Quest Information
	Starting Location: Cheydinhal Castle
	Starting NPC: Count Andel Indarys
	Possible Reward(s): Thornblade or Staff of Indarys

Did we miss anything during this quest? Is there something we didn't discover? Let us know!

This particular quest is directly affiliated with the game's main Allies For Bruma quest, though it is entirely optional. You only have to tackle it if you're looking for all the help you can get for the Defense of Bruma quest.

When you speak with Count Andel Indarys in Castle Cheydinhal to enlist more forces for Bruma's defense (though you can technically trigger this quest sooner), it shouldn't be much of a surprise that he first asks that you close the Oblivion gate threatening the city. When you approach the gate, you can strike up a conversation with the City Watch guard Amminus Gregori currently patrolling its perimeter. Amminus tells you that the Count's son, Farwil, entered the gate with six other "Knights of the Thorn" soldiers two days ago and hasn't been heard from since. Apparently the Count is offering a reward for the safe recovery of his son (or confirmed news of his demise), so you might as well search for the foolish knight while you work on obtaining the sigil stone needed to close the gate.

Head through the gate into the wastes of Oblivion, where you'll immediately stumble upon a dead member of the Knights of the Thorn. Loot his corpse if you wish, then descend the rocky slope and move along the path until you reach a door leading into The Bowels. Make your way inside and descend to the third floor via the open pits, killing any daedra that try and impede your progress. You'll find another slain knight on this lower floor, though it doesn't appear to be Farwil. Proceed through the door to the southeast leading back to the wastes.

Follow the path as it winds its way to the south until you come across a couple of daedra standing over a third fallen knight. Destroy them, then return to The Bowels through the nearby door and proceed to the cavern's lowest floor (don't drop down the two last two pits as they're filled with lava) where you'll find a door to the east leading back into the wastes. When you emerge through this door, you'll find Farwil and one other knight alive and well, though they aren't ready to leave Oblivion just yet. Farwil demands that you lead them to the sigil stone (while Bremman takes a much more polite approach), recommending that the three of you use the "Reman Sweep Formation" to lay waste to any opposition along the way. "Huzzah!", I guess.

The gates to the southeast will open and after a few more daedra battles you'll find yourself inside the Chaos Stronghold. Bremman didn't last long for me in here, as he was struck down on the bottom floor after sustaining only a couple of battle wounds. I prefer to work alone, though, so I can't say that I mourned his death for very long. If he falls in your experience, feel free to loot the Knights of the Thorn Medallion from his corpse (you can also grab the Knights of the Thorn Shield, though it isn't enchanted). If you find that looting the dead preys upon your conscience, just tell yourself that the daedra would pick it up and use it against Cyrodiil if you don't take it. It worked for me. It's also possible that Farwil could be killed in battle, though you should probably load a previous save game if this happens to take advantage of a much better quest ending. If you don't care if he falls, just be sure to grab the Indarys Signet Ring off his corpse for proof to the Count that you at least found him.

The entire citadel is very linear, as all Oblivion citadels are. Simply move between the Chaos Stronghold, Rending Halls, and Corridors of Dark Salvation while making your way to the top using the various ramps along the citadel's outer edges. When you reach the pinnacle, grab the sigil stone to close the gate and be safely teleported back to Cyrodiil. If Farwil made it out alive, he'll tell you to speak with his father to be rewarded for your deeds and will then grant you the "honorary" title of a Knight of the Thorn. If you inquire about your new status, Farwil even gives you a Knights of the Thorn Medallion to show off your new rank.

If Farwil survives, then the Count will proclaim you the "savior of Cheydinhal" and offer you one of two Indarys family heirlooms as a reward - the Thornblade or the Staff of Indarys. Even if Farwil died during the mission, the Count still offers you a reward of gold for your efforts. If you're currently participating in the Allies For Bruma quest, then now is the perfect time to convince the Count to send some assistance. Having closed the Oblivion gate (and possibly saved his son), he gladly sends what help he can.