Lost to the Ages (I already cleared Mzulft)

[Ernavill]

So I am trying to start the Lost to the Ages quest and it says it might become bugged if you already cleared Mzulft and all the corpses disapeared. I checked that and the corpses haven't disappeared. People on other forums provide a fix that doesn't work for me (dropping the fragments and reading the book) and I was wondering if there is another way to start the quest-chain.

[SpeedFreak1972]

well I always start it another way there's a copy of the aetherium wars in Farengars study (dragons reach)

[Ernavill]

unfortunately reading the book (I read the one in the college) doesn't start the quest for me. I read online that this is caused when you go to Mzulft before starting the Lost to the Ages questline. I was hoping someone might have a way to fix this bug.

[smr1957]

You do not have the Unofficial Patch? It fixes that (though maybe not retroactively).

[SpeedFreak1972]

Originally posted by smr1957:

You do not have the Unofficial Patch? It fixes that (though maybe not retroactively).

I don't think so I had it once with the patch installed best is to find the book before go anywhere near those locations.

[smr1957]

From bugs section, http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Lost_to_the_Ages
"This quest may not start if, after installing Dawnguard, you have visited Mzulft or Deep Folk Crossing prior to reading The Aetherium Wars and the corpses at these locations have been fully removed from the game.
This bug is fixed by version 2.0.1 of the Unofficial Dawnguard Patch."
But, as you said, best to just start it properly - not an option for the OP though, unless he goes back to a save made prior to visiting Mzulft.

[Ernavill]

well that's too bad. I'm currently level 37 and I did it back when I was around level 10, so I don't have the save anymore. I'll just have to make due without it. Thanks for the advice though.

[cfs111]

Make a back up save then try this in the console...

startquest DLC1LD_Misc
setstage DLC1LD_Misc 11
setstage DLC1LD_Misc 20
setstage DLC1LD_Misc 30
setstage DLC1LD_Misc 40
setstage DLC1LD_Misc 50

Have you been through Arkngthamz yet?

[Ernavill]

I heard these console commands can bug the game, any idea how likely that is in this case?

[cfs111]

The quest is already bugged, and these commands target that quest only. If anything untoward does happen the backup save will have you covered.

[cfs111]

And have you been through Arkngthamz? And did you meet Katria? The console is a debug tool.

[drwatson1873]

Console commands can sometimes bollix an ongoing game, so use them sparingly. That being said, cfs1111 is a very experienced modder and Skyrim player, so I would trust his advice if choosing to try the console route. I take it that reading the book 'Aetherium Wars' has not had any effect at this point...did you read it in the outside world or in an interior cell?

[drwatson1873]

Ninja'd by the man himself...follow his advice, and best of luck.

[Ernavill]

@CFS111 Yes I've been to Arkngthamz. I met Katria and managed to get the piece, but I just wasn't able to pick up the journal.

@drwatson1873 I think I only read it in an interior cell, not outside. Does that make a difference? I'll try reading it in an outside cell next time.

[drwatson1873]

I'm afraid I don't really know...sometimes the oddest things seem to work. I have only read it in interior cells as I recall, but then I tend to 'read/pick up' every book encountered without paying much attention. I know that I have visited Mzulft's exterior area prior to encountering a copy, so it must be the interior that bugs the quest. I also tend to always have the Unofficial patch active from the start of a playthrough, so there's that factor in play as well. It strikes me that it would be worth a try to read it in an exterior worldspace...you're only out a couple of seconds of gameplay time.

[drwatson1873]

Unless, of course, you get mobbed by Bandit Vampire Skeevers or something...:)