The Following a Lead quest in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is part of the Dark Brotherhood questline and automatically begins after completing the A Kiss Before Dying quest.
This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough to complete the quest, addressing potential glitches and key objectives.
Following a Lead: Step-by-Step Guide
In this quest, you discover that you've been manipulated into killing members of the Black Hand, the Dark Brotherhood's leadership, through tampered dead drops. Lucien Lachance tasks you with uncovering the traitor by staking out a dead drop in Anvil.
Travel to Anvil and Locate the Dead Drop
Head over to Anvil, way out west in Cyrodiil.
Look for the mermaid statue (aka The Lady of the Sea) on the east side, surrounded by water.
There’s a barrel behind it with the dead drop. Park yourself nearby and keep an eye out.
Stake Out the Barrel
Hang around for a bit (in-game time). A Wood Elf named Enilroth will show up and slip some fake orders into the barrel.
Heads-up: Sometimes Enilroth ghosts you. If he doesn’t show, wait a few in-game hours (hit "T" to wait on PC), reload a save, or restart the game to sort it out.
Confront Enilroth
Once Enilroth drops the orders, go chat with him. He’ll swear he’s just a messenger and point you to someone in the Anvil Lighthouse basement.
You can check the barrel to read the fake orders, which name Arquen as the next target (don’t chase that lead yet).
Investigate the Anvil Lighthouse
Make your way to the Anvil Lighthouse near the docks, just past the southern gate.
Talk to the keeper, Ulfgar Fog-Eye, and ask for the basement key. He’ll hand it over no problem.
Or, if you’re feeling sneaky, just pick the lock on the basement door.
Enter the Lighthouse Cellar
Unlock the Lighthouse Cellar door with the key (or lockpick it).
Inside, you’ll run into a crazed dog. Take it out or slip past it.
Push past the bed, unlock any wooden door in your way, and head to the back.
You’ll find an altar with a severed head and a chair with the Traitor’s Diary. Grab the diary (don’t just read it) for proof.
Additional Notes on the Cellar
The Traitor’s Diary spills the beans on the traitor also killing the Serpent’s Wake crew, which ties into the The Ghost Ship of Anvil side quest.
If you snag the severed head from the altar, you can use it later in Applewatch to mess with Mathieu Bellamont and confirm he’s the traitor.
Travel to Applewatch
Head to Applewatch, a farmhouse west of Bruma (fast-travel or hoof it).
Walk in, and you’ll hit a cutscene with four Black Hand members standing around Lucien Lachance’s messed-up body—he’s been taken out because of the traitor.
Arquen will greet you, make you a Speaker for the Black Hand, and toss you the Black Hand Hood and Black Hand Robe.
Complete the Quest
Talk to Arquen again between 12:00 AM and 3:00 AM (wait if you need to). Say you’re ready to meet the Night Mother.
Watch out: If you’re sitting when you agree to go, you might get stuck in a weird “sitting” glitch. Stand up first to avoid it.
Agreeing to meet the Night Mother wraps up the quest and starts Honor Thy Mother. You’ll get zapped to the Night Mother’s crypt.
Rewards
- Speaker Promotion: You’re now a big deal in the Black Hand.
- Black Hand Hood and Robe: Some slick, unique gear.
- Achievement: You’ll unlock one after talking to Arquen.
- Story Push: Opens the door to the Dark Brotherhood’s final quest, Honor Thy Mother.
Tips and Potential Glitches
Glitch Fixes
- No Enilroth at the barrel? Wait a few hours, reload a save, or restart the game.
- Can’t find the Traitor’s Diary? Check around the table or reload.
- Don’t sit when talking to Arquen to avoid getting stuck in a chair.
- Save Often: Oblivion Remastered can be buggy, so save before big moments (like waiting for Enilroth or entering the cellar).
- Extra Move: Drop the severed head in Applewatch near Mathieu Bellamont to see him freak out, hinting he’s the traitor. Not needed, but cool for the story.
- Console Commands (PC only): If you’re really stuck, use setstage Dark17Following (like 10 for the stakeout or 100 to finish). You can’t undo quest stages, so be careful.
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