If you’re still playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in 2026, you’re probably chasing that specific brand of weirdness that Skyrim just never quite nailed. One of the best examples of this is the Oblivion Deepscorn Hollow quest, which isn’t really a "quest" in the traditional sense of killing ten rats or saving a duke. It’s a descent into the life of a serial killer. Specifically, it's about inheriting the damp, blood-soaked legacy of Greywyn Blennode, a high-ranking member of the Dark Brotherhood who tried to cure his vampirism with a new religion called Sithis Dread.
It’s dark. It’s lonely. It’s perfect.
Back in 2006, Bethesda was experimenting with these "Player Home" DLCs. You had the Wizard’s Tower (Frostcrag Spire), the Fighter’s Stronghold (Battlehorn Castle), and the Thief’s Den (Dunbarrow Cove). But Deepscorn Hollow was the black sheep. It’s located at the very bottom of the map, tucked away in the marshes of Blackwood, southeast of Leyawiin. Honestly, if you aren't looking for it, you’ll never find it. You basically just get a note saying you’ve inherited a "vile lair." Great start.
Getting Into the Deepscorn Hollow Quest
To actually kick things off, you need the Vile Lair DLC installed. Once you do, a journal entry pops up telling you about a place your long-lost relative—classic RPG trope—left for you. You head down to the Nibenay Basin, specifically where the water turns into that murky, swampy mess near the border of Black Marsh.
The entrance is underwater.
You have to dive down into the pond to find the wooden door. Once you’re inside, the vibe shifts immediately. It’s not a cozy cottage. It’s a series of mossy, flooded limestone caverns filled with the remnants of Greywyn's failed experiments. To make the place livable, you have to find Rowley Eardwulf. He’s an NPC who hangs out at the Wawnet Inn, just west of the Imperial City.
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Rowley is a bit of a weirdo. He’s only there at certain times, usually sitting on the porch or in a corner, and he’s the only guy who sells the "upgrades" for your new murder-basement. Buying these upgrades is effectively how you "complete" the Oblivion Deepscorn Hollow quest. You aren't just buying furniture; you're buying utility for a very specific type of playstyle.
The Cost of Villainy
You’re going to need gold. A lot of it. Each area of the lair costs a few thousand Septims, and if you want the whole thing decked out, expect to drop around 10,000 gold.
- The Bedroom Area: Adds a coffin to sleep in. Essential if you're a vampire.
- The Dining Area: Gives you a place to "eat," though mostly it just makes the place look less like a damp hole.
- The Garden of Venomgrowth: This is actually incredibly useful. It grows unique ingredients like Chokeberry and Harrada. Chokeberry is a "poisoned apple" alternative that you can use to kill NPCs without getting a bounty.
- The Dark Minion: You get a literal follower who goes out and "spreads the word of Sithis." Basically, you tell him to go kill people, and he comes back with loot and a boost to your Infamy.
- The Cattle Cell: If you’re a vampire, this is the holy grail. It’s a prisoner who never dies and never leaves. You can feed on them whenever you want to reset your vampirism stages.
Why Greywyn Blennode Matters
Most players skip the lore, but Greywyn’s story is what makes Deepscorn Hollow feel like more than just a cave. He was part of the Crimson Scars, a faction of vampires within the Dark Brotherhood. They tried to take over the guild from within, but they were betrayed and slaughtered. Greywyn escaped and built this place as a shrine to Sithis, hoping to find a way to remain a vampire while still serving the Void.
He eventually found a "cure" using the Font of Renewal and Purgeblood Salts. This is a massive mechanic in the game. If you’re tired of being a vampire and don't want to go through that grueling, buggy vanilla quest involving the witch Melisande, Deepscorn Hollow offers a shortcut.
You just need Purgeblood Salts. You find them in the lair, use them on the font, and boom—you’re human again. Or elf. Whatever you started as.
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The Font of Renewal and the Pillar of Sithis
The Font of Renewal isn't just for curing vampirism. It also acts as an altar where you can pray to Sithis. But here’s the catch: it only works if your Infamy is higher than your Fame. In Oblivion, most players end up being the "Hero of Kvatch," which gives you a massive Fame score. If you want to use the Pillar of Sithis to get those sweet combat buffs, you have to be a genuinely bad person.
You need to go murder some guards or finish the Dark Brotherhood questline first. It’s one of the few places in the game that rewards you for being a villain.
Surviving the Blackwood Marsh
Location is everything. Deepscorn Hollow is isolated. There are no major cities nearby other than Leyawiin, and even that’s a trek through mud and Slaughterfish-infested waters. This isolation is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it feels like a true secret base. On the other, it makes selling your loot a massive pain in the neck.
Rowley Eardwulf is your best friend here. Because he stays at the Wawnet Inn, he’s a convenient merchant who has a decent amount of gold and will buy almost anything. If you’re doing a "No Fast Travel" run, getting to Deepscorn is a nightmare. You’ll be fighting off Will-o-the-wisps and Bog Beacons every five feet.
Common Mistakes and Glitches
Look, this is an Elder Scrolls game from 2006. It’s going to be buggy.
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One of the biggest issues people have with the Oblivion Deepscorn Hollow quest is Rowley Eardwulf simply disappearing. Sometimes he gets stuck in the pathing between the inn and his "hidden" spots. If he’s not at the Wawnet Inn, try waiting for 24 hours or checking the bridge nearby.
Another weird one: The Dark Minion. Sometimes he just... doesn't come back. If you send him on a mission and he’s gone for more than a week, he’s probably stuck in a rock somewhere in the game world. Usually, fast traveling or waiting in a different cell (like the Imperial City) resets his timer.
Also, don't store your items in the containers before you buy the upgrades. When the interior of the cave "switches" to the upgraded version, it can sometimes overwrite the chest data, and your stuff will vanish into the Void. Literally. Sithis takes it.
Is Deepscorn Hollow Actually Good?
In the context of modern gaming, it might seem small. But for a role-player, it’s a goldmine. If you’re playing a stealth-based character or a mage who dabbles in the dark arts, it offers utility that no other house in the game provides.
- Infinite Poison: The Garden of Venomgrowth is the only reliable source for certain ingredients.
- Vampire Management: The cattle cell makes being a vampire actually fun instead of a chore.
- The Aesthetic: It’s arguably the most unique-looking interior in the game. It’s all green bioluminescence, dark stone, and ritualistic altars.
It feels like a place where a character like Lucien Lachance would hang out. It’s grim, it’s moist, and it’s unapologetically evil.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you're jumping back into Oblivion and want to make the most of this DLC, follow this specific order to avoid the usual headaches:
- Farm Gold Early: Don't even bother going to Deepscorn until you have 5,000 gold. Head to the Arena in the Imperial City or raid a few Ayleid ruins (specifically Vilverin) to get your capital up.
- Check the Wawnet Inn First: Before you even swim into the lair, talk to Rowley. Make sure he's there and his inventory is loading correctly.
- The "Cure" Strategy: If you plan on becoming a vampire just for the stat boosts, keep Deepscorn as your "emergency exit." Don't use the Purgeblood Salts until you're absolutely sure you want to be human again, as they are finite in the base DLC (though they do respawn eventually in the font).
- Infamy Grinding: If you want to use the Sithis Altar, join the Thieves Guild or Dark Brotherhood first. Trying to use the altar as a "good" character will just result in a message saying Sithis doesn't care about you.
- Storage Safety: Only use the chests in the bedroom area after you have purchased the "Bedroom Area" upgrade from Rowley. This ensures the container is permanent and safe from cell resets.
Deepscorn Hollow remains a masterclass in how to do "niche" DLC. It doesn't try to appeal to everyone. It caters specifically to the players who want to lean into the darker, more macabre side of Cyrodiil, providing a functional, lore-heavy base that feels earned rather than just given.