Oblivion Vampire Cure Quest: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding Vampirism in Oblivion
How Vampirism Works
Before embarking on the path to cure, it’s essential to grasp the nature of vampirism in Oblivion. Becoming a vampire isn’t a simple matter; it’s a gradual process triggered by contracting a specific disease: Porphyric Hemophilia. This disease is primarily transmitted by vampires, usually through combat. A bite or attack from a vampire has a chance to infect you. Once infected, you’ll experience the symptoms of the disease, and if left untreated, it will develop into full-blown vampirism after a few in-game days. Pay close attention to the status effects displayed in your inventory, noting any mention of illness. Early detection and treatment with a Cure Disease potion or spell can prevent the transformation.
The Effects of Being a Vampire
The effects of vampirism are twofold: it offers enhanced abilities and significant drawbacks. As a vampire, you’ll gain increased Strength, Endurance, Agility, Speed, and Willpower. You’ll also gain powerful abilities, such as the ability to detect life (Night Eye), increase your skills related to sneakiness, and drain the life force of enemies (Vampiric Drain). These buffs make you a formidable opponent. However, along with these advantages comes a price.
Vampirism Drawbacks
Vampires are acutely vulnerable to sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sun causes your attributes to suffer greatly, decreasing your skills and health regeneration. In the daylight, your abilities, such as Night Eye and Vampiric Drain, become unusable. Furthermore, you’ll need to feed regularly to stave off the debilitating effects of starvation. Failing to feed for too long will cause your attributes to plummet and make you weaker. You become increasingly weak and at risk.
The Stages of Vampirism
The stages of vampirism are divided by the number of days since you last fed. In Stage One (immediately after feeding), you’ll experience the fewest penalties. As the days without feeding increase, you move into Stage Two, Three, and finally Stage Four. Each stage increases your weaknesses, significantly diminishing attributes in sunlight, and intensifying the hostile reactions from non-player characters (NPCs).
Getting Started with the Vampire Cure Quest
Initiating the Quest
The Oblivion Vampire Cure Quest isn’t automatically offered; you must proactively seek it out. The quest begins by speaking to the right individuals. Typically, the initial trigger involves a conversation with a specific NPC in a Mage’s Guild: Raminus Polus, a high-ranking member of the Arcane University. You can find him in the lobby of the Arcane University. Talking to him about the curse of vampirism will initiate the quest. He will provide a vital first lead.
Early Objectives
Following Raminus’s guidance is the initial quest objective. He directs you to seek further help from a specific individual who possesses more information. The individual is, typically, a scholar or a mage with knowledge of the arcane arts. You’ll need to travel to this location, often outside of a town, and speak with this individual to learn the process for a cure. They will detail the necessary steps and the key ingredients required for the ritual.
Preparation for the Quest
Prior to embarking on this quest, it’s wise to prepare. Gather healing potions to bolster your health, especially since fighting is a common element in this quest. Stock up on Cure Disease potions or spells to combat any potential setbacks during the journey. Consider investing in equipment that offers protection against sunlight, such as clothing with high defense. Lastly, ensure you have sufficient inventory space to collect the ingredients, which can be somewhat tedious to gather.
A Step-by-Step Guide Through the Quest
The Oblivion Vampire Cure Quest is a multi-stage process, requiring you to gather rare and sometimes dangerous ingredients. Let’s look at each phase of the quest in more detail.
Finding the Necessary Ingredients
The quest requires four specific ingredients, each obtained through a unique process.
Ingredient One: The Blood of an Argonian
The first ingredient is the “Blood of an Argonian,” a requirement because the character who initiates the quest has some peculiar preferences. Obtaining this ingredient is rather direct but requires a bit of violence, or perhaps cunning. You’ll need to find an Argonian and, well, collect their blood. You can often find Argonians in settlements. You might have to defeat them in combat. Alternatively, you can use sneaky skills, such as pickpocketing, to obtain this ingredient from an Argonian without resorting to fighting. Remember to save your game often while you are doing this part, in case things go sideways.
Ingredient Two: The Powdered Heart of a Daedra Lord
The second ingredient poses a greater challenge: “The Powdered Heart of a Daedra Lord.” To acquire this ingredient, you’ll need to complete a Daedric Shrine quest. Daedric Shrines are scattered throughout Cyrodiil. Each one is dedicated to a specific Daedric Prince. Find a Daedric Shrine, follow the directions, and perform the requested task, whatever that might be. Completing the shrine’s task will reward you with the Powdered Heart. These shrine quests frequently involve combat, so prepare accordingly. Knowing where the shrines are and what they ask is essential for completing this part of the Oblivion Vampire Cure Quest.
Ingredient Three: The Essence of a Vampire
The third ingredient, “The Essence of a Vampire,” is obtained by, once again, defeating a vampire. You need to identify and fight another vampire, defeat them, and collect the item. These vampires are typically of the same type as the ones who infected you. Seek out known vampire lairs. Locations like caves and ruins are often where they dwell. The quest marker can guide you to the right places. Once the vampire is defeated, you can loot the “Essence of a Vampire” from their remains. Make sure you are prepared for a tough fight.
Ingredient Four: Nightshade
The final ingredient is “Nightshade.” Luckily, Nightshade is less difficult to obtain. This common flower is found throughout Cyrodiil and can be picked up from many locations. It grows in various climates, though it can be difficult to spot in the tall grass. Examine the terrain to locate the plant. You will need at least one nightshade for the next stage of the Oblivion Vampire Cure Quest.
The Ritual and the Cure
Once you have collected all four ingredients, return to the individual you spoke with at the beginning of the quest, the one who set you on this path. They will be prepared to perform the ritual, using all the ingredients you have collected. Deliver the ingredients to the individual, or follow their instructions to complete the ritual.
After the ritual is complete, the individual will administer the cure. This will rid you of the curse of vampirism. The immediate effects are noticeable: you will no longer suffer the penalties of sunlight exposure or the need to feed. The world will shift from a nightmarish struggle to something more manageable.
Important Considerations and Tips
The Oblivion Vampire Cure Quest can be more challenging if you are at a lower level, especially for players not used to the world and combat.
General Tips
Some tips to consider include saving your game frequently. This is good advice in any Elder Scrolls game but is even more valuable if you have a disease or illness.
Combat Tips
Combat prowess is a must. Enemies within the game scale to your level, and vampires tend to hit very hard. The vampire lairs have a variety of enemies.
Using Quest Markers
Familiarize yourself with the quest markers. While the game’s guidance system is typically accurate, it’s always useful to cross-reference the markers with maps or guides to avoid confusion. If you get turned around, you can get lost, or run into dangers.
Troubleshooting and Bugs
Some players report bugs, but they aren’t prevalent. If you encounter a problem, reload a previous save to work around any game glitches.
External Resources
If you find yourself struggling during any part of this quest, don’t hesitate to consult external resources such as the UESP wiki.
After the Cure
Benefits of Being Cured
Being cured of vampirism has its share of advantages. The most obvious benefit is the elimination of sunlight penalties. No longer will your attributes be reduced when exposed to the sun. Secondly, you’ll be able to interact with NPCs without suffering hostile reactions. This allows you to do quests that may have been closed to you, and to buy items, or receive assistance. This means that the world becomes more friendly.
Consequences of Remaining a Vampire
The opposite is also the case. If you choose not to pursue the cure and continue as a vampire, you’ll remain vulnerable to the penalties described earlier. Your weaknesses and hostile interactions will persist, making it more difficult to navigate the world.
Possibility of Re-infection
You can actually become a vampire again. If you choose, you can contract Porphyric Hemophilia once again and the process begins anew. It’s also important to note that curing yourself of vampirism doesn’t eliminate it forever; if you get bitten again, you’ll become a vampire again.
Conclusion
The Oblivion Vampire Cure Quest is an integral part of the gameplay experience for anyone afflicted with vampirism. Successfully completing the quest alleviates the significant drawbacks associated with being a vampire, allowing you to explore Cyrodiil without constant hindrance. It also offers players the agency to control their character’s destiny and choose their preferred play style. The process of gathering the required ingredients and completing the ritual, while challenging, is a rewarding experience. Embracing this quest can greatly improve your overall experience in the vast world of Oblivion.
The decision to be a vampire, or to be cured, is something you, the player, can choose. There are no wrong decisions in the world of The Elder Scrolls. This guide provides you with the resources and the information to complete the quest and overcome the curse. Explore the game, embrace the adventure, and enjoy the freedom that comes from overcoming the challenges presented by the Oblivion Vampire Cure Quest.
