The last thing I have to do in Markarth is initiate the House of Horrors quest for the artifact. But first I fast-traveled back to my house to drop off some loot and then went back to Markarth. Vigilant Tyranus is no longer outside the abandoned house. He is also not near the stables, (which I read can be the case sometimes). Where is this guy? Is it possible he died in the big fight between the mine escapees and the guards? If so, wouldn't his body still be around? Bartender in the silver-Blood Inn doesn't offer any rumor for this quest either. Frustrated!

Have you looked inside the abandoned house?

It is locked. Can't get in without the key.

Very possible that he died during the escape from cidna mine, he is the type to rush into battle but not the type likely to make it back out of battle.

As leveled as this city is his body could have fallen anywhere. I dump DB killings all the time (to dispose of the evidence)

I thought that may have been the case as well, but I've been reading all over the web that Vigilus can't die until he gives you the quest.

I think it 'may' be possible (assuming as above that he cannot die), that you could wait say, 30 in game days, and he may well re-spawn, or perhaps just go back intermittently to check?

Not really sure what else to do here - perhaps someone else has experienced this and has a more useful answer for you.

I guess I'll just move on and check back from time to time. If the situation resolves itself, I'll post back with the details of what happened. Thanks guys for the info.

yeah just read he cant die, but Markath is a very buggy city if you are on the PC try the console to bring him to you.

Just go to sleep in the inn and come back during normal daylight hours, he should be back

I'll try that. thanks

didn't work. I may just have to accept the fact that I won't be able to get that artifact, because I am NOT starting over...

If you're on PC you could try placing him at your location.

ps3, unfortunately.

Well that's a bummer. Maybe just go do something outside the Markarth cell for a while and go back to check after some time has passed. If you really wanted to try and get him back right now go to Windhelm and wait 30 days the back to Markarth. That will refresh the entire Markarth cell, and if that doesn't bring him back nothing will.

I will try that, although I'm not sure I want to set a single toe anywhere near a refreshed Markarth - as I was not a good boy there. (18,000 bounty)

Well I had a problem with "Forsworn Conspiracy" - it did not start properly, which means that people near the main gate never got killed. I managed to complete forsworn conspiracy somehow but now I can't start House of Horrors. I never saw Tyranus. He's not at the stables either.

are you the required level?

74