You’re standing in the dark. It’s that specific, oppressive kind of darkness that only exists in the Elder Scrolls universe, where the shadows aren't just an absence of light, but a physical weight against your character’s skin. If you’ve played through the Thieves Guild questline in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The oblivion eye of nocturnal isn't just a quest item or a bit of lore; it's a symbol of one of the most mechanically interesting—and frustrating—sections in Bethesda's history.
Honestly, most people confuse the Eye of Nocturnal with the Skeleton Key. They aren't the same. While the Key is the tool everyone wants (unbreakable lockpicks, anyone?), the Eye is the catalyst. It’s the object that drives the plot of "Shadow over Leyawiin" and forces you to confront what it actually means to serve the Daedric Prince of Night and Darkness.
What the Oblivion Eye of Nocturnal Actually Is
Let's get the facts straight. The Eye of Nocturnal is a powerful artifact stolen from the Daedric Prince by two Argonian thieves, Weebam-Na and Bejeen, in Leyawiin. This isn't just some shiny bauble. In the context of Oblivion, it represents Nocturnal’s literal sight within the mortal realm. When it’s gone, she’s blind. And when a Daedric Prince is blind, they get cranky.
The quest starts when you reach a high enough rank in the Thieves Guild. S’Krivva sends you to Leyawiin because rumors are swirling about a "priceless heirloom." You’ll find yourself eavesdropping on a pair of Argonians who think they’ve hit the jackpot. They haven't. They’ve actually just invited the wrath of a god into their living room.
The artifact itself looks like a swirling, dark orb. It doesn't give you a massive stat boost or allow you to fly. Instead, it serves as your ticket to the Skeleton Key. Many players forget that the rewards in Oblivion weren't always about the item you found, but about what the Daedra gave you in exchange for returning it.
Why Leyawiin is the Worst Place for a Heist
Leyawiin is a swampy, rainy mess. It’s fitting, though. The atmosphere of the city mirrors the murky ethics of the quest. You aren't "saving" anyone here. You’re recovering stolen property for a shadow deity.
When you track the Eye down to Tidewater Cave, the game shifts. This isn't a standard dungeon crawl. The cave is packed with trolls and kalperan bears, which, at higher levels, are absolute sponges for damage. I’ve seen players go in at level 25 thinking they’ll breeze through it, only to get cornered by three trolls while trying to navigate the narrow corridors. It’s a slog. But the reward? The reward is legendary.
📖 Related: Finding Your True Partner: Why That Quiz to See What Pokemon You Are Actually Matters
The Mechanical Impact of Nocturnal's Favor
Once you return the oblivion eye of nocturnal to the shrine (located north of Leyawiin), you receive the Skeleton Key.
This is where the game balance breaks.
In Oblivion, the lockpicking minigame is a test of reflexes and patience. You have to time the tumblers. If you fail, your pick breaks. If you have the Skeleton Key, the tumblers stay up. You can just spam the "Auto-Attempt" button until every chest in Cyrodiil pops open. It essentially deletes a core gameplay mechanic.
Some purists hate it. They think it ruins the "thief" experience. Personally? I think it’s a fair trade for dealing with those trolls in Tidewater Cave.
Lore Deep Dive: Who is Nocturnal?
Nocturnal is often called the Ur-Dra. In the deep lore—the stuff you find in books like The Doors of Oblivion or the Imperial Library—she is suggested to be one of the original forces of the universe, predating many other Daedra. She doesn't have a "realm" in the traditional sense like Mehrunes Dagon’s fire-and-brimstone Deadlands. She is the darkness.
When the oblivion eye of nocturnal was stolen, it wasn't just a theft of gold. It was a puncture in her influence over the "Evergloam."
👉 See also: Finding the Rusty Cryptic Vessel in Lies of P and Why You Actually Need It
Interestingly, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim revisited this theme with the Twilight Sepulcher, but it felt different. In Oblivion, the quest felt more like a street-level detective story that accidentally turned into a divine errand. There’s a grit to it that the later games lacked. You’re literally just a guy in a leather tunic trying to find a rock in a wet cave because a voice in your head told you to.
Common Bugs and How to Avoid Them
Bethesda games are, well, Bethesda games. The Nocturnal quest is notorious for a few specific glitches that can soft-lock your progress if you aren't careful.
- The Eavesdropping Bug: If you enter Weebam-Na’s house at the wrong time or stay in the wrong "detection" zone, the scripted conversation between the two Argonians might never trigger. If they don't talk, the quest won't advance to the cave phase.
- The Cave Trigger: Sometimes, if you clear Tidewater Cave before starting the quest, the Eye won't appear in its designated chest. This is a classic "sequence breaking" issue.
- The Level Scaling Trap: Because the Skeleton Key is available starting at level 10, many players rush to get it early. Be warned: the enemies in the cave scale with you, but their health pools grow faster than your damage output if you haven't optimized your build.
If you find yourself stuck, the best fix is usually to wait 24 in-game hours outside the cell (the house or the cave) and re-enter. If you're on PC, the console command setstage DANocturnal 20 can force the quest to recognize you've heard the conversation.
The Ethical Dilemma of the Thieves Guild
Why are we helping a Daedric Prince?
The Gray Fox has his reasons, sure. But the player's motivation is usually pure greed. The oblivion eye of nocturnal quest highlights the weird relationship between the guild and the divine. Most guilds in RPGs are just groups of people with similar jobs. The Thieves Guild in the Elder Scrolls is a cult-adjacent organization that flirts with cosmic entities.
Returning the eye feels like a win, but you're effectively enabling a Daedra. Nocturnal isn't "evil" in the way Molag Bal is evil, but she isn't your friend either. She’s the patron of luck. By returning her eye, you're ensuring that luck stays on the side of the thieves.
✨ Don't miss: Finding every Hollow Knight mask shard without losing your mind
It’s a bit of a meta-commentary on gameplay. The Skeleton Key gives you the "luck" to never fail a lockpick again. You’ve traded a physical artifact for a permanent mechanical advantage.
Survival Tips for Tidewater Cave
If you're heading in there today, here’s how to handle it without losing your mind.
Tidewater Cave is damp. It’s dark. It’s full of things that want to eat your face.
- Bring Fire: Trolls hate fire. It stops their regeneration. A simple "Flare" spell or an enchanted silver dagger will save you minutes of hacking away at a regenerating health bar.
- Don't Sneak Too Much: The cave layout is narrow. Unless your Sneak skill is 75+, those bears will smell you. It’s often better to kite them back to the entrance one by one.
- Check the Chests: The Eye is hidden in a chest deep in the submerged section. You don't need Water Breathing, but it makes the panic of drowning a lot less likely.
Why This Quest Still Matters in 2026
It’s been decades since Oblivion released, yet we’re still talking about this specific artifact. Why? Because it represents a peak in Bethesda’s quest design where the reward felt commensurate with the lore.
The oblivion eye of nocturnal isn't just a fetch quest. It's a bridge between the mundane world of Leyawiin politics and the terrifying, infinite reaches of Oblivion. It reminds us that even in a world of knights and dragons, the most dangerous things are the things you can't see—the eyes watching from the shadows.
How to Maximize the Skeleton Key
Once you have the Key, your Security skill will technically continue to level up, but it doesn't matter. You can't break the pick.
- Tip: Use the Key to farm the "Security" skill by intentionally failing the tumblers on a hard lock. It’s a fast way to get those Agility attribute bonuses when you level up.
- Warning: If you're playing a roleplay-heavy character, the Skeleton Key can actually make the game feel a bit boring. There's no tension in a heist when every door is essentially already open.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
- Wait until Level 10: You cannot start the quest "Nocturnal" until you reach level 10. Don't waste time riding to the shrine at level 5.
- Head to the Shrine first: The shrine is northeast of Leyawiin, along the road. You don't need a lead; you can just walk up to the statue.
- Talk to the Argonians: Weebam-Na and Bejeen are your targets. Don't kill them. If you kill them, you'll have a much harder time finding the location of the eye.
- Clear Tidewater Cave: Watch out for the trolls. Use the environment to your advantage. There are several tight spots where large enemies like bears can get stuck.
- Claim your prize: Return to the shrine. Enjoy never buying a lockpick again for the rest of the game.
The legacy of the oblivion eye of nocturnal lives on because it’s one of the few times a game gives you a "god mode" tool and makes it feel earned through a weird, atmospheric journey into the dark. If you've never done it, or if it's been a decade since your last run through Cyrodiil, it’s worth the trip back to the marshes of Leyawiin. Just bring a torch. You’re going to need it.