Does anybody know how to free Thorald Gray-Mane from the Thalmor without any bloodshed?
Ive seen so many rumours online about this quest and im not sure what to believe,
was it fixed in the 1.5 patch? or is it still broken?

Fortunately, there is no peaceful solution to this.



I say it's fortunate, because someone needs to put the Thalmor in their place.....

Peaceful solution....and Thalmor? Good one! My first time doing this quest I took Avulstein and Co. along with (second time I went alone) and when I met up with them just outside the fortress I knew I'd be in for a good time when, to paraphrase, Avulstein said our plan was to 'kill every Thalmor between us and my brother'. I thought to myself - I like this guy!

There is supposed to be a peaceful solution, but it doesn't work for two reasons.

You are supposed to be able to get a letter authorising Thorald's release from General Tullius, but the dialogue option checks for you being at an invalid rank in the Legion.

You are then supposed to be able to present the letter to the Thalmor at the gate, but the dialogue options are in the wrong order, so even if you could get the letter, you wouldn't be able to present it.

Eloise

Nope, I enjoy kill Thalmor anyway.

Also, Bethesda forgot to put the Letter of Pardon into the game. lolwhoops

There can be no peace while the Thalmor live.

Agreed. I need to realize the superiority of the elves? Since when are Dunmer not elves? Apparently only Altmer count.

The Thalmor are all superior up until the Sload come along, then they run like little girls. They need to be humbled. Violently.

thanks for the comments guys, i guess ill just have to murder everyone there!
bit of a shame as i was on the path of Mara preaching her love in skyrim

You can try to use Calm on all of them, and free Thorald (maybe pickpocket some of them if you need to)? Just because the others are bashing the thalmor's heads in, doesn't mean you have to. Don't give up so easily on your chosen path in life, young padawan!

Unfortunately, that doesn't work; when you free Thorald he goes off on the Thalmor, if any are still left by that point.

I did this one again last night and noted that it indicated I should be able to do it peacefully. But I could never figure it out and just killed them anyway. Dang you can rack up a lot of Elven armor in that place.