Although The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered‘s main plot deals with the fate of the entire world, there are a plethora of side quests to keep you busy while you put off delving into yet another Oblivion gate. Many of these quests are pretty standard fantasy RPG fare, involving goblins, knights, and the various factions in Cyrodiil. However, there are also plenty that are more than a little odd, in either amusing or creepy ways.

There are many ways to stumble across side quests in Oblivion Remastered, but just like in the original, I’ve found the best way is to chat to NPCs and ask them about rumors. Another great option for gaining more side quests is to join all the guilds or compete in the Arena, as each of these has its own unique questline and rewards. From unexpected boat trips to missing people and painted trolls, there are plenty of odd side quests in Oblivion that are worth the time to seek out.

A Rat Problem Is Surprisingly Subversive

Flips The Script On Typical Fantasy Side Quests

After joining the Fighters Guild and speaking with Azzan in the Anvil Guild Hall, he’ll send you to talk to the client about a rat issue in her home. On the surface, “A Rat Problem” seems to follow the traditional fantasy quest outline, and this seems to be a typical side quest about killing the rats. However, speaking with Arvena in her house, she will explain that the rats are her pets and something is attacking them, meaning you will need to keep the rats safe.

Venturing into the basement, you’ll find a mountain lion, and with the help of the local huntsman, the rest of them outside Anvil are quickly dealt with. However, “A Rat Problem” has one final twist when the culprit is revealed. Despite Arvena believing that the person lured the lions to her home, they were really just trying to lure the rats outside and out of the city.

Zero Visibility Holds A Hidden Secret

Find Out What Happened To An Empty Village

The quest “Zero Visibility” can be started by either speaking with Malene at the Roxey Inn or finding the village of Aleswell while exploring. At first, it looks like the village is abandoned; however, watching closely, you will be able to see a slight blue hinting at what has really happened. The villagers are all invisible and will plead with you to help them, pointing the finger at the local wizard who lives just down the hill.

The reward for helping the village of Aleswell is a free room at the Aleswell Inn, where items can be safely stored. This is great to get early in the game, so completing this quest immediately after leaving the sewers is a great idea.

Inside Fort Caractacus, Ancotar can be a little hard to find, as he is also invisible. He is usually found up the stairs in a small room; however, when I completed the quest, he waited at the entrance way to speak to me. However, once you explain that the villagers want to be visible again and his disposition is above 71, he will help and give a scroll to end the spell.

Whom Gods Annoy Has Strange Pests

Assist With A Strange Pest Problem

Asking about rumors around Leyawiin and people will eventually point you in the direction of Rosentia Gallenus’s house, often mentioning strange noises and smells. A visit to Rosentia will reveal that she’s dealing with a very unusual pest problem after buying a Daedric staff. Four scamps appeared and are now following her around, and she will ask for your help.

The Staff of the Everscamp has enchantments that slow your movement by 20 points, so if you don’t clear the cave beforehand, make sure to pack some Potions of Speed.

The quest itself is rather simple, after asking for advice from the local Mages Guild, who will tell you where to take the staff to get rid of it. Heading to Darkfathom Cave, you will need to fight through the enemies inside before dropping the staff on the altar to Sheogorath. I’ve found it best after speaking with the Mages Guild and updating Rosentia to tell her “Not yet”, and going to clear the save before taking the staff.

Sanguine’s Daedric Quest Is Shameless

Spice Up A Fancy Party

Daedric quests in the Elder Scrolls are always interesting, but there are certain members of the pantheon where it is all but guaranteed to be that extra level of weird. Sanguine is the Daedric Prince of debauchery, whose quests are usually centered around drinking or merriment in the extreme. Oblivion Remastered is no exception, and if you visit Sanguine’s Shrine and offer him some Cyrodilic Brandy, he will send you on a quest.

The best way into the party is to wear some upper-class clothes, such as the black and burgundy outfit or the red velvet outfit.

Sanguine will temporarily give you a new spell, Stark Reality, and send you to a very fancy dinner party being hosted at Castle Leyawiin. To complete the quest, all you need to do is cast Stark Reality on five of the guests, which will remove all their clothes. The spell counts as assault, so be prepared to be arrested or run, but the reward is the Sanguine Rose staff.

An Unexpected Voyage Proves Nothing Is Safe

Take A Free Boat Trip

When visiting the Imperial City, it’s worth heading over to the Waterfront District to see an unusual inn. The Bloated Float is a retrofitted ship that now serves as the district’s tavern, and for 10 gold, you can rest in one of the comfortable rooms. However, upon doing so for the first time, the side quest “An Unexpected Voyage” will begin, revealing that the boat has been hijacked.

There are four members of a gang called the Blackwater Brigands, who are all conveniently spread out throughout the ship. None will attack immediately, and they can be spoken with to learn more about why they’ve stolen the Bloated Float. However, this information will appear in your journal even if they are killed without chatting to them. Sleeping again will complete the quest and return the ship to the city for your reward.

Where Spirits Have Lease Is A Fixer-Upper

Clearing A Haunting Leads To A Free Upgrade

Oblivion Remastered has 12 houses to choose from for those looking to put down roots in Cyrodiil. My personal favorite can be bought from Velwyn Benirus in Anvil, who is selling his grandfather’s delapidated manor. Costing 5000 gold, the manor is a bargain, but after attempting to sleep there for the first time, you’ll soon find out why it was so cheap.

You will be woken by ghosts attacking, and after clearing the house and finding a scrap of a diary must confront Velwyn. Convincing Velwyn to return with you to Anvil to lift the curse, you’ll uncover the dark secret behind your new home. This is a fantastic quest to do as soon as you have the gold, as once the curse is lifted, the manor will be fully upgraded at no extra cost.

Finding All The Heaven Stones Is Worth Your Time

Get Seven New Spells For Free

Dotted all over Cyrodiil are powerful obelisks known as Heaven Stones. Although this is technically not a side quest, tracking down all seven is worthwhile, as each one gives a unique spell. Not to be confused with the Birthsign Stones, which tie into the Birthsigns chosen at the start of Oblivion Remastered, the Heaven Stones offers spells that will not replace each other when a new one is activated.

This means that seven new spells can be obtained permanently so long as your Hero meets the required amount of Renown to activate the stone. For example, the Jone Stone, north of Skingrad, requires 10 Renown, whereas the Dragon Stone requires 100. The stones can only be activated at night, and the spells can be used once per day to fortify the various skills in Oblivion.

A Shadow Over Hackdirt Is Unsettling

Creepy Cultists & Lovecraftian Flair

The quest “A Shadow Over Hackdirt” is one of the better-known of all the strange side quests in Oblivion. After meeting a young argonian woman, Dar-Ma, in Chorrol, you can return to the city to hear rumors that she has gone missing. Her mother will point you in the direction of Hackdirt, a small village to the south, but when spoken to, the residents will deny ever seeing Dar-Ma.

A thorough investigation will reveal that everyone in Hackdirt are worshippers of the Deep Ones, and they believe that sacrificing Dar-Ma will summon them. The Deep Ones is a clear reference to Lovecraft and his Great Old Ones mythos, and the entire quest has a fantastic, eerie feel to it. There are also some great links to lore, with the Bible of the Deep Ones being an excerpt from the Sload book N’Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!

Sheogorath’s Daedric Quest Opens Up Chaos

Uncle Sheo Is Up To His Old Tricks

No list of odd Elder Scrolls quests would be complete without Sheogorath, and his Daedric quest is the second time the Daedric Prince of Madness has popped up. To start his quest, head to his Shrine south of Bravil and leave him an offering of a head of lettuce, a ball of yarn, and a lesser Soul Gem. After this, he’ll send you on one of my favorite Daedric Prince quests in Oblivion to ‘help’ fulfill a prophecy.

In the village of Border Watch, north of Leyawiin, Sheogorath wants you to make two of the three signs for an apocalyptic prophecy to come true. The quest is very straightforward, but just the right amount of silliness for a Sheogorath quest and a special surprise for the third sign courtesy of Uncle Sheo himself. The reward for this quest is, of course, the Wabbajack, so you can spread further chaos throughout Cyrodiil.

A Brush With Death Reshades The World

Dive Into A Painted World

Finally there is “A Brush with Death”, which can be started in Cheydinhal by either listening to rumors or visiting the home of Rythe Lythandas. Upon arriving at the house, you’ll find that the famous painter has gone missing from a locked room, and his wife begs you to help. Investigating Rythe’s studio will reveal a strange painting that can be activated to transport you into a painted world.

Painted trolls will need to be defeated with turpentine and a magic paintbrush retrieved to get you and Rythe back to the real world for your reward. This is such a weird Oblivion Remastered side quest, but in the best possible way. “A Brush with Death” is very quick but incredibly memorable, featuring plenty of the trademark strangeness that Oblivion and the Elder Scrolls in general manage to pull off so well.