Online:Orchestrations

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Help a bard recover a famous musical instrument. Zone: Western Skyrim Quest Giver: Leiborn Location(s): Solitude Reward: Dancer's Treble Leggings Nel's Hidden Loves Average Leveled Gold XP Gain: Standard XP ID: 6469

Help recover the Petraloop for the College

Leiborn, a member of the Bards College, asked me to recover a famous instrument called Petraloop. Apparently, this lute's safe return might help two rival factions in the College reconcile.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Talk to Leiborn.
2. Put on your disguise.
3. Find the location of the secret auction and enter the premises.
4. Speak with the auctioneer.
5. Find the buyer of the Petraloop.
6. Either bribe the owner or steal the instrument.
7. Return to Leiborn and place the Petraloop in the hall.
8. Read Nel's Hidden Loves.
9. Speak with Leiborn.

Detailed Walkthrough

This quest starts off at the Bards College in Solitude. When you walk in, Leiborn will be standing close to the entrance. Talk to him to start the quest:

"Look at you. Those resolute shoulders. That glint in your eye that says: I'm ready for action! After searching high and low, I've finally found just the person that Skyrim's premiere arts college calls out for!
How would you like to become a legend?"

What college do you refer to?

"The Bards College, of course. We who pluck heart strings and chill the blood.
Years ago, our prized antique instruments were, uh, borrowed by an overzealous member. She meant to heal a rift within the college, but it only made things worse."

Where are the instruments now?

"No one knows! The bard responsible left clues to their locations in a song, "Nel's Hidden Loves."
Just as yours truly solved the first verse, that instrument surfaced at a secret auction. Are you available for hire to retrieve the instrument"

I'll go recover the missing instrument.

Once you agree to help, you will need to continue speaking with Leiborn for more details about the auction.

"Now, naturally you can't walk into a secret auction without the proper attire. Especially not the Sapphire Society's. Their events are outré and rare. Mind-boggling and taboo fare. No serfs at their affair!
Sorry, I can't help myself."

What do I need to wear?

"All these secret societies love disguising themselves. It gives a sense of excitement to their lives of leisure. Fortunately, bards hear all sorts of secrets. Wearing this robe and mask will get you in the door.
You also need the right passphrase."

What should I say?

"The magnates of the Sapphire Society speak a simple phrase to gain entry into their events. "A jewel of blue rules the view." Truly underscores how they see themselves, doesn't it?
You might want to practice it, just to be sure."

The jewel of blue rues virtue.

"Ah. Earnest conviction, but no.
Not to worry, it is only a single line. I am sure you will get it with more practice."

A jewel of blue rules the view.

A jewel of blue rules the view.

"Excellent! You scan lines quickly, I see.
Still, I would avoid any ad libbing."

I'm ready.

Attend the Sapphire Society auction

Entering the Auction

Leave the college and head east until you near a fork in the road (where you can see the Fighters Guild, Wayshrine, and Shrine of the Dead across from one another). Circle around the unmark building until you see a door, and talk to the Auction Enforcer through it. The passcode is A jewel of blue rules the view. Say it, and the enforcer will welcome you in and allow you entry.

When you enter the auction room, you notice that the auction has already started. Talk to the Broker (labeled "Sapphire Auctioneer"), and you'll learn some unfortunate news:

"If you want to see our next item, you'll have to wait like everyone else. No private previews. You should know the rules.
But, believe me, you'll want to stick around for this one. It's a head-turner."

Actually, I arrived late. Has a musical instrument sold yet?

"The lute? Nice patina. Just a trifle I came across in one of my hunts.
It went on the block earlier. Too bad you weren't here then. There was only one buyer. A little bidding war would have warmed up the crowd."

Who purchased it? I'd like a word with them.

"Now I do wish you had been here! You are skirting the rules. No revealing identities of buyers.
Still, if you had arrived on time, you would know that the buyer behaved like an obnoxious ass. We typically frown upon stumbling about from drink."

Thank you.

Spotting the Buyer

I should look for this inebriated buyer.

Due to the rules of the auction, the broker couldn't directly tell you the identity of the buyer, but did give you a revealing hint: the buyer is inebriated to the point of stumbling. Turn around and talk to the shorter figure in the back, standing near a vase:

"Oh look, another masked person. How dreary.
If a steak comes back up on the block, don't you outbid me! When else will I get to try Argonian? I hear they're all flavor and no fat. Hah!"

Did you buy a musical instrument here?

"Instrument? Oh that lute, yes. A mantel piece for my music room. Has a nice shine to it. I acquired it for a song. A song! I made a joke, see? Hah!
Why are you asking? Disappointed I bought it? Then too bad for you."

You are given the option to buy it from the magnate for a hefty sum, or you can try to steal it from them.

If you opt for the latter option, leave the auction and head down the street: their house is located across from the Antiquarian Circle building. Break into the front door without anyone noticing. Once you enter, there will be someone in the living room area, so take it slowly.

Climb up to the top floor, avoiding a patrolling guard— the lute is near the back of the room, on a stand. There is a servant cleaning on that floor, but she is easy to avoid. When you grab the lute, it will start to make sound (as all the Bardic museum pieces do). Take it and descend down to the middle floor, and head out through the balcony door on your right (you may need to use your mount to jump from it).

Returning the Lute

The Petraloop, as it was located in the Magnate's Manse

Head back to the College and talk to Leiborn, who is excited for your return:

"You've returned! Have you brought back the Petraloop? Will my fingers glide over its gentle curves once more?"

I suppose they will. I have the lute you wanted.

"Ah, Petraloop returns home! You know, I wooed my first love with this very lute? And my third, as well.
Thus begins the restoration of the College's famed collection to its former greatness. The history books will remember you for this."

The lute—are you going to take it?

"I assembled the museum for just this moment, but I think you deserve the honor of placing Petraloop on its podium.
After you display the lute, perhaps you could read "Nel's Hidden Loves?" I could use your skill in recovering the other instruments."

Thank you, I wlll.

The display podium is positioned right behind Leiborn; interact with it, and Leiborn will be overjoyed:

Leiborn: Ah! Wonderful!

Leiborn: I left a copy of Nel's Hidden Loves on the table there. Have a look.

Read the sonnet, then talk to Leiborn once more:

"Wonderful! Look at the proud Petraloop, in its proper place once more. And we're a step closer to undoing Nel's folly!
But there are many other priceless instruments lost somewhere out in the world. They need to come home."

So, you want me to find the other instruments that Nel pilfered?

"Yes indeed! Let the clues within "Nel's Hidden Loves" guide the way.
As you travel through Skyrim, keep your eyes open—and your ears, too. These are instruments we're pursuing, after all. If you find more of them, I'll be here."

I'll remember that.

"They say the first one is always the hardest. Everything should be much easier from here!
Once you recover all the instruments, I will compose an epic, "An Adventurer's Triumph," to celebrate their return. You will star in it, of course."

That sounds like quite the event.

"Of course it will be! We will use the instruments, too. They should be revered yes, but used for special occasions.
But first, more instruments! You'll have expenses. Let me weigh you down with some gold before you go."

You'll receive Dancer's Treble Leggings and a copy of the sonnet, as well as some gold, for your efforts.

Quest Stages

Orchestrations
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	I should find out more about the auction from Leiborn. Objective: Talk to Leiborn
	I need to gain entry to the Sapphire Society auction. Wearing the disguise and saying the passphrase Leiborn provided should help me blend in. HINT: I should wear the disguise Leiborn provided to avoid unwanted attention. Objective: Gain Entry to the Auction Objective Hint: Wear the Sapphire Society Disguise
	I convinced the guard to let me enter, so I should go inside before the auction ends. Objective: Enter the Auction Room
	The auction has already started. I should talk to the Broker about the lute. Objective: Talk to the Sapphire Broker
	I arrived too late. Someone already won the lute at auction. Luckily, the broker identified the winner as an obnoxious drunkard. I should look for this inebriated buyer. Objective: Find the Buyer
	The lute already sold at auction. I need to figure out a way to acquire the instrument. I could negotiate with the buyer, or take it by less legal means. Objective: Acquire the Instrument Go to Collector's tower and steal the instrument. Objective Hint: Find the Buyer's House Bribe the buyer for the Petraloop. Objective Hint: Get the Instrument from the Buyer
	I obtained the Petraloop. I should return to Leiborn at the Bards College and inform him of my success. Objective: Return to the Bards College
	I should tell Leiborn I have the Petraloop. Objective: Talk to Leiborn
	I obtained Petraloop from the auction and Leiborn request I display it properly. I should place it on the podium where it belongs. Objective: Display Petraloop
	Leiborn mentioned that the sonnet named Nel's Hidden Loves holds clues for finding the College's stolen instruments. I should read it as he suggested. Objective: Read Nel's Hidden Loves
	I reviewed the sonnet, Nel's Hidden Loves. I should talk with Leiborn to learn about the remaining missing instruments. Objective: Talk to Leiborn
Finishes quest	I should talk to Leiborn and collect my reward Objective: Talk to Leiborn

Notes

* Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the game and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.