A comprehensive guide to exposing corruption, navigating persuasion mechanics, and efficiently completing the Imperial Corruption quest in Oblivion Remastered.
Quest Overview & Initial Contacts
In Oblivion Remastered, the ‘Imperial Corruption‘ side quest presents a classic tale of power abuse within the Imperial City’s guard. Your objective is to investigate and dismantle an extortion racket run by a dishonest watchman. The quest activates in the Temple District, where you’ll encounter either Ruslan (a Redguard) or Luronk (an Orc), both visibly distressed. They’ll explain that a guard has falsely accused them of theft from Jensine’s shop and confiscated all their Septims as “insurance” against imprisonment.
Practical Tip: Speak to both NPCs if possible. While the quest only requires one to start, each provides slightly different dialogue that enriches the narrative of systemic corruption. This also gives you a backup contact if one wanders away from the initial location.
The core conflict here isn’t just about lost gold; it’s a window into the flawed justice system of Cyrodiil. Accepting their plea sets you on a path that tests your social skills more than your combat prowess, relying heavily on the Persuasion and Speechcraft mechanics.
Gathering Evidence: Jensine & The Bribe
Your first lead is Jensine, the shopkeeper at “Goods and Stores” in the Market District. When you confront her, select the “Corrupted Imperial Watchman” dialogue option. She’ll be initially suspicious, asking who sent you. You can name either Ruslan or Luronk; her distrustful reaction is scripted and doesn’t affect the outcome.
The critical moment comes with the Persuasion option. Selecting this initiates Oblivion’s signature persuasion mini-game. Pro Strategy: Before clicking, ensure your cursor starts in the green “Friend” wedge of the persuasion wheel for the highest initial chance. Offering the bribe (a small gold amount) successfully will make her reveal the watchman’s identity: Audens Avidius.
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Common Mistake: Players often fail the persuasion check here by rushing. If you fail, you must wait 24 in-game hours to retry the dialogue. Save your game before the conversation, or consider using a cheap Charm spell to temporarily boost your Personality attribute, making the persuasion minigame significantly easier.
Navigating the Imperial Watch Chain of Command
With the name Audens Avidius in hand, you must now work within the system. Leave Jensine’s store and speak to any generic Imperial Guard patrolling the city. They will direct you to Heironymous Lex, a watch officer stationed at the Imperial City Waterfront (often near the pirate ship or the boarding house).
Lex listens to your report but explains his hands are tied; he instructs you to bring the matter to his superior, Captain Itius Hayne. Hayne is found in the Imperial City’s Elven Gardens District, typically near the central fountain or patrolling the main paths.
Approaching Hayne triggers another critical persuasion check. He will express skepticism about arresting a fellow watchman. Use the bribe option again. Optimization Tip: The bribe amount is fixed and low, so don’t worry about gold cost. The key is, once again, mastering the persuasion wheel. Success here convinces Hayne to act, but he demands concrete evidence: testimony from two witnesses before he can authorize an arrest.
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Securing Witness Testimonies & Quest Resolution
Hayne’s requirement leads you back to your initial contacts. You need to bribe any two of the following three: Jensine, Ruslan, or Luronk. The most efficient path is choosing Ruslan and Luronk. After your earlier interactions, they both relocate to Luronk’s house in the Temple District, allowing you to bribe them in one visit without traversing the city.
Strategy Breakdown: Bribing Jensine requires returning to the Market District. Bribing Ruslan and Luronk together saves significant travel time. The bribe dialogue is straightforward with no additional skill checks. Once both accept, they promise to testify.
Immediately after securing the second witness, a message will appear on screen: “The corrupt watchman Audens Avidius has been arrested.” The quest concludes automatically. Important Note: Unlike typical quests, there is no physical reward of gold or items. The satisfaction is purely narrative and contributes to your reputation within the Imperial City. Some players report subtle changes in guard dialogue post-completion, acknowledging your role in cleaning up corruption.
Advanced Strategies & Common Pitfalls
Optimization for Advanced Players:
1. Speechcraft Preparation: Before starting this quest chain, consider training Speechcraft slightly or acquiring an Amulet of Persuasion to smooth over the dialogue checks.
2. Route Optimization: Plan your route: Temple District (start) -> Market District (Jensine) -> Waterfront (Lex) -> Elven Gardens (Hayne) -> Temple District (Ruslan & Luronk). This minimizes backtracking.
3. Role-Playing Depth: For a lawful-good character, consider using the “Intimidate” option instead of “Bribe” where possible, though it may be harder.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
• Forgetting to Save: Always save before major persuasion checks (Jensine, Hayne). Failure adds 24-hour wait times.
• Wasting Time on Jensine: Selecting Jensine as a witness is inefficient unless you’re already in the Market District for other business.
• Expecting a Reward: Don’t wait for a reward pop-up. The quest ends with the arrest message.
• Ignoring Personality Stats: Attempting this quest with a very low Personality score makes persuasion exceedingly difficult. Prepare accordingly.
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Ultimately, “Imperial Corruption” is a short but flavorful quest that highlights Oblivion’s strength in creating small, impactful stories within its world. It rewards players who engage with its social systems and offers a tangible sense of justice served.
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