Do I Keep the Rueful Axe?
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You cannot keep the Rueful Axe and the Masque of Clavicus Vile at the same time, as the game’s mechanics only allow you to choose one of these two Daedric artifacts. The decision to keep the Rueful Axe or return it to Clavicus Vile in exchange for the Masque of Clavicus Vile depends on your personal preference and playstyle, considering factors such as the Oblivion Walker achievement and the unique benefits each item provides.
Understanding the Rueful Axe and the Masque of Clavicus Vile
To make an informed decision, it’s essential to understand the characteristics and benefits of both the Rueful Axe and the Masque of Clavicus Vile.
FAQs
1. What is the Rueful Axe?
The Rueful Axe is a unique axe that can be obtained during the A Daedra’s Best Friend quest, where you have to decide whether to kill Barbas, the dog, to keep the axe or spare his life and receive the Masque of Clavicus Vile instead.
2. What is the Masque of Clavicus Vile?
The Masque of Clavicus Vile is a Daedric artifact and a mask that provides 20% better prices, +10 to Speechcraft, and regenerates magicka 5% faster, making it a valuable item for trade, persuasion, and magic users.
3. Can I Keep Both the Rueful Axe and the Masque of Clavicus Vile?
Unfortunately, you cannot keep both the Rueful Axe and the Masque of Clavicus Vile, as the game is designed to let you choose only one of these items as a reward for completing the A Daedra’s Best Friend quest.
4. How Do I Get the Rueful Axe?
To get the Rueful Axe, you must kill Barbas during the A Daedra’s Best Friend quest, which is started by speaking to Lod in Falkreath after reaching level 10.
5. What Happens If I Decide to Spare Barbas?
If you decide to spare Barbas, you will receive the Masque of Clavicus Vile from Clavicus Vile, and Barbas will be reunited with his master.
6. Is the Rueful Axe Worth Keeping?
The Rueful Axe is a powerful weapon but does not count as a Daedric artifact for the purpose of the Oblivion Walker achievement, which might make the Masque of Clavicus Vile a more desirable choice for completionists.
7. Can I Use the Rueful Axe for the Oblivion Walker Achievement?
No, the Rueful Axe does not count towards the Oblivion Walker achievement, which requires collecting a specific set of Daedric artifacts.
8. How Does the Decision Affect Barbas?
If you choose to keep the Rueful Axe, you will have to kill Barbas, but if you choose the Masque of Clavicus Vile, Barbas will be spared and reunited with Clavicus Vile.
9. Can Barbas Be Kept as a Companion?
Barbas can be kept as a companion if you do not complete the A Daedra’s Best Friend quest, but he will not follow the usual companion mechanics and cannot be given commands or equipped with items.
10. What If I Lost Barbas During the Quest?
If you tell Barbas to stop following you, he will travel to Haemar’s Shame and wait for you there, allowing you to reunite with him and continue the quest.
11. Is Clavicus Vile a Daedric Prince?
Yes, Clavicus Vile is the Daedric Prince of power, wishes, and trickery, known for making deals with mortals that often backfire in ironic ways.
12. Can I Sneak with Barbas?
Barbas‘ AI does not allow him to enter stealth mode or follow the player’s lead when crouching, making stealth gameplay challenging with him as a companion.
13. What Does Clavicus Vile Give You?
Clavicus Vile gives you the Masque of Clavicus Vile if you spare Barbas, providing you with the aforementioned benefits related to trade, speech, and magicka regeneration.
14. Is the Masque of Clavicus Vile Heavy Armor?
The Masque of Clavicus Vile is classified as light armor, offering its benefits without the weight and mobility penalties associated with heavy armor.
15. Can I Get Both Items from Clavicus Vile Without Choosing?
There is no official way to obtain both the Rueful Axe and the Masque of Clavicus Vile without exploiting game mechanics or using mods, as the game’s design limits you to one reward based on your choice regarding Barbas‘ fate.