Which Gate of Madness Should You Choose in Oblivion Remastered?

You’ve decided to step through that mysterious door in the middle of nowhere in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. The voice beckoned you in, leading you to a strange man who offered you a chance to explore the Fringe. Now, here you are in an unfamiliar land, tasked with finding the Gatekeeper and passing through the Gate of Madness.

This journey won’t be simple—it is, after all, an adventure. The real questions now are how to confront the powerful Gatekeeper, how to navigate past the Gate of Madness, and most importantly, which door you’ll ultimately choose. But don’t worry; we have the answers you need to guide you through.

How to Begin the Through the Fringe of Madness Quest

At the end of the A Door in Niben Bay quest, you’ll need to make a choice with Haskill and agree to enter the Fringe, granting you access to the Shivering Isles. Once you’re inside, the Through The Fringe of Madness quest will kick off, and your goal is to reach Passwall.

To the north, you’ll encounter the Gatekeeper, who holds the keys essential for your adventure.

However, this formidable foe can be quite powerful. While you could try to defeat him in a standard fight, it will be a tough battle and could take quite a while.

Thankfully, two primary strategies exist for overcoming him and obtaining the keys you need.

How to Defeat the Gatekeeper

Relmyna Verenim’s Path

Head to the Wastrel’s Purse inn and make your way to the upper floor, where you’ll find Relmyna in her room.

Engage her in conversation to learn more about the Gatekeeper, but be warned—you’ll need to wait until midnight and meet her at the Gatekeeper’s location, as she visits him nightly.

It’s crucial that you remain unseen, so level up your Sneak skill or use an Invisibility spell to stay undetected. After their conversation, a prompt will inform you that Relmyna left behind a handkerchief; pick it up to gain a few bottles called Relmyna’s Tears.

Jayred Ice-Veins’ Path

You can find Jayred Ice-Veins somewhere around town; a quest marker should appear after talking with Sheldon. When you locate him, he’ll explain that he needs to craft special arrows for taking down the Gatekeeper.

Agree to assist him, and he’ll lead you to the Gardens of Flesh and Bone, situated on a hill west of Passwall. The door will be locked, so you’ll have to pick the lock.

Inside, you’ll face several Shambles enemies; defeat them so Jayred can start collecting bones from the vanquished foes.

Once you talk to him again, he’ll announce that he’s going to begin crafting the arrows and that you should wait a few hours for them to be complete.

After some time, speak to him again at his residence; he will inform you that the arrows are ready and will hand you 20 Gatekeeper Bone Arrows to use.

Regardless of which method you choose to take down the Gatekeeper, once defeated, loot its body to acquire both the Key to Mania and the Key to Dementia.

Haskill will then appear to explain that you need to decide how to use the keys, marking a significant choice.

Which Gate of Madness Should You Choose?

Mania Door

The Mania door is on the left. Choosing it grants you the Blessing of Mania, a Frenzy Greater Power at your disposal.

This leads to the town of Bliss, where you can explore a generally brighter atmosphere.

Dementia Door

The Dementia door is on the right. Opting for it provides you with the Blessing of Dementia, which is a Demoralize Greater Power.

This door takes you to the town of Crucible, characterized by a darker, gloomier ambiance.

Which One Should You Pick?

Ultimately, the choice is yours. There isn’t a significant long-term difference outside of the aesthetic and ambiance of each area and the corresponding blessing.