Oblivion:Zero Visibility

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Contents 1 Quick Walkthrough 2 Detailed Walkthrough 2.1 Finding Aleswell 2.2 Fort Caractacus 2.2.1 Exterior 2.2.2 Interior 2.3 Ancotar’s Spell 2.4 Read with caution 3 Notes 4 Journal Entries

Help the citizens of Aleswell become visible again. edit Quest Giver: Diram Serethi at Aleswell Location(s): Aleswell Prerequisite Quest: None Next Quest: None Reward: Free lodging in Aleswell Fame/Infamy: Fame +1 ID: MS47

Can you spot Shagol gro-Bumph?

[edit] Quick Walkthrough

1. Enter the Aleswell Inn, and find the invisible innkeeper Diram Serethi.
2. Explore nearby Fort Caractacus until you find the wizard in question, Ancotar.
3. Ancotar will give you a scroll. Keep talking to him (raising his disposition, if necessary) until he gives you a ring.
4. Equip the ring and read the scroll in the center of town. Speak with Diram once more.

[edit] Detailed Walkthrough

[edit] Finding Aleswell

North of the Imperial City, the Red Ring Road runs east to west on the northern side of Lake Rumare. Aleswell lies a short distance up the hill from this road. It is a small hamlet with two houses, a garden, and a sheep pen.

Aleswell appears deserted. The town's few inhabitants are present, albeit invisible, so you cannot steal with impunity. Either enter the Aleswell Inn straight away - the innkeeper, Diram Serethi will approach from your right - or find an invisible townsperson (who will then direct you to the Inn). Nobody is sure exactly what happened, but Diram suspects a wizard in nearby Fort Caractacus is responsible given his previous experimental activity to the detriment of peace in Aleswell.

It is also possible to start this quest by talking to Malene at the Roxey Inn. Once you have started the quest, the quest marker will point to Diram's location, making it easier to find him.

[edit] Fort Caractacus

[edit] Exterior

Fort Caractacus is a very short distance back down the hill south and slightly east (towards the Imperial City but on the same side of the water as Aleswell). Watch out on the way to the fort because you are likely to encounter invisible creatures in the area. The creatures are leveled - rats, wolves, timber wolves, black bears, and mountain lions all may be encountered.

If you are lucky - or wait - Ancotar will appear in the exterior ruins, and in fact will yell at you if he sees you. He may often be found in the small rooms on the second level. He initially dismisses you with the comment he "doesn't want whatever it is you're selling." Start conversation with him twice in a row (he'll have a different first line if he mistook you for a salesman earlier), and he'll become resigned to the fact that you're going to have a chat.

[edit] Interior

You should wait at the fort exterior for Ancotar. If you are impatient (or wish to grab a bit of low level loot and pick some locks), you may venture inside the fort itself, but this is risky; Ancotar may turn hostile and try to kill you. Inside are leveled Daedra. If Ancotar is inside, ignore his shouts telling you to go away, and find him. Use caution when dealing with the monsters or you could accidentally kill the sorcerer that you are seeking. You should be approached by an invisible mage and discuss the problem of the invisible townsfolk of Aleswell.

[edit] Ancotar’s Spell

Ancotar takes pride in his spellcraft, and talks about it at length. When he stops himself from talking about the intricacies of his research, you might reassure him that you're interested (even if you're not) - although characters in good standing with the Mage's Guild will not have to choose the "friendly" dialogue options to get everything needed from him. Otherwise, you will have to raise his disposition to at least 71. After he gives you the spell, note that he has not been entirely forthcoming about the spell's potential side effects. Keep talking to him about the scroll he has given you until he gives you Ancotar's Ring of Protection.

[edit] Read with caution

Equip Ancotar's Ring of Protection, and read the scroll in the center of Aleswell. Visit the Aleswell Inn again and Diram will talk to you once more. You will be rewarded with a Fame point and free lodging at Aleswell for the remainder of the game.

Failing to wear the ring when you read the scroll will cause your character to suffer 50 points of Damage Luck. Effects such as Resist Magic and Spell Absorption may reduce the damage. If your luck was damaged, the effect can be repaired by visiting a chapel altar or wayshrine, or by using Restore Luck spells, scrolls, or potions.

[edit] Notes

• Use a constant effect "Detect Life" item such as one of these. Invisible entities appear as a pinkish haze visible through walls so you don't have to hunt around, or accidentally kill the wrong person.
• Two skill books may be found under Ancotar's desk on the second level of the fort's exterior: The Doors of Oblivion and Mystery of Talara, v4 (Conjuration and Illusion, respectively).
• The invisible monsters will attack you even if you have equipped the Boots of the Crusader from the Knights of the Nine expansion - these add the Woodland Grace power which make normal woodland predators ignore you.
• If you fail to use the scroll in the right place, you may receive a second one from Ancotar (unless you killed him, which will make the quest impossible to finish if you waste your scroll).
• Similarly, you may read the scroll while in the presence of Ancotar; this will cause him to lose his invisibility. He will be angry at this point, but you can still get a second scroll from him through conversation.
• The "free room" at the Aleswell Inn is actually a free house. The chest is safe. However, leaving certain items in the chest (e.g. 3 pairs of Doeskin Shoes) may cause the game to crash.
• After completing the quest, if Ancotar is still alive and you have a good disposition with him, you can revisit him if you choose. He conveys his continued contentment with being invisible and isolated from Aleswell's villagers.

[edit] Journal Entries

Zero Visibility (MS47)
Stage	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
10		I've heard rumors of strange happenings in the settlement of Aleswell, north of the Imperial City. I should investigate it. (If the player hasn't already spoken to Diram Serethi)
20		I've spoken with Diram Serethi of Aleswell, though I haven't actually seen him. He's explained that all of the residents are invisible; he suspects a wizard named Ancotar is to blame. I should look for Ancotar in the ruins of Fort Caractacus.
30		I've talked to Ancotar, who was unaware of the effect his magic had on the people of Aleswell. He's given me a scroll that should reverse the effects; I need to return to Aleswell to restore its residents.
35		Ancotar gave me a ring and suggested I wear it while casting the Reverse Invisibility scroll, to protect me from any side effects. He didn't mention what those side effects might be.
40		I cast the Reverse Invisibility spell Ancotar gave me, but I wasn't in Aleswell when I did it, so I need to ask Ancotar for another one. (If the player hasn't already finished the quest)
42		Ancotar gave me another Reverse Invisibility scroll. He said it was his last one. I need to make sure to stand in the middle of Aleswell when I use it this time.
44		I used the second Reverse Invisibility spell Ancotar gave me, but I wasn't in Aleswell when I did it, so I need to ask Ancotar for another one. (If the player hasn't already finished the quest)
46		Ancotar refused to give me a third Reverse Invisibility scroll after I wasted the first two. I should return to Aleswell and tell Diram Serethi the bad news.
50		I've used the scroll Ancotar gave me, and the people of Aleswell are once again visible. Diram Serethi would probably like to congratulate me on my success.
60		Diram Serethi was disappointed to learn that I had wasted the Reverse Invisibility scrolls that Ancotar had given me. He told me that I am not welcome in Aleswell. (If the player twice fails to cast the spell correctly) or Diram Serethi thanked me for helping him, and offered me free lodging in Aleswell whenever I'm in the area. (If the spell succeeds)
70		Ancotar is dead, and I have no way of reversing the invisibility he cast on the inhabitants of Aleswell.
100	0

Notes

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in random order.
• If an entry is marked as "Finishes Quest" it means the quest disappears from the Active Quest list, but you may still receive new entries for that quest.
• On the PC, it is possible to use the console to advance through the quest by entering setstage quest stage. Where quest is the internal name of the quest, and stage is the number of the stage you wish to complete. It is not possible to un-complete (i.e. go back) quest stages. See SetStage for more information.