Oblivion Remastered is packed with unusual quests waiting to be uncovered, particularly when you enter the Shivering Isles, the realm of Sheogorath. You’ll quickly see that this new area changes the dynamics, as its characters and landscape are eccentric, offering numerous secrets.
One such secret is the Paranoid Roof Watcher quest. Although this quest isn’t officially documented in your journal, it offers a unique story intertwined within the environment. This hidden side quest exemplifies Bethesda’s knack for placing discoveries throughout the world, similar to the ghosts found on the Hill of Suicides.
How to Begin the Paranoid Roof Watcher Quest
Upon arriving in the Shivering Isles and reaching New Sheoth, you’ll encounter two distinct parts of the city: Bliss and Crucible.
Head to Crucible, where your task is to climb onto the rooftops to stumble upon this unmarked quest.
Even after reaching the right location, you won’t receive any journal updates about the quest’s progress.
How to Access the Rooftops
This task can be easier if you have the Boots of Springheel Jak, which enhance your Acrobatics by 50 points.
To keep the Boots of Springheel Jak and avoid losing them during The Ultimate Heist, either use a paralyze poison on yourself (which can negate fall damage if timed correctly) or ensure that your Acrobatics level is high enough to survive a fall without the boots.
You can also utilize Fortify Health potions to increase your HP enough to withstand fall damage.
Even without the Boots of Springheel Jak, you can still reach the rooftops with strategic climbing. If your Acrobatics skill is close to 100 (or boosted), you should be alright.
To maximize your jump height, consider these helpful methods:
- For Alchemists: Use Fortify Acrobatics potions for a temporary boost in jumping ability.
- For Mages: Create a custom Fortify Acrobatics spell, with potency determined by your Magicka pool.
- For Armorers: Enchant additional armor pieces with Fortify Acrobatics or use Sigil Stones for this purpose.
- For Thieves: Finally, put your exceptional jumps and Acrobatics skills to good use. Enjoy!
After preparing your Acrobatics skills, go to the location where you may have pushed Hirrus Clutumnus to his fate during the Final Resting quest. This spot provides the highest ledge in the city.
If you haven’t been there yet, head to the northeast corner of Crucible and pause before entering the New Sheoth Palace; this is the spot you’ll need to access.
From there, jump onto the nearest curved rooftop, and make sure to save your game in case you fall and need to try again.
Make your way through town toward Cutter’s Weapons, and you’ll spot something unusual on a nearby rooftop. As you approach, you’ll find a curious collection of items:
- A stool
- A couple of bottles of Bernice’s Roofwater Wine
- The Sunken Urn Key
- A note
The note reveals the tale of a paranoid resident who spends his time on the roof, keeping watch over the town. It also hints at the location of the Sunken Urn that the key unlocks.
Explore the additional rooftops for more scattered treasures, including a Ring of Light on the southernmost building, next to some Fur Gauntlets and bones.
After gathering all the rooftop items, proceed to the back of Sickly Bernice’s Taphouse, where there’s a large pool of sewage on a high ledge.
What Rewards Await from the Paranoid Roof Watcher?
Before reaching the ledge, in the pool of sewage, you’ll find your reward: The Sunken Urn, which holds various treasures, including Gold (based on your level), wine, a Jeweled Amulet, Sweetcakes, and other assorted trinkets.
