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This article is a work in progress. |
Exclusive to Skyrim's Special Edition files, you can stumble across the DialogueViews files inside of the game's directory. Opening them up with a coding tool like Visual Studio Code, you'll find a ton of earlier dialogue. The selection appears to be quite random, as while there are very early leftovers, a good bit of finalized content does not appear in these files, possibly suggesting the system was no longer used towards the end of development. In some cases, the text in the DialogueViews files is the same as in the Creation Kit's "Edits" tab, although more often than not, the iterations are even earlier. We can even see the dates this dialogue was edited on, and by which developer.
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Brandish & M'desi in A Chance Arrangement
The file 000C0BC4.xml was first edited by ananes on 2/4/2010 and last on 1/24/2011. It contains earlier dialogue for Brynjolf for the quest A Chance Arrangement. It contains quite a bit of differences. First of, Brand-Shei is still referred to under the name "Brandish Begin-Again", his original name from when he (presumably) was a Nord. A couple of internal names and the official game guide still mention this name as well. Your source of the ring would've been Grelka here, who runs an armory stand in the final game, not a jewelry one, and your goal is to steal an orichalcum ring... which isn't an item in the final game. Orichalcum makes weapons and armor, but not jewelry.
Albeit stored under the same date, this dialogue seems to be from a different, presumably later revision. It now mentions a "M'desi" as the owner of the jewelry stand. Presumably M'desi was a Khajiit who was later replaced by the jewelry vendor in the final game, the Argonian Madesi.
Speaker |
Early Dialogue |
Final Dialogue |
|---|---|---|
Player |
How am I supposed to do all of this? |
How am I supposed to do all of this? |
Brynjolf |
Want me to hold your hand as well? You're going to have to sneak over to M'desi's stall and use your lockpick on the strongbox. Then when you have the ring, you pickpocket Brandish and leave it behind. |
Do you want me to hold your hand as well? You're going to have to sneak over to Madesi's stall and use your lockpick on the strongbox. Then when you have the ring, you pickpocket Brand-Shei and leave it behind. |
If you asked him again while having the ring, in the final game there is no such extra dialogue for this scenario:
Speaker |
Early Dialogue |
|---|---|
Player |
How am I supposed to do all of this? |
Brynjolf |
Want me to hold your hand as well? You have the ring. All you have to do is pick Brandish's pocket and plant it there. |
Breca
The file 000211DE.xml was first altered by sLiesegang on 9/30/2009 and last altered by the same user on 10/21/2009. It contains dialogue for the Ivarstead NPC Jofthor related to his part in the quest The Book of Love. It has one notable difference when compared to the final version:
Speaker |
Early Dialogue |
Final Dialogue |
|---|---|---|
Player |
Your daughter asked me to speak to you. |
Your daughter asked me to speak to you. |
Jofthor |
I'm sure I know what this is about. She thinks she's in love with Bassianus and wants to leave town. With him. Let me tell you how I see it. Until a few months ago, the girl was head over heels for Breca. Wouldn't stop talking about him. Now if I thought she was really in love with Bassianus, that would be one thing. But she's a child. It will pass. |
I'm sure I know what this is about. She thinks she's in love with Bassianus and wants to leave town. With him. Let me tell you how I see it. Until a few months ago, the girl was head over heels for Klimmek. Wouldn't stop talking about him. Now if I thought she was really in love with Bassianus, that would be one thing. But she's a child. It will pass. |
Klimmek gets referred to as "Breca" instead. Similarly, the topic name in the final game T0JofthorAboutKlimmek is referred to as T0JofthorAboutBreca in the DialogueViews files. Inside of the Creation Kit, there are only two leftover mentions of Breca: 1 in the name of the fishing marker that Klimmek uses, which is called IvarsteadBrecaFishingMarker and 1 other mention is made by the script SF_T02BrecaFastred_00026F07.
Dawnstar Freeform Quest
In the final game, Dawnstar is the only hold capital without any sort of freeform quest associated with it. In the Creation Kit, there are almost no leftovers of any quest to be found, except for three mentions of the quest name FreeformDawnstarA being mentioned as a "quest property" in three random script snippets: TIF__0003C39C, TIF__00057E23, and TIF__01052E0C. This doesn't tell us anything except the fact that it one point existed in some form or another. However, the DialogueViews contain basically all dialogue for this quest . Apparently, you could have helped resolve the feud between former-partners-turned-rival-mine-operators Leigelf and Beitild. The files 0005B28C.xml and 00052B82.xml contain the dialogue for Beitild and Leigelf, respectively. All files were first created and last altered on 4/20/2010 by user wshen, except for the last line of Leigelf's quest dialogue, which was altered on the 26th.
It appears that you could've started quest by speaking to either party:
Speaker |
Text |
|---|---|
Player |
You and your wife are fighting? |
Leigelf |
She kicked me out of the house a few moons ago. Started driving me out of business. Well, I'm better off without that old hag pushing me around. I'll get the mine turned around in no time. |
Player |
Are you and your husband fighting? |
Beitild |
He doesn't respect me. Always going on about he could run the mine better without my help. Well, I'm going to show him. Let's see him say he doesn't need me when he's out of business. |
You would then come across Leigelf's journal inside of his house, revealing his true thoughts. Again, you could return to either party with this information:
Speaker |
Text |
|---|---|
Player |
You might be interested in this journal I found. |
Beitild |
A journal? What do I care about some journal? I have a mine to run. |
Player |
It's (sic) your husband, Leigelf. He says he still loves you. |
Beitild |
Let me see that... Oh, Leigelf, you big oaf. You felt this way the whole time? I need to talk to my husband. Thank you for bringing this to me. |
Speaker |
Text |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
Player |
I found this journal in your house. |
|
Leigelf |
What are you doing with my journal? Give it back. |
|
Player |
It says here that you still love Beitild. |
|
Leigelf |
Well, maybe I do. Maybe I miss that bossy old sabrecat. But I'm not letting her run me out of business. My pride is on the line. Now give me back my journal. |
Presumably a passed persuasion check. |
Leigelf |
Give me back my journal. Now. |
Presumable the failed variant. |
Player |
Not until you talk to your wife about this. |
Continuation of the success path. |
Leigelf |
Forget it. I... I... Maybe you're right. Maybe this feud has gone on long enough. Thank you. I'll talk to Beitild. |
|
Player |
Fine. None of my business, anyway. |
Continuation of the failed path. |
Leigelf |
Damn right it was none of your business. Now leave me alone. |
While the feud would apparently be resolved by the end of this quest, it's unknown what the effects in-game would be for the different mines or the miners working under Beitild and Leigelf. Presumably though, this quest getting cut resulted in Beitild becoming a Dark Brotherhood contract target, as she lost her previous quest relevancy. Also interesting to note is that in the final game, if either party dies, the other will get a unique line of dialogue about this. Beitild will refer to Leigelf as an "oaf", while he will refer to her as an "old sabre cat". These are the same pet names as they would have used in this quest, and might have been deliberatly carried over.
Dark Ancestor Original Location
The file 000B83C5.xml contains no editing date, but its contents are the dialogue for Falkreath's Dengeir of Stuhn for the quest Dark Ancestor. One very interesting difference here is the description (or lack thereof) you're sent to:
Speaker |
Early Dialogue |
Final Dialogue |
|---|---|---|
Player |
I will see that Vighar is destroyed. |
I will see that Vighar is destroyed. |
Dengeir |
Good. He will have fled to Shriekwind Bastion to gather others of his kind. |
Good. He will have fled to gather others of his kind. |
While in the final game, despite you not getting sent anywhere specific, like is usually the case with radiant quests that have random parameters, you will always be sent to Bloodlet Throne. Blood Throne was clearly made with this quest in mind, as Vighar has specific dialogue that's unique to his quest. Although clearly it would have originally been Shriekwind Bastion that you would've been sent to. While Shriekwind Bastion is still a vampire dungeon in the final game, it has no dedicated quest attached to it and is only ever chosen as radiant quest target. Although clearly there was once meant to be something going on at this location, there's a blank quest bearing the name dunShriekwindQST which could've potentially set up scenes, as well as an unused message that would've renamed a generic vampire to "Vampire Jailor".
For the Good of Morthal
The file 00021899.xml was first altered by bchapin on 5/5/2010, and last altered by jhammett on 5/3/2011. It contains dialogue related to the the quest For the Good of Morthal, showing us that Gorm's quest intro dialogue was originally longer. One of his replies and one player reply were removed and the other dialogue was retrofitted. The removed dialogue is marked in red.
Speaker |
Text |
|---|---|
Player |
Is there something bothering you, Gorm? |
Gorm |
There's a... A problem, yes. I'm worried about Idgrod, and I don't know what to do. |
Player |
What's the problem? |
Gorm |
She's so lost in her visions, and it's only getting worse. I've looked after her safety for so long... If she can't tell what's real and what's not, how will she continue to lead Hjaalmarch? |
Heljarchen Mention
The file 0002C26C.xml was first created by sLiesegang on 9/10/2009 and last edited on 3/20/2010 by the same person. It contains dialogue for Windhelm NPC Nurelion for the quest The White Phial. One interesting change is that in his original route description of the Phial's final resting place, Nurelion would have mentioned the cut settlement of Heljarchen:
Speaker |
Early Dialogue |
Final Dialogue |
|---|---|---|
Player |
If you tell me where it is, I can get it for you. |
If you tell me where it is, I can get it for you. |
Nurelion |
You would do that? It's good to know there are some people out there who are willing to help an old man. It's buried with it's maker, Curamil (sic), in a long forsaken cave to the northeast of Heljarchen. Curalmil was a crafty one, even in death. You would need the skills of a master alchemist to reach his resting place. Luckily for you, I've already made the mixture. Here, take it. Please... don't dally. I've wasted enough time arguing with my useless assistant here. |
You would do that? It's good to know there are some people out there who are willing to help an old man. It's buried with its maker, Curalmil, in a long forsaken cave to the west of here. Curalmil was a crafty one, even in death. You would need the skills of a master alchemist to reach his resting place. Luckily for you, I've already made the mixture. Here, take it. Please... don't dally. I've wasted enough time arguing with my useless assistant here. |
Morgus Ghoruun
The file 0002DD2C.xml was first edited by bnesmith on 9/15/2009 and last edited by the same user on 7/13/2010. It contains dialogue related to the quest Laid to Rest.
Speaker |
Early Dialogue |
Final Dialogue |
|---|---|---|
Player |
Alva is responsible for the fire. |
Alva set the fire. She's the murderer. |
Jarl |
So she burned down Hroggar's house out of jealousy? |
So Alva did it to get Hroggar for herself? I should have suspected her. |
Player |
No. She was a vampire. She planned to enslave the town. |
Actually, she's a vampire. She planned to enslave the town. |
Jarl |
By the gods! I assume you have proof. |
By the gods! I assume you have proof. |
Player |
Here. Read her journal. |
I have Alva's journal. |
Jarl |
By Ysgramor's axe! It's true. Thank you for stopping her vile plot. Unfortunately the town is still in danger. The journal mentions Morgus. That must be Lord Morgus Ghoruun. I'll gather together some able-bodied warriors to clean out Ghoruun Hall. They'll be waiting outside for you to lead them. |
By Ysgramor's axe! It's true. Morthal owes you a debt. Here is your reward for solving the murder, but I have another request. Unfortunately Morthal is still in danger. The journal mentions Movarth, a powerful master vampire that I had assumed was destroyed. I'll gather together some able-bodied warriors to clean out Movarth's lair. They'll be waiting outside for you to lead them. |
The most notable thing about these arly lines is that they mention a Morgus Ghoruun as the central master vampire, presumably before they decided to bring back the legacy character of Movarth Piquine. In the files, there are plenty of files still bearing the name "ghoruun" or "ghorunn" associated with both the quest and the location, yet they did not provide the full context like this line does. "Ghoruun Hall" also appears on one of the pre-release Skyrim maps at the location of Movarth's Lair in the final game. Also of note is that it's unknown who would've actually used these lines. They're most similar to the lines used by Sorli the Builder, the replacement jarl in the final game. However, this dialogue was written before Idgrod's lines, who's the incumbent jarl in the final game. Either this iteration was first written for Idgrod, with her getting completely rewritten dialogue and these lines getting rewritten and reused for Sorli, or these lines were originally meant for Bryling, who was originally designed as Morthal's jarl before even Idgrod.
Sabjorn Exposition
The file 0004E3B5.xml was created and last edited on 3/2/2010 by user ananes. It contains the topic TG03GeneralSabjornBranch, related to the quest Dampened Spirits, which did not make it into the final game. It would've both given some background on Sabjorn and his operation, as well as deepened the ties this quest would've had to Karliah's scheming behind the scenes. It's unknown who would've told you this, but presumably it was Mallus Maccius, your contact during the quest.
Speaker |
Text |
|---|---|
Player |
Anything else you can tell me about Sabjorn? |
Speaker |
His father was some sort of shipping merchant. Made a bit of coin before he died at the hand of some giants. Sabjorn used it all to open the meadery. Why he decided to butt heads with Maven Black-Briar I have no idea. Funny thing is he didn't have nearly enough coin to do this on his own. I guess he borrowed the rest. |
Silver Hand Confrontation
File 0003EA93.xml has no editing dates, but contains some pretty interesting dialogue lines that don't have equivalents in the final game. These lines are kept under the topic WC01SilverHandPursuitBranch
Speaker |
Text |
|---|---|
Speaker |
I know what you are. I know the hunger that haunts your dreams. |
Player |
What are you talking about? |
Speaker |
You're a werewolf. Don't try to deny it. We've seen it. |
Player |
So what are you going to do? |
Speaker |
We'll give you a chance. Find the Glenmoril Witches, in the southern end of the Reach. They have the skills to free you from this prison. Fly quickly, dog. We'll be at your heels before long. |
The lines are related to some kind of world interaction you would've had with members of the Silver Hand after becoming a werewolf in the Companions questline. It's very interesting in the fact that normally, you're never able to interact with any of the members. They also imply you could've gotten cured by the Glenmoril witches by visiting them, which is also not how that works in the final game. In the Creation Kit, 6 scripts related to this interaction still survive, though they do little to enlighten us. Apparently, some kind of altar and a sacrifice would be connected to this interaction as well. No other quests in the game, unused or otherwise, use the "WC" prefix.