Roleplaying as Hlaalu or Redoran? (*spoilers*)

[Hippias Minor]

I'm wondering which of these two houses makes the most roleplay sense for my character. I'm okay with spoilers, and will supply some myself, but for those who worry about these things...

***SPOILERS AHEAD***





Now, I'm basically happy with Imperial rule--and I plan on joining most all of the Imperial guilds: Fighters, Mage, Thieves, even the Cult and the Legion--and after reading up on the UESP wiki, I thought I was Hlaalu all the way. However...

...Rumor has it (on both the wiki and on the streets of Balmora) that high profile Hlaalu figures are thick with the Camonna Tong, whom I oppose. (I oppose them as a loyal Thieves Guild member, and I also oppose their influence within the Fighters Guild.) So, I'm wondering if I could be a Hlaalu guy, and even rise to the top of the faction, without aiding the CT or harming other groups (such as the Thieves Guild). It looks like I can to that with the FG, but I'm not sure I can do it with Hlaalu.

The alternative is Redoran. (Telvanni are out.) Could joining Redoran make any sense if I support the Imperials? I am actually double-dipping on the religion thing and am also a member of the Temple (the religions involved don't seem to me to be explicitly exclusive). But I don't want to oppose groups like the Imperial Legion.

[Valden21]

You can rise to the top of House Hlaalu and still hold to the RP restrictions you placed on yourself, if you're careful about it. For this purpose, your main quest-giver/ally in House Hlaalu will be Crassius Curio. He's honest, and he hates the anti-Imperial direction that House Hlaalu is taking, so he's trying to counteract it. Almost all of his quests are focused on exposing/curtailing corrupt members of House Hlaalu, or shutting down the activites of CT.

You also don't need to worry much about membership conflict betwen House Redoran and the Imperial Legion. Relations between the two factions are actually pretty good. In fact, a lot of Imperial Legion members admire House Redoran due to its stance on concepts like honor.

[Saren]

As was mentioned, by Valden you can follow that route, but if I'm not mistaken I believe Edryno Arethi quests adheres with benefiting House Hlaau. I'm not sure if you're RP is against slavery, but you can do Ilmeni Dren's quest which are against slavery, after all the Empire is against slavery considering their accordance with the Dunmer and their own stance on it.

[Hippias Minor]

Thanks to both of you!

It looks like there's quite a bit of intrigue with the Hlaalu quests that might be fun. On the other hand, I've also glanced enough at some of the quest lines (including one from the Balmora guy) that suggest there are a lot of shady actions involved--even if they don't affect my other factions. (I tend to avoid shady stuff generally.)

By contrast, Redoran's quests *seem* more straightforwardly noble...at least from a cursory glance at the quest lines. I also don't see any clear faction problems in the quests (but feel free to inform me if I'm wrong). On the other hand, I don't want to be on the *wrong* side of the slavery issue--any worries there? I'm a happy abolitionist.

Ah, decisions, decisions.

[Teralitha]

You could hunt down and kill the leader of the camonna tong, Orves Dren.... His house is full of juicy bits. BUT, you might upset his brother... The Duke of Ebonhart.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by Teralitha:

You could hunt down and kill the leader of the camonna tong, Orves Dren.... His house is full of juicy bits. BUT, you might upset his brother... The Duke of Ebonhart.

Actually, if you get far enough into the House Hlaalu questline, you can get an optional quest from Duke Vedam Dren, Orvas's brother, to get rid of Orvas as punishment for the things he's done. But I think you need to be aligned with Curio in order to get that quest.

[Magnetaur]

House Redoran and the Imperial Legion respect each other as warriors. Joining one won't upset the other. In fact, you might find that an increased standing in one results in better treatment from the other.

House Hlaalu is very shady. If I remember correctly, you can end the Camonna Tong's influence over House Hlaalu (by killing Orvas Dren, their kingpin--the Duke will be upset, but will agree it was necessary) or assume leadership of it yourself. Just make sure you're not the Hortator when he gives you the quest.

From what you've said, it sounds like Redoran is for your character. They are all about duty, honor, and piety (to the temple). There is only one conflict I can think of with the Thieves Guild. Redoran gives you a quest to kill Ondres Nerano in Balmora, while a thieves guild quest tells you to steal the key to his house. You don't fail if he's dead, but you lose your reward.

[Hippias Minor]

Wow, great info--thanks.

Sounds to me like Hlaalu provides a very nice but tricky roleplaying opportunity. But since it would also involve tiptoeing though some content, Redoran would probably open up *more* material that I could play through without compromise. (I'm guessing it would also provide some variation in the places I end up questing in.)

This helps me out very much. Thanks, all!

[Valden21]

Yeah, it looks like you've made a good choice going with House Redoran. They're the most honorable of the three joinable Great Houses, and although it might not look like it, their ideals are the closest to those of the Imperial Legion. There's only one moment where the two contest each other, and even then, it's just one guy who doesn't understand the consequences.

[Magnetaur]

Originally posted by Hippias Minor:

On the other hand, I don't want to be on the *wrong* side of the slavery issue--any worries there? I'm a happy abolitionist.

One more thing I forgot: If you have the Twin Lamps dialogue option (which you get after you free 20 slaves), you can do the Twin Lamps quests for Ilmeni Dren in Vivec even if you're not a member of house Hlaalu, so you can still help the slaves!

[Zemecon]

The Imperial Legion and House Redoran do not give disposition boosts to each other. They don't hate each other but they con't cooperate, either. That is the important part.

EDIT 1: While you could consider both these factions "honorable," they are conflictive in other ways. House Redoran is very pro-native Dunmer, isolationism and Temple. The Imperial Legion is very pro-trade and integration. House Redoran will get a disposition boost from the Temple faction but that is about it. The Imperial Legion gets boosts from other imperial-related factions and factions - like House Hlaalu - that want them there. So honor has very little to do with it.

EDIT 2: House Redoran also doesn't care about slaves as slavery is kinda a part of traditional Dunmer culture so there is that to consider.

[Pieniadz9]

Originally posted by Hippias Minor:

I'm wondering which of these two houses makes the most roleplay sense for my character. I'm okay with spoilers, and will supply some myself, but for those who worry about these things...

***SPOILERS AHEAD***





Now, I'm basically happy with Imperial rule--and I plan on joining most all of the Imperial guilds: Fighters, Mage, Thieves, even the Cult and the Legion--and after reading up on the UESP wiki, I thought I was Hlaalu all the way. However...

...Rumor has it (on both the wiki and on the streets of Balmora) that high profile Hlaalu figures are thick with the Camonna Tong, whom I oppose. (I oppose them as a loyal Thieves Guild member, and I also oppose their influence within the Fighters Guild.) So, I'm wondering if I could be a Hlaalu guy, and even rise to the top of the faction, without aiding the CT or harming other groups (such as the Thieves Guild). It looks like I can to that with the FG, but I'm not sure I can do it with Hlaalu.

The alternative is Redoran. (Telvanni are out.) Could joining Redoran make any sense if I support the Imperials? I am actually double-dipping on the religion thing and am also a member of the Temple (the religions involved don't seem to me to be explicitly exclusive). But I don't want to oppose groups like the Imperial Legion.

RP-wise you should join Hlaalu, thier deals with CT aren't that obvious (i think) so there's no way a random would know about them, and i'm pretty sure that you don't have to hurt the TG in any of thier quests.

[Zemecon]

MAJOR SPOILER:In the final quests for House Hlaalu involve killing Orvas Dren who is the leader of the Camonna Tong.