Reluctant Steward is a Telvanni side quest in the Dragonborn add-on, and a fine showcase of Neloth‘s bedside manner. The master wizard of Tel Mithryn is hungry, his steward Varona Nelas is nowhere to be seen, and he certainly is not going to make his own tea. Somebody has to sort this out, and that somebody is you.
How to start
Complete one side quest for Neloth, then talk to him again. He asks whether you have seen Varona and orders apple cabbage stew with canis root tea. Suggest he make it himself and he is genuinely offended; refuse to be his servant and he grudgingly says please.
Walkthrough
Find Varona
Ask Elynea Mothren in the Tel Mithryn Apothecary or Ulves Romoran in the Tel Mithryn Kitchen. Both say Varona left for Raven Rock a few hours ago to arrange supplies. A marker then appears. Follow it to find her body on the road, surrounded by ash spawn that clearly ambushed her.
Tell Neloth
Return to Tel Mithryn with the news. Neloth finds her death mostly inconvenient, notes that ash spawn are turning up more often lately, and sends you to Raven Rock for a replacement. Ask what he wants in a steward and he lists a brilliant mind, a strong body, blind obedience and tea-brewing skills. Ask what is in it for you and he agrees to pay, complaining about greedy heroes.
Find a new steward
Ask around Raven Rock. Almost everyone turns you down, many with colourful opinions about Neloth’s sanity (see below). Several of them, such as Dreyla Alor and Geldis Sadri, point you towards Drovas Relvi, who works at The Retching Netch and seems hard up for coin. Drovas jumps at the offer, decides he does not even need to pack, and heads straight for Tel Mithryn.
Report back
Tell Neloth you found him a steward. He grumbles that Drovas makes terrible canis root tea, but pays you and lets you use his staff enchanter.
Rewards
- Gold (listed as 500 in the source infobox; the walkthrough calls it leveled).
- Access to Neloth’s Staff Enchanter.
- The Black Book The Hidden Twilight.
Tips and notes
A few highlights from Raven Rock’s refusals:
- Adril Arano is happy where he is; Cindiri Arano will not leave Adril and has heard Neloth cut out an apprentice’s heart.
- Aphia Velothi heard he tries to drink the ash; Geldis Sadri heard he talks to mud crabs.
- Bralsa Drel might consider it for skooma. Rirns Llervu would saw off a leg for a septim but still says no.
- Dreyla Alor recalls Neloth wanting her father to import a live white mammoth.
- Crescius Caerellius doubts Neloth would hire a non-Dunmer anyway, and Milore Ienth would rather swim to Windhelm.
During Old Friends you can ask Neloth how Drovas is doing: the tea is still dreadful, but the place runs well enough. This quest leads into A New Debt.
