Selection #1: A confrontation between Lerelius and a Thalmor agent barring your path to finding a fugitive ally.
Thalmor: Halt! Only authorized agents may pass.
Lerelius: Darling, it’s so nice to meet you. Lerelius Venorian. I have a deal with Elenwen. She allows me to conduct my business, and I allow her to conduct hers. Let us through, or I’ll have a little chat with her.
Thalmor: Uh… What is your business down in this rat-hole, Lord Venorian?
Lerelius: It is my own. Just picking up a friend.
Thalmor: Who wouldn’t happen to be the Blade we’re looking for… Would he?
Lerelius: Ah. I see what happened here. This is all a big misunderstanding. That thief you captured? A thrall of a friend of mine. He’s programmed to spit out nonsense if he’s ever captured. I’ll talk to my friend about the inconvenience he caused the Thalmor once my business is concluded.
Thalmor: What? You mean there’s no Blade down here?
Lerelius: Of course not. Have you ever known Blades to spend time in sewers? I certainly haven’t. Not after what happened to good old Uriel.
Thalmor: Good point. Any tips on where we should go next?
Lerelius: My sources caught wind of a Blade traveling to Skyrim by boat. I’d check in with Solitude’s dock guards about any suspicious new arrivals.
Thalmor: Thank you for your aid, Lord Venorian. We will be on our way.
Lerelius: Pleasure doing business with you, my dear.
Selection #2: Powerful Daedric Princes when you attempt to betray them and sever your connection to them by destroying the artifact they gave you.
Clavicus Vile: Masque of Clavicus Vile: But what do you get out of this, my dear Champion? Surely a mere mortal has nothing better to offer than one of my most powerful artifacts. Morals will not pay for your food and shelter. Don’t be a fool, dear. Even a mortal’s heart is not worth what you would give up, could I even guarantee his would be yours for this needless sacrifice.
Clavicus Vile: Rueful Axe: I should have known by your inability to bargain with me that you would fail just the same when faced with a mortal. He offers you nothing. This is a bad deal. Worse than I gave you for killing the dog. And you are weaker than I ever thought for considering it.
Mehrunes Dagon: Mehrunes Razor: A bold move, Champion. And not one I can fault you for. Even now, you serve me. Your rebellion amuses me. You seek to destroy something born of destruction itself. Your actions will not free you of my influence, as this foolish mortal claims. You chose your own destiny, forged in the fires of the Deadlands and tempered in blood. You saw the last attempt at the destruction of my Razor. It did not last. I have another Champion, and she will be stronger than you. Why allow yourself to be disarmed for that inevitable battle?