As soon as you were set loose into the grand open world of Oblivion Remastered, you more than likely walked straight back into an underground cave: Vilverin.
Just across the water from the Imperial Sewers, this sprawling Ayleid Ruin holds more secrets than first meets the eye, including amazing loot and artifacts which will set you well on the way to success if you can handle the combat.
However, there are a few key mechanics that you might miss this early into Oblivion, as well as a few hidden passageways that are all too easy to miss.
Oblivion Remastered Vilverin Walkthrough
After defeating the bandit camp outside and making your way through the main entrance of Vilverin, you find yourself in an eerily illuminated tunnel where you’re ambushed by another bandit waiting at the foot of the stairs.
Defeat them, then follow the stairs down and around, taking care to avoid the pressure plate which drops a heavy, spiked weight as the path curves.
At the bottom of the next set of stairs, another bandit sits eating their supper, so use the element of surprise to your advantage before making your way down even further underground.
Now the passageway opens up into a huge chamber where you find three more bandits, along with a couple of chests and some equipment to loot. Take the illuminated staircase up to the south first, where you’ll find a bedroom filled with valuable Welkynd Stones and a letter discussing the disappearance of one of the bandits in the tomb below.
Retrace your steps to the large chamber, then take the stairs down to the north this time. Here you find another seated bandit overlooking a balcony. Try to deal with them quietly and you’ll have a nice vantage point to get a sneaky hit on the final two bandits – including the ringleader – on the other side of the balcony.
With them defeated, make your way down the flight of stairs and pass through the glowing door to Vilverin Canosel.
Vilvernin Canosel
Search the Ayleid Cask in front of you, then to the east you’ll come face-to-face with one of the bandits stationed in this part of the ruin. To the north you find a cask to loot, but the way forward is to the west.
In the western corner, stand on the pressure plate hidden by the plinth and it will open a secret passageway in the wall. Go through it and you’ll find the missing bandit mentioned in the letter.
To the north you find a locked gate. On the other side there’s a skeleton dungeon with a few items to loot, but you’ll need to swim through a flooded passageway to advance.
Alternatively, there’s another secret passageway which leads to the same place with less fighting – but you could always explore both paths if you want the XP. From the dead bandit’s body, go west and there’s another pressure plate which activates a secret door hidden by the plinth here.
This time the hidden door reveals a zombie, but they’re easily dealt with in isolation. Follow the path around and down the stairs, fighting the skeleton as you go. On your left you’ll find some loot to grab, but immediately after the passage will open up into another large, decently well-lit chamber.
Defeat the two skeletons you find here, then head through the passage to the west marked Vilverin Wendesel.
Vilverin Wendesel
Go down the stairs in front of you and you’ll find a room illuminated by Welkynd Stones. The holes in the floor before you aren’t some kind of puzzle, but a spike trap which will snap shut to deadly effect if you stand on it. Skirt around the outside of the room to avoid triggering it.
Defeat the skeleton on the other side, then climb the stairs. Grab some more stones and loot from the room on your right at the top, then take the passageway back left.
As you enter, you’ll be locked in by an unseen mechanism. In front of you there will be six push buttons. Do not press them all at once. Each one will release a skeleton and give you access to a different side room, some with chests to loot inside.
For the XP and loot, press each button in turn. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to collect a key from a chest in the back right-hand corner of the room which unlocks the hard-locked door at the rear of the chamber. You can unlock it yourself for the Security XP if you prefer, of course.
Next, follow the path until you reach yet more skeletons, this time guarding an Ayleid Cage. To open it, pass through the chamber, climb the stairs and press the button on the balcony overlooking the cage. Then jump down and claim the incredibly valuable Varla Stone.
Follow the path back past the button and you’ll reach the final area, Vilverin Sel Sancremathi.
Vilverin Sel Sancremanthi
Make your way forward, then sprint through the swishing blades while they’re retracted into the wall. Grab the Ayleid Statue, another valuable item you can sell to a merchant to begin a new side quest.
There are more skeletons and loot down the left and right forks, but straight forward (west) is the way out.
In this last chamber, you come face-to-face with the necromancer Jalbert. He’s much tougher than any of the skeletons and zombies you’ve faced so far, but can be overcome with diligence and healing.
When he summons familiars to aid him, make sure that you focus your attacks on Jalbert – when he’s defeated his familiars will disappear too.
Search his room for loot, making sure to grab the key out of the ruin in front of the chest, then take the only passageway out, up the stairs. Open the gate with the key, then follow the tunnel all the way to the door which leads back to the base Vilverin.
With one final chest to loot, this hidden path drops down right at the entrance to the cave, ready for you to pop back out and explore anew!
After this diversion, make sure to return to the main quest to get your first horse and make exploring easier. But if it’s faction quests you’re after, here’s how to join the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild.