Online:High Priest Esling

High Priest Esling
Location	Mistwatch
Race	Nord	Gender	Male
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Faction(s)	Ternion Monks

High Priest Esling

High Priest Esling is a Nord and the leader of the Ternion Monks, an order of healers found in Mistwatch.

Related Quests

•  Eternal Slumber: Help the Dreamwalker and the Ternion monks save the sleeping king.
•  Gods Save the King: Rescue the king from his nightmares.

Quest-Related Events

Eternal Slumber

When you approach the altar at Mistwatch after going through the portal, the high priest is unsure if the king can be saved despite the Ternion monk's healing magic:

Prince Irnskar: "Why does my father still sleep, priest?"

High Priest Esling: "Our healing magic maintains his life, but the Daedric poison is strong. I'm not sure we can overcome it."

Prince Irnskar: "If my father dies, the Ternion monks will suffer. Understand that, healer. Now save your King."

He will mention the healing magic won't be enough to stop the poison from killing the king but the Dreamwalker will be the best bet to stop the poison. He will ask you to pray at the totems of the Three Old Gods to see Stormy-Eyes' progress in the Dreamstride:

"King Jorunn's son is worried and I don't blame him. Our healing magic is strong, but it's not much good against Daedra-corrupted poison.
The King won't awaken on his own."

I brought a Dreamwalker to help.

"So my monks tell me.
We don't usually deal with Daedric magic. We can keep King Jorunn alive, but we can't restore him. Your Dreamwalker is our best chance. I hope he's done this before."

What can I do to help?

"You brought what we need. Now the Dreamwalker must enter the Dreamstride. From there, he's on his own. My magic can't help him.
Pray at the totems of the Three Old Gods. Perhaps they will show you the Dreamwalker's progress. Then we watch and wait."

After speaking to him, he will call over Stormy-Eyes to begin the ritual into the Dreamstride:

High Priest Esling: "Come, Dreamwalker. King Jorunn is ready. It's time for you to get involved."

Stormy-Eyes: "Not to worry. I've done this many times, many times. Never entered a king's dreams, though. Or battled Daedric magic. Hmm. But I'm sure everything will be just fine."

Stormy-Eyes: "Be sure to hold the King down. If he begins to thrash around, hit him with a rock. Kidding, kidding!"

You may speak to him again for him to remind you to use the totems:

"The Dreamwalker's work has begun.
If you wish to observe his progress, pray to our totem spirits. If the Three Old Gods hear you, they will show you images of the Dreamstride."

After seeing all three of the visions, the King's body will begin to levitate and the priest realizes the king's dream have been released:

Jorunn the Skald-King: "Arrrggghhh!"

Prince Irnskar: "What is this sorcerery, priest? What's happening to my father?"

High Priest Esling: "The dream … it's leaving the King's body. How … how is this happening?"

It is reveal that Jorunn is resisting the poison as much as he can which sparks out the forces of the Dreamstride. Unforunately, Stormy got hurt in the process and the only way to salvage this route is if you can enter into Jorunn's dream as Irnskar's emotions might jeopardize the rescue:

"The Three Old Gods watch over this man and grant him a quick, painless journey from this place."

What's happening?

"Something has sparked the Dreamwalker's magic as well as our own.
Whatever haunts King Jorunn begins to flow into this world as well. As the poison spreads through his body, he fights back harder. It's pushing the forces into our own plane."

What does that mean?

"It means your king's last moments of life are upon him. His spirit is strong, a fighter. I believe that's what has caused these projections. He won't give in to death.
Sadly, we can do nothing to help him from out here."

We can't give up.

"The Dreamwalker was most likely injured by the blast of magic. He was the last chance we had. Your king can't do this on his own."

Can we send Prince Irnskar into the dream to help his father?

"No doubt he'd be eager to join his father. He's not ready though. Even now rage takes him. One must be calm to even think about taking such a journey.
Sending him in there would only guarantee the death of both father and son."

Can you send me into the dream?/Then send me instead.

"You would do this? And for a man you barely know? Your life could be forfeited by doing this.
Very well. The decision is yours. I can use what remains of the Dreamwalker's magic to send you into the Dreamstride. From there you will be on your own."

If you exit the conversation before turning in the quest, he will say:

"King Jorunn's son is worried and I don't blame him. Our healing magic is strong, but it's not much good against Daedra-corrupted poison.
The King won't awaken on his own."

Let me try. (Leads to quest completion dialogue)

Gods Save the King

Continuing on from the previous conversation, you will need to rely on the help of the aspects of the Three Old Gods to navigate through Jorunn's dreams.

"I can't imagine what awaits you in the dreams of King Jorunn.
His dreams turn to nightmares. What once was pleasant is now twisted and dark. You must help him overcome these trials."

What do I have to do?

"Pray to the Three Old Gods. Seek their blessings and call upon their aspects to aid you.
They might help you, but each in a different way. Remember what the Dreamwalker said and be open to any way an aspect may aid you."

How will I know which aspect to choose?

"I can give you insight to each of our gods before you enter King Jorunn's dreams. That's about all I can do from here.
Once you enter the dream, you will be on your own. I'll attempt to keep his life force stable for as long as I can."

I understand.

You can now ask him more about the Three Old Gods and your mission:

"The poison pulls from Jorunn's memories and gives strength to his greatest fears. The death of his sister, the soldiers in his service, and Fildgor.
His dreams have created guardians to hide his true memories. You must show him the truth of things."

Tell me about the aspects of your gods.

"Our magic allows us to call forth aspects of the Three Old Gods—the Fox, the Bear, and the Wolf. Spirit forms to help us perform tasks beyond the scope of mere mortals."

Tell me about the Fox.

"The Fox is crafty and quick. He enhances the speed at which we do things. Makes us faster, more agile than we are on our own.
If you are in need of speed, you may want to call upon this aspect."

Tell me about the Bear.

"The Bear is strong, mighty. A protector. He enhances our strength and shields us from harm.
If you're in need for protection against overwhelming odds, the Bear should be your ally."

Tell me about the Wolf.

"The Wolf is sly and observant. Ferocious and deadly. She watches and waits for the best opportunity to strike. With her aid, our eyes see the hidden weaknesses of our foes.
If you seek the weakness in your enemy's armor, call upon the Wolf."

What must I do to save the king?

"The thought that Jorunn failed his soldiers—that they gave their lives for nothing—weighs heavily on his mind. He must see the truth that they laid down their lives because they loved their King. They believed in him.
Good luck."

You will return back to Mistwatch after you completed the first phase of Jorunn's nightmare. The high priest infers that due to the poison, Jorunn is reimagining his fears and nightmares and he urges you to continue investigating further into the king's dreams:

"King Jorunn stirs in agony before he calms and grows still. These waves repeat, even as you enter his dreams.
His life continues to slip away. What did you discover?"

King Jorunn knows something is wrong. He's trying to escape, but he doesn't know how.

"The poison polluting his body. It makes him reimagine his fears and lets the nightmares tighten their grip.
He will continue to seek a way out as long as the dream continues. You must follow the King deeper still."

How do I follow the King?

"Continue to pray to the totems. You already set one of the fractured parts of his spirit free.
You need to be quick this time. If the King knows he's in danger, the dream will collapse behind him and strengthen the nightmare's power."

Speaking to him again before going into the second vision:

"You need quickness for this trial. King Jorunn's dreams collapse around him. You must be fast. You must find him before the dreams end or you will be lost as well."

After returning from the second vision, he will point the king's breathing has slowed which alarms him more and he stresses this is the last chance to save the king:

"King Jorunn's breathing slows. I don't know if this is due to your actions or if he slips closer to death.
Did you learn anything new?"

The King knows he's in his own mind, but he won't give up.

"Proud, stubborn man. Jorunn's at his weakest points now. On the edge of life and death. You have only one more chance to enter the Dreamstride, one more chance to break the nightmare and set him free.
If you fail, you will both be lost."

I won't fail.

"The King's dreams try to deceive him. You need to be on guard. Look through the shadows and observe.
If you fail to convince the King that what he sees is a lie, he will perish. And when he dies, his dream ends—and so do you."

Speaking to him again before going into the final vision:

"The magic of the Dreamstride weakens. You have one more chance to convince King Jorunn to wake up.
Fail and all three of you—you, the Dreamwalker, and King Jorunn—will be lost."

Speaking with him after King Jorunn awakens back in Tamriel:

"To emerge from the Dreamstride is no small feat. The Three Old Gods surely favor you!"

After the quest, he will open a portal for Jorunn and Irnskar to leave Mistwatch:

High Priest Esling: "I can open a portal for you. But after all this, I only have the energy to teleport you and your son."

Jorunn the Skald-King: "That's fine. Our friend here has done more than enough for us already and deserves some time to rest. Come Irnskar, let's go."

Jorunn the Skald-King: "You are welcome to join us at our camp if you wish. Whatever you decide, thank you for what you have done."