Whodunit? Quest Guide for Oblivion Remastered: The Ultimate Dark Brotherhood Murder Mystery

"Whodunit?" stands as one of the most memorable quests in Oblivion Remastered. This unique Dark Brotherhood contract transforms you into the orchestrator of a twisted murder mystery. Your task? Eliminate five guests trapped in a manor without arousing suspicion.

Unlike typical assassination contracts, "Whodunit?" offers creative freedom in how you approach each kill. The quest rewards stealth and cunning over brute force. Players who complete the quest without being discovered receive a powerful permanent bonus to several skills.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the "Whodunit?" quest, from starting requirements to effective murder strategies and valuable rewards.

How to Start the Whodunit? Quest

Before embarking on this infamous murder mystery, you must first progress through the Dark Brotherhood questline:

1. Join the Dark Brotherhood faction
2. Complete all four of Vicente Valtieri's newcomer quests
3. Begin taking contracts from Ocheeva
4. Finish her first two assignments: "The Lonely Wanderer" and "Bad Medicine"

After completing these prerequisites, speak with Ocheeva again. She'll present you with the "Whodunit?" contract and direct you to Summitmist Manor in Skingrad.

Arriving at Summitmist Manor

Travel to Skingrad and locate Summitmist Manor in the middle of the city. Outside the manor, you'll meet Fafnir, a fellow Dark Brotherhood member serving as the doorman. He provides you with a key to the manor, which you'll use after completing your grisly work.

Your contract has a simple objective: kill all five guests trapped inside the house. However, there's a catch. For the bonus reward, you must eliminate each target one by one without raising suspicion among the survivors.

If any guest catches you in the act of murder, you'll forfeit the bonus. The true challenge lies in maintaining your cover while systematically reducing the guest list.

The Dinner Party Guests

Understanding your targets is crucial for planning your approach. Each guest has unique behaviors, relationships, and schedules:

Dovesi Dran

• Young Dark Elf woman
• Often found upstairs or near the dining table
• Has affection for Primo Antonius
• Hates Matilde Petit and Primo
• May attack Nels if he's the last survivor with her
• Can be convinced to wait for Primo alone upstairs

Matilde Petit

• Elderly Breton noble woman
• Wanders between the two main floors
• First person to greet you upon entering
• Dislikes Dovesi Dran
• Can be told to search the basement

Nels the Naughty

• Burly Nord man
• Usually stands by the dining table with his back to the wall
• Described as a drunk with a tragic past
• Has a soft spot for Dovesi (reminds him of his deceased daughter)
• Harbors hatred toward Imperials

Neville

• Redguard nobleman
• Paces the lower floor or sits at the dining table
• Former Imperial Legion soldier
• Attracted to Dovesi
• Can be convinced to wait for her upstairs

Primo Antonius

• Well-educated Imperial noble
• Initially found alone upstairs, otherwise wanders the house
• Has a crush on Dovesi
• Looks down on the other guests
• Hates Nords

Most guests retire to their bedrooms at night, creating perfect opportunities for isolated assassinations.

Effective Murder Methods

There are several approaches to completing the "Whodunit?" quest without arousing suspicion:

1. Stealth Assassination

The most straightforward method involves killing guests one by one using stealth techniques:

• Use a bow with powerful arrows for silent, one-shot kills (3x damage with sneak attacks)
• Target isolated guests first (Primo upstairs, Matilde in the stairwell)
• Leave Nels for last, as his position makes him difficult to isolate
• Monitor the Stealth Eye on your crosshair to ensure you remain hidden
• Avoid using Destruction magic, as it immediately forfeits the bonus
• Oddly, melee weapons sometimes don't raise alarm even when used in plain sight

2. Social Manipulation

Play a psychological game by improving your standing with the guests:

• Raise guests' disposition to 70+ through persuasion or bribes
• High disposition makes survivors less likely to suspect you
• Use conversation to learn about guests' relationships and grudges
• Manipulate guests into isolating themselves in different parts of the manor
• Convince Dovesi to wait for Primo upstairs or send Matilde to search the basement

3. Turn Guests Against Each Other

Exploit existing tensions between the guests:

• After killing some guests, survivors may blame each other if your disposition is high
• Strategic killings can trigger confrontations between remaining guests
• If only two guests remain after three murders, they might attack each other
• This approach lets you complete most of the contract without direct involvement

4. The Poisoned Apple Method

For a hands-off approach that avoids direct conflict:

• Obtain Poisoned Apples from M'raaj-Dar in the Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (up to 5)
• Alternatively, find 10 Poisoned Apples in a Very Hard locked barrel at Fort Farragut
• Remove all other food sources from the immediate area
• Place apples on tables or reverse-pickpocket them into guests' inventories
• Guests will eat the Poisoned Apple if no other food is available
• The poison deals permanent health damage every second and cannot be dispelled
• Be careful not to consume the apples yourself
• Note that Nels may not fall for this trick

Rewards and Bonus

Successfully completing the "Whodunit?" quest offers significant rewards:

• Gold payment scaled to your character level
• Access to Ocheeva's next contract, "Permanent Retirement"

If you complete the quest without being discovered (earning the bonus), you'll receive:

• The Night Mother's Blessing: A powerful permanent bonus that grants +2 to your Sneak, Security, Acrobatics, Blade, and Marksman skills
• These skill increases can even push your abilities beyond the 100 cap

Known Issues and Trivia

Interesting Facts

• The quest bears striking similarities to Agatha Christie's novel "And Then There Were None"
• Despite their assigned races, some guests exhibit unchanging racism toward certain groups
• All guests have only 1 health point, making them die from a single hit with any weapon

Potential Bugs

• Guest AI sometimes fails to notice melee kills performed in plain sight
• Bringing followers into Summitmist Manor may cause them to become permanently stuck
• Rarely, a guest may spontaneously begin killing the others after the first murder occurs
• In some instances, guests might start killing each other without any action from the player

Conclusion

"Whodunit?" represents one of Oblivion Remastered's most creative and engaging quests. The combination of stealth, social manipulation, and creative problem-solving makes it a standout experience in the Dark Brotherhood questline.

Whether you prefer the clean efficiency of stealth kills, the psychological warfare of turning guests against each other, or the detached approach of poisoned apples, this quest offers multiple paths to success.

The Night Mother's Blessing provides a powerful incentive to complete the contract without raising suspicion, making the extra effort well worth your time. Master this infamous quest, and you'll earn not just gold and skill bonuses, but the satisfaction of orchestrating the perfect crime.

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