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While dreamwalking is nothing new, the Through A Nightmare, Darkly quest inThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredoffers some unique challenges and brain puzzles without giving the player any of the benefits of their gear or magical abilities.
Only your own player skills and this guide will be your companions into the unknown and tricky world of Henandier the Mage’s dreamworld. Henandier himself will be there too, but the dreamworld has robbed him of any of his possible usefulness. If both of you are to leave the dreamworld alive, you’ll have to do most of the heavy lifting yourself.
How To Start The A Nightmare, Darkly Quest
To begin, you have tofinish Kud-Ei’s recommendation questfor the Mages' Guild in Bravil, which would have required you to get Ardaline’s staff back.
Once you’ve earned Kud-Ei’s trust, she’ll ask for your help.Speak with her, and she’ll request your aid with a problem her friend, Henantier, is having.
Accept the questand follow Kud-Ei to Henantier’s home.
You’ll have tospeak with the Argonian twiceand exhaust her dialogue about Henantier’s sleepy condition before she relinquishes the Dreamworld Amulet to you.
Place the amulet around your neckandrest in the bedbeside Henantier for any amount of time.
You cannot return to the normal world past this point until the conclusion of this quest. Since you cannot bring any items with you into the dream, preparations are not necessary.
Additionally, if you choose to wear the amulet and leave the home, you will be transported to the Dreamworld the next time you sleep, regardless of your location.
How To Save Henantier From The Dreamworld
When you arrive in the Dreamworld,speak to Henantierto discover that he is unaware of his predicament.
Saving Henantier will require you tocomplete four tasksin the Dreamworld:
Each will offer you additional gear, and while you can complete the tests in any order,we prefer starting with the Test of Resolveto get some armor just in case.
If you don’t like walking around naked, there are some extra clothes in the dressers in front of you. Food and alchemical ingredients can be found scattered around the shack.
How To Clear The Test Of Resolve
As you enter the test,turn around to find a pot of gearthat is marked with the tag Prepare. Select it, andequip any gearthat suits you best.
Remember, you cannot use magic normally in this arena if you are a mage. However, the staff offered in the pot will work normally.
Inside the gladiatorial arena are two minotaur. They’re thankfully quite easy, sodispatch them both.
Once both are defeated (neither carrying loot), a set of stairs should rise to lead you to theElement of Resolve. Take it andreturn to the main Dreamworld hub.
How To Clear The Test Of Perception
Once you enter the test,take the torch from the Perceive chestin front of you.
Although the torch is not required, it should help you spy the main threat of this test: traps.
As you begin,watch your step for a rockfall trapon the main path.
At the end of that path, you’ll be faced with acircular arena with swinging axes. These won’t start moving until you come close.
Time your walk carefully, walking around the outside of the area until you reach the opposite side.
On the other side of the swinging axes,sprint on the outer edgeof the square platform to avoid the poison traps.
However, beware of the trap on the ground on the far path at the corner. You’ll have tojump over it.
The next trap will be a set offalling cleavers. To avoid these,run past the first one and stopjust before the second.
Each time the cleaver rises in front of you,sprint to the next blade and stop again. Repeat until you reach the chamber at the end.
There is one more floor trap inside the chamber here in the doorway. Jump over that as well.
Before you can ace this test,there are three disguised floor trapson the square boulders of the path.Watch your stepall the way to the end.
How To Clear The Test Of Patience
From the Study Chest, gather the Mysterious Scroll.
Ahead, you will face three trials where your goal shall be to cross a set of pressure plates in the correct order.
We’ve highlighted the solution to all three puzzles above. The player’s position always begins at the bottom of the puzzle set.
For the first area,the solution steps are:
For the second area, following the mysterious scroll’s instructions,your solution is:
Finally,your third and last test solution is:
If you find yourself forgetting where you are with so many steps, feel free to stop at any point and get your bearings back. This puzzle is not timed.
How To Clear The Test Of Courage
As you enter the next area,take the WeakPotion of the Seafrom the Breathe chest andimmediately use it.
Ahead, there is a pool of water which you shoulddive into.
Since you are silenced, you will not be able to cast any alteration magic that would give you the ability to breathe underwater. The potion is necessary.
Swimuntil you reach the back wall andthen look down. You should see a deep hole below you.
Follow that hole to the bottomwhere you should reach another Breathe pot for a second potion.Drink it.
From here,continue as far as you’re able, diving deeper until you see a wooden board at the deepest point.Interact with itto reach a chamber with the Element of Courage.
Take the elementto finish the tests and return to the shack.
Rewards For Completing Through A Nightmare, Darkly
Once you havegathered all four elementsfrom the tests, you canspeak with Henantier. This will send you back to the real world.
After speaking with him again in the waking world, Henantier willreward you with the Minor Tome: Respite.
Completing this quest willgive you an additional point of Fameas well.
