The Ring?

Lifting the Veil ..................................................
==============================================================================
Once you have acquired a certain amount of fame (10-20), while wandering the
Streets of Bruma, you may be approached by one of the Countess of Bruma's
Servants, who tells you that she wishes to speak with you about something. He
Tells you when she is available, enter Bruma castle and speak with her between
The given times. It turns out that the countess has a penchant for Akaviri
Relics, and she wishes for you to retrieve one in particular for her, the
Draconian Madstone. The thing can apparently be found in some ruins located
In Pale Pass. Countess Carvain promises to reward you with another Akaviri
Relic if you retrieve the Madstone for her. You are provided with a diary that
You will need to use to locate the ruins, a landmark map found within the
Diary, and a key that you must need to use to enter the ruins. The Countess'
Scouts have already located one of the relics leading to the ruins, it's up to
You to find the others. You're going to be facing some tough enemies, so be
Sure that you have an adequate supply of healing items before embarking on
The quest. You'll also need a silver, magic or Daedric weapon/arrows.

Your quest begins at Dragonclaw Rock, the first landmark on the map. Carvain
Was kind enough to mark Dragonclaw Rock on your map, so make your way to
Closest waypoint and enter the area. By looking at your map, you can see that
From Dragonclaw Rock, you must head west to find a statue. So from Dragonclaw,
Head west until you reach the "The Sentinel" statue. Looking at our map again,
It is clear that from this statue, we must head north to a cave. It is quite
Simply baffling that, given the material at hand, Countess Caravain's scouts
(scouts being plural) could not find the remaining landmarks. Perhaps she
Should look into rehiring. Enter "The Serpent's Trail," inside you will find
The body of the messenger who wrote the diary that the Countess gave to you.
Clutched in the skeleton's hands is a tablet containing the Akaviri's Orders
Mentioned in the diary. It's fairly easy to find your way out of the cave,
There are some tough monsters in here though, so be careful. Use the local
Area map if you are having trouble finding your way.

After locating the exit, you will find yourself in Pale Pass. It's pretty much
All downhill from here, quite literally. The entrance to the ruins can be
Found by following the hill downwards. Of course, you will encounter some form
Of resistance along the way, this resistance being trolls and/or ogres. When
You cannot progress north anymore, turn west and start heading in that
Direction. You should see a frozen pond if you are at the right point. Near
Some rocks on the pond, look for a Frozen Barrel, open it to find a crumpled
Note and Rusty Key. Though of no importance to the quest, it couldn't hurt to
Take it. You should be able to see the entrance to a fort as you continue
Heading west. It is likely that you will encounter a final band of ogres
Before you are able to proceed into the ruins, be careful, as ogres in packs
Are quite deadly. If you have a bow, there are some boulders around that you
Can perch on where the ogres cannot reach you, if you are playing that kind
Of character. Don't even try to run, they will follow you into the ruins.

Inside the ruined fort is the entrance to the "Mouth of the Serpent." Inside
You will encounter a myriad of undead Akaviri warriors, so make sure to save
Your game before heading inside. The halls of the mouth are rigged with traps,
Mostly in the form of touch pads on the floors, so watch your step. The active
Quest arrow will lead you through the ruins, just follow the arrow while
Watching for traps on the wall, ceiling and especially the floor. At the end
Of this area, you will come to a doorway leading to the "Eyes of the Serpent."
This area is nothing more than a connector to the next area of the Akaviri
Ruins. Since the active quest arrow seems to insist that you proceed through
The "Fangs of the Serpent" northern doorway, why not start there.

Same deal here, this area is full of traps and undead Akaviri. Careful, some
Of the pillars here are equipped with arrow launching traps of death, proceed
Past these with caution. Activating the lever will lower the bridge, allowing
You to get to the other side. What's on the other side? Surprise, more undead
Akaviri soldiers. Backtrack if need be. Once that has been dealt with, proceed
Through the doorway leading into the "Venom of the Serpent." Oh, how ominous.
Here's where you may need that magic/Daedric/silver weapon. Inside you will
Encounter a dead Akaviri soldier by the name of Mishaxi. Choose to tell
Mishaxi the orders, if you do he will allow you to step through the doors.
If you want to fight, tell him that you are there for the Madstone. It's best
Not to fight him, as he is quite tough. The Madstone is sitting on a pedestal
Behind where the commander was originally standing, approach and take it.
There are chests and such around too, so feel free to unlock them and take
What is inside if you have the picks.

When you are ready, head through the doorway here leading to the "Scales of
The Serpent." Follow the active quest arrow to a doorway leading back to the
Mouth. From here, you can return to Pale Pass. You can fast travel directly to
Castle Bruma from here if you wish. When the Countess is available, approach
Her and hand over the acquired Draconian Madstone. In return, you are rewarded
With a different Akaviri relic, the Ring of the Vipereye. Though not as useful
As the Madstone, it adds magic resistance and fortifies the agility attribute.
Nothing is stopping you from sneaking in at night, unlocking the display case
And taking the Draconian Madstone back for yourself, however.