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If you’ve justjoined the Thieves Guild,and you’re itching to prove yourself as a masterThiefto the Gray Fox inOblivion Remastered,then it’s time to head to the Waterfront to speak with Armand Christophe. However, even eager thieves need to earn their place, so you’ll need to sell at least 50 gold worth of stolen items before you can begin Untaxing the Poor.
Untaxing the Poor is the first Thieves Guild special job offered to you, and will start you on the path of becoming a masterthief. Armand Christophe will be your primary point of contact for this mission, and he’ll explain where you’ll find the Waterfront Tax Records.
How To Start Untaxing The Poor
Once you’ve fenced 50 goldworth of stolen goods and spoken to Armand Christophe about it, you’ll begin theUntaxing The Poor quest.
Armand will explain thatHieronymus Lex,the head of the Imperial Cityguard, has been imposing heavy taxes on the poor people of the city, exploiting them.
You’ll be tasked withsneaking into the South Watch Towerand stealing the tax records and money that Lex took.
Chameleonor full invisibility combined with a high Sneak skill will make this quest much easier.
You can buy the Spectre Ring at Red Diamond Jewelry in the Imperial City Market District to gain 25 percentChameleonor get the Ring of Khajiti for 35 percent fromthe Meridia Daedric quest.
Load up on some lockpicksfrom Armand before you head off; you’ll need them.
How To Steal The Waterfront Tax Records
Head to theImperial City - either the Temple or the Arboretum,as both offer entrances to theSouth Tower.
Approach the area under the cover of night to make sneaking around easier, as most of the guards are typically asleep by 2:00 or 3:00 am.
Enter the South Watch Tower door and observe the area. If there are guards awake in this area,don’t proceed until they’re all gone.
If you have achameleonitem or spell you may use, now is the time.
This initial space is public,so don’t worry about trespassing, but the Barracks are off-limits to citizens, so don’t get caught trying to enter them while there are guards around.
When the room is cleared out in the middle of the night,sneak over to the ladder and enter the Barrackssection.
If any guards are awake and roaming around in the first Barracks, leave immediately (unless you can remain unseen) or reload a save if you’re caught.
Immediately after entering the first Barracks room, turn leftto see anotherladderleading further upward and ascend into the next room.
Lastly, you’ll find one more ladder to theSouth Watch Captain’s Quarters,which is sealed by anaverage lockyou’ll need to pick.
With that lock picked, you’ll be in Lex’s Quarters. Immediatelyturn rightand break thehard lockon the desk and steal theWaterfront Tax Records,along with somefree gold.
With therecords in hand, quickly retreat down the series of laddersagain and bolt back to the Imperial City Waterfront.
If you’re fast, you may do this whole quest in the same in-game night, though the timing will be very tight.
What Rewards Do You Get From Untaxing The Poor?
Once you’re there, head back to Armand Christophe and claim your rewards:
With that done, you can continue fencing gold until you’re ready for thenext Thieves Guild quest, The Elven Maiden.
