Online:Cipher Plautis

Cipher Plautis
Home Settlement	Cipher's Midden
Race	Imperial	Gender	Female
Health	15000
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Faction(s)	Ciphers of the Eye

Cipher Plautis

Cipher Plautis is an Imperial member of the Ciphers of the Eye who can be found in Cipher's Midden.

Related QuestsEdit

• Numinous Grimoire, Volume 1: Please add a description for this quest
• Numinous Grimoire, Volume 2: Please add a description for this quest
• Numinous Grimoire, Volume 3: Please add a description for this quest
• Akacirn the Deathless: Please add a description for this quest
• Chronicle of Fate: Learn what was forgotten.

Quest-Related EventsEdit

The three Numinous Grimoire quests can be completed in any order, and her greeting will depend on how many volumes you have previously found:

When you go to hand in the first volume you have found, she will ask the following:

"Have you found any ciphers or strange grimoires in your travels, stranger? There are tomes missing from our collection, and several ciphers as well. If you come across them in your travels, bring them back. I would be grateful."

After finding two volumes:

"We meet again, traveler. Have you found another one of our missing ciphers? Or a volume of the Numinous Grimoire, perhaps?"

After finding a third volume:

"You return? Forgive me if I'm not pleased to see you, traveler. I have a feeling you bring me more unfortunate news. Let me guess: another dead cipher, and a volume of the Numinous Grimoire."

Numinous Grimoire, Volume 1Edit

Hand over Cipher Tlaxalt's belongings and the The Numinous Grimoire, Vol. 1:

I found Cipher Tlaxalt dead. She had a letter that mentioned you.

"Tlaxalt is dead? That is … unfortunate. She was a promising cipher. I looked forward to many profitable discourses with her, but Apocrypha holds many dangers for mortals. What kind of situation could she have gotten herself into?"

The letter was only signed "A." But I found this strange book with her.

"Why, this is the first volume of the Numinous Grimoire! It's one of the tomes that went missing from our collection. A dangerous book of forbidden knowledge. It destroys the mind of any mortal who reads it.
I'd better take that."

Very well. Here you go.

"This is troubling. Tlaxalt should have known better than to meddle with the Numinous Grimoire. I must look into this.
Thank you for bringing back this book, and the news of Cipher Tlaxalt's fate. Here—a reward for your trouble."

If you leave and return to the conversation at this point:

"The Numinous Grimoire is a very dangerous book. I'd better take custody of it, traveler. I'll make sure it's kept under lock and key from now on."

You seem concerned. (Leads to quest completion dialogue)

Numinous Grimoire, Volume 2Edit

Hand over Cipher Dreyla's belongings and the The Numinous Grimoire, Vol. 2:

I found Cipher Dreyla dead. He had this book in his pack. And a note that mentioned you.

"Dreyla dead? I feared he might come to harm here. He was naive, yet full of ambition—a dangerous combination in Apocrypha. The path of the cipher is not for everyone.
You found him with this book, you say?"

Yes. Is it one of the missing tomes you're looking for?

"Ah. Yes. The second volume of the Numinous Grimoire. A very dangerous book—any mortal who dares to read it is driven mad. It went missing from our collection recently … and now we know who took it.
I'd better put it somewhere safe."

Here's the book.

"Poor, foolish Dreyla. Something dangerous is afoot, and the Numinous Grimoire is in the middle of it. I must investigate.
Thank you for bringing back this volume … and for telling me about Cipher Dreyla. Please, accept this reward."

If you leave and return to the conversation at this point:

"A strange tale. Why would this mysterious "A" kill a cipher who did as they asked? What's behind the promise to read the book together?
Well. If you find any other dead ciphers or missing books in your travels, come tell me."

I've got the book I found in Cipher Dreyla's pack. (Leads to quest completion dialogue)

Numinous Grimoire, Volume 3Edit

Hand over Cipher Nelfynn's belongings and the The Numinous Grimoire, Vol. 3:

I found Cipher Nelfynn dead. A note by her body led me to a strange book. It also mentioned you.

"I feared the worst when Nelfynn dropped out of sight. Strange things have been going on around here. It seems I was right to be worried.
You mentioned a strange book. Was it the Numinous Grimoire, Volume 3?"

That's right. Is it one of the books you're looking for?

"The Numinous Grimoire is dangerous. At a casual glance, it's illegible. But if you study it long enough, its meaning becomes clear—and you go mad. Nelfynn should have known that.
Leave the book with me, and I'll put it away. Safely, this time."

Very well. Here's the book.

"I didn't know Cipher Nelfynn well, but she deserved better. I must give this matter my attention. Who would want the Numinous Grimoire? And why?
Thank you for bringing back this volume. Here—a small reward for your trouble."

If you leave and return to the conversation at this point:

"A strange tale. Why would this mysterious "A" kill a cipher who did as they asked? What's behind the promise to read the book together?
Well. If you find any other dead ciphers or missing books in your travels, come tell me."

Here, take the book. (Leads to quest completion dialogue)

Akacirn the DeathlessEdit

After you have recovered the three volumes, Plautis' inquiries into the identity of "A" will have results:

"My inquiries finally bore fruit. I believe "A" is Akacirn, one of our own ciphers. He withdrew into his own studies years ago, but recently he's been in contact with all three dead ciphers.
And I think I know why he wants the Numinous Grimoire."

Why does Akacirn want the Numinous Grimoire?

"I learned that the Numinous Grimoire contains a powerful spell, the Numinous Rite. Cipher Akacirn hopes to defy death forever by performing the rite. But he would become something terrible.
I need your help to stop him, traveler."

Stop Cipher Akacirn? How?

"Find Akacirn and prevent him from completing the Numinous Rite. Reason with him if you can, but deal with him as you must. I suggest you begin by searching his dwelling for clues to his whereabouts.
Can you help? I would be in your debt."

I'll find Cipher Akacirn. And stop him.

After you agree to help, you can ask further questions:

"Akacirn's dwelling is a secret room in Quires Wind. Look for his mark on the platforms within the scriptorium. Let's hope something there hints at his current whereabouts. Otherwise, I'm not sure where in Apocrypha he might be hiding."

Tell me more about the Numinous Rite.

"I'm not sure I can. No mortal can read the Numinous Grimoire without losing their mind, so all we have to go on are the ravings of the mad. But when I began to suspect Akacirn, I asked around about his recent research and interests."

What sort of interests?

"Cipher Akacirn is a very old man. He spoke bitterly to other ciphers about how little time he had left to finish his studies. And he was jealous of the Daedra, too. He seemed to think they were keeping the secret of immortality from us."

And he thinks the Numinous Rite is the answer?

"The Numinous Grimoire is said to hold secrets of immortality. Magic dealing with the mortal soul exacts a great price, but Cipher Akacirn is desperate. I worry that he plans to do whatever he must to escape death. Even hurt others."

You don't want to deal with Cipher Akacirn yourself?

"No cipher has authority over another. The only law in Cipher's Midden is that of Hermaeus Mora, and he takes no interest in our dealings with each other. Our society survives because we choose to follow the customs of this place."

Even if one cipher is killing others?

"It is … unprecedented. I believe I can convince my fellows to expel or punish a murderer for our own collective protection. But I do not think we have the time I need to build that consensus."

You can return to Cipher Plautis after searching Quires Wind before finding Uldazaan the Heresy-Keeper:

"Did you find any clues to Akacirn's whereabouts in Quires Wind? It's often futile to seek justice from Apocrypha, but three dead ciphers demand an answer. Find him, traveler—wherever the trail leads."

After you have tracked down Cipher Akacirn and destroyed his body before he could complete his ritual, you can return to Cipher Plautis:

"You return. Did you find Cipher Akacirn, and put a stop to this madness with the Numinous Rite?"

I prevented Cipher Akacirn from completing the Numinous Rite. He's dead.

"I can almost understand Akacirn's desperation. No matter how much we learn, mortality means that one day it will be lost. Yet trying to cheat that fate by stealing from others is foolish.
Thank you, traveler. As promised, a reward for your help."

After completing the quest, she will say:

Cipher Plautis: "On behalf of the Ciphers of Mora, my thanks. You have done us a great service by dealing with Akacirn, traveler."

Chronicle of FateEdit

Cipher Plautis will attend the ceremony at Cipher's Midden if you had previously completed her tasks and dealt with Akacirn:

"Thank you again for returning the Numinous Grimoire to Cipher's Midden and foiling Akacirn's horrible ambitions. Your inscription into the Great Eye's chronicle is well-deserved. Congratulations, traveler."

Thank you. Is the Numinous Grimoire secure now?

"I decided it would be better to find a Daedric guardian for the grimoire. It's unfair to hide knowledge from those who seek it, but some books are simply too dangerous for mortals.
No more ciphers will lose their minds in the Numinous Grimoire."

She will be one of the voices to support you during Scruut's speech:

Cipher Plautis: "They recovered the Numinous Grimoire and brought a murderer to justice. Every cipher is safer now."

DialogueEdit

Speaking with Cipher Plautis before starting any of the above quests:

"Be careful, traveler. In Apocrypha, the danger is not that you might fail to find what you seek. The danger is that you might succeed. And be destroyed by it."

Once you have completed a Numinous Grimoire quest, you will be able to ask further questions about the books and the Ciphers.:

"A strange tale. Why would this mysterious "A" kill a cipher who did as they asked? What's behind the promise to read the book together?
Well. If you find any other dead ciphers or missing books in your travels, come tell me."

What's the Numinous Grimoire about?

"That is … unclear. No mortal has read a volume of the Numinous Grimoire and survived with their mind intact. We think it deals with transformations. Immortality. Or so the Daedra familiar with the book tell us.
They could be lying."

If you can't read the Numinous Grimoire, why do you care where it is?

"Because ciphers are dead. The note you found makes it clear someone used my colleagues to get their hands on the Grimoire. Then this instigator repaid a cipher's help with death.
None of us are safe until this mystery is solved."

I want to know more about the missing ciphers.

"That makes two of us. There must be a connection between these ciphers. Something they have in common … but I do not know what it is.
Which missing cipher do you want to know about?"

What can you tell me about Dreyla?

"He is—was—a Dark Elf. Young for a Cipher. It takes decades of study for most of us to find our way to Apocrypha, but Dreyla was a brilliant student. Clever and ambitious, but impatient."

Ambitious? For what?

"The Ciphers of the Eye have no ranks. But some of us have been here longer than others. Senior ciphers enjoy access to collections we do not share with new arrivals. Dreyla did not want to wait.
What else do you wish to know?"

What can you tell me about Nelfynn?

"Nelfynn was new here. A Nord, cheerful and trusting. Many of us ciphers are absorbed in our own interests. Unwilling to concern ourselves with others' troubles. Yet Nelfynn was happy to help with any chore. Some took advantage of that."

Took advantage of that? How?

"I knew ciphers who asked Nelfynn to do things they didn't want to do themselves. Fetch books from dangerous spots, or ask favors of prickly Daedra. She was eager to please. And far too trusting.
What else would you like to know?"

What can you tell me about Tlaxalt?

"Tlaxalt? An Argonian scholar who didn't always fit in here. A free spirit of sorts. She valued knowledge in many forms—songs, art, handicrafts. Tlaxalt rarely bothered with books. When she wanted to know something, she sought instruction."

Could that have lured her into something dangerous?

"It might have. Tlaxalt sometimes made strange bargains with those she wanted to learn from. Dealt with entities few other ciphers know. Knowledge has a price … especially in Apocrypha.
What else can I tell you?"

Nothing more about ciphers. The letter I found was signed "A." Does that mean anything? (Appears after asking about one of the Ciphers)

"It might. I can think of a few entities who might use that monogram—some mortal, some Daedra. I need to make some inquiries … discreetly. If I ask the wrong question of the wrong person, I might put myself at risk."

What's a cipher?

"We are scholars. Scribes. Seekers of knowledge. Mortals drawn to Apocrypha from all corners of Tamriel. Here we help tend Hermaeus Mora's infinite library. In return, the Great Eye grants us access to its contents—infinite knowledge."

Are all mortals in Apocrypha ciphers?

"Hardly. Most mortals visit Apocrypha in solitude, seeking answers to questions important to them. But some of us come to realize that no ambition in the mortal world compares to what surrounds us here. We choose to stay in Cipher's Midden."

Cipher's Midden?

"Apocrypha can be dangerous for mortals. Cipher's Midden serves as a refuge of sorts. Here, those who follow the cipher philosophy come together for protection. Creature comforts. Fellowship, after a fashion.
It's not much, but now it's home."

Speaking with Plautis after completing Akacirn the Deathless:

"While nothing can bring back the ciphers Akacirn took from us, at least you've put a stop to his mad ambitions. I shudder to think what would have happened if he'd succeeded."

How did you figure out what Cipher Akacirn was planning to do?

"I pored through every description of the Numinous Grimoire and its contents I could find. In so doing, I learned about a long-dead cipher who nearly completed the Numinous Rite before madness took her. Akacirn must have come across her notes."

What will you do with the Numinous Grimoire?

"I won't destroy it, if that's what you are suggesting. Ciphers exist to preserve knowledge. But I will lock it away someplace where no cipher will come across it for a very long time. And Akacirn's research, as well.
Let it be buried."