Skyrim the awakening of the wolf queen. Potema in Skyrim: where to find and how to defeat the wolf queen? The man who yelled "Wolves!"

Queen Potema in Skyrim is an almost legendary person. Being both a strong leader, a powerful warrior and a charismatic diplomat, the Wolf Queen also possessed a manic desire to take the throne. This eventually led her to the mysteries of necromancy, it was with the consequences of Potema's actions that the Dragonborn would face in modern Skyrim, warning the terrible evil approaching Solitude.

The beginning of the quest and brief excerpts from the story

Potema received her nickname when she was introduced to her grandfather, the Emperor Thoth, looking at the moving child, noted that the girl resembles a she-wolf, ready to rush at others at any moment. The future queen eventually entered the retinue of the Nord king Mantiarco, gave him a son and, along with him, took the throne of Solitude. When the council, after the death of Potema's father, gave the throne to her elder brother's daughter, the Wolf Queen prepared an uprising, attracting not only Skyrim, but even Morrowind to her side.

After years of war, Potema in Skyrim plunged into madness. She became fiercer, tougher and angrier. The allies abandoned it after a series of military setbacks and successful attempts to bring the Daedra and the undead under their banner.

As a result, Queen Potema in Skyrim was left with the undead and several higher vampires, and her kingdom became a land of death. During the events of TES V Skyrim, the player will face the legacy of the Wolf Queen and defeat her again. You can start the quest in Solitude Palace, where the Dragonborn will be asked to see what is happening in the Wolfskull Cave.

The man who yelled "Wolves!"

In order to activate the task, you need to talk with Folk Firebeard. He will ask the player to deal with the rumors about "terrible rituals" taking place in the "Wolf Skull" cave. Folk himself believes that the frightened peasants just accepted and in fact the bear is just operating in the location. When the Dragonborn does find the cave, it is filled with skeletons and draurgs. At the end of the location there is a sacrificial hall where Potema's worshipers try to summon and subdue her spirit.

Necromancers should be killed, it is better to do it either on a swoop, not allowing those to be treated, or with the help of stealth and a bow. After that, you need to talk with Folk, and he will already redirect the traveler to Styrr in the "Hall of the Dead". If the messenger with the letter from Folk did not appear, you can try to talk to him separately. There is a chance that the quest will start on its own.

The Wolf Queen Awakened

Styrr, the priest of Arkay, will tell the protagonist that the spirit of the Wolf Queen has awakened, but he needs a body to incarnate. You can find it in Skyrim, Potema Catacombs, which are located under Solitude. There, the protagonist will encounter draurgs and even vampires, on whose body are the keys necessary to complete the task. In addition, the location is clearly neglected, since no one has come here since the death of Potema herself.

The location has a puzzle - revolving doors that need to be "jammed" using a lever located nearby. It is important to be able to pick up the moment, after which it will be possible to overcome the obstacle. The passage itself is not too difficult, you can use stealth or deal damage from afar with magic. However, ahead of the player is waiting for the battle with the servants of Potema and herself.

final battle

When the Dragonborn reaches the large hall in the catacombs, Potema will appear as a spirit and try to defeat the player with magic and numerous undead. It is not worth attacking the Wolf Queen herself, she is invulnerable at this stage. It is important to kill the draurgs as quickly as possible, otherwise the ghost will simply "throw" the protagonist with lightning. When the last of the undead is killed, the door to the "throne room" will open, where the remains of Potema herself are located.

The queen will partially manifest in corporeal form thanks to the skull on the throne. Now it can be attacked. Defeating Potema in Skyrim is quite difficult. She is a powerful mage, tending to summon Lightning Atronachs during combat and attack the player with lightning bolts. Magic Drain and Stamina potions do not affect her, nor do poisons. It is difficult to attack secretly, but it is possible. The best option would be to attack aggressively with Mehrunes Razor. After that, you can pick up the skull and reward in the Blue Palace of Solitude.

Potema is an interesting personality, and therefore this quest is interesting. The Potema mod in Skyrim can change her fate, making the quest even more interesting and multifaceted. You can even change the boss itself and make it stronger. In any case, both the location and the story of the Wolf Queen itself is an interesting and integral part of the lore.

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- Reinel! Brelena Marion was breathing heavily. Her eyes sparkled in her gray face like two gems in a rock. Her upbringing did not allow her to bend, and she touched the doorway with her shoulder: he was reassuring with his tangible closeness, not letting her fall. - What happened? Reinel jumped out of bed and put down her book. Only she already knew the answer: she read it in the smell of soot, in the roar outside the walls of the Collegium, in fear in the face of her distant relative. This is a dragon. “It's a dragon,” Brelina said. “The College has been attacked by a dragon!” Savos Aren asked me to call you, but only that you be careful. The teachers will do everything themselves, just like you taught. For you only the last blow. - I'm going. Stay inside! - the sorceress threw and sat down to pull on her boots. The cold burned the Dunmer much more painfully than fire. But as she stepped out into the yard, Reinel found that good plans rarely go as planned. The teachers of the College could hardly hold back the onslaught of the dragon. Blood glistened on his scales, his left eye gaped with a black hole, but it seemed that the end of the battle was still far away. Her teachers lacked practice... what the hell, the simple experience of actually fighting a flying enemy. But she's here for some reason, right? The dragonborn grimaced and threw up her hands. A purple discharge passed between her palms, tickling them. And why did she aim and cast a spell. The dragon was shaken by a powerful blow, and, falling from the sky, he destroyed the remains of the parapet of the bridge with his body. Its tail whipped up, and stone fragments flew in all directions. One of them, the size of a duck egg, fell at Reinel's feet, and she glanced at him mechanically. - Reinel! Watch out! Mirabella Ervin suddenly shouted. The dragon exhaled flames, and it engulfed the Dunmer sorceress from head to toe. A groan escaped Mirabella's chest. But in the hiss and crackle of the flame, the glass ringing of the amulet, which Reinel managed to erect at the last moment, got lost. Unearthly singing for her sounded the voices of magicians-teachers, heard simultaneously from all sides, and several spells fell on the winged monster in her defense, stunning and injuring him. The dragon stopped and screamed hoarsely. The fire subsided. Blinded by the flames, Reinel listened, narrowing her teary eyes. Here it looms like an indistinct spot almost in front of her, a little to the right and further, to the cliff ... She bit her lip and drew several ice runes in the air. Every movement hurt her hands and head: she had spent too much energy on the amulet. When she finished, something cracked and burst: the scales could not withstand the temperature difference. The dragon is quiet. There was a smell of burning skin—and then a dense, hot cocoon enveloped the Dragonborn. Through the ringing in her ears, with her arms folded on her shoulders and her eyes shut, she heard more and more clearly fragments of alien, emboldened voices that recalled the Nord language: “As if we didn’t have enough war ... and these dragons too!” “When this is all over...” Reinel pinched the bridge of her nose, and with her other hand, wincing, ruffled her short hair with an effort. She knew when. More precisely, how. But she could not answer: too many "buts" were waiting for her at every turn of her mental path. War. The damned civil war prevented her from ending the dragons. She tormented her and did not give her peace, joyless, stupid, merciless. Without a truce, the traitor dragon cannot be caught, without the traitor dragon, Alduin cannot be stopped, without... But this chain of guesses is meaningless. People greedy for power stubbornly prevent her from saving the world and living - everyone else. Jarl Balgruuf denied her request for the fourth time, demanding a formal truce between the warring parties, and for the fourth time the dragonborn turned around and left the gates of Windhelm. It was four days ago. She just couldn't get in there, but not just because of the loud-mouthed racist drunkards. Reinel, for that matter, had her own judgments about the worthy and unworthy of the throne of this country. They arose long ago, but took shape only since she inadvertently stumbled into the ritual of summoning Queen Potema Septim and was forced to destroy the necromancers who attacked her. Urag was so kind in exchange for a rare book from their lair (Reinel involuntarily chuckled, remembering his always gloomy and malicious face) that he gave her everything that was found in the library of the College about the terrifying empress. And she soon read them in full. Historians embellished, no one was without a sin - and the Dragonborn was already sung in such a way that Reinel would not recognize herself in these songs if she had a memory loss - but the bottom line was that the Wolf Queen deserved admiration. Strong. Rigid. Faithful to yourself. Reinel increasingly thought that this woman could correct all the mistakes of her successors. Thoughts-dreams about Queen Potema fascinated her, gradually tightened, and recently she realized that she wanted exactly this, and not flimsy truces in a civil war between no one knows who. Skyrim was once worthy of legends - but what is stopping it now? How wild it is to dream of the return of the She-Wolf - but are heroes really not allowed petty follies? It is impossible to remain normal with the whole of Nirn on your shoulders. - I'm looking for you everywhere! You have a letter. From Solitude. Reinel opened her eyes and a breathless messenger appeared before her. With no one to stop him on the bridge, the Dragonborn received the mail in person for the first time in months. Reinel glanced at the letter: it was signed by Elisif's steward. Long way... She patted her pockets and fished out some small coins. - Here. Thank you, - said the sorceress and put coins in his hand. The messenger spread them with his finger across his palm, counted them in flight, and smiled at the Dragonborn: “Thank you, generous lady!” Well, I'll go. She nodded, absorbed in studying the sealed piece of paper. What's inside? Isn't it about the wolf? Sometimes with her thoughts, Reinel attracted the desired events to herself. The sorceress broke the seal and unrolled the sheet. “Wolf Skull,” burned her eyes in the middle of even lines. The girl smiled weakly. The wind blew, twisting the edge of the leaf, and Reinel again felt the piercing cold of the north. Slipping the letter into her bosom, she pulled her jacket tighter and went back to her room. The bones of the dragon, which students and teachers, smartly quarreling and jokingly, began to take away for experiments, were of little interest to her. She had enough samples. Left alone, she lit a new candle to replace the one that had gone out and began to read. Folk Firebeard wrote: "Reinel Talas! In recent days, disturbing information has surfaced about the events at Wolfskull Cave and the summoning and binding ritual that took place there, which you managed to interrupt. Given your involvement in this incident, I ask you to return to Solitude and help us once more. I'm afraid to give all the details in writing, let's meet at the Blue Palace. Sincerely, Faulk Firebeard." Reinel tossed the letter on the table and turned to the closet. Once again, she will have to take her homework with her... But Savos Aren will sign her another vacation without question. They do understand everything. The long journey to the west was blurred in my memory, like a dream in the morning. Conversation with Falk - too. As she left, the Dragonborn had only one thought. Or rather, about one. She now lived somewhere nearby, Reinel felt it - and an anticipation of something unknown was ripening inside. On Faulk's instructions, the Dunmer sorceress timidly stepped into the shadow of the alien gods and looked around. In the semi-darkness, under the stone vaults, echoing prayers trembled, candles burned at the altars, parishioners in dull clothes sat on benches, listening to the sonorous voice of the priestess. The girl moved her hands over her shoulders, looking for a hood: she was drawn to hide from prying eyes. But no one was looking at her. She even had to touch the white-bearded priest on the shoulder to get his attention. “Are you Styrr, the priest of Arkay?” I'm from the manager. About the cave Wolf Skull. The old man nodded slightly, looking at the girl with anxious eyes. “Ah, yes, I was told that you would come... It's me, Styrr. Welcome child. Here, behind me. The priest of Arkay took her to the confessional and asked her to sit down. Here one could not worry that one of the parishioners would hear them. - For the final incarnation Potema needs a body. This cannot be allowed. - Why? The priest looked at the grey-skinned foreigner as if she were insane. “She revives the undead down there, under the catacombs. She is insane, as in the last years of her life, all she needs is to take over Tamriel, ruling the hordes of the dead. This is a catastrophe. You prevented her revival, and only you can stop her. To keep this stupid war going on? Reinel couldn't resist. Styrr put a hand on her shoulder. – Potema will not be able to change or fix anything - it will only destroy everything that is left. This is displeasing to the gods and fatal to mortals, you understand? Can you save the world one more time? Rest assured, the Jarl will not be stingy with his reward. Reinel silently nodded, thinking to herself that otherwise she would not get rid of the old man before the end of the year. The priest nodded back at her, took the string containing the key from around his neck and gave it to her. Then a folded piece of paper moved into her hands. - This is the key to the doors that lock the catacombs of Potema, and the sacred words to expel the dead. Your task is to bring me Potema's remains. I will sanctify them, and then everything will be fine. Go. And Reinel went downstairs. She had to drive away the dead, breathe through her mouth, avoiding nausea from the lingering smell of stone and decay, and go, go deeper and deeper, counting the steps, until an iron door with a cast she-wolf rose in front of her. It was the coat of arms of Potema Septim. Reinel lingered in front of the doors, raised her hand in front of them, but ... still did not dare to open. For the first time, she was seized with doubts. She thought it all out for herself - but what would Potema say to her conjectures? Laugh and try to kill? Or will he still listen? But the sorceress was still not going to destroy her, the last hope of Skyrim. Gritting her teeth, Reinel entered, and the doors slammed shut behind her. The funerary hall was filled with a blue haze, especially dense near the throne with a skeleton in a decayed royal dress. It was especially stuffy in here. Reinel took a step back, but the mist caught up with her, touched her temples, and Potema spoke, “Dragonborn… so that’s why we are bound.” It is a pity that not a man ... - I came to talk. The smoky tentacles reached for the paper in her hands, and as soon as they touched it, they recoiled. - You are lying. I will kill you before you touch me. “I was sent to destroy you, it’s true. No one in the Empire wants the Wolf Queen back but me. Listen, I can help you. – Help? To me? Icy fingers dug into her head; it seemed to the sorceress that they were tearing her skin apart with their nails in order to get to the brain. She staggered back, leaning against the wall, stubbornly closing her lips, but guessing what was happening. Potema read her thoughts, unceremoniously invading her mind. How much strength was alive in her when her spirit can do such a thing! Reinel felt dizzy. Perfectly. Beautiful. She whispered in a passionate frenzy: - I'll help! Come with me, queen of men, and I will help you. Your business is now my business too. Potema might have killed her; she wanted it, madly wanted to get rid of the messenger who brought the bad news. Only the stranger was telling the truth. And she passionately wanted help and favor from Potema. Strange, and what does an elf need a dead queen of people? And the elf was right, sadly. But she won't get off easy for an uninvited audience. - Let it be so. The dragonborn staggered and screamed as an icy, furious entity passed through her. She passed - and suddenly became smaller, paler, as if the sun, blinding her eyes a minute ago, suddenly disappeared behind the clouds and now it was barely shining. Reinel sometimes summoned slaves from Oblivion, and they contacted her through magic and mind; she had a similar feeling now, but she couldn't shake it off like she usually did. She didn't cast the spell, and she can't break it. For now. Reinel of the great house Telvanni thinks so far. And it's not needed yet. And Potema was now touching her shoulders, howling like a she-wolf into her sharp ears. She was cramped there, behind her back. “I will find you a new body. In the meantime, lead me as you would yourself,” Reinel said to her new shadow and took a skull with a blackened copper hoop from the throne, absolutely sure of what she was doing. Now he had no value for the priest - but he was unlikely to know about it. And the Wolf Princess finally left the crypt.

Wogin Jart

After the Battle of Ichidag, Emperor Uriel Septim III was captured and, before he could be brought to his uncle's castle in the Hammerfell kingdom of Ghilain, was executed by an angry mob. This uncle of his, Cephorus, was proclaimed emperor, after which he moved to the Imperial City. The troops that had previously served Emperor Uriel and his mother, the Wolf Queen Potema, swore allegiance to the new emperor. For their support, the authorities of Skyrim, High Rock, Hammerfell, Summerset Isle, Valenwood, Black Marsh, and Morrowind have requested and received a new level of autonomy and independence. The Red Diamond War was coming to an end.

Potema continued to resist and lose battles, her sphere of influence dwindled and dwindled, and as a result, only the kingdom of Solitude remained under her control. She called the Daedra to her side, resurrected her fallen enemies with necromancy, turning them into undead warriors, and launched attack after attack on her brothers, Emperor Cephorus Septim I and King Magnus of Lilmoth. Her allies turned their backs on her madness, her only subordinates being the zombies and skeletons she had created over the years. The kingdom of Solitude became the kingdom of death. Stories about the ancient Wolf Queen, who commands the armies of evil spirits, have become a horror for her subjects.

Magnus opened the small window in his room. For the first time in weeks, he heard the sounds of a busy city: the creak of wagons, the clatter of horses on the pavement, the laughter of children. The smile never left his face as he washed and dressed. There was an insistent knock on the door.

"Come in, Pel," he said.

Pelagius burst into the room. It was obvious that he had been up for a long time. Magnus was always amazed by his energy. I wonder how long the battles would have continued if only twelve-year-old boys had taken part in them.

"Have you looked outside? Pelagius asked. All the townspeople are back! There are trading shops, the Mages Guild, and on the pier I saw many merchants from different countries!”

“They have nothing to fear anymore. We've dealt with all the zombies and skeletons. The townspeople know they are safe now.”

"Will Uncle Cephorus become a zombie when he dies?" Pelagius asked.

“I doubt it,” Magnus laughed. “Why do you ask?”

"I've heard people say he's old and sick," Pelagius said.

“He's not that old,” Magnus said. - He's sixty. He's only two years older than me."

“And how old is Aunt Potema?” Pelagius asked.

“Seventy,” Magnus said. - But this is already a lot. Let the rest of the questions wait. I have a meeting with the commander right now, but we can talk over dinner. Can you keep yourself busy without getting into any trouble?”

"Yes, sir," said Pelagius. He understood that his father must continue the siege of Aunt Potema's castle. After the aunt is captured, they will occupy the fortress. Pelagius didn't really want that. There was a strange sweetish smell of carrion all over the city, but he turned inside out as soon as he approached the moat. It seemed to him that even if you dumped a million flowers on this place, the smell would still remain.

He wandered the city for hours, buying gifts for his sister and mother, who were left behind in Lilmoth. He tried to remember who else needed to buy gifts, and was amazed. All his brothers and sisters, children of Uncle Cephorus, Uncle Antiochus and Aunt Potema, died during the war. Someone in battle, someone from hunger, as most of the crop was destroyed during fires. Aunt Bianchi died last year. Only he himself, his mother, sister, father, and uncle emperor remained. Well, and Aunt Potema. But she doesn't count.

This morning, he approached the Mages Guild, but decided not to enter. Such places always frightened him with their strange smell, different crystals and old books. This time, Pelagius thought he might buy a present for Uncle Cephorus. A souvenir from the Solitude Mages Guild.

Some old woman could not open the door, so Pelagius helped her.

"Thank you," she said.

He seemed to have never seen anyone older than her in his life. Her face was like an old shriveled apple. The hair was completely white. He ducked instinctively as she tried to stroke his head with her claws. But the jewel around her neck immediately caught his attention. The stone was bright yellow and seemed to have something inside it. When the light from the candles fell on the stone, it turned out that some kind of beast on four legs was hidden in it.

"It's a soul stone," the old woman said. - It contains the spirit of a great demon - a werewolf. It was made a long, long time ago to charm people, but I was going to put another spell in it. Maybe something from the school of change, like a castle or a shield." She paused and looked at the boy with her yellow, watery eyes: “I think I know you, boy. What is your name?"

"Pelagius," he replied. Actually, he was used to answering "Prince Pelagius", but he was ordered not to advertise it in the city.

“I knew one Pelagius,” said the old woman and smiled. “Are you alone here, Pelagius?”

“My father… is in the army, he is storming the fortress. But he will return when the castle is captured."

“I dare say it will happen very soon,” the old woman sighed. Nothing, no matter how well built, lasts forever. Do you want to buy something from the Mages Guild?”

“I wanted to buy a present for my uncle,” Pelagius said. “But I don’t know if I have enough money.”

The old woman left the boy to look at various goods, and she herself went to the worker of the Guild. It was a young Nord who had recently arrived in the kingdom of Solitude. It took quite a lot of diligence and gold to convince him to remove the charm spell from the soul stone and place a powerful curse in it, which gradually, year after year, drains the mind from the owner of the stone. The old woman also bought a cheap ring that protected the wearer from fire.

“For helping the old woman, I bought you this,” she said, giving the boy a necklace and a ring. “You can give this ring to your uncle and tell him that it contains a levitation spell. So if he ever needs to jump from somewhere, it will help him. And the soul stone is for you."

"Thank you," said the boy. - You are so kind".

“Kindness has nothing to do with it,” she answered honestly. “You see, I’ve been to the Hall of Records in the Imperial Palace a couple of times. I have read what is said about you in the prophecies of the Elder Scrolls. One day, my boy, you will be Emperor, Pelagius Septim III, and this stone will guide you. Descendants will always remember you and your deeds.

Saying that, the old woman disappeared into the crowd scurrying around the Mages Guild. Pelagius tried to find her, but did not dare to go further than a large pile of stones. And if he did, he would surely stumble upon an underground tunnel leading to the very heart of Solitude Castle. If he had decided to enter there, then, having passed through the ruins of the once magnificent palace, now teeming with crowds of the undead, he would have ended up in the queen's bedroom.

And in this bedroom, he would find the Wolf Queen of Solitude listening to her castle being destroyed. And he would have seen the toothless grin on the queen's face as she drew her last breath.

Recorded by Inzolicus, sage of the second century:

Potema Septim died a month after the siege of her castle began. In life, she was the Wolf Queen of Solitude, daughter of Emperor Pelagius II, wife of King Mantiarco, aunt of Empress Kintyra II, mother of Emperor Uriel III, and sister of Emperors Antiochus and Cephorus. After her death, Magnus, with the consent of the royal council, proclaimed his son, Pelagius, ruler of Solitude.

Emperor Cephorus Septim died in a fall from his horse. His brother was proclaimed Emperor Magnus Septim.

Pelagius, king of Solitude, is called "eccentric" in the imperial chronicles. He married Katariah, Duchess of Vvardenfell.

Emperor Magnus Septim has died. His son, who will be called Pelagius the Mad, ascended the throne.

Wolf Queen
Book Three

Wogin Jart

Recorded by a sage of the first century of the Third Era of Montocai:

3E98:
Emperor Pelagius Septim II died a few weeks before the end of the year, on the 15th of the Evening Star, during the Feast of Prayer to the North Winds, which was considered a bad omen for the Empire. He ruled for seventeen difficult years. To replenish the empty treasury, Pelagius dissolved the Council of Elders, forcing them to buy out their posts. As a result, the highest body of the state lost a number of intelligent and honest, but not so wealthy members. Many say that the emperor died from poison that one of the former members of the Council slipped into him.

The children of Pelagius arrived at the funeral of their father and the coronation of the next emperor. His youngest son, Prince Magnus, aged 19, came from Almalexia, where he was an adviser to the royal court. Prince Cephorus, 21, arrived from Ghilain with his Redguard bride, Queen Bianca. Prince Antiochus, 43 years old, eldest son and heir to the throne, lived in the Imperial City with his father. The last to arrive was the late emperor's only daughter, Potema, Wolf Queen of Solitude. Thirty years old and incredible beauty. She arrived with a huge retinue, accompanied by her husband, the old King Mantiarco, and her one-year-old son, Uriel.

Everyone thought that Antiochus should take the throne, but no one knew what to expect from the Wolf Queen.

3E99:
"Lord Vokken brought some people into your sister's room every night this week," the spy said. "If you tell her husband..."

"My sister worships the gods of conquest Reman and Talos, not the goddess of love Dibella. She's up to something with these people, not having orgies with them. I bet I've slept with more men than her in my life," he laughed Antiochus, but then turned serious, "The council is delaying my coronation, I'm sure this delay is her fault. I know it. It's been six weeks already. They say they need to sort out the papers and prepare for the ceremony. I'm the emperor! Oblivion devour all these formalities!"

"Of course, your sister is not your friend, Your Majesty, but other facts matter here. Don't forget how your father treated the Council. They must be reasoned with and must act decisively," the spy looked thoughtfully at his dagger.

"Do so, but watch out for the damned Wolf Queen. You know where to find me."

"Which brothel, Your Majesty?" asked the spy.

"Today and for fredas I'll be at The Cat and the Goblin.

The spy reported that no one came to Queen Potema that night, because she was having dinner in the Blue Palace with her mother, Empress Dowager Quintilla. The night was cool and surprisingly cloudless, although there was a thunderstorm during the day. The ground could no longer absorb moisture, and the gardens of the formal classical style seemed to be laid out on the surface of the water. The women took a glass of wine and went to the balcony to look at the garden.

"You seem to be trying to block your half-brother's coronation," Quintilla said without looking at her daughter. Potema saw that the years had not added wrinkles to her mother's face, they had rather dried her out.

"That's not true," said Potema. "Besides, would it bother you if it were true?"

“Antiochus is not my son. He was already eleven when I married your father. We were never particularly close. a very good emperor, - Quintilla sighed, and then turned to Potema. - It is very bad when there is discord in the family. It is very easy to split into clans and groups, but it is very difficult to unite again. I am afraid for the future of the Empire."

"Strange words... Are you going to die, mother?"

"I recognized the omens," Quintilla said, and a faint smile crossed her face. "Don't forget - I was a famous sorceress in Camlorn. I'll be dead in a few months, and then your husband will be dead in less than a year. I'm sorry that I will not see your son Uriel ascend the throne of Solitude."

"But didn't it open up to you ..." - Potema stopped, after all, she did not want to open up even to a dying woman.

"Will he become emperor? Yes, and I know the answer to this question, my daughter. Do not be afraid: this issue will be resolved during your lifetime, one way or another. I have a gift for him," the empress removed a necklace with a large yellow stone from her neck "It's a soul gem, it contains the spirit of a great werewolf that your father and I defeated thirty-six years ago. I cast illusion spells on it. Its owner can charm anyone. A very important skill for a king."

"And the emperor," said Potema, taking the necklace. "Thank you, mother."

An hour later, as she was heading towards her, Potema noticed how a dark figure disappeared into the darkness as she approached. She had noticed even earlier that she was being watched: such was life at the imperial court. But this man was too close to her rooms. She put on a necklace.

"Come out so I can see you," she ordered.

The man emerged from the shadows. Small, middle-aged, wearing a dark coat. He was fascinated looking at one point, being under the influence of her spell.

"Who do you work for?"

"Prince Antiochus is my master," he answered in a dead voice. "I am his spy."

She had a plan: "Is the prince at home?"

"No, milady."

"But do you have access to his quarters?"

"Yes, milady."

Potema smiled broadly. He got caught. "Lead."

The next morning the storm resumed with renewed vigor. The sound of raindrops on the roof echoed in Antiochus' head. He began to realize that he was beginning to lose the ability to drink all night long, as in his youth. He pushed the Argonian girl who was in bed with him.

"Do something useful, close the window," he groaned.

As soon as the window was closed, there was a knock on the door. It was a spy. He smiled at the prince and handed him a sheet of paper.

"What is this?" Antiochus asked, squinting. "I guess I haven't sobered up yet. It looks like an orc."

"I think you'll be interested, Your Majesty. Your sister wants to see you."

Antiochus thought about whether to dress or send his girlfriend, but then changed his mind: "Let her go. Let her watch."

If Potema was shocked, she didn't show it. Dressed in orange and silver silk, she entered the room with a triumphant smile on her face. Behind her was the mountain-man Lord Wokken.

"Dear brother, at night I spoke with my mother, and she gave me very valuable advice. She said that I should not be at enmity with you. For the sake of our family and the entire Empire. Therefore," she said, taking a sheet of paper from the folds of her clothes, "I offer you a choice."

"Choice?" Antiochus smiled back. "That doesn't sound very friendly."

"Give up the throne voluntarily, and then I won't have to show this to the Council," Potema handed her brother a letter. "This is a letter with your seal, in which you confess that you know that your father is not the Emperor royal servant Fondukt Before you deny that you wrote this letter, I will say that it will be very difficult to avoid rumors, and the Council will gladly believe that your father was a cuckold.Whether it is true or not, whether you wrote this letter or not, it doesn't matter. The scandal will be big, and you will lose your chances of getting on the throne."

Antiochus turned white with anger.

"Don't be afraid, brother," Potema said, taking the letter from his trembling hands. "I'll make sure you don't need anything in your life. Any girls your heart or any other organ desires."

Suddenly Antiochus laughed. He looked at the spy and winked at him, "I remember you sneaking into my desk and finding obscene Khajiit pictures and then blackmailing me. That was almost twenty years ago. The locks have gotten better since then, you should have noticed. You yourself If you couldn't get through to me, you'd be dead."

Potema smiled. It didn't matter. He was in her arms.

"You must have enchanted my servant to take you to an office where you could use my seal," Antiochus smirked. "Perhaps a spell from your witch mother?"

Potema continued to smile. Her brother was smarter than she thought.

"Did you know that even the most powerful charm spells last a very short time? Of course you didn't know. You've never done magic. Trust me, it's better to pay a man well - it will be much more reliable than any spells, sister," Antiochus took out your piece of paper. "Now I have an offer for you."

"What is it?" asked Potema. The smile disappeared from her face.

"Yeah, it's nothing, but if you think about it, it's a very serious piece of evidence. It's a piece of paper on which you practiced, trying to forge my handwriting. You have such a gift! I wonder if you've done this before? Heard they found a letter from your husband's late wife in which she confessed to infidelity and that their son was illegitimate. Didn't you write it? What will happen if I show this note testifying to your amazing gift to your husband? Will he believe me? In the future, dear Wolf Queen, don't repeat yourself."

Potema shook her head, unable to utter a word.

"Give your fake here and go take a walk in the rain. And forget about trying to keep me away from the throne," Antiochus glared at Potema. "I'll be emperor, Wolf Queen. Now go."

Potema handed the letter to her brother and left the room. For a while she was silent. She watched the raindrops run down the marble slabs.

"Yes, brother, you will," she said. "But not for long."