Welcome to NGB! In this walkthrough for the Dagon Shrine main quest in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, we’ll guide you through the cultist cavern, show both ways to retrieve the Mysterium Xarxes, and help you decide the fate of Jeelius. Whether you fight your way out or play along with the Mythic Dawn, this guide has your back.
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How to Start the Dagon Shrine Quest
The Dagon Shrine main quest in Oblivion Remastered will automatically begin after completing The Path of Dawn quest.
Travel to Lake Arrius Caverns
Head north of Cheydinhal to find Lake Arrius Caverns. Enter the cave and speak to the Doorkeeper, who will let you through. Inside, Harrow will request all your possessions.
Choice: Hand Over Your Possessions or Not
Decline to Surrender Gear
If you say no, he’ll give you one more chance to reconsider. Afterwards, he’ll turn hostile and fight you. This, in turn, will cause the Doorkeeper to attack you as well. Defeat them both then loot the Shrine of Dagon Key from Harrow’s corpse.
Next, head into the Shrine Antechamber. Defeat the two guards in here then exit via the southern tunnel. Hug the left side to find the “Wood Door to Dagon Shrine”. Use the Shrine of Dagon Key to open the door.
Inside the shrine, kill all of the Mythic Dawn. Be sure to speak with Jeelius, who is lying under the statue and free him.
He’ll then take off. (You can find him later at The Temple of the One in the Imperial City Temple District, and he’ll give you a skill increase to Restoration, Mysticism, and Alchemy.)
Next, grab the Mysterium Xarxes from the altar. If you grab it before freeing Jeelius, the statue will collapse, killing him.
Hand Over Your Possessions
Alternatively, if you hand over your possessions, follow Harrow to the Dagon Shrine. When Mankar Camoran escapes to his realm of Paradise with the Amulet of Kings, Ruma Camoran will ask you to approach the altar and slay a sacrifice.
Choice: Slay or Spare the Sacrifice
Kill the Sacrifice
If you agree to slay the sacrifice, you’ll need to approach the altar and take the Silver Dagger, which is right next to the book you need to grab. If you grab the book, everyone will turn hostile.
With the Silver Dagger in hand, kill the prisoner under the altar.
Wait until all but two of the Mystic Dawn agents leave the cavern. You’ll then have to take out Harrow, Ruma Camoran, and a guard as they will not leave the book unattended.
If you head toward the exit, Harrow will follow you. Take him out by the exit then loot your gear from his corpse. Return to the others and eliminate the duo as well.
Spare the Prisoner
If you decline to kill the sacrifice, you’ll face a difficult battle as you are weaponless (unless you have any quest weapons such as the Blade of Woe) and vastly outnumbered.
Instead, agree that you’ll slay the sacrifice. You’ll then need to grab the Silver Dagger on the altar next to the book.
Make a beeline to Harrow as he has all of your stuff. After you loot his corpse, you can take on everyone else.
Once everyone in the room is dead, speak with Jeelius and free him.
He’ll then take off. (You can find him later at The Temple of the One in the Imperial City Temple District, and he’ll give you a skill increase to Restoration, Mysticism, and Alchemy.)
Next, grab the book on the altar. If you grab it before freeing him, the statue will collapse, killing Jeelius.
Escape the Dagon Shrine
After you have the book, exit the room via the stairs on the northern side of the area to reach the Living Quarters. Everyone will be hostile no matter what path you chose above, so either run past them all or take them out.
After entering the Living Quarters, follow the path until you reach a split then take the right path. When you reach the large room, head up and follow the path on the southeastern side of the room.
Upon reaching the dining area, hug the right side of the room to find a tunnel.
Take a right then follow the path until you spot a wooden door on your left that leads to Lake Arrius Caverns. Hug the left side of the room to find another tunnel. At the entrance of this tunnel, turn the handle on the left side.
This will lower the rock wall at the bottom of the path, allowing you to proceed forward. In the next room, move straight ahead to find the way out!
Return to Cloud Ruler Temple
Once you have escaped Lake Arrius Caverns with the Mysterium Xarxes, deliver it to Martin at Cloud Ruler Temple. The quest will then end and the Spies main quest will begin!
Optional Reward from Jeelius
If you saved Jeelius, wait 24 hours then travel to The Temple of the One in the Imperial City Temple District.
As a reward for saving him, he’ll give you a skill increase to Restoration, Mysticism, and Alchemy!
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