How to complete Vahtacen’s Secret in Oblivion Remastered
The Mages Guild questline is one of the longest in all of Oblivion Remastered, but one of the toughest quests you'll complete for it is called "Vahtacen's Secret." This is the third quest you take on at Arcane University, and it will likely stump you more than anything else in Cyrodiil. To learn how to complete Vahtacen's Secret and get past that magic pillar, check out the guide below. How to start Vahtacen's Secret in Oblivion Remastered You can only begin this quest after you've made your way to Arcane University with all seven Mages Guild recommendations and completed two quests for Raminus Polus. After an encounter with the Count of Skingrad, Polus will assign you the Vahtacen's Secret quest, which begins by speaking with another mage, Irlav Jarol, in another building at the university. Irlav Jarol starts the Vahtacen's Secret quest. Screenshot by Destructoid When you speak to Irlav Jarol, he'll tell you about a secret research project titled Vahtacen. Jarol tasks you with visiting its location at an Ayleid Ruin south of Cheydinhal. There, you'll meet the head of the project to learn more about it. The map location of the Vahtacen's Secret ruins. Screenshot by Destructoid The easiest way to reach the Vahtacen ruins is to fast travel to the Cheydinhal Stables in the northeast part of Cyrodiil and head southeast from there. The cave is marked on your HUD compass. How to activate the magic pillar in Vahtacen in Oblivion Remastered When you arrive at the ruins, head inside and travel down the narrow corridors while following the green quest marker. Eventually, you'll reach a large cavern where you can speak to an Argonian named Skaleel, who is extremely annoyed at the project they've been tasked with, but they still fill you in on the details. Apparently, there's a large pillar in the ruins that has unknown magical properties, and none of the other mages have been able to crack the mystery behind it. All Skaleel can tell you is that you need to use single-effect spells to try and activate the pillar. Anything more complicated and you'll be quickly damaged. Speaking to Skaleel. Screenshot by Destructoid After Skaleel finishes talking, follow your green quest marker down a path through a gate to reach the cavern with the magical pillar in it. In each corner of the room, you can see four red crystals along with tablets on the wall that read different magical phrases when they're activated. The red crystals shoot lightning at you if you use an improper spell while in the room. To crack the code of the pillar, here's what you need to do: The tablets you can read on the walls translate to specific forms of magicka You need to cast spells based on these specific magicka forms while doing it in the correct order Cast the following spells in order: Fire Damage spell (Flare, Weak Fireball) Frost Damage spell (Cold Touch, Snowball) Damage Magicka spell (Sever Magicka) Fortify Magicka spell (Fortify Magicka, Elevate Magicka) The spell scrolls are inside the nearby chest. Screenshot by Destructoid If you don't have some of these specific spells or you're not at the right level, head out the way you came in, and right next to a table, there's a chest. Look inside the chest to loot the spells you need. With all the spells in your spellbook, use each one at the pillar in the order we've laid out above. You need to ensure you're standing basically on top of the pillar while casting these spells, otherwise they won't trigger. You'll know the spell worked if the pillar's walls move. Stand as close as possible to the pillar. Screenshot by Destructoid It's wise to save after successfully activating the pillar each time, as you might only have one of the necessary scrolls. Once all four spells have been cast correctly, the pillar sinks into the ground, and you can now head down some stairs to a new door. Accessing the pillar after casting all four spells. Screenshot by Destructoid Finishing Vahtacen's Secret in Oblivion Remastered Now that you're through the pillar, follow your quest marker to the next location. You'll have to go through some more caverns and tight hallways, most of which are filled with traps and ghosts, but just keep following the quest marker until you reach a huge room with an elevated stone platform. Go past the platform and head up some stairs on the other side of the room. On the right side of those stairs, you can find a button to push that raises a stone staircase so you can access the elevated platform. Pushing the switch to activate a staircase. Screenshot by Destructoid Head up to the platform and press a button on a pillar near the Ayleid Crate in the center. This lifts up the crate and reveals an Ancient Elven Helm, which you can take. You'll have to battle some ghosts here, so make sure you use magic to take them down. Taking the Ancient Elven Helm. Screenshot by Destructoid Once you have the helm, head back up
The Mages Guild questline is one of the longest in all of Oblivion Remastered, but one of the toughest quests you'll complete for it is called "Vahtacen's Secret." This is the third quest you take on at Arcane University, and it will likely stump you more than anything else in Cyrodiil.
To learn how to complete Vahtacen's Secret and get past that magic pillar, check out the guide below.
How to start Vahtacen's Secret in Oblivion Remastered
You can only begin this quest after you've made your way to Arcane University with all seven Mages Guild recommendations and completed two quests for Raminus Polus. After an encounter with the Count of Skingrad, Polus will assign you the Vahtacen's Secret quest, which begins by speaking with another mage, Irlav Jarol, in another building at the university.
When you speak to Irlav Jarol, he'll tell you about a secret research project titled Vahtacen. Jarol tasks you with visiting its location at an Ayleid Ruin south of Cheydinhal. There, you'll meet the head of the project to learn more about it.
The easiest way to reach the Vahtacen ruins is to fast travel to the Cheydinhal Stables in the northeast part of Cyrodiil and head southeast from there. The cave is marked on your HUD compass.
How to activate the magic pillar in Vahtacen in Oblivion Remastered
When you arrive at the ruins, head inside and travel down the narrow corridors while following the green quest marker.
Eventually, you'll reach a large cavern where you can speak to an Argonian named Skaleel, who is extremely annoyed at the project they've been tasked with, but they still fill you in on the details. Apparently, there's a large pillar in the ruins that has unknown magical properties, and none of the other mages have been able to crack the mystery behind it. All Skaleel can tell you is that you need to use single-effect spells to try and activate the pillar. Anything more complicated and you'll be quickly damaged.
After Skaleel finishes talking, follow your green quest marker down a path through a gate to reach the cavern with the magical pillar in it. In each corner of the room, you can see four red crystals along with tablets on the wall that read different magical phrases when they're activated. The red crystals shoot lightning at you if you use an improper spell while in the room.
To crack the code of the pillar, here's what you need to do:
- The tablets you can read on the walls translate to specific forms of magicka
- You need to cast spells based on these specific magicka forms while doing it in the correct order
- Cast the following spells in order:
- Fire Damage spell (Flare, Weak Fireball)
- Frost Damage spell (Cold Touch, Snowball)
- Damage Magicka spell (Sever Magicka)
- Fortify Magicka spell (Fortify Magicka, Elevate Magicka)
- If you don't have some of these specific spells or you're not at the right level, head out the way you came in, and right next to a table, there's a chest. Look inside the chest to loot the spells you need.
- With all the spells in your spellbook, use each one at the pillar in the order we've laid out above. You need to ensure you're standing basically on top of the pillar while casting these spells, otherwise they won't trigger. You'll know the spell worked if the pillar's walls move.
- It's wise to save after successfully activating the pillar each time, as you might only have one of the necessary scrolls.
- Once all four spells have been cast correctly, the pillar sinks into the ground, and you can now head down some stairs to a new door.
Finishing Vahtacen's Secret in Oblivion Remastered
Now that you're through the pillar, follow your quest marker to the next location. You'll have to go through some more caverns and tight hallways, most of which are filled with traps and ghosts, but just keep following the quest marker until you reach a huge room with an elevated stone platform.
Go past the platform and head up some stairs on the other side of the room. On the right side of those stairs, you can find a button to push that raises a stone staircase so you can access the elevated platform.
Head up to the platform and press a button on a pillar near the Ayleid Crate in the center. This lifts up the crate and reveals an Ancient Elven Helm, which you can take. You'll have to battle some ghosts here, so make sure you use magic to take them down.
Once you have the helm, head back up the stairs on the other end of the room to head through a newly revealed doorway. Keep going until you're back in the pillar room, and then make your way back to Skaleel. Tell her you found something, and she'll recommend you return to Arcane University to tell Jarol about it.
Fast travel to the university, follow the quest marker to Jarol, explain what you found, and then the Vahtacen's Secret quest is complete in Oblivion Remastered. You can now go to the Arch-Mage's Lobby to find Raminus Polus and accept your next quest for the Mages Guild.
If you want to stick around at the Mages Guild, you can make your own spells if you have enough gold.
The post How to complete Vahtacen’s Secret in Oblivion Remastered appeared first on Destructoid.
