I killed Dirge, and now I can't speak to Esbern

[Michael Ventrella]

I've seen other solutions here (setstage MQ202 160) and so on, but none seem to work. He speaks so that's not the issue. The issue is that he won't open the door because I never get the option of giving him the password to let me in. Probably because I killed Dirge who was supposed to tell me where he is (even though I know). This is not my first playthrough but I really don't want to go back and restart at a point many many hours ago.

Any ideas? What patch or fix am I missing? Can I resurrect Dirge or something? Help!

[ChubbNutt]

Yes go up to Dirge's body, open the console and click his body, then type "resurrect." You could also try opening the console, and typing "player.placeatme <whatever Dirge's ID is.>"

[Dragazhar]

Dirge? I found out where he was fron the Thieve's guild and dont remember any Dirge at all. just went up and talked to the door. Earlier builds of Skyrim.. Esbern's voice over was missing and you had to download it and install to fix. That's been fixed in teh USP

[Skyrimnut]

Dirge doesn't tell you the password, Delphine does. Why would Dirge know a Blades password? You don't even need the Thieves Guild to find out where Esbern is. I almost never use them unless I play as a guild member. Hint: the argonian innkeeper at the Bee and Barb knows where to look for the old guy too. Vekel the Man in the Ragged Flaggon will then give a more specific location for Esbern and you don't need to join the Thieves guild to talk to him.

[wfandrews54]

I always followed the "Cornered Rat" quest line and never needed a password to have Esbern open the door. You do not need to join the Thieves Guild to see Esbern. What password are you talking about? There are a couple of lines of dialogue you can choose when speaking to Esbern to have him open the door if you say Delphine sent you.

[Skyrimnut]

It's not a password, you're right, but it's a catch phrase that she tells the Dragonborn to use so Esbern knows she sent you. It's good to use if your speech isn't high enough to convince him to open the door.

[wfandrews54]

True that.

[Michael Ventrella]

I'll try some of those ideas, thanks.

All I know is that I never had a problem in previous runs-through, but this time the only difference is Dirge is dead. The argonian tavernkeeper doesn't have anything as an option to help. I try talking to her but it's just the standard dialog. Went back to Delphine and she doesn't offer any help either.

I just need to get Esbern to do something other than say his three or four phrases chasing me away from the door.

[Michael Ventrella]

And my speech skill is very high -- I decided to do a bunch of other quests before doing the main one this time -- but I am never given the option to say anything to Esbern.

[Michael Ventrella]

I went back and resurrected everyone in the Thieves Guild, then tried the "setstage" option, and it worked this time. Go figure.

Thanks for the suggestion.