[Spoilers] Sad moments in PvE

tinythinker

Mettaricana wrote: »

The gay bosmer flower quest had me glassy eyed

yeah, that was a good one

the writing was good, and the ethereal flowers really sold it

tinythinker

DoctorESO wrote: »

We'll bear with you...

DoctorESO

.

tinythinker

DoctorESO wrote: »

zaria wrote: »

MercutioElessar wrote: »

Saddest thing in the whole game will get you in the main plot questline:

You can't sacrifice that dimwit Abnar Tharn.

Yes, that was annoying, almost as annoying as the quest chain for the female Argonian in Morrowind.

You mean the ungrateful one who turns her back on everything she loves in the self-defeating and always-futile quest of ever-lasting power?

Yeah, that was Sun-in-Shadow.

DoctorESO

.

Niobium

How deep did you have to dig to resurrect this necro...

PhoebusApollo16

Are we not gonna talk about the 'humble' knight, Darien Gautier? His last messages for the Vestige were heart-wrenching

tinythinker

PhoebusApollo16 wrote: »

Are we not gonna talk about the 'humble' knight, Darien Gautier? His last messages for the Vestige were heart-wrenching

He came full circle and realized/fulfilled his purpose and saved the world (again).

Bittersweet.

bluebird

This thread is just sooo heartbreaking. Thanks, lol.

PhoebusApollo16 wrote: »

Are we not gonna talk about the 'humble' knight, Darien Gautier? His last messages for the Vestige were heart-wrenching

Yeah, Summerset was a heavy-hitter. But tbh, even though I mained DC and did all of Darien's quests beforehand, his end wasn't the one that hit me most in that Chapter (which only speaks to the awesome character building and heart-wrenching story twists that the ZOS writers weaved into Summerset).

Summerset had like 4 tragic losses hitting hard one after another.
Remember a certain dark-haired Altmer dude? Mah hart! Mah sole. It hurt me in the meow meow.

1) Like, Iachesis was bad enough already. To see the Ritemaster so helpless and see him die so terribly as Valsirenn and us just watch... it was tough. Throughout the mystery investigation we're slowly forced to acknowledge the disturbing fact that the Ritemaster doesn't know everything, and had been a manipulated pawn, and as we follow the breadcrumbs you start having this terrible suspicion forming in your head like... 'Uh-oh... noo. Noooo way. Did he actually... omg...' and then yeah, it turns out he hid the Key in himself and is ripped apart by Daedra as a reward. Such a terrible end to him.

2) Then, there's Veya of course... The sheer fact of her identity is already a tragedy when you find out who Nocturnal's Earl 'Tundilwen' really is. Especially if you played Morrowind and let her go. 'I trusted you!!! How could you? Veya, this is not the way ...' but nope you're forced to kill your previous adventuring companion and almost-friend because she turned into a crazy murderer and a Daedric monster. Hard times, hard times.

3) And then... there's... Leythen. He's a d-canoe when you first meet, and you feel compassion for Valsirenn at the betrayal for finding out that the man she's been worried for all this time went rogue and was working for Daedra. Then you work together in an alliance of necessity, and you learn more about them... How their daughter's illness tore their lives apart, how Leythen blamed Val for not being there as they lost the person they bought loved the most... and you can't help but feel sympathy for the guy. Then they actually chat, united in their sorrow, at their daughter's memorial...

And in the final quest Leythen pulls of something completely daring to help you, and even succeeds, but... pays the price himself. As the discorporating magics tear him out of existence... he asks you to tell Val that he and their daughter will be waiting for her..."Tell her... tell her I'm going to go be with our daughter. Tell Val... that we will... we will wait... for... her..." AND I JUST CAAAAAN'T That's soooo heartbreaking!!!

4) And then yeah, Darien dies too as you mentioned and is stuck in a limbo of nonexistence as his whole being was only a tool of Meridia in the first place. Dayum.

So yeah. Summerset really didn't pull any punches. My heart is still bruised from the emotional whiplash.

Syldras

This quest in Balmora:
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:The_Memory_Stone

Nairinhe

bluebird wrote: »

This thread is just sooo heartbreaking. Thanks, lol.

PhoebusApollo16 wrote: »

Are we not gonna talk about the 'humble' knight, Darien Gautier? His last messages for the Vestige were heart-wrenching

Yeah, Summerset was a heavy-hitter. But tbh, even though I mained DC and did all of Darien's quests beforehand, his end wasn't the one that hit me most in that Chapter (which only speaks to the awesome character building and heart-wrenching story twists that the ZOS writers weaved into Summerset).

Summerset had like 4 tragic losses hitting hard one after another.
Remember a certain dark-haired Altmer dude? Mah hart! Mah sole. It hurt me in the meow meow.

1) Like, Iachesis was bad enough already. To see the Ritemaster so helpless and see him die so terribly as Valsirenn and us just watch... it was tough. Throughout the mystery investigation we're slowly forced to acknowledge the disturbing fact that the Ritemaster doesn't know everything, and had been a manipulated pawn, and as we follow the breadcrumbs you start having this terrible suspicion forming in your head like... 'Uh-oh... noo. Noooo way. Did he actually... omg...' and then yeah, it turns out he hid the Key in himself and is ripped apart by Daedra as a reward. Such a terrible end to him.

2) Then, there's Veya of course... The sheer fact of her identity is already a tragedy when you find out who Nocturnal's Earl 'Tundilwen' really is. Especially if you played Morrowind and let her go. 'I trusted you!!! How could you? Veya, this is not the way ...' but nope you're forced to kill your previous adventuring companion and almost-friend because she turned into a crazy murderer and a Daedric monster. Hard times, hard times.

3) And then... there's... Leythen. He's a d-canoe when you first meet, and you feel compassion for Valsirenn at the betrayal for finding out that the man she's been worried for all this time went rogue and was working for Daedra. Then you work together in an alliance of necessity, and you learn more about them... How their daughter's illness tore their lives apart, how Leythen blamed Val for not being there as they lost the person they bought loved the most... and you can't help but feel sympathy for the guy. Then they actually chat, united in their sorrow, at their daughter's memorial...

And in the final quest Leythen pulls of something completely daring to help you, and even succeeds, but... pays the price himself. As the discorporating magics tear him out of existence... he asks you to tell Val that he and their daughter will be waiting for her..."Tell her... tell her I'm going to go be with our daughter. Tell Val... that we will... we will wait... for... her..." AND I JUST CAAAAAN'T That's soooo heartbreaking!!!

4) And then yeah, Darien dies too as you mentioned and is stuck in a limbo of nonexistence as his whole being was only a tool of Meridia in the first place. Dayum.

So yeah. Summerset really didn't pull any punches. My heart is still bruised from the emotional whiplash.

I know, right?

Main quest broke my heart with Darien and king Dynar
Summerset shattered it beyond repair with damn single tower ascend
And at the end of Elsweyr story game was like "whoops, missed a spot! - crack!" with Abnur

Honorary mentions for Solgra and Khali. To make stuff worse - those are consequences of my own choices

P.S. And Darien's notes are like salt sprinkled over those wounds
P.P.S. If only our friends were as easily brought back as this thread...

Miragent

The quest mini chain at Dro-Dara Plantation near Wayrest. At first I laughed (and also noted how any old bands can relate to this - rock bands, groups of gamers, school mates etc), then snickered uncomfortably, then finally wept so hard. That ending really shook me.

Ithilis

Shader_Shibes wrote: »

The Dune quest in Reapers, with Kali and Shazah (?). I'm a Khajiit at heart so yeah, this quest actually made me well up

Yea, this quest with the khajiti twins and the choice you have to make, and the reactions got me too.
Especially since I am a twin and could really relate on the characters and their differences.

Jaimeh

I don't take screenshots of sad moments, but one that left a lasting impression was a quest where an elderly NPC asks the Vestige to pick up flowers for his dying husband. I still get sad thinking about that one.

On a different (and more uplifting note), the moderator's comment in the original post was a nice touch ESO has so many feelz!

tinythinker

bluebird wrote: »

This thread is just sooo heartbreaking. Thanks, lol.

PhoebusApollo16 wrote: »

Are we not gonna talk about the 'humble' knight, Darien Gautier? His last messages for the Vestige were heart-wrenching

Yeah, Summerset was a heavy-hitter. But tbh, even though I mained DC and did all of Darien's quests beforehand, his end wasn't the one that hit me most in that Chapter (which only speaks to the awesome character building and heart-wrenching story twists that the ZOS writers weaved into Summerset).

Summerset had like 4 tragic losses hitting hard one after another.
Remember a certain dark-haired Altmer dude? Mah hart! Mah sole. It hurt me in the meow meow.

1) Like, Iachesis was bad enough already. To see the Ritemaster so helpless and see him die so terribly as Valsirenn and us just watch... it was tough. Throughout the mystery investigation we're slowly forced to acknowledge the disturbing fact that the Ritemaster doesn't know everything, and had been a manipulated pawn, and as we follow the breadcrumbs you start having this terrible suspicion forming in your head like... 'Uh-oh... noo. Noooo way. Did he actually... omg...' and then yeah, it turns out he hid the Key in himself and is ripped apart by Daedra as a reward. Such a terrible end to him.

2) Then, there's Veya of course... The sheer fact of her identity is already a tragedy when you find out who Nocturnal's Earl 'Tundilwen' really is. Especially if you played Morrowind and let her go. 'I trusted you!!! How could you? Veya, this is not the way ...' but nope you're forced to kill your previous adventuring companion and almost-friend because she turned into a crazy murderer and a Daedric monster. Hard times, hard times.

3) And then... there's... Leythen. He's a d-canoe when you first meet, and you feel compassion for Valsirenn at the betrayal for finding out that the man she's been worried for all this time went rogue and was working for Daedra. Then you work together in an alliance of necessity, and you learn more about them... How their daughter's illness tore their lives apart, how Leythen blamed Val for not being there as they lost the person they bought loved the most... and you can't help but feel sympathy for the guy. Then they actually chat, united in their sorrow, at their daughter's memorial...

And in the final quest Leythen pulls of something completely daring to help you, and even succeeds, but... pays the price himself. As the discorporating magics tear him out of existence... he asks you to tell Val that he and their daughter will be waiting for her..."Tell her... tell her I'm going to go be with our daughter. Tell Val... that we will... we will wait... for... her..." AND I JUST CAAAAAN'T That's soooo heartbreaking!!!

4) And then yeah, Darien dies too as you mentioned and is stuck in a limbo of nonexistence as his whole being was only a tool of Meridia in the first place. Dayum.

So yeah. Summerset really didn't pull any punches. My heart is still bruised from the emotional whiplash.

yeah you aren't alone in feeling that way...

https://twitter.com/TESOnline/status/1287403359763410944

to the point where we have this...

https://twitter.com/skymagpieart/status/1134504888912814082

tinythinker

Miragent wrote: »

The quest mini chain at Dro-Dara Plantation near Wayrest. At first I laughed (and also noted how any old bands can relate to this - rock bands, groups of gamers, school mates etc), then snickered uncomfortably, then finally wept so hard. That ending really shook me.

yeah the last quest with the argonian tribe also had a bit of a quasi-trans/transitioning vibe as well as a second chance at life feel...

"All my life, I have harbored a secret. It drove me to leave home and seek adventure, but now I must face my inner truth"

[What is this inner truth?]

"That I am not an Argonian. I am a crocodile.

"This lifetime, I have borrowed the form of another, but my true form is calling me home. I must return to the river."

[Are you feeling all right?]

"No. I am not. I never have. My entire life, I have felt like a crocodile out of water. Literally.

"I am old now, and this body is dying. If I become a crocodile, I can start anew. Live the life I was meant to live."

Coatmagic

Orsinium.

Orphaned khajiit raised by orcs.

Refuse to listen/read again because it was so very sad *tears up thinking about it*.

tinythinker

Coatmagic wrote: »

Orsinium.

Orphaned khajiit raised by orcs.

Refuse to listen/read again because it was so very sad *tears up thinking about it*.

well...

he shows up again in the Elsweyr chapter

The_Protagonist

Imperial City Main Questline

The fate of Captain Regulas, The Lock and the Legion quest

A real hero in my book, he gives everything that he is for supporting the cause of the Drake of Blades.

Even before giving his life away to support the cause, he feels that professing his love for the Drake of Blades is selfish and resists his temptation to express his feelings.

So what now?
"Bring the key and this report to the Drake. It's everything I have written down on what we accomplished.
As for me, I'm too much of a risk now. I'm losing control of myself and I can't be allowed to tell them what we did."
What are you going to do?
"You and I both know what needs to be done. Thank you for helping me complete one last mission."
I understand. Goodbye, Captain.
"Oh—and when you see the Drake, tell her …. Never mind. Just look after her, all right?"
I will.



I teared up when I saw his lifeless body and realized that I have to go the Drake of Blades to break the bad news to her.

"You made it back. Excellent. Did you find Regilus? What did he have to say?"
We managed to steal an ancient key from the Daedra. Here is Regilus's final report.
"A key? May I? Well it's certainly old. Seems like Regilus has some theories. Gods, his penmanship is atrocious. Luckily, some of the iconography seems intact. Between that and Regilus's notes, we should be able to deduce its origin."
What do you think it opens?
"Something with a lock on it. I'd say a door, based on the size. Perhaps a very large box. I can guess more if you'd like. Sorry. There is something about a relic in his report... Wait, did you say his "final report?" What happened to him?"
Molag Bal's corruption finally took hold. He chose to take his own life rather than lose control.
"Oh."
Are you all right?
"Yes, of course I am. Why are you looking at me like that? Stop it. He was dead as soon as he drank that poison. We both knew that. I just thought he was going to hold on a bit longer. It's... it's a shame. That's all."
All right.
"So. Yes. I'll hold onto the key for now. I suspect we'll need it sooner rather than later. Thank you for recovering it - and for finding Regilus. I'm glad someone was there. At the end."

This really broke me up and I had to stop playing for a while to remind myself that this is just a game.

The Fate of the Drake of Blades, The Sublime Brazier

She lost someone who cared for her deeply and was already alone, but the feeling of the void I felt when I had to leave her behind with the Dragon Fire Brazier was chilling, nothing in my gaming experience compares to this quest's ending.

Her fate to be left alone for all eternity guarding all of Tamriel without anyone ever knowing it was very heart-rending for me. This was the most emotionally involving quest for me. I feel chills thinking about it until I remind myself that it's just a game.

"So that's it. We did it. Wait, did I just incinerate thirty some-odd Daedra?"
So, I guess the ritual worked.
"Certainly seems like it. I feel weird. Lighter. This place—I can see it now. It's more than stone. There's purpose, and fury, and light. A stiff breeze … and fireflies.
I'm babbling. This is all very new. You're gawking again."
Do you think we've finished off the last of the Daedra?
"Oh yes. I can hear Molag Bal howling. He's not at all pleased. I believe the Brazier is well and truly out of his reach.
So, now I wait, I guess. I probably should have brought a book or something."
Is there anything else I can do for you?
"Yes. You can forget this place. And me. I've left instructions with a member of my order. He'll ensure that the Brazier stays out of the history books. All you need to do is stay quiet.
This is the part where you nod and take an oath of silence."
So this is it, then?
"Looks that way.
We did good work, you and I, but it's far from over. The city is still overrun, and without me there to leave severed heads on the cultists' doorsteps, it might get worse. Look after the people. Eight know they can't do it themselves."
What will you do now?
"Now? I guess I wait. Don't worry—there's more to this place than you can see. I'll keep busy. Trust me.
For what it's worth I'll never forget you, and I'm going to live a very, very long time. So … yes. Take care, all right?"
You too.

"You'd best be going. I'm not sure how long I can hold this portal open. In fact, I'm not even all that sure how I opened it up to begin with. Huh. Don't make that face, I'm sure it's safe.
Go on, now. I hate long goodbyes."



She is truly an unsung heroine in my book and I will personally never forget her.

ArchMikem

And some context, you come upon these two being eaten by a couple Clannfear.

Also https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Test_of_Faith. You have to tell a worried Khajiit about her Brother's death after finding his corpse in a Delve. The two of them lived together and she's distraught he's gone.

As well as https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:An_Offering. The spirit of a Khajiit begs you to finish her desire to send a prayer for her Brother's safety in the Banner's War. After completing it his consciousness is projected to you from Cyrodiil so he could have one last farewell with his Sister before her Soul goes to Aetherius...

ZOS I don't know what your writers had in their heads when creating Reaper's March but these back to back sibling tragedies nearly destroyed my heart.

tinythinker

ArchMikem wrote: »

And some context, you come upon these two being eaten by a couple Clannfear.

yup, remember that one

zaria

tinythinker wrote: »

Coatmagic wrote: »

Orsinium.

Orphaned khajiit raised by orcs.

Refuse to listen/read again because it was so very sad *tears up thinking about it*.

well...

he shows up again in the Elsweyr chapter

Where, or rather I search it, a bit sad finding his mothers corpse but it was kind of expected.
Still he was taken care off
I freed an Altmer slave in Morrowind for an creepy son and ran into her again in Summerset.
And you have the Nord diplomat

Now selecting one of the two Khajiit for mane in Reaper march, why not have an 3rd violent option with some friends
That would been pretty fun in many quests, its an world boos fight. you can skip it for an more tragic ending, solo the world boss or get help, optionally wait and solo or get help later.

Miragent

tinythinker wrote: »

Miragent wrote: »

The quest mini chain at Dro-Dara Plantation near Wayrest. At first I laughed (and also noted how any old bands can relate to this - rock bands, groups of gamers, school mates etc), then snickered uncomfortably, then finally wept so hard. That ending really shook me.

yeah the last quest with the argonian tribe also had a bit of a quasi-trans/transitioning vibe as well as a second chance at life feel...

"All my life, I have harbored a secret. It drove me to leave home and seek adventure, but now I must face my inner truth"

[What is this inner truth?]

"That I am not an Argonian. I am a crocodile.

"This lifetime, I have borrowed the form of another, but my true form is calling me home. I must return to the river."

[Are you feeling all right?]

"No. I am not. I never have. My entire life, I have felt like a crocodile out of water. Literally.

"I am old now, and this body is dying. If I become a crocodile, I can start anew. Live the life I was meant to live."

Murk-Watcher is suicidal and has been depressed and suicidal her entire life. I think, that whole quest chain is about midlife crisis and how each band member deals with it.

tinythinker

Miragent wrote: »

tinythinker wrote: »

Miragent wrote: »

The quest mini chain at Dro-Dara Plantation near Wayrest. At first I laughed (and also noted how any old bands can relate to this - rock bands, groups of gamers, school mates etc), then snickered uncomfortably, then finally wept so hard. That ending really shook me.

yeah the last quest with the argonian tribe also had a bit of a quasi-trans/transitioning vibe as well as a second chance at life feel...

"All my life, I have harbored a secret. It drove me to leave home and seek adventure, but now I must face my inner truth"

[What is this inner truth?]

"That I am not an Argonian. I am a crocodile.

"This lifetime, I have borrowed the form of another, but my true form is calling me home. I must return to the river."

[Are you feeling all right?]

"No. I am not. I never have. My entire life, I have felt like a crocodile out of water. Literally.

"I am old now, and this body is dying. If I become a crocodile, I can start anew. Live the life I was meant to live."

Murk-Watcher is suicidal and has been depressed and suicidal her entire life.

yes, because she was born in the wrong body, knowing in her core she was one thing but living as something else then getting a chance to transform. it isn't a straight and direct thing that must be interpreted in only one way, but it seems to have the vibe mentioned. the stories often leave a lot of room for exploring different themes

bluebird

tinythinker wrote: »

bluebird wrote: »

This thread is just sooo heartbreaking. Thanks, lol.

PhoebusApollo16 wrote: »

Are we not gonna talk about the 'humble' knight, Darien Gautier? His last messages for the Vestige were heart-wrenching

Yeah, Summerset was a heavy-hitter. But tbh, even though I mained DC and did all of Darien's quests beforehand, his end wasn't the one that hit me most in that Chapter (which only speaks to the awesome character building and heart-wrenching story twists that the ZOS writers weaved into Summerset).

Summerset had like 4 tragic losses hitting hard one after another.
Remember a certain dark-haired Altmer dude? Mah hart! Mah sole. It hurt me in the meow meow.

1) Like, Iachesis was bad enough already. To see the Ritemaster so helpless and see him die so terribly as Valsirenn and us just watch... it was tough. Throughout the mystery investigation we're slowly forced to acknowledge the disturbing fact that the Ritemaster doesn't know everything, and had been a manipulated pawn, and as we follow the breadcrumbs you start having this terrible suspicion forming in your head like... 'Uh-oh... noo. Noooo way. Did he actually... omg...' and then yeah, it turns out he hid the Key in himself and is ripped apart by Daedra as a reward. Such a terrible end to him.

2) Then, there's Veya of course... The sheer fact of her identity is already a tragedy when you find out who Nocturnal's Earl 'Tundilwen' really is. Especially if you played Morrowind and let her go. 'I trusted you!!! How could you? Veya, this is not the way ...' but nope you're forced to kill your previous adventuring companion and almost-friend because she turned into a crazy murderer and a Daedric monster. Hard times, hard times.

3) And then... there's... Leythen. He's a d-canoe when you first meet, and you feel compassion for Valsirenn at the betrayal for finding out that the man she's been worried for all this time went rogue and was working for Daedra. Then you work together in an alliance of necessity, and you learn more about them... How their daughter's illness tore their lives apart, how Leythen blamed Val for not being there as they lost the person they bought loved the most... and you can't help but feel sympathy for the guy. Then they actually chat, united in their sorrow, at their daughter's memorial...

And in the final quest Leythen pulls of something completely daring to help you, and even succeeds, but... pays the price himself. As the discorporating magics tear him out of existence... he asks you to tell Val that he and their daughter will be waiting for her..."Tell her... tell her I'm going to go be with our daughter. Tell Val... that we will... we will wait... for... her..." AND I JUST CAAAAAN'T That's soooo heartbreaking!!!

4) And then yeah, Darien dies too as you mentioned and is stuck in a limbo of nonexistence as his whole being was only a tool of Meridia in the first place. Dayum.

So yeah. Summerset really didn't pull any punches. My heart is still bruised from the emotional whiplash.

to the point where we have this...

https://twitter.com/skymagpieart/status/1134504888912814082

Lol thank you, that is my new Canon now, I don't even care about lore continuity! On that note though, Summerset was really a masterpiece. Despite the merciless feels. And that artwork is amazing, thanks for sharing!

DarcyMardin

I’m gonna go with the dog keeping watch over his master’s grave.

tinythinker

DarcyMardin wrote: »

I’m gonna go with the dog keeping watch over his master’s grave.

yeah that was one of the first one's I posted but thanks to the Photobucket fiasco a couple of years ago I don't know if anyone can see those pics (even covered with watermarks) or not

PurpleScroll

This one is a Khajiit fan at heart, and there were two points in Khajiit quests that made her cry:

- The part between Shazah and Khali, hearing their reaction when they realise their sister has been turned into the Dark Mane made this one cry.
- During the Northern Elsweyr story where you take back Rimmen, and Nala-do jumps in front of Khamira to take a spell dead-on. We'll miss you, Nala-do

tinythinker

anyone consider anything from the Dark Heart of Skyrim (dungeons and chapter) particularly sad? i mean i know some moments were planned to be but anything affect you?

JamieAubrey

I think its in Greenshade, the quests where you have to collect flowers for someones husband