You’re wandering through the Great Forest, northwest of the Imperial City, probably hunting deer or just trying to find a shortcut to Chorrol. Then you see it. Tucked away in the dense brush, surrounded by flickering candles and a few cultists who look like they haven’t slept in a week, is the Oblivion Shrine of Mephala. It isn't as grand as Azura’s or as terrifyingly obvious as Mehrunes Dagon’s. It’s subtle. It feels wrong.
Honestly, that’s exactly how the Webspinner likes it.
Mephala isn’t about world-ending portals or frozen wastelands. She’s about the "small" things—lies, betrayal, and the slow, agonizing collapse of a peaceful community. If you’ve played The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, you know this quest. If you haven’t, or if you just breezed through it for the Daedric artifact, you’ve missed the most psychologically messed-up writing Bethesda ever put into the game.
Locating the Webspinner
Finding the Oblivion Shrine of Mephala is your first hurdle. It’s located almost directly northeast of the Inn of Ill Omen, or roughly halfway between the Imperial City and Chorrol. You’re looking for a stone statue of a woman with multiple arms—a classic depiction of the Daedric Prince of Lies.
Don't just walk up and expect a chat.
The Daedric Princes are picky. To even speak with Mephala, you need to be at least Level 15. You also need to bring an offering of Nightshade. This poisonous plant is common enough in the West Weald or for sale at alchemy shops like "The Main Ingredient" in the Market District, but it’s a fitting tribute. Mephala doesn't want gold; she wants something that represents the quiet death she specializes in. Offer the Nightshade between midnight and dawn.
If the timing is right, the voice of the Spider will slither into your head. She doesn't want you to kill a monster. She wants you to ruin a village.
📖 Related: FC 26 Web App: How to Master the Market Before the Game Even Launches
The Tragedy of Bleaker's Way
The quest Mephala gives you is titled "Mephala," which is straightforward, but the content is anything but. She directs you to a small, peaceful settlement called Bleaker's Way. This place is an anomaly in Cyrodiil because two different families—the Nords (the Dalvilus family) and the Dark Elves (the Ulfgar family)—actually get along. They’ve lived in harmony for generations.
Mephala hates that.
The goal? Murder the leaders of both families and frame the other side for the crime. You have to kill Hrol Ulfgar and Nivan Dalvilu. But you can't just hack and slash your way through. You have to be a ghost. You have to be the lie.
Execution of the Betrayal
Once you arrive in Bleaker's Way, you'll find it's a quiet, boring place. That’s what makes the coming violence so jarring. To successfully frame them, you need specific evidence.
- Steal the "evidence": You need to break into the homes of the family leaders. From Nivan Dalvilu’s house, you need the Dalvilu Ceremonial Dagger. From Hrol Ulfgar’s house, you need the Ulfgar Family Ring.
- The Murders: You must kill Nivan using the Ulfgar ring (planting it on his body) and kill Hrol using the Dalvilu dagger.
- The Spark: After the deed is done, you go to the local inn or find a resident and "discover" the bodies. You tell them you saw the other family do it.
What happens next is a scripted event that remains one of the most chaotic moments in Oblivion. The two families, fueled by generations of suppressed racial tension and sudden grief, meet in the center of the village. They don't talk. They don't investigate. They just start slaughtering each other.
You stand there. You watch.
👉 See also: Mass Effect Andromeda Gameplay: Why It’s Actually the Best Combat in the Series
Why Mephala’s Reward Matters
If you manage to kill the leaders and incite the riot without getting caught by the guards or the villagers, Mephala is thrilled. Your reward is the Ebony Blade.
Now, let’s be real for a second. In the vanilla version of Oblivion, the Ebony Blade is... okay. It has a "Silence" and "Absorb Health" enchantment. In a game where you can craft custom enchanted Daedric longswords that deal 100 points of elemental damage, a katana that silences people feels a bit niche.
However, the Ebony Blade is iconic for its lore. It’s a weapon that gets stronger with betrayal (a mechanic more fully realized in Skyrim, but established here). In Oblivion, its primary value is its speed and the fact that it prevents mages from casting spells. If you’re fighting Mankar Camoran or high-level Liches, that Silence effect is a literal lifesaver.
But the real reward isn't the sword. It’s the sheer darkness of the quest design. Most Daedric quests are "Go here, kill X." Mephala asks you to be a sociopath. You aren't just a warrior; you're a puppeteer.
Technical nuances and common glitches
Because Oblivion is a game built on the Radiant AI system, things can go sideways at the Oblivion Shrine of Mephala quest fairly easily. I've seen Hrol Ulfgar wander off into the woods to fight a wolf and get killed before I even started the quest. If that happens, you’re stuck.
Pro-tip: Don't use a high-damage weapon that isn't the "evidence" dagger/ring to finish the job. If you accidentally kill them with a flare spell or a different sword, the quest script might not trigger the "planting" phase correctly.
✨ Don't miss: Marvel Rivals Emma Frost X Revolution Skin: What Most People Get Wrong
Also, the villagers in Bleaker's Way are essential for the final riot. If you’ve been "clearing out" the town beforehand for loot, the quest won't feel nearly as impactful. The whole point is the "All-Out War" between the survivors.
The Philosophy of the Webspinner
Why does Bethesda put this in the game? It’s about the nature of the Daedra.
In The Elder Scrolls lore, specifically the Monomyth and the Book of Daedra, Mephala is one of the "Good Daedra" to the Dunmer, but to everyone else, she’s a nightmare. She represents the "Anticipation of Vivec." She’s the gray area. The Oblivion Shrine of Mephala serves as a reminder that the world of Tamriel isn't just about "Good vs. Evil" (Aedra vs. Mehrunes Dagon). It's about the messy, cruel reality of mortal emotion.
The quest forces the player to acknowledge that they are an agent of chaos. You aren't the Hero of Kvatch in this moment. You are a tool of the Webspinner.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you're planning to revisit this dark corner of Cyrodiil, here is exactly how to maximize the experience and avoid the "stuck quest" blues:
- Wait until Level 15: There is no way around this requirement. If you show up at Level 14, the followers will just tell you you're "unworthy."
- Farm Nightshade in the Imperial City: Check the planters in the Arcane University or the Main Ingredient shop. Don't waste time wandering the woods looking for one specific flower.
- Save BEFORE entering Bleaker's Way: The AI pathing for the family leaders can be wonky. If they aren't in their houses at night, you might have to wait a full 24-hour cycle for their schedules to reset.
- Use 100% Chameleon (If you want to be cheap): If you have the Ring of Khajiit or custom enchanted gear, you can plant the evidence and commit the murders in broad daylight while standing right in front of people. It breaks the immersion, but it's hilarious to see.
- Watch the whole fight: Don't fast travel away as soon as the riot starts. Stay in Bleaker's Way and watch the "natural" conclusion of the conflict. It’s one of the few times the game’s AI truly reflects the narrative stakes.
- Check the survivors: After the dust settles, talk to whoever is left. The dialogue changes, reflecting the ruin you've brought upon their lives. It’s a grim, necessary part of the "Mephala" experience.
Ultimately, the Oblivion Shrine of Mephala stands out because it asks more of the player's conscience than their combat stats. It’s a masterclass in quest writing that utilizes the game's mechanics—stealth, pickpocketing, and AI interaction—to tell a story that is genuinely uncomfortable.
Go to the shrine. Offer the Nightshade. Just don't expect to feel like a hero when you're done.
To wrap this up, if you're chasing the "Oblivion Walker" equivalent in Oblivion (The "Amulet of Kings" or just the "Protector of Cyrodiil" vibe), this quest is mandatory. But more than that, it's a piece of gaming history that shows how RPGs can use player agency to explore the darker sides of human—and Elven—nature. Get your Nightshade ready and head to the Great Forest. The Spider is waiting.