shade Perilous.
Dialogue
Uncooperative Ideal Masters
Greeting
"Who disturbs our rest?"
Player Response | Result |
No one. No one at all. Beg pardon. Just leaving. Sorry. Goodbye. | END |
A humble mortal who begs your aid. | Reply 1 |
A celebrated master of arts martial and arcane, intent on a quest, and worthy of your aid. | Reply 1 |
Look. I don't know what's going on here, but it smacks of necromancy, and I won't stand for it. Goodbye. | END &GemMad |
Unresponsive
"[[You address the gem, but there is no response.]]"
Reply 1
"You are not invited here. WHY DO YOU DISTURB OUR REST?!"
Player Response | Result |
Well, I'm not sure, really. Actually, I seem to be stuck here, wherever here is, and I'm looking around for something or someone who can help me out. | Reply 2 |
I, a poor, desperate creature of flesh, have chosen to contest with the Princes of Oblivion and their minions, and I humbly seek your aid. | Reply 2 |
I can take a hint. You want me to go away and leave you alone. Fine. Just don't expect me to do YOU any favors. Goodbye. | END |
A traveler through the outer realms, I have come upon your world, and found it wondrous strange. I seek to learn more of its mysteries. What is this place, and what is its purpose? | Reply 6 |
Reply 2
"Would you enter our service, mortal?"
Player Response | Result |
No. I do not offer service. | Reply 5 |
I am surprised and honored by the prospect, but am curious. How might I enter your service? | Reply 3 |
Reply 3
"Put off your mortal garments, and stand naked in the spirit. Your stained tablet must first be washed white by the fires of mana."
Player Response | Result |
That sounds very nice. And how would I go about getting my tablet washed? | Reply 4 |
You can't fool me. You're talking about making me into an undead creature. If that's how I join your service, I'm not interested. Goodbye. | END &GemNoTalk |
Reply 4
"Seek the twin Fingers of Life in the Chapel of Love. Stand upon the pedestal and bathe yourself in the manabeams. The corruption of the flesh shall fall away, and the spirit shall be revealed in its glory. Then may you stand before us and serve for eternity in peace and joy."
Player Response | Result |
This is truly a glorious miracle. I must ponder its mysteries. | Reply 5 |
Uh. Bathe myself in MANAbeams. Yes. Flesh. Falls away. In chunks, I bet. Sorry. I'll struggle along with my comfortable old stained tablet, thank you. | Reply 5 |
Reply 5
"Unless you join our service, we offer you no aid. Affairs of mortals are not our concern. Each mote of mana spent diminishes our eternity. Go and trouble me no more. But you speak with our brethren, who perhaps better recall wearing flesh, and who may look more generously upon your request."
Player Response | Result |
I shall certainly be happy to speak with any of your more generous brethren. Lots of you talking crystals floating in coffins around here, I take it? Dandy. I sure hope they are much more generous than you are. But thank you for your patience. Goodbye. | END &GemNoTalk |
Reply 6
"You stand within the precincts of the Soul Cairn, an otherworldly refuge dedicated to peace, love, eternal rest and harmony. You stand before one of its Makers, whose name is so exalted you may not even speak it. You walk among its servants, who have pledged themselves in service to us, and who in reward have been gifted with life eternal and the peace that passes all mortal understanding."
Player Response | Result |
I am humbled before the splendor of your creation, and the glory of its faithful servants. | Reply 2 |
All this religious mumbo jumbo is making me nervous. Are you going to help me, nor not? | Reply 2 |
Reply 7
"Perhaps you seek death without the Rites. It is foolish, but you are free to choose."
Player Response | Result |
I'm not afraid to die. Do your worst. Goodbye | END HealthHalf AND PainSFX |
No, no, no! Sorry to bother you. I am not seeking death, not even a little. Goodbye. | END |
Friendly Ideal Master
Greeting
"Who disturbs our rest?"
Player Response | Result |
No one. No one at all. Beg pardon. Just leaving. Sorry. | END |
A humble mortal who begs your aid. | Reply 1 |
A celebrated master of arts martial and arcane, intent on a quest, and worthy of your aid. | Reply 1 |
Look. I don't know what's going on here, but it smacks of necromancy, and I won't stand for it. Goodbye. | Reply 16 |
Unresponsive
"[[You address the gem, but there is no response.]]"
Reply 1
"You are not invited here. WHY DO YOU DISTURB OUR REST?!"
Player Response | Result |
Well, I'm not sure, really. Actually, I seem to be stuck here, wherever here is, and I'm looking around for something or someone who can help me out. | Reply 2 |
I, a poor, desperate creature of flesh, have chosen to contest with the Princes of Oblivion and their minions, and I humbly seek your aid. | Reply 2 |
I can take a hint. You want me to go away and leave you alone. Fine. Just don't expect me to do YOU any favors. | END &GemMad |
A traveler through the outer realms, I have come upon your world, and found it wondrous strange. I seek to learn more of its mysteries. What is this place, and what is its purpose? | Reply 6 |
Reply 2
"Would you enter our service, mortal?"
Player Response | Result |
No. I do not offer service. Goodbye. | END |
I am surprised and honored by the prospect, but am curious. How might I enter your service? | Reply 3 |
Reply 3
"You must die and be born again. The form your spirit may take afterwards varies. You will have seen the servants of our realm."
Player Response | Result |
I'm amazed. This is a thing of great wonder. Excuse me while I withdraw to contemplate this miracle. | END |
You mean I die and become a walking skeleton or a howling ghost? If that's how it works, then I'm not joining your service. | Reply 4 |
Reply 4
"Perhaps you can explain why we would wish to lavish our favors on one so churlish as to refuse us service?"
Player Response | Result |
Battlespire]], the War College and Celestial Citadel of my Emperor. They have slain its guards and mages, looted its libraries and armories, and despoiled its arts and treasures. | Reply 5 |
You will lavish your favors on this churlish one or I'll batter your servants to dust, take everything I can pry loose, and wreck anything I can't. | Reply 7 |
Reply 5
"And how would this possibly interest me?"
Player Response | Result |
The daedra who invaded the Battlespire are here, destroying your servants and plundering YOUR treasures. They clearly plan to hold this place as a waystation between their own realms and their newly conquered domains. I doubt you would welcome the traffic, or the quality of guests that might travel this way. | Reply 8 |
Reply 6
"You stand within the precincts of the Soul Cairn, an otherworldly refuge dedicated to peace, love, eternal rest and harmony. You stand before one of its Makers, whose name is so exalted you may not even speak it. You walk among its servants, who have pledged themselves in service to us, and who in reward have been gifted with life eternal and the peace that passes all mortal understanding."
Player Response | Result |
I am humbled before the splendor of your creation, and the glory of its faithful servants. | Reply 2 |
All this religious mumbo jumbo is making me nervous. Are you going to help me, nor not? | Reply 2 |
Reply 7
"Well, then. If you can make good on such threats, then surely you have no need of our aid. You must have a lot to do, so I won't keep you. Goodbye."
Player Response | Result |
Goodbye. | END |
Reply 8
"Yes. I take your point. I would not wish to stand between you and your vengeance upon these daedric marauders. Very well. Listen carefully."
Player Response | Result |
I hear, and mark your words. | Reply 9 |
Reply 9
"Look carefully at the pillars which support our halls. Around some of these pillars are four bars. If you look closely, you will see that most are square in cross-section. Three of these are exceptional, round in cross-section. One is found in a Coffin Chapel. Another is found in the room with whirling disks. Yet another is found in the antechamber to the Chapel of Love. These three rods are the control rods for the Mana Font in the Chapel of Love."
Player Response | Result |
Let me make sure I have this straight. Most of the bars around pillars are square in cross-section. Three are different, and round in cross-section. These are control rods for a Mana Font in the Chapel of Love. Is that correct?? Is this Chapel of Love nearby? How will I recognize the Mana Font? | Reply 10 |
Reply 10
"The Chapel of Love is close by to the southwest. Seek the twin Fingers of Life which you must first kindle. "
Player Response | Result |
Right. Step One. Kindle the Fingers of Life in the Chapel of Love. Then? | Reply 11 |
Reply 11
"Step into the pool before the Emerald Gates, and you will be transported to the top of the vault."
Player Response | Result |
Okay. Step Two. Jump in the pool and teleport to the top of the vault. | Reply 12 |
Reply 12
"Then take the three rods -- the Rod of the Pilot, the Rod of the Pillar, and the Rod of the Passage -- and place each, one by one, into the socket in the pedestal. "
Player Response | Result |
Yes. Step Three. Three rods go into the socket in the pedestal. | Reply 13 |
Reply 13
"Then the Mana Font will send you to any of the known outer realms, provided only that you know the name of that realm, and that you speak that name at the Emerald Gates of the vault that encloses the portal. "
Player Response | Result |
And. Finally. Step Four. Speak the name of the destination at the Emerald Gates | Reply 14 |
Reply 14
"You DO know the name of the realm you seek, don't you?"
Player Response | Result |
Yes, I know where I'm going. Thank you for your help. I am in your debt. Farewell. | END &GemDone |
No. But I will discover the name, somehow. Thank you, and goodbye. | END &GemDone |
Reply 15
"Who disturbs our rest?"
Player Response | Result |
Sorry. It's just me. Look. Could you repeat the business about the rods, the Fingers of Life, the pool, and the Emerald Gates? I am SO sorry, but with all the dead things shambling around pounding on me and running around in the dark studying pillars, well -- | Reply 9 |
Reply 16
"Clearly you have little or no comprehension of necromancy, and are therefore in no position to judge. You are clearly mortal, ignorant, and pitiable, so I will overlook your impertinence. Now. Introduce yourself, or leave."
Player Response | Result |
As you have guessed, I'm a mortal. I arrived here through no will of my own, and ask for your help. | Reply 1 |
I scorn your pity, and resent your manner. Goodbye. | END &GemMad |