4: Cheydinhal Recommendation

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Guide - Mages Guild

Cheydinhal Recommendation

In the Cheydinhal Mages Guild hall, speak to Falcar and select the 'Recommendation' dialogue option. Falcar could be anywhere in the guild hall, even the basement. If he is nowhere to be found, wait as many hours need to pass the time to around 11:00AM. Falcar wants you to retrieve the Ring of Burden, which was thrown down a well by another Mages Guild associate. Be careful here, as the Ring of Burden weighs 150 lbs! You may not be able take the ring without becoming over-encumbered, so store the non-essential items in your inventory somewhere for the time being.

The Ring of Burden is down the well behind the Mages Guild hall. Deetsan, a Mages Guild member, holds the key. Speak to Deetsan the Argonian, who should be somewhere in the Mages Guild hall, and select the 'Recommendation' dialogue option. Deetsan will discuss the matter only if Falcar is out of earshot. She believes that Falcar's task is an attempt to get you killed, explaining that the exact same task was given to a Mages Guild Associate named Vidkun, who hasn't been heard from since.

Deetsan gives you the Well Key and teaches you the Buoyancy spell, which grants the caster the Water Breathing and Feather effects for a short duration of time. This spell will prove useful, provided your Alteration skill level is high enough to cast it. If your Alteration skill level is inadequate for the casting of Buoyancy, consider dropping some heavy items before entering the well. Of course, save your game beforehand, just to be safe.

Quickly locate Vidkun's corpse inside the well behind the Mages Guild hall and remove the Ring of Burden. Make sure you have at least 150 lbs of inventory space free!

When you're ready to get started, exit the guild hall and make your way over to the well behind the building. Enter the well and swim to the left to spot the Vidkun's lifeless body. The Water Breathing effect gained from casting Buoyancy isn't entirely necessary here, as the well is quite small. Search Vidkun's corpse and remove the Ring of Burden.

When you have the ring, exit the well and return to the Mages Guild hall. Speak to Deetsan inside; she explains that she confronted Falcar about Vidkun, which caused him to fly into a rage and storm out. Real mature. Tell Deetsan of Vidkun's fate, then head down to the basement and enter Falcar's room. Approach the locked drawer next to his desk and cast a spell or use a lockpick to open it. Remove the two Black Soul Gems inside and present them to Deetsan to complete the quest.