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Background

After reaching level 20, when you ask Hulda in the Bannered Mare in Whiterun if she's heard any gossip, she'll (eventually) tell you that there have been some strange tales about Jarl Balgruuf's children. This will result in you receiving a miscellaneous quest to ask the jarl about them. When you do so, Balgruuf (usually on the throne, #1, or sleeping in his bedroom, #5) will tell you that his youngest son Nelkir has become a "dark child," and he'll ask you to look into the matter. This request will trigger the quest.

Note: If you've completed the Stormcloak quest line, then you'll find Balgruuf and his children in the basement of the Blue Palace in Solitude rather than in Dragonsreach.


Walkthrough

You'll typically find Nelkir wandering around Dragonsreach. When you talk to him, he'll call his father a "disgusting pig," and he'll tell you that he's learned things by listening to the Whispering Lady at the keyhole to a basement door (#2). When you listen at the door yourself, the Whispering Lady will introduce herself as Mephala, the Lady of Whispers, and she'll ask you to talk to Nelkir again to learn how to open the door.

This time when you talk to Nelkir, he'll tell you that only his father and Farengar the court wizard have the Whispering Door Key, and he'll challenge you to think up some way of acquiring it from them. The easiest way to get the key is to steal it from Balgruuf or Farengar while they're sleeping (Balgruuf sleeps at #5 and Farengar at #4). You can also kill Farengar for the key. Nobody will notice if Farengar dies, but you'll lose a useful shopkeeper.

When you open the basement door (#2), you'll find the Ebony Blade and the book Admonition Against Ebony on the table in the room beyond (#3). The book will warn you against the blade, but the only way to complete the quest is to pick the blade up. When you do so, Mephala will inform you that the blade (which has a permanent "absorb life" enchantment on it) will become stronger if you allow it to "drink the blood of deceit" -- that is, if you use it to kill a follower or someone you've helped. The blade will max out after 10 such kills.


1 - Throne


2 - Basement Door


3 - Ebony Blade


4 - Farengar's Bedroom


5 - Jarl's Bedroom

On the nightstand in this room, you'll find an Unusual Gem / Stone of Barenziah, which you'll need for the quest No Stone Unturned.


6 - Book

On the table here you'll find the book The Legend of Red Eagle, which will give you a miscellaneous quest to find Red Eagle's sword. This will lead to you acquiring Red Eagle's Fury or Red Eagle's Bane.


7 - Book

On the table here you'll find the book Before the Ages of Man, which will increase your Illusion skill by 1.


Exits:

1. Doorway between Dragonsreach and the Jarl's Quarters.
2. Exit to the Dragonsreach Dungeons.
23. World exit.