Cheydinhal Recommendation Quest Guide In Oblivion Remastered

TL;DR

  • Save before entering the well to prevent quest-breaking bugs that can force restart
  • Use Water Breathing items like Jewel of the Rumare or Buoyancy scroll for 30+ second immersion
  • Find Falcar in basement or ground-level rooms, then speak to Deetsan alone at night
  • The 150-pound Ring of Burden can be dropped after quest updates, no need to carry out
  • Complete all seven city recommendations to unlock Arcane University access


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Gaining entry to the prestigious Arcane University in Oblivion Remastered demands completion of all seven Mages Guild recommendation quests scattered throughout Cyrodiil’s major cities. While several assignments prove straightforward, the Cheydinhal Recommendation represents one of the most notoriously problematic missions in the entire game. This quest frequently experiences technical glitches that can completely halt progression, compounded by confusing objectives that leave many players stranded at critical junctures.

Beyond the documented bug issues, this mission introduces complex NPC interaction patterns and environmental challenges that test even experienced mages. Proper preparation with specific gear and strategic timing becomes essential for smooth completion, making advance planning crucial rather than optional.

The Cheydinhal Mages Guild occupies the southeastern district, positioned adjacent to both the Fighters Guild headquarters and Mach-Na’s Books shop for easy navigation. Inside, your primary objective involves tracking down Falcar, the guild leader who exhibits notoriously unpredictable movement patterns throughout the facility.

Falcar maintains private quarters in the basement level but frequently traverses the stairwell connecting floors. Most consistently, players discover him occupying one of the ground-floor side chambers during daytime hours. His deliberately evasive behavior foreshadows the complications awaiting you in this recommendation process.

When confronting Falcar about recommendation endorsement, expect immediate hostility and reluctance. He eventually concedes, assigning retrieval of the Ring of Burden allegedly discarded down a local well by former member Vidkun. This heavy artifact’s recovery initiates the quest’s most challenging phase.

Critical intelligence emerges from Deetsan, an Argonian mage typically stationed near Falcar. Importantly, she refuses conversation while Falcar remains present, requiring strategic timing for private discussion. Nighttime hours typically provide the optimal window when Falcar retreats to his basement quarters, leaving Deetsan accessible for crucial revelations.

Speak to Falcar and Deetsan

Deetsan secretly provides the well key while warning about Falcar’s potentially malicious intentions behind this assignment. Additionally, she supplies a Buoyancy scroll—essential equipment for the submerged exploration ahead. Veteran players should note that completing the ‘Go Fish’ quest beforehand rewards the Jewel of the Rumare ring, offering superior water breathing capabilities compared to temporary scroll effects.

This interaction unveils deeper narrative layers suggesting Falcar’s involvement in darker activities, though confronting him directly before completing the recommendation proves unwise.

The well entrance sits directly behind the Mages Guild building, accessible once you possess Deetsan’s key. Before descending, execute a manual save—this represents the single most important step for avoiding catastrophic quest failure. The well interior frequently glitches, potentially trapping characters or failing to register objective completion without this safety measure.

Head into the Mages Guild Well

Upon entering the flooded chamber, immediately activate the Buoyancy scroll or equip your Water Breathing artifact. The complete submersion demands approximately 30 seconds of underwater exploration, making temporary spells insufficient for unprepared mages.

Searching for Vidkun

Navigate the submerged floor to locate Vidkun’s remains, then retrieve the Ring of Burden from his corpse. This massively heavy ring weighs 150 pounds, typically exceeding most characters’ carrying capacity during early gameplay stages.

Advanced strategy: Cast Fortify Strength spells before looting to temporarily increase load capacity. Alternatively, quick inventory management dropping less essential items can create necessary space. However, the most efficient approach involves simply dropping the ring immediately after the quest journal updates confirming acquisition—the game doesn’t require physically transporting this cumbersome object.

With the Ring of Burden successfully documented in your quest log (regardless of whether you continue carrying it), return directly to the Mages Guild. Present your findings to Falcar to complete the Cheydinhal recommendation requirement.

Speak to Deetsan about Falcar and search his room

For players seeking deeper engagement, this quest chain continues with Deetsan offering additional investigations into Falcar’s activities. These optional follow-up missions reveal significant plot developments but should be pursued only after securing your recommendation to avoid complications.

Present the Black Soul Gems to Deetsan

Time investment for this quest typically ranges 20-45 minutes depending on preparation level and familiarity with Cheydinhal’s layout. Players encountering persistent bugs should reload their pre-well save rather than attempting workarounds, as progression issues typically worsen without proper reset.

Remember that this represents just one of seven necessary recommendations. For comprehensive guidance through all Mages Guild initiation requirements, consult our Complete Guide covering each city’s unique challenges and optimization strategies.

Action Checklist

  • Locate Cheydinhal Mages Guild southeast district near Fighters Guild
  • Find Falcar in basement or ground rooms, speak for recommendation
  • Wait until nighttime, speak privately with Deetsan for key and scroll
  • Save game before entering well behind guild
  • Use Water Breathing equipment, retrieve Ring of Burden from Vidkun’s body
  • Drop ring after quest updates, return to Falcar for completion

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Cheydinhal Recommendation Quest Guide In Oblivion Remastered Master the tricky Cheydinhal Recommendation quest with expert strategies to avoid bugs and complete your Mages Guild initiation