[Spoiler Warning (TG)] So how did you handle this when you got to it?

Praeficere

Didn't care, the story dropped off half way through and quite frankly I didn't care about the Thieves' Guild or about Nicoloas... the quest line became dull and a grind. Stabbed the guy and went off to Cyrodiil.

stypsyb14_ESO

I agree with many points in this forum but there should be a 4th option.

If he truly did change and now wants to live out his life with Volunidai whom he loves than he should be offered that opportunity. But it should be Volunidai's decision. So the suggestion I have is to make a 4th option where:

Your character proves to Volunidai his wicked past. And instead of the options 1. Protect yourself ... 2. Seek out Rhanbiq ... or 3. Make him Pay

The 4th should be Forgive him if you truly love him and accept that he wants to be a better man .. or something mushy like that!

my 2 gold worth.

Korah_Eaglecry

The guys actions was the direct reason for numerous Thieves Guild members being killed or imprisoned, their fates only the gods know. There was no way I was letting this guy get a pass because he suddenly decided to live a peaceful life in a nice cushy home with a nice, rich cushy wife. His actions when you find him, what hes been up to since his apparent death is a good indicator that he hasnt change his ways. Hes just trying to manipulate someone he doesnt know.

He deserved death. And he got it.

WhiteCoatSyndrome

I let Nicolas live but ruined his marriage, and told the wife to throw Rhanbiq a bone now that Rhanbiq is no longer working against the Dominion. I didn't even do it for the Guild. I got rid of him to get a known con-artist away from a member of the Dominion nobility, so he can't cause as much trouble. (Though it didn't help his case that his voice acting for that part was really whiny. Really, Nicolas? You're supposed to be a decent con-artist, at least sound convincing when you're professing love for your latest target.)

(As a side note: My main only joined the Thieves' Guild because the Queen wanted someone to infiltrate it after Rhanbiq uncovered our spies. If the Valenwood authorities play their cards right maybe we can recruit Rhanbiq over to our side--after all his recent disgrace is largely because he was working against the Dominion; he's perfectly competent as evidenced by the fact that he uncovered one of our spy rings in the first place, and honorable enough I believe he could be trusted with a law enforcement position away from the intelligence branch--stopping skooma dealers or somesuch.)

I'm not even mad at Nicolas. Mostly I just found him surprisingly incompetent given he was supposed to have been a driving force behind putting the Thieves' Guild together in the first place. Even after he explained the whole plot, I still couldn't figure out what he'd been playing at. 'So you'd planned to fake your death during that heist the whole time, eh Nicolas? Except the way Ziera told it the 'taking her hands off the trap switch' part was her panicking, not something you told her to do. So how exactly was this supposed to work out? Velsa was supposed to be there instead, you say? Velsa may be snarky and abrasive but she's competent and less likely to try and play hero, meaning she wouldn't have taken her hand off in the first place. So how exactly were you supposed to fake your death in that case? Come to that, if you were planning to fake your death, how were you planning to get a message to the Guild with your instructions when they all thought you were dead? Why bother faking your death to the Guild at all?'

Maybe I missed something, but it seems to me the plot would have made a lot more sense if it had just been a tragic misunderstanding: Nicolas had thought Ziera taking her hand off the switch had been her attempting to murder him, rather than run to his rescue. Then he just got the Iron Wheel on the Guild's backs to make sure they couldn't try to off him again, and tried rebuilding the Guild from the ground up once everyone who might still be out to get him was dead. But no, we get this convoluted mess of an explanation instead.

Silver_Strider

The thing about me is that I'm an "honorable" thief. If I get caught, I admit defeat. That is what I saw in Nicholas during that quest, a defeated thief. As such, I spared him and let him go on his way.

Maybe I could have made his new live miserable, maybe I could have ended him but kicking a dog while he's down isn't the way I like to handle things.

Silverado

I let him live; but only because I thought it would be more revengeful to turn right around after giving hope of life and kill him! Too bad my knife went straight through him like a ghost blade! Da** you Nicolas!

GraceBones

I let him live and told his wife, thinking he'd be shipped off to jail, only to find him fishing in elden root!!

WTF.

I feel deprived!!

Jaraal

Abeille wrote: »

I let him live with his wife.

The Thieves Guild doesn't kill, regardless of what Zeira wanted. My thief character doesn't mind killing, usually, but when it is for the guild, she does mind. Besides, I followed Walks and Velsa's advice and gave him a lockpick, so it would make no sense if, after giving him means to escape, I just hunt him down.

Exactly this. Zeira said the Thieves Guild doesn't murder, so the code is upheld above any personal agenda. She wanted to know what happened to Nicolas, and I told her. Now, if Elam Drals were to later give me a contract to collect his soul for Sithis, there would be no hesitation. It's always duty above all else.

Doctordarkspawn

Betrayal can never be forgiven.

DoctorESO

Does anyone think they are hurting the wife by telling her the truth?

Jura23

Killed him. The actor did a good job of making me dislike him. I had a feeling like he's lying to the very end.

Jaraal

DoctorESO wrote: »

Does anyone think they are hurting the wife by telling her the truth?

The reason I chose not to tell her is that people who lie as much as Nicolas does eventually get found out anyway. He had to lie to her about why I was even there. She will be hurt, one way or the other. No reason for me to be the bad guy. Let her find out the consequences of her choices on her own.

moleculardrugs

Dromede wrote: »

I told his fiancee what a bum he was, and she kicked him. Here i am, going to Elden Root's Thieves Delve, and i see him fishing in peace! Moreover, when i approached him, he gave me a guilt trip and told me to go mind my business as i was scaring away his dinner 0_0

Do you know where exactly he is? I'm trying to look for him because I want his dialouge...

VaranisArano

moleculardrugs wrote: »

Dromede wrote: »

I told his fiancee what a bum he was, and she kicked him. Here i am, going to Elden Root's Thieves Delve, and i see him fishing in peace! Moreover, when i approached him, he gave me a guilt trip and told me to go mind my business as i was scaring away his dinner 0_0

Do you know where exactly he is? I'm trying to look for him because I want his dialouge...

While it's been years and you might not get a response from them: UESP suggests he's fishing near the Outside Inn in Elden Root or the Undaunted Enclave in Mournhold.

https://en.m.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Nicolas

ZOS_Icy

Greetings,

We have closed this topic as it was originally created in April 2016. In many cases, it's better to create a new thread on a topic that you want to discuss as opposed to bumping one that is rather old.

Thank you for your understanding