The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered dives into various moral dilemmas, and the “Dagon Shrine” quest presents players with an especially challenging choice. As part of the main storyline, players are tasked with obtaining a vital artifact to disrupt the sinister plans of the Mythic Dawn cult, which is behind Uriel Septim’s assassination. While infiltrating the cult is relatively straightforward, escaping with your life proves to be much tougher.
After initiating a dark ritual, the Mythic Dawn will demand that you sacrifice a bound captive. Although complying might keep you under the radar, it results in the instant death of an innocent—and that’s likely not what Martin Septim, the monastery heir, would prefer. This pivotal moment requires careful consideration; making the right choice can significantly influence the outcome of this Oblivion Remastered quest.
Entering The Dagon Shrine In Oblivion Remastered
Hand Over Your Items or Face the Consequences
Finding the Dagon Shrine isn’t straightforward; you’ll need to solve a puzzle from “The Path of Dawn” first, but a quest marker will guide you once it’s activated. Once you arrive, you’ll have to confront an immediate decision: either surrender your belongings to the Mythic Dawn or stand your ground.
If you decide to hand over your items, Harrow, a cultist, will keep them safe and give you a Mythic Dawn robe in exchange. If you refuse, be prepared for combat, making your journey to the Shrine’s core more complicated. Alternatively, a stealthy approach is possible, but it requires high skill and a bit of luck.
What Happens If You Kill the Sacrifice
You’ll Still Face Confrontation
If you’ve given your items to Harrow, you can follow him into the caves where a cult ritual unfolds. As the leader Mankar Camoran recites from the Mysterium Xarxes, he vanishes into a portal, taking the Amulet of Kings with him. At this point, the cultists will turn their focus on you and order you to take a dagger and slay Jeelius, an Argonian priest prepared for sacrifice.
Carrying out the sacrifice may please the cultists, and you can take some gold from Jeelius’s body. Since he is tied up, you won’t face any combat to complete the ritual. However, you still need to take the Mysterium Xarxes to finish the quest, and the Mythic Dawn will not freely hand it over. You can grab the book and make a run for it, but be sure to retrieve your belongings from Harrow if you want to avoid being completely defenseless.
It’s advisable to wait for the chaos to die down after the ritual before going for the book. Once most cultists have exited the chamber, you can attempt to pickpocket a weapon or two from Harrow, making it easier to take him out. Alternatively, you can eliminate him with the dagger or any other key item you possess. Then, grab the book and escape, trying to avoid a large-scale conflict.
Leaving non-essential items in a safe location beforehand can ease your situation. If you stash your valuable equipment at home or another secure spot, you can focus solely on the battle without worrying about retrieving what you left behind.
What Happens If You Spare the Sacrifice
Risking Your Cover
Choosing not to kill Jeelius will prompt immediate aggression from the cult, complicating matters. However, in both scenarios, a conflict starts once the Mysterium Xarxes is taken. If you’re keen on sparing Jeelius, you can sneak out during the ceremony to avoid that immediate confrontation. Harrow will likely pursue you, giving you an opportunity to eliminate him in a less chaotic environment. Then, you can rush back to the shrine and grab the book before making your escape.
It’s best to free Jeelius before grabbing the book, as a collapsing statue may harm him. Your main challenge is ensuring he escapes the caves safely, though he often proves quite resilient. If you intend to eliminate all cultists, doing so before freeing him simplifies his survival. Otherwise, engaging in battle while he flees might help keep enemies off him.
If Jeelius survives, he will inform you outside the caves that you can find him at the Temple of the One within the Imperial City. If you return to the temple later, you’ll find him there and can earn free skill points in Alchemy, Mysticism, and Restoration. While you can only gain one point for each skill, not many quests in Oblivion Remastered offer this opportunity.
You Should Spare the Sacrifice
Murder Benefits No One
While the battle at Dagon Shrine may be challenging, there’s little incentive to kill Jeelius; whether you fight or flee, the outcome remains similar. Showing mercy might complicate the battle slightly, yet it could lead to additional rewards. If Jeelius dies while escaping, you receive no reward, but you’re also not worse off compared to just killing him. Unless you’re role-playing an evil character, saving the sacrifice is the more ethical choice.
Ultimately, coming into this situation well-prepared—whether you stash away most of your items or approach the fight on your own terms—is beneficial. Your strategy for navigating Dagon Shrine may vary based on your character build, equipment, and what armor or weapons you manage to keep on you. A bit of creativity can significantly benefit your journey in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.
