Get the Skeleton Key Nocturnal Shrine and Leyawiin Secrets
This guide gives you a single, exhaustive, player‑tested route to obtain the Skeleton Key quickly and reliably in Oblivion Remastered. If you want the unbreakable lockpick that removes the grind of buying or crafting lockpicks and gives a massive boost to your Security attempts, this walkthrough will get you there with minimal backtracking, clear triggers to watch for, and practical tips to avoid common bugs and delays. The Skeleton Key is a Daedric artifact awarded by Nocturnal for completing her quest; the quest itself is short but gated by a level requirement and a few scripted interactions in Leyawiin that can stall if you don’t know what to do. Read this guide once, follow the route, and you’ll be opening chests and doors without breaking a single pick.
Quick overview and what you need to start
To begin the Nocturnal quest you must be level 10 or higher; the shrine will not offer the quest until you meet that threshold. Head to the Nocturnal Shrine northeast of Leyawiin and speak to Mor gra‑Gamorn; interacting with the shrine triggers Nocturnal’s request to recover her Eye, stolen and hidden in dark waters. The thieves who stole the Eye are Argonians living in Leyawiin; you must locate them, eavesdrop on their conversation to learn the Eye’s location, then retrieve it from Tidewater Cave and return it to the shrine to receive the Skeleton Key. These are the core steps you’ll repeat in every playthrough, so understanding the triggers and the fastest path between them is the key to speed.
Why the Skeleton Key matters and how it changes play
The Skeleton Key is not just a convenience item; it fundamentally changes how you approach exploration and thievery. It never breaks and grants a huge effective boost to lock attempts, letting you spam the auto‑attempt until success. That means you can bypass the usual lockpick economy and focus on looting, questing, and stealth builds without the constant annoyance of broken picks. For characters who rely on chests, locked doors, or the Thieves Guild, the Skeleton Key is arguably one of the highest‑value early‑to‑mid game rewards you can get. If you plan to play a thief, assassin, or opportunistic explorer, prioritize this quest as soon as you hit level 10.
Fast route to the Nocturnal Shrine and triggering the quest
If you’re starting from a major city or the Imperial City, use the fastest travel options to reach Leyawiin. From Leyawiin, the Nocturnal Shrine sits off the Yellow Road north of the city, just past Blankenmarch; it’s due west of the words “County Leyawiin” on the in‑game map. If you prefer to mark it, talk to Alves Uvenim in the Leyawiin Mages Guild about Daedra shrines to add a map marker. When you approach the shrine, Mor gra‑Gamorn will appear and the shrine will speak; accept the task and the quest will be added to your journal. If the shrine is silent, double‑check your level and make sure you haven’t already completed the quest.
Leyawiin investigation: finding the thieves fast
Once the quest is active, your objective is to discover which locals stole the Eye. The game points you toward Leyawiin, and the thieves are two Argonians who live in town: Weebam‑Na and Bejeen (names may vary slightly by localization). Their house is directly across from the house for sale in Leyawiin; approach and speak to them. They will deny knowledge and refuse to talk further, which is intentional: the quest requires you to eavesdrop on their private conversation to learn the Eye’s hiding place. The fastest method is to enter their house, speak to them until they stop, then step out of the house and wait near the doorway until they begin their private chat. If nothing happens, leave and re‑enter the house to reset their dialogue timers. Once you overhear them mention the Eye and its hiding place, the map will mark Tidewater Cave for you.
Eavesdropping mechanics and how to force the conversation
Eavesdropping is the single most common source of delay. The NPCs will only trigger their private conversation under certain conditions: you must have spoken to them and then left the immediate interior cell so the game can run their idle dialogue. Stand just outside the house entrance and wait; you’ll hear lines that reveal the Eye is hidden in Tidewater Cave. If the conversation doesn’t trigger, try these quick fixes: save and reload, wait 24 in‑game hours, or leave Leyawiin and fast travel back. These actions reset NPC schedules and usually force the conversation to occur. Avoid attacking or pickpocketing the Argonians before you eavesdrop; that can break the scripted dialogue and stall the quest.
Tidewater Cave navigation and the Eye’s exact spot
Tidewater Cave is southeast of Leyawiin and once inside you’ll want to move deliberately. The Eye is hidden behind an underwater opening in a tunnel full of water. From the entrance, take the first left, then two more lefts to reach the water tunnel; dive and follow the submerged path until you find a small opening on your right that leads to a hidden alcove containing the Eye of Nocturnal. The alcove is easy to miss if you rush; use slow, methodical swimming and keep an eye on the mini‑map for small side passages. Once you retrieve the Eye, exit the cave and return to the Nocturnal Shrine to complete the quest.
Returning the Eye and claiming the Skeleton Key
With the Eye in your inventory, return to the Nocturnal Shrine and interact with the shrine to speak with Nocturnal. Hand over the Eye and you will be rewarded with the Skeleton Key. The exchange is immediate and the Key appears in your inventory as a unique item; equip it to enjoy its permanent, unbreakable lockpick effect. If the shrine doesn’t accept the Eye, ensure you have the quest active and that you’re interacting with the correct shrine NPC; reloading a save from before you picked up the Eye can also resolve scripting issues.
Speed tactics and route optimization
If your goal is speed, plan a short route: reach level 10, fast travel to Leyawiin, trigger the shrine, eavesdrop, run to Tidewater Cave, retrieve the Eye, and return. Use a horse or sprinting to shave travel time, and avoid side quests or long conversations that add minutes. If you’re starting a new character and want the Key as early as possible, focus on combat and exploration until you hit level 10 quickly: clear a few nearby bandit camps, complete short guild tasks, or use repeatable skill training to gain levels. Once you hit level 10, the entire Nocturnal quest can be completed in under 15 minutes with a practiced route. For the absolute fastest run, memorize the interior layout of Tidewater Cave so you don’t pause to look for the alcove.
Dealing with bugs and quest blockers
Oblivion’s scripting can be finicky. If the quest stalls, try these troubleshooting steps in order: reload an earlier save, wait 24 in‑game hours, leave the area and fast travel back, or save and reload. If the Argonians refuse to speak or the Eye doesn’t appear in Tidewater Cave, the most reliable fix is to revert to a save before you first spoke to the Argonians and repeat the eavesdrop step carefully. Avoid using console commands on consoles; on PC, console commands can force quest stages but will break immersion and may have unintended side effects. If you suspect a remastered‑specific bug, check for the latest patch notes and community reports; many issues are resolved by small updates.
How to use the Skeleton Key effectively
Once you have the Skeleton Key, it becomes your go‑to tool for locked containers and doors. Equip it in your hand and use the lockpick minigame as usual; because the Key never breaks, you can spam the auto‑attempt button until the lock opens. This is especially useful for high‑risk chests and doors where you’d otherwise burn dozens of picks. For players who like to min‑max, the Key also functions as a massive temporary boost to Security attempts: you can attempt locks you’d normally avoid and rely on the Key’s durability to grind for rare loot. Keep a regular lockpick set in your inventory only if you plan to roleplay or if you want to keep the Key in reserve for a specific build; otherwise, the Key replaces the need for any other picks.
Roleplay and moral choices
The Nocturnal quest is short and morally neutral: you recover a stolen artifact and return it to a Daedric shrine. Some players worry about Daedric bargains or long‑term consequences; in Oblivion, Daedric quests are self‑contained and the reward is immediate. If you’re roleplaying a lawful or pious character, consider the narrative: you’re returning a god’s Eye to its shrine, which can be framed as a righteous act. If you’re playing a thief, the Skeleton Key is a perfect reward for a character who values utility over moral ambiguity. Either way, the quest doesn’t lock you into a faction or long‑term Daedric allegiance.
Alternative approaches and console commands (PC only)
If you’re on PC and comfortable with console commands, you can skip the quest entirely by adding the Skeleton Key to your inventory via the console. This is not recommended for first‑time players because it bypasses the story beat and the satisfaction of earning the artifact. For speedrunners or players testing builds, console commands are a valid shortcut. Remember that using console commands can disable achievements and may alter quest flags in ways that break other content. Use them only if you understand the tradeoffs.
Advanced tips for lock‑heavy playstyles
If you plan to rely on locks for income or loot, combine the Skeleton Key with a high Security skill and perks that increase stealth and critical sneak damage. The Key removes the resource constraint of lockpicks, letting you attempt every lock you encounter; this increases your chance to find rare items, gold, and unique loot. Consider investing in the Thieves Guild and related side quests to maximize the benefits of looting and fences. Also, keep an eye out for containers that are marked as quest items; the Key won’t bypass quest restrictions, so don’t expect to open everything.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t attack or pickpocket the Argonians before eavesdropping; that can break the scripted conversation and stall the quest.
Don’t assume the Eye is in a chest; it’s hidden in an underwater alcove in Tidewater Cave and can be missed if you rush.
Don’t ignore the level requirement; the shrine won’t offer the quest until you’re level 10.
Don’t fast travel into the cave expecting the Eye to be marked immediately; you must trigger the eavesdrop first.
Walkthrough checklist (single pass)
Reach level 10.
Travel to Leyawiin and find the Nocturnal Shrine northeast of the city.
Speak to Mor gra‑Gamorn and accept the quest.
Locate the Argonian thieves in Leyawiin and eavesdrop on their conversation.
Travel to Tidewater Cave (southeast of Leyawiin) and dive into the water tunnel; find the small opening on the right to retrieve the Eye of Nocturnal.
Return the Eye to the shrine and receive the Skeleton Key.
FAQ
Q: What level do I need to start the Nocturnal quest? A: You must be level 10 or higher to trigger the Nocturnal quest at the shrine. If you’re below level 10, the shrine will not offer the quest.
Q: Where is the Nocturnal Shrine located? A: The shrine is off the Yellow Road north of Leyawiin, just past Blankenmarch and due west of the “County Leyawiin” label on the map. You can add a map marker by speaking with Alves Uvenim in the Leyawiin Mages Guild about Daedra shrines.
Q: Who stole the Eye of Nocturnal? A: Two Argonians living in Leyawiin—commonly named Weebam‑Na and Bejeen—stole the Eye. You must eavesdrop on their conversation to learn the Eye’s location.
Q: Where exactly is the Eye hidden in Tidewater Cave? A: Inside Tidewater Cave, take the first left, then two more lefts to reach a water‑filled tunnel. Dive and follow the submerged path; the Eye is in a small opening on the right behind some rocks.
Q: What if the Argonians won’t talk or the Eye doesn’t appear? A: Try saving and reloading, waiting 24 in‑game hours, leaving and returning to Leyawiin, or reloading a save from before you first spoke to the Argonians. These actions reset NPC schedules and usually fix the issue.
Q: Does the Skeleton Key break or have limited uses? A: No. The Skeleton Key is unbreakable and can be used indefinitely, making it the best lockpick in the game.
Q: Will completing Nocturnal’s quest affect other Daedric quests or factions? A: Nocturnal’s quest is self‑contained and does not lock you into long‑term Daedric allegiance. It grants the Skeleton Key and a small fame reward; it won’t prevent you from doing other quests or joining factions.
Q: Can I get the Skeleton Key on consoles? A: Yes. The quest and reward are available on all platforms; console players should follow the same steps without console commands. If you encounter bugs, use saves and reloads to reset NPC behavior.
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