Tamriel Rebuilt:It Belongs in a Museum

Identify a source of Dwemer contraband. Quest Giver: Barra'tho Location(s): Imperial Archaeological Society, Helnim. Reward: 200 gold, Dwarven Broadsword or another 200 gold ID: TR_m2_IAS_BelongMuseum

Barra'tho is unamused by a recent smuggler's arrest.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Talk to Barra'tho in the Imperial Archaeological Society building, Helnim.
2. Interrogate Mirabelle Talimet in Helnim's prison tower.
3. Either:
   • Search the stores of individuals who may be involved in the artifact trade.
   • Speak to Golgrom gro-Argal with 60+ disposition to identify a suspect.
4. Talk to Aarlen Lleranoth about the artifact trade and either:
   • Agree to Aarlen's proposal.
   • Reject Aarlen's proposal.
5. Return to Barra'tho and either:
   • Tell the full truth.
   • Lie.

Detailed Walkthrough

Asking around Helnim concerning latest rumors may result in you hearing about concerns within the Imperial Archaeological Society (IAS) over smuggled artefacts. To investigate the truth of these rumors, speak to Barra'tho within the IAS building. He'll mention the illegal artifact trade, and asking further will see him enlist your help.

It transpires that a smuggler of Dwemer artifacts, Mirabelle Talimet, has lately been arrested, but is refusing to divulge the source of her wares. Barra'tho asks that you convince her. Mirabelle is held within a prison tower on the northwest side of Helnim, and can be found on one of the higher floors. Ask her about the artifact trade to reveal that there are many (or so she claims) shops willing to buy Dwemer artifacts in Helnim. No further details can be elicited, and so you will have to ask the various storekeepers around Helnim about the trade itself. You'll ultimately be referred to the harbor master, Golgrom gro-Argal. He's by a small boat next to the dockhouse. Speaking to him about the artifact trade with 60+ disposition will reveal that a storekeeper named Aarlen Lleranoth has been at the docks more than might be expected for a pawnbroker with no exports and imports to worry about.

You can confront Aarlen in his store on the waterfront. He will confess, but insist that you keep quiet about his involvement in exchange for further information. Disagree with that, and he will attack, without revealing the ultimate source of his trade. If this happens, and you kill Aarlen, your only option left is to return to Barra'tho to complete the quest and claim your reward of 200 gold. If however, you agree to Aarlen's deal, he will reveal the ultimate source as an apparently treasure-filled ruin named Mzankh.

Return to Barra'tho to report back. You can reveal Aarlen's involvement or not, but Barra'tho will reward you with 200 gold either way.

Notes

• It is possible to identify Aarlen without speaking to Golgrom, simply by searching his basement and uncovering the artifacts on the table there.
• If you kill Aarlen after he reveals the source of the artifacts, Barra'tho will still end the quest as if their origin is unknown.

Quest Stages

The following Journal ID and Index codes can be used with the Journal console command to manually update the quest to a certain point.

It Belongs in a Museum (TR_m2_IAS_BelongMuseum)
Index	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
10		Barra'tho, the curator of the Imperial Archaeological Society in Helnim, is concerned about Dwemer artifact smuggling in the area. Mirabelle Talimet has recently been arrested for smuggling, but refuses to give information about the source of the artifacts. Barra'tho wants me to question her and discover the truth. Mirabelle Talimet is being held in the prison tower on the northwest side of town.
20		Mirabelle Talimet was uncooperative, but did reveal that a local shop is handling her smuggled artifacts before they are shipped away.
30		Golgrom gro-Argal, the harbor master, informed me that Aarlen Lleranoth had been at the docks much more than expected for the owner of a pawnshop.
40		I entered the basement of Aarlen Lleranoth's store and saw a number of Dwemer artifacts.
45		I entered the basement of Aarlen Lleranoth's store and saw a number of Dwemer artifacts. As he is dead, this seems to be the end of the smuggling operation.
49		Aarlen Lleranoth attacked when I refused to hide his involvement.
50		Aarlen Lleranoth admitted his guilt and revealed the source of the artifacts. They are from Mzankh, a ruin northeast of Helnim. He asked me to keep his involvement a secret, and instead say Mirabelle Talimet provided the information.
79		I informed Barra'tho that Aarlen Lleranoth might be involved. He said that he would question Aarlen in the prison for the source, and was pleased with my work and gave me gold. He also asked that I report Aarlen Lleranoth's crimes to the guards.
80		I informed Barra'tho about the source of the artifacts and that Aarlen Lleranoth was also involved. He was pleased with my work and gave me gold. He also asked that I report Aarlen Lleranoth's crimes to the guards.
90		I informed Barra'tho about the source of the artifacts but kept Aarlen Lleranoth's involvement a secret. He was pleased with my work and gave me gold. He said he would put in a good word for Mirabelle Talimet with the guard captain as well. Aarlen Lleranoth would be pleased to hear this.
100	Finishes quest	I reported Aarlen Lleranoth's involvement in the smuggling operation to a guard. I was rewarded in gold for my help.
110	Finishes quest	Aarlen Lleranoth was relieved I kept his involvement a secret and that Mirabelle Talimet might get off easier. In gratitude he gave me a dwarven broadsword.
200	Finishes quest	I informed Barra'tho that Aarlen Lleranoth was involved in smuggling artifacts. Although he was disappointed that I had not discovered the source of the artifacts, he still rewarded me with gold.