Hard Answers

Walkthrough
After having saved the Dragonborn from Mercer Frey betrayal at the Snow Veil Sanctum towards the very end of Speaking with Silence, Karliah explains that it was Mercer who killed the previous Guild Master Gallus Desidenius framing her for the crime.

To prove Mercer's betrayal Karliah hopes that Gallus's Encoded Journal will be a key piece of evidence against Mercer. There is only one problem, the journal is written in a strange language.

Speak with Enthir
To decode the journal, Karliah, sends the Dragonborn to her good friend Enthir at The Frozen Hearth in Winterhold.

Enthir recognizes the language, the journal is written in Falmer. Enthir himself cannot read the journal though and would need some form of dictionary to translate it. Fortunately Enthir knows of an expert on the Falmer language, it is Calcelmo.

Speak with Calcelmo
So the Dragonborn hurries over to Markarth, into the Understone Keep, to ask Calcelmo for his translation notes regarding the Falmer language. The old man is not very forthcoming on the matter, even though the Dragonborn may already have helped him on several occasions. Calcelmo will not make any information public until he has concluded his work.

Gain entry to Calcelmo's Museum
The Dragonborn has no choice but to steal Calcelmo's notes from his laboratory. But to get there the Dwemer Museum needs to be entered.

Obtain the key to Calcelmo's Museum (Optional)
Luckily, the appropriate key is lying around on a box right next to Calcelmo.

Obtain Calcelmo's Falmer Translating Guide
Once inside the museum the Dragonborn will need to avoid the patrolling guards, especially those in Calcelmo's Laboratory, the very aggressive Wizard's Guards.

Tip: Reading Aicantar's Lab Journal and picking up the Spider Control Rod at the lab, could provide a needed detraction for the guards. Sneaking and the occasional use of invisibility potions should work just as well.

Note: Though the Guild way is not to kill and not to get noticed, one could probably simply kill all the guards in the way or to be slightly less direct, indirectly kill them using the many traps in the lab chambers. Everything at the lab is considered stealing, should that make a difference to the Dragonborn.

At the very far end of the laboratory Aicantar will be seen working. Though when disturbed he will immediately attack. Nearby a nifty-looking Dwemer Puzzle Cube can be found on a stand. Again Delvin Mallory will be delighted to buy the unusual item. And there are also copies of Twin Secrets and Chimarvamidium here as well.

Exit the lab, to reach the empty Markarth Wizards' Balcony, though the view is spectacular.

Duplicate the writing on Calcelmo's Stone
Head onwards to Calcelmo's Tower and take a stone rubbing off of Calcelmo's Stone.

Three guards and Aicantar suddenly rush into the tower. Try to avoid them and exit the tower. Fast travel is possible from the balcony, or spectacularly jump off a stone right next to the waterfall into a pool below.

Return to Enthir
Return to Enthir who is now waiting in The Frozen Hearth's cellar together with Karliah and give him the Calcelmo's Stone Rubbing. He will immediately start to translate Gallus's Encoded Journal.

Speak to Enthir
Enthir will explain that Gallus was completely aware of Mercer Frey's shady doings. Not only was Mercer appropriating large sums of gold from the Guild, but also desecrated the Twilight Sepulcher.

Enthir, glad to help Karliah clear up her name again, is thankful to the Dragonborn, and offers his services as a fence at the college.

Speak to Karliah
While Enthir translated the journal, Karliah asks about the Nightingales, and now explains that there was an inner group inside of the Thieves' Guild comprised of her, Mercer and Gallus, sworn to protect the Twilight Sepulcher, the apparent source of all the Guild's good fortune.

As reward for the help so far, the Dragonborn receives the Nightingale Blade from Karliah.

Karliah suggests returning to the Guild via the Ragged Flagon in Riften to clear her name and punish Mercer using the translated Gallus' journal in The Pursuit.

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