Online:Through a Veil Darkly

Save a Wyress Oracle from the clutches of Mephala. Zone: Glenumbra Quest Giver: Mages Guild Message Stone or Vanus Galerion at the Mages Guild hall in Vulkhel Guard,  Daggerfall, or  Davon's Watch Location(s): Oracle's Camp ( Bleakrock Isle,  Glenumbra,  Bangkorai); Mines of Khuras (Glenumbra); Skywatch, Bewan Theater (Auridon); The Spiral Skein Reward: Wyrd Elemental Plume Average Leveled Gold XP Gain: Standard

Quest starter

I received an enchanted stone from the Mages Guild that contains an important message from Vanus Galerion.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Use the Uncut Gemstone and speak to Vanus Galerion.
2. Investigate the Oracle Marieve's campsite and talk to Wyress Aelynn.
3. Read the note in the Mines of Khuras and summon Vanus Galerion.
4. Use the three elements in the ritual bowls and speak to the Oracle's projection.
5. Use the portal in Bewan to enter The Spiral Skein.
6. Talk to Oracle Marieve.
7. Set the Oracle free by destroying the binding pinions and fulcrum.
8. Talk to the Oracle and travel to Skywatch.
9. Talk to Vanus Galerion.

Detailed Walkthrough

Talking to Vanus

After accepting the quest from the Crown Store, a Mages Guild Message Stone will appear in your inventory. Activating this will summon a projection of Vanus Galerion, the Great Mage of the Mages Guild who is in need of your helping following a rather unsettling prophecy that mentions you by name directly.

Head to the Mages Guildhall in your Alliance's starting city where you will discuss the situation with Vanus Galerion in person (you can also accept the quest directly from Vanus there, instead of accepting it from the Crown Store). He tells you that the seer who made the prediction, a one Oracle Marieve, is no longer responding to his projections and he fears that she is in grave danger. He also mentions that she predicted you would be the one to save her too.

Hunting for an Oracle

Vanus points you towards Oracle Marieve's campsite, which can be in one of three locations, depending on your Alliance: Bleakrock Isle,  Glenumbra, or  Bangkorai. You can get there by using an enchanted boat that Vanus has kindly given you use of. By the time you arrive at her reclusive retreat the surrounding area has been overrun by hostiles. Fight your way through to the campsite. There's no clues but luckily one of Oracle Marieve's Wyrd sisters, Wyress Aelynn, is there.

She will tell you that there is an old Wyrd site in the Mines of Khuras in Glenumbra where she may be, as it makes for a good hiding place.

Take the enchanted boat which will plop you right outside the delve entrance. Fight your way through to the well hidden alcove deep in the mines. In the boss area you will find a small tunnel, with green vegetation on it, you need to take to actually find the oracle. It is on the right side if you face the boss. Very easy to miss!

Marieve's projection contacts you and Vanus Galerion in the Mines of Khuras

Watch out though, there is a Wraith-of-Crows—one of Nocturnal's powerful minions—who will eviscerate an unwary player if they aren't expecting it. If Wraith-of-crows kills you, a hint on the death summary mentions a light switch on the west wall that will disable Wraith-of-Crows' main attack.

You'll come to a small inlet. Read the Note to Vanus to be able to summon Vanus Galerion to your location. He will muse that it looks like a ritual was hurriedly left for one to perform should they wish to speak to the Oracle.

It's a very uncomplicated ritual to perform as well. Collect a feather, a gourd full of water, and an uncut gemstone and place them in bowls with primitive pictographs etched on the base. There are no repercussions should it be done incorrectly, but here is the solution:

Leaf bowl (in the center) – place the feather

Swirl bowl (on the right) – place the gourd of water

Triangle bowl (on the left) – place the gemstone

This will summon a projection of the Oracle who reveals she has been captured and is currently being taken to the ruins of Bewan in Auridon. You must leave the ruins and once more take the enchanted boat to the ruins of Bewan. Luckily you can use a raised ledge to avoid the Wraith-of-Crows should it have respawned.

Fight your way through or sneak through the Sea Vipers there and head to the library chamber at the southernmost point of the ruin.

The Spiral Skein

"Time is short ... the dark princes have almost achieved their goal ... you must help me ..."

As soon as you get to the library, Viscount Lelorion snatches the Oracle and pulls her through the portal to The Spiral Skein, Mephala's web-filled realm. You must follow suit where upon you will end up in the same place. Follow the corridor, fighting the many spiders that Viscount Lelorion unleashes on you as you make your way through the halls. He will taunt you throughout but you will finally make it to the entrance hall and must fight Viscount Lelorion before you can progress.

After that speak to Oracle Marieve who will explain just why Mephala abducted her and tells you that you need to destroy the binding pinions currently being used by her minions to release her.

You will need to defeat both Weavers Ulfaduug and Gwaumanus and destroy the pinions they are guarding. They are both Spider Daedra with no special abilities and have quite large areas to fight in, so feel free to move away from the narrow ledge edge to avoid being trapped or falling down.

Once that's done you need only smash the center fulcrum to release the Oracle. She will use residual energy to open a portal back to Skywatch through which you must go.

Back in Skywatch

Once you pop back, all you need to do is talk to Vanus Galerion who thanks you for recovering the Oracle and stopping Mephala's plans. He promises to show Marieve the hospitality of the Mages Guild and will reward you with the Wyrd Elemental Plume for your efforts.

If you want to speak to Oracle Marieve now is the time to do as she will not be present in the game world after you've left the area.

Notes

• While the quest Messages Across Tamriel (from the original Main Quest line) is in effect, Vanus Galerion may have nothing to say to you in his starting-city location, and you may have difficulty starting this quest in the "in-game" way by simply talking to him. To get around this, complete Messages Across Tamriel, which is comparatively short (and requires meeting with Galerion in several different locations) and move on to The Weight of Three Crowns by having Galerion open the portal to Stirk in your home-alliance Fighters Guild. You may then ignore the Stirk portal until you wish to deal with it, and return to the Mages Guild and start this quest by talking to Galerion.
• As with The Missing Prophecy and Of Knives and Long Shadows, the events of this quest form a prologue quest for future content. In this case, the quest acts as a prologue to the events of the Summerset Chapter.
• The title of the quest seems to be a reference to the Bible quote "For now we see through a glass darkly" from the New Testament. This is also referenced by an Oblivion quest, Through a Nightmare, Darkly; and a Skyrim Creation Club quest, Through a Glass, Darkly.
• If you complete the quest without the book being read, a copy can be found in the Bangkorai Garrison in Bangkorai.^{does this apply to all variations of the quest or just one alliance's? -- apparently, just the DC location, as there's a confirmed EP post-quest location in Skywatch that is also confirmed to not be there or in Bangkorai for AD.}
• With the release of Summerset, the journal entry: "Oracle Marieve thinks she's being taken to an Ayleid ruin in Auridon called Bewan. I should go to Bewan and attempt to rescue her." was replaced with a line calling the ruin Aldmeri.

Quest Stages

Through a Veil Darkly
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	After I activated the message stone, a projection of Vanus Galerion appeared before me. I should speak to the mage's projection. Objective: Talk to Vanus Galerion
	Vanus Galerion claims to have a message for me from an Oracle. I should talk to him in the Mages Guild and see what this is all about. Objective: Talk to Vanus Galerion in the Mages Guild
	Vanus arranged an enchanted boat to take me to where Marieve was last seen. I should find that boat near the docks. Objective: Travel Via the Enchanted Boat Objective Hint: I can use Vanus's enchanted boat to travel if I so choose.
	Vanus's enchanted boat deposited me near to where the Oracle dwells. The Oracle should be nearby. I should try to find her. Objective: Find the Oracle of the Wyrd
	Daedra swarm around the Oracle's dwelling. I should investigate and figure out what's going on here. Objective: Investigate the Oracle's Dwelling
	There's a Wyress inside the dwelling, but she isn't the Oracle. I should talk to her. Objective: Talk to Wyress Aelynn
	A Wyress thinks that Marieve may have sought shelter in an old Wyrd site inside the Mines of Khuras. I should use Vanus's enchanted boat to travel there. Objective: Go to the Mines of Khuras Optional Step: Travel Via the Enchanted Boat
	Oracle Marieve sought shelter somewhere inside the Mines of Khuras, I need to find her. Objective: Find Oracle Marieve in the Mines
	I tracked Oracle Marieve to the old Wyrd site inside the Mines of Khuras, but she isn't here. She left a cryptic note for Vanus. I should use the medallion of summoning he provided and call him here. Maybe he'll notice something I missed. Objective: Use Medallion of Summoning
	The medallion of summoning brought Vanus to my location. I should show him the Oracle's note and see what he thinks. Objective: Talk to Vanus Galerion
	Vanus believes the Oracle left a secret message in this cave and the key to unlocking it requires finding elemental items with some connection to air, earth, and water. Objective: Find the Elemental Items
	I should place the items that represent the elements of air, water, and earth in the proper ritual bowls. Vanus believes that will reveal a message from Oracle Marieve. Objective: Place the Elemental Items Optional Step: Talk to Vanus Galerion
	When I placed the items in the correct ritual bowls, a projection of Oracle Marieve appeared. I should talk to her. Objective: Talk to Oracle Marieve
	Oracle Marieve thinks she's being taken to an Aldmeri ruin in Auridon called Bewan. I should go to Bewan and attempt to rescue her. Objective: Go to Bewan Optional Step: Talk to Vanus Galerion Optional Step: Travel Via the Enchanted Boat
	Sea Elves overrun the ruins of Bewan. I need to get past them and find Oracle Marieve somewhere deeper within the ruins. Objective: Search for the Oracle in Bewan
	They forced the Oracle through a portal. I should enter the portal and follow her. Objective: Enter the Spiral Skein
	I appear to be in Mephala's realm, the Spiral Skein. I need to look around and find Oracle Marieve. Objective: Find Oracle Marieve
	The Oracle appears trapped by some sort of Daedric magic and connected to the strange portal behind her. I should talk to her. Objective: Talk to Oracle Marieve
	I need to defeat the weavers, break the binding pinions, and destroy the center fulcrum to set the Oracle free. Objective: Break the South Binding Pinion Objective: Break the North Binding Pinion
	Now that the binding pinions have been released, I need to destroy the center fulcrum to free the Oracle. Objective: Destroy the Center Fulcrum
	Marieve is free. She has enough energy to open a portal. We should leave Mephala's realm before the energy fades. Objective: Leave the Spiral Skein
	I should talk to Oracle Marieve in Skywatch and make sure she's all right. Objective: Talk to Oracle Marieve in Skywatch
	I should talk to Vanus Galerion and let him know that the Oracle is safe now. Objective: Talk to Vanus Galerion
Finishes quest	I should talk to Vanus Galerion and find out what happens to the Oracle now. Objective: Talk to Vanus Galerion

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.