SPOILER Darien Gautier

Katheriah

I want my bae back

LanteanPegasus

Add me to the club of people absolutely heartbroken about loosing Darien.

I was overjoyed when I realized he'd come back in Summerset. There was that mysterious knight, heroically dashing to the rescue, then cursing that darn daedric interference and vanishing on the spot - and I knew that voice ! Greatest Summerset moment for me.
And when he made his sacrifice I was soooo sad.
And when I read that book I cried. And I got really, really angry at that darn Meridia. Hell, I want that chapter/DLC/whatnot where I can go and quest to bring my best friend back ! And if not bring him back, then put mayhem to Meridias realm for betraying him - and tell her her exactly why I'm wrecking it. But preferably bring him back. To have that drink and that conversation. To give him the freedom he deserves. To get back my best friend in all of Tamriel.

I really like Raz, he's great and fun and cool. But he's also the Eye of the Queen, first and foremost, and that's okay. But that also means we'll never be the closest of friends, because he's got too much other stuff to do and things to care for, and his closest friend is Ayrenn.
Naryu I don't even really remember. So I probably didn't dislike her, but, well, meh.

This whole game had one great swashbuckling, adventurous hero, who did the right thing because it was the right thing to do, and because he loved a good adventure, and that hero was my characters best friend - and I miss him so much !

TiaFrye

LanteanPegasus wrote: »

I really like Raz, he's great and fun and cool. But he's also the Eye of the Queen, first and foremost, and that's okay. But that also means we'll never be the closest of friends, because he's got too much other stuff to do and things to care for, and his closest friend is Ayrenn.
Naryu I don't even really remember. So I probably didn't dislike her, but, well, meh.

My point on Raz exactly! He has his duties, his loyalties. Much like Naryu. The two was good to me (... well, most of the time), to my character, but it was Darien who traveled to Coldharbour and the Crystal tower with me.

FrancisCrawford

Ilsabet wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

Spoiler-marking it just cuz:

When you go to Alinor Palace for the meeting with the Sapiarchs, afterward two guards will be talking about a book appearing upstairs. Take the stairway to the left of the main door as you're facing it to go out of the room. It's on a bench toward the end of the balcony.

There's also a copy in Meridia's shrine in Eton Nir Grotto.

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

When you complete the Summerset story line and talk to everyone in Summerset castle, two guards will talk about a magic floating book appearing on the top floor. Just climb the stairs to the right (facing the throne) and it will be up there.

Thanks!!

Next question -- what does it take to get the discussion with Gabrielle going? After finding and reading Darien's book, I found Gabrielle on the second floor of the Anvil Mages Guild, in front of a huge pile of books, but the dialogue offered was just about books and her concerns about her sister Sara. No mention of Darien, and certainly no quests.

I've never done Sara's quest in Craglorn, in case that matters.

TiaFrye

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

Ilsabet wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

Spoiler-marking it just cuz:

When you go to Alinor Palace for the meeting with the Sapiarchs, afterward two guards will be talking about a book appearing upstairs. Take the stairway to the left of the main door as you're facing it to go out of the room. It's on a bench toward the end of the balcony.

There's also a copy in Meridia's shrine in Eton Nir Grotto.

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

When you complete the Summerset story line and talk to everyone in Summerset castle, two guards will talk about a magic floating book appearing on the top floor. Just climb the stairs to the right (facing the throne) and it will be up there.

Thanks!!

Next question -- what does it take to get the discussion with Gabrielle going? After finding and reading Darien's book, I found Gabrielle on the second floor of the Anvil Mages Guild, in front of a huge pile of books, but the dialogue offered was just about books and her concerns about her sister Sara. No mention of Darien, and certainly no quests.

I've never done Sara's quest in Craglorn, in case that matters.

Darien's Wrothgar note (last quests on the main storyline here) triggers this dialogue, not Summerset book as far as I can tell. And character's dialogue is rarely edited after certain DLCs and chapters so you can't tell about your progress.

Ilsabet

adriant1978 wrote: »

TiaFrye wrote: »

Junipus wrote: »

It's funny how they seemingly made him out to be an original object made human to serve Meridia when he originally was a character in Camlorn complete with father etc.

Just goes to show the discontinuity between the current teams and the original ones.

If you played the game with attention, you would've realized by now...

that it's heavily hinted that he was no a human on the first lace. He's created by Meridia and placed in mortal plane to deal with the undead problems. Every location you meet him he's dealing with zombies, vampires or Molag Bal servants (i.e. imperials, loyal to Septima Tharn). He also has supernatural vitality, powers and prophetic dreams of events to come. But friendship with PC (or romantic relationship in some cases) made him sentient, to Meridia's great disappointment and curiosity.

So did Meridia also create his father, or was Gautier senior brainwashed into thinking that he had a son?

Still feels a bit like a retcon to me.

Darien mentions in Summerset that his childhood is hazy and he doesn't really remember his mother. It could be that Meridia entrusted his upbringing to General Gautier, who may or may not have been fully aware of the situation. He could have been brainwashed or manipulated, or he could have "adopted" Darien in service to Meridia and promised to raise him as his own son with no one else knowing the full story.

TiaFrye wrote: »

But friendship with PC (or romantic relationship in some cases) made him sentient, to Meridia's great disappointment and curiosity.

It's kind of funny that you say that. I've considered Darien's musings about why he had to be so handsome and charming if he was just supposed to stomp Meridia's enemies in the context of my own headcanon, where my character is madly in love with Darien and will do pretty much anything for him. It's entirely possible that Meridia designed him to be attractive and likeable so that a certain future savior of the world would become attached to him and become a second unwitting pawn in her grand ambitions. She knew that he and the Vestige would save the world together, and as long as he was faithfully following her directives, why not have the Champion of Coldharbour completely on board with helping him?

Ilsabet

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

Ilsabet wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

Spoiler-marking it just cuz:

When you go to Alinor Palace for the meeting with the Sapiarchs, afterward two guards will be talking about a book appearing upstairs. Take the stairway to the left of the main door as you're facing it to go out of the room. It's on a bench toward the end of the balcony.

There's also a copy in Meridia's shrine in Eton Nir Grotto.

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

When you complete the Summerset story line and talk to everyone in Summerset castle, two guards will talk about a magic floating book appearing on the top floor. Just climb the stairs to the right (facing the throne) and it will be up there.

Thanks!!

Next question -- what does it take to get the discussion with Gabrielle going? After finding and reading Darien's book, I found Gabrielle on the second floor of the Anvil Mages Guild, in front of a huge pile of books, but the dialogue offered was just about books and her concerns about her sister Sara. No mention of Darien, and certainly no quests.

I've never done Sara's quest in Craglorn, in case that matters.

I don't think reading the Summerset book triggers any new dialogue with Gabrielle back in Anvil. I suspect people were confusing that with the dialogue you get after reading his note in Wrothgar. (I can confirm that you only get the extra dialogue about finding him in the Colored Rooms after the Wrothgar note, and that there wasn't anything different or extra after the Summerset book.)

TiaFrye

Ilsabet wrote: »

TiaFrye wrote: »

But friendship with PC (or romantic relationship in some cases) made him sentient, to Meridia's great disappointment and curiosity.

It's kind of funny that you say that. I've considered Darien's musings about why he had to be so handsome and charming if he was just supposed to stomp Meridia's enemies in the context of my own headcanon, where my character is madly in love with Darien and will do pretty much anything for him. It's entirely possible that Meridia designed him to be attractive and likeable so that a certain future savior of the world would become attached to him and become a second unwitting pawn in her grand ambitions. She knew that he and the Vestige would save the world together, and as long as he was faithfully following her directives, why not have the Champion of Coldharbour completely on board with helping him?

I know a great amount of people who was "not impressed" with our little star (ironic) here, but they're mostly from the other alliances and haven't experienced Covenant storyline the way it was intended. Also - it's been 4 years since he vanished in the base game. I was in EP myself on my first run, but the moment my PC walked into Fighters Guildhall in Hollow City I was sold. Replaying Covenant since. So I get these dashing vibes from him, and no matter what others might say he's very polite and once you've turn him down in Camlorn he only plays his friendly dialogue.
And since we're talking headcanons here... Even before "the big reveal" Darien felt like the only friend and someone close-to-home my PC had and needed while being soulless daedric creatia at best. Funny really. Because in Summerset he makes the same exact remark about us being outsides.

Ilsabet

TiaFrye wrote: »

Ilsabet wrote: »

TiaFrye wrote: »

But friendship with PC (or romantic relationship in some cases) made him sentient, to Meridia's great disappointment and curiosity.

It's kind of funny that you say that. I've considered Darien's musings about why he had to be so handsome and charming if he was just supposed to stomp Meridia's enemies in the context of my own headcanon, where my character is madly in love with Darien and will do pretty much anything for him. It's entirely possible that Meridia designed him to be attractive and likeable so that a certain future savior of the world would become attached to him and become a second unwitting pawn in her grand ambitions. She knew that he and the Vestige would save the world together, and as long as he was faithfully following her directives, why not have the Champion of Coldharbour completely on board with helping him?

I know a great amount of people who was "not impressed" with our little star (ironic) here, but they're mostly from the other alliances and haven't experienced Covenant storyline the way it was intended. Also - it's been 4 years since he vanished in the base game. I was in EP myself on my first run, but the moment my PC walked into Fighters Guildhall in Hollow City I was sold. Replaying Covenant since. So I get these dashing vibes from him, and no matter what others might say he's very polite and once you've turn him down in Camlorn he only plays his friendly dialogue.
And since we're talking headcanons here... Even before "the big reveal" Darien felt like the only friend and someone close-to-home my PC had and needed while being soulless daedric creatia at best. Funny really. Because in Summerset he makes the same exact remark about us being outsides.

I am definitely happy that my first character was Covenant because playing through that storyline and getting to know Darien made his role in Coldharbour much more meaningful (and enabled the aforementioned headcanon). There are certainly people who get put off by his cockiness and womanizing, but it's clear right from the beginning that there's a lot more to him and the arrogance and bluster are as much a front as anything else. But people are allowed to not like characters no matter how awesome and heroic and fun and attractive they are.

FrancisCrawford

Ilsabet wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

Ilsabet wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

Spoiler-marking it just cuz:

When you go to Alinor Palace for the meeting with the Sapiarchs, afterward two guards will be talking about a book appearing upstairs. Take the stairway to the left of the main door as you're facing it to go out of the room. It's on a bench toward the end of the balcony.

There's also a copy in Meridia's shrine in Eton Nir Grotto.

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

When you complete the Summerset story line and talk to everyone in Summerset castle, two guards will talk about a magic floating book appearing on the top floor. Just climb the stairs to the right (facing the throne) and it will be up there.

Thanks!!

Next question -- what does it take to get the discussion with Gabrielle going? After finding and reading Darien's book, I found Gabrielle on the second floor of the Anvil Mages Guild, in front of a huge pile of books, but the dialogue offered was just about books and her concerns about her sister Sara. No mention of Darien, and certainly no quests.

I've never done Sara's quest in Craglorn, in case that matters.

I don't think reading the Summerset book triggers any new dialogue with Gabrielle back in Anvil. I suspect people were confusing that with the dialogue you get after reading his note in Wrothgar. (I can confirm that you only get the extra dialogue about finding him in the Colored Rooms after the Wrothgar note, and that there wasn't anything different or extra after the Summerset book.)

Thanks!

So what/where is this Wrothgar note? I've done the main regional quest there, to the end, but I don't happen to recall it.

Ilsabet

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

Ilsabet wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

Ilsabet wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

Spoiler-marking it just cuz:

When you go to Alinor Palace for the meeting with the Sapiarchs, afterward two guards will be talking about a book appearing upstairs. Take the stairway to the left of the main door as you're facing it to go out of the room. It's on a bench toward the end of the balcony.

There's also a copy in Meridia's shrine in Eton Nir Grotto.

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

So where is this book/journal that people are referring to?

When you complete the Summerset story line and talk to everyone in Summerset castle, two guards will talk about a magic floating book appearing on the top floor. Just climb the stairs to the right (facing the throne) and it will be up there.

Thanks!!

Next question -- what does it take to get the discussion with Gabrielle going? After finding and reading Darien's book, I found Gabrielle on the second floor of the Anvil Mages Guild, in front of a huge pile of books, but the dialogue offered was just about books and her concerns about her sister Sara. No mention of Darien, and certainly no quests.

I've never done Sara's quest in Craglorn, in case that matters.

I don't think reading the Summerset book triggers any new dialogue with Gabrielle back in Anvil. I suspect people were confusing that with the dialogue you get after reading his note in Wrothgar. (I can confirm that you only get the extra dialogue about finding him in the Colored Rooms after the Wrothgar note, and that there wasn't anything different or extra after the Summerset book.)

Thanks!

So what/where is this Wrothgar note? I've done the main regional quest there, to the end, but I don't happen to recall it.

Originally you could only find it in the library while doing the quest there, but you can't get back in there after finishing the quest. They added a post-quest copy on a table inside the Temple of Ire. I think you hang a right and go up some stairs.

Chryseia

*Raises hand* Also was really upset after Summerset.

I am still relatively new to the game, and after losing him in Coldharbor (which I finished during the Holidays), I rushed through Orsinium, Morrowind, and Clockwork because I knew he would be in Summerset... but I was NOT prepared for him to be gone again!

In kind of a weird way though, it helped me get past being upset about Wildstar closing. I haven't been ready to jump into ESO housing despite being really into Wildstar's housing because it just felt... too soon? But I was so angry with ZoS and Meridia about how Summerset ended that I decided to start building a memorial in my Aldmeri Grotto (which I had picked up on black friday on the assumption that I would want it one day).

Too bad you can't get the Dibella statue anymore though. I had wanted to incorporate it into the memorial for...3 headcannon symbolism purposes.

FrancisCrawford

OK. My character who has killed Molag Bal went to the Temple of Ire, where he found Darien's note "A Plea For Help". Then he went to the Anvil Mages Guild and talked with Gabrielle. The dialogue mentioned Darien's original disappearance and the note.

This character has not done the Summerset quest line. Would anything have been different in the dialogue if he had? (I've seen what amount to both "yes" and "no" answers earlier in this thread. )

theskymoves

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

This character has not done the Summerset quest line. Would anything have been different in the dialogue if he had? (I've seen what amount to both "yes" and "no" answers earlier in this thread. )

No. Finishing Summerset doesn't alter Gabrielle's dialogue.

theskymoves

Chryseia wrote: »

*Raises hand* Also was really upset after Summerset.

I am still relatively new to the game, and after losing him in Coldharbor (which I finished during the Holidays), I rushed through Orsinium, Morrowind, and Clockwork because I knew he would be in Summerset... but I was NOT prepared for him to be gone again!

In kind of a weird way though, it helped me get past being upset about Wildstar closing. I haven't been ready to jump into ESO housing despite being really into Wildstar's housing because it just felt... too soon? But I was so angry with ZoS and Meridia about how Summerset ended that I decided to start building a memorial in my Aldmeri Grotto (which I had picked up on black friday on the assumption that I would want it one day).

Too bad you can't get the Dibella statue anymore though. I had wanted to incorporate it into the memorial for...3 headcannon symbolism purposes.

*commiserative fistbump*

I also threw myself into a housing project dedicated to memorializing a 'polite, handsome, and humble knight' after completing Summerset. It was a good way to work through all those feelings re his fate. *sniffle*

I recently started another DC character, or rather, another version of my old Breton character (but with a different class), and it's really fascinating to see all the foreshadowing and hints that there is more to Darien than meets the eye. Well done ZOS!

heaven13

I've only just finished the Summerset story for the first time (despite preordering) and I am legitimately upset. Not only have we lost Darien, twice, but, as a DC main, it feels doubly horrible that our alliance "icon" keeps dying/being left behind.

I'm hoping, truly, truly hoping that when he talks about the light fading, that it means Meridia's light. And that, somehow, we will be able to rescue him from the Colored Rooms. Without Meridia's light, maybe he will get a chance to be truly human. Not because Meridia's promised, but because we make it so. And we can kick Meridia's ass in the process.

If When they release the miniature Meridia statue for ESO+ I'm going to grab it and then make sure to sink it in a pool of lava or something.

BlueRaven

What people need to remember is that although many of us consider Meridia (And Azura) "good" deadric princes, it's only because more times then not, we have common goals. But they are daedric princes and as such they view us as pawns, and are expendable if need be. They can lie and deceive us as well.

Also remember Meridia basically doomed a whole city to be cast into Molag Bal's realm without warning them to get away first. Her fight with Molag Bal was greater than the safety of the citizens. Yes, she provided a safe haven for those that stayed in the city, but she could have warned them to leave quickly before the city got trapped. And her making of the safe haven was more to hurt molag bal then to save the citizens.

And also remember in Skyrim, Merida basically said "You are going to do what I want, or I am going to drop you from a great height."

Azura (in Skyrim) made one of her priests stay on an icy mountain top for who knows how long. Telling her she had a great purpose to fulfill. That purpose? Get the dragonborn to retrieve Azura's star. Once that was complete, Azura abandoned the priest who literally had no idea what to do with herself. She was left alone and aimless on an icy mountain top.

Uncle sheo, Hircine, and the other daedric princes, we expect the worst from them. Meridia and Azura are exactly the same, it's just coincidence that many times we have the same goals. So far we ( the players) have been lucky.

BlueRaven

heaven13 wrote: »

I've only just finished the Summerset story for the first time (despite preordering) and I am legitimately upset. Not only have we lost Darien, twice, but, as a DC main, it feels doubly horrible that our alliance "icon" keeps dying/being left behind.

I'm hoping, truly, truly hoping that when he talks about the light fading, that it means Meridia's light. And that, somehow, we will be able to rescue him from the Colored Rooms. Without Meridia's light, maybe he will get a chance to be truly human. Not because Meridia's promised, but because we make it so. And we can kick Meridia's ass in the process.

If When they release the miniature Meridia statue for ESO+ I'm going to grab it and then make sure to sink it in a pool of lava or something.

Well they have a giant statue of Meridia on the PTS... It's going to cost crowns though.

Ilsabet

heaven13 wrote: »

I'm hoping, truly, truly hoping that when he talks about the light fading, that it means Meridia's light. And that, somehow, we will be able to rescue him from the Colored Rooms. Without Meridia's light, maybe he will get a chance to be truly human. Not because Meridia's promised, but because we make it so. And we can kick Meridia's ass in the process.

I'm taking hope from Darien's comment about becoming a different version of himself. I don't know what ZOS has in mind for him, but they're at least hinting that he'll still be around but just won't be in the same form.

Pendrillion

Bah... No one mentions Sotha Sils meta dialogue. After CWC... THAT was heartbreaking. Dariens second heroic dead was kinda clear to me. Sad that he has to do it. I mean I would break him out of the Colored Rooms no problem... But as long as no Dragon Fires are lit, I don't know if he might be better off in there than as fugitive of a Daedric Prince...

Chryseia

Just in case any of you guys are also into housing/homestead...

Guess what we can now put in our homes via the Essential Housing Tools addon!!!





... I had fun with the screenshots.

ArchMikem

LanteanPegasus wrote: »

Add me to the club of people absolutely heartbroken about loosing Darien.

We've "lost" Darien like two or three times now. What with his being a creation of a Daedric Prince, and we knowing anything Daedric can't die forever, it's highly possible Darien is an immortal essence in limbo somewhere in the Colored Rooms.

Kalgert

I need a refresher, who was Darien again, and why are people crying rivers over him?

ArchMikem

Kalgert wrote: »

I need a refresher, who was Darien again, and why are people crying rivers over him?

Darien Gautier, the main Covenant side character. You first meet him in Camlorn. He then accompanies you as one of the final companions to close the Planar Vortex in the Plane Meld questline.

RaddlemanNumber7

Kalgert wrote: »

I need a refresher, who was Darien again, and why are people crying rivers over him?

Just some muscle-bound, empty-headed, pretty-boy daedra-in-disguise. I'd rather suffer Lyranth's rusty hooks than have to cringe my way through another lot of Darien's cheesy dialogue.

heaven13

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Kalgert wrote: »

I need a refresher, who was Darien again, and why are people crying rivers over him?

Just some muscle-bound, empty-headed, pretty-boy daedra-in-disguise. I'd rather suffer Lyranth's rusty hooks than have to cringe my way through another lot of Darien's cheesy dialogue.

So you're commenting in this thread, why?

AbysmalGhul

He was just some dewd who thought he was better than he actually was! Change my mind

VaranisArano

AbysmalGhul wrote: »

He was just some dewd who thought he was better than he actually was! Change my mind

He was the only NPC companion I had that actually made himself useful with that Dawnbreaker synergy.

Yes, my standards are low. Compared to:
Lyris Titanborn, greatest warrior of the Empire who can't tank or DPS
Sai Sahan, failed sword saint who can DPS and won't listen when I tell him the meta is a bow back bar
And Abnur Tharn who's got the light attack weave down but only uses fear spell...

Darien actually being useful in combat was a great change and a breath of fresh air. I mean, sure, he's sacrificed himself twice now. But for a bit, he was the first NPC companion I actually enjoyed fighting alongside.

Rake

VaranisArano wrote: »

AbysmalGhul wrote: »

He was just some dewd who thought he was better than he actually was! Change my mind

He was the only NPC companion I had that actually made himself useful with that Dawnbreaker synergy.

Yes, my standards are low. Compared to:
Lyris Titanborn, greatest warrior of the Empire who can't tank or DPS
Sai Sahan, failed sword saint who can DPS and won't listen when I tell him the meta is a bow back bar
And Abnur Tharn who's got the light attack weave down but only uses fear spell...

Darien actually being useful in combat was a great change and a breath of fresh air. I mean, sure, he's sacrificed himself twice now. But for a bit, he was the first NPC companion I actually enjoyed fighting alongside.

blame it on zos. All of these were made the way they are by zos.

VaranisArano

Rake wrote: »

VaranisArano wrote: »

AbysmalGhul wrote: »

He was just some dewd who thought he was better than he actually was! Change my mind

He was the only NPC companion I had that actually made himself useful with that Dawnbreaker synergy.

Yes, my standards are low. Compared to:
Lyris Titanborn, greatest warrior of the Empire who can't tank or DPS
Sai Sahan, failed sword saint who can DPS and won't listen when I tell him the meta is a bow back bar
And Abnur Tharn who's got the light attack weave down but only uses fear spell...

Darien actually being useful in combat was a great change and a breath of fresh air. I mean, sure, he's sacrificed himself twice now. But for a bit, he was the first NPC companion I actually enjoyed fighting alongside.

blame it on zos. All of these were made the way they are by zos.

Meh. I get it. Can't have the NPC companions overshadowing the Player.

For me, Darien in Summerset didn't overshadow. But he was markedly more helpful than the others, and the devs choice to let me choose when to use the Dawnbreaker synergy meant the tactics of the battle were in my hands. I leveled a new character doing the Summerset quest and so I though Darien - as an NPC fighting companion - was the best I've seen in the game. I hope ZOS continues that trend.