The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Quest Givers & Starting Quests

Find Quest Givers and learn about starting quests in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Begin your journey with guidance on the Main Quest and other key storyline.

Quest Givers & Starting Quests

Welcome, aspiring Champion of Cyrodiil! The world of Oblivion is vast and filled with opportunities for adventure, riches, and glory. Knowing where to begin your journey and who to speak with is crucial. This section will guide you through the initial steps of many significant questlines, ensuring you don't miss out on valuable experiences.

The Main Quest: Deliver the Amulet of Kings

Your grand adventure begins immediately upon escaping the Imperial Prison. This questline is central to the game's narrative and will introduce you to many key characters and locations.

  • Starting Point: Imperial Prison, during the tutorial.
    • After Emperor Uriel Septim VII's assassination, you are tasked with delivering the Amulet of Kings.
    • Follow Baurus and the Blades through the secret escape route.
    • Upon exiting the prison sewers, you will be given the Amulet of Kings and instructed to find Jauffre.
  • First Steps: Find Jauffre
    • Location: Weynon Priory, southeast of the Imperial City.
    • Travel: Head east from the prison exit, then follow the road south. Alternatively, you can fast-travel to the Imperial City and then walk or ride a horse to Weynon Priory.
    • Dialogue: Speak with Jauffre, the Grandmaster of the Blades, and present him with the Amulet of Kings. He will then direct you to Martin at Kvatch.

Fighters Guild: Prove Your Mettle

For those who prefer steel and brute force, the Fighters Guild offers numerous contracts to hone your combat skills and earn gold. Joining is straightforward and can be done in almost any major city.

  • Starting Quest: A Rat Problem (Anvil) or The Desolate Mine (Chorrol).
  • Anvil Branch:
    • Quest Giver: Azzan
    • Location: Fighters Guild Hall in Anvil.
    • Steps for A Rat Problem:
      1. Speak to Azzan to join the guild and receive your first contract.
      2. Head to Arvena Thelas's House in Anvil.
      3. Talk to Arvena Thelas about her rat problem.
      4. Descend into her basement and eliminate the three Rats.
      5. Return to Arvena Thelas for your reward and further instructions.
      6. Report back to Azzan to complete the quest and receive your payment.
  • Chorrol Branch:
    • Quest Giver: Vilena Donton
    • Location: Fighters Guild Hall in Chorrol.
    • Steps for The Desolate Mine:
      1. Speak to Vilena Donton to join the guild. She will direct you to Modryn Oreyn for contracts.
      2. Talk to Modryn Oreyn, who will assign you the task of clearing The Desolate Mine.
      3. Travel to The Desolate Mine, located northeast of Chorrol.
      4. Enter the mine and eliminate all the Goblins within. Be prepared for multiple enemies and potentially a Shaman.
      5. Return to Modryn Oreyn in Chorrol to report your success and receive your reward.

Mages Guild: Master the Arcane Arts

For those with an affinity for magic, the Mages Guild offers a path to becoming a powerful spellcaster. To join, you must gain recommendations from each guild hall in Cyrodiil.

  • Starting Quest: Anvil Recommendation (Anvil).
  • Anvil Branch:
    • Quest Giver: Caranya
    • Location: Mages Guild Hall in Anvil.
    • Steps for Anvil Recommendation:
      1. Speak to Caranya to express your interest in joining the Mages Guild. She will ask you to retrieve a Staff of Paralysis from Falanu Hlaalu.
      2. Locate Falanu Hlaalu, who can usually be found at the Anvil Mages Guild Hall or her house.
      3. Falanu will tell you she lent the staff to Arielle Jurard, who is currently at Bleak Mine.
      4. Travel to Bleak Mine, located northeast of Anvil.
      5. Enter the mine and find Arielle Jurard. She will be dead, and the Staff of Paralysis will be on her body.
      6. Retrieve the staff and return to Caranya in Anvil.
      7. Present the staff to Caranya to receive your recommendation.

Dark Brotherhood: Embrace the Shadow

For those with a darker inclination, the Dark Brotherhood offers a life of assassination and stealth. Joining this infamous guild requires a specific act.

  • Starting Quest: A Knife in the Dark.
  • Triggering Event: Commit a murder.
    • To initiate contact with the Dark Brotherhood, you must commit a murder of an innocent NPC. This means killing someone who is not hostile towards you.
    • A common method is to find a lone NPC, such as a beggar or a traveler on a secluded road, and kill them.
    • After committing the murder, sleep in any bed (owned or unowned).
    • Upon waking, you will be greeted by Lucien Lachance, a Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood, who will offer you the quest A Knife in the Dark.
  • First Contract:
    • Quest Giver: Lucien Lachance
    • Location: Wherever you sleep after committing murder.
    • Steps for A Knife in the Dark:
      1. Lucien Lachance will appear and instruct you to kill Rufio at the Inn of Ill Omen.
      2. Travel to the Inn of Ill Omen, located south of the Imperial City.
      3. Find Rufio in the basement of the inn.
      4. Eliminate Rufio.
      5. Return to the location where you last slept and sleep again. Lucien Lachance will reappear and welcome you into the Dark Brotherhood.

Thieves Guild: Master of Shadows and Silver

If you prefer to live by your wits and nimble fingers, the Thieves Guild is your calling. This guild focuses on larceny, stealth, and subterfuge.

  • Starting Quest: May the Best Thief Win.
  • Triggering Event: Get arrested for theft, or speak to specific NPCs.
    • The easiest way to initiate contact is to get arrested for a minor theft (e.g., stealing an apple from a market stall). After serving your time or paying your fine, a mysterious note will be delivered to you.
    • Alternatively, you can speak to beggars in the Imperial City. Ask them about the "Gray Fox" or "Thieves Guild." They will direct you to Armand Christophe.
  • First Steps: Join the Guild
    • Quest Giver: Armand Christophe
    • Location: Waterfront District of the Imperial City, usually at night near the Garden of Dareloth.
    • Steps for May the Best Thief Win:
      1. Find Armand Christophe. He will challenge you and two other aspiring thieves, Amusei and Methredhel, to steal Amantius Allectus's Diary.
      2. The diary is located in Amantius Allectus's House in the Temple District of the Imperial City.
      3. You can either sneak into the house and steal the diary directly, or you can try to steal it from Methredhel if she gets to it first.
      4. Return the Amantius Allectus's Diary to Armand Christophe to prove your worth and join the Thieves Guild.