In Oblivion Remastered, speak to Jensine inside her “Good as New” Merchandise in the Market District of the Imperial City. She’s the chairperson of the Society of Concerned Merchants, who’re – as you might expect – concerned by a new merchant, Thoronir, who’s set up shop in the city.
Thoronir’s shop not only sells all kinds of different goods, upsetting the delicate equilibrium of the Market where each shopkeeper has their niche, but he undercuts the prices the rest of the merchants need to make a living.
Convinced he’s up to something shady, Jensine asks you to investigate where he’s getting his inventory and offers a nice kitty of gold for the trouble.
Make your way over to Thoronir’s shop, the Copious Coinpurse. Browse his inventory for anything you like then ask about his stock. Say that it’s a fine selection and he’ll say that his sources are secret, but numerous.
Your journal will then update your objective to tailing Thoronir after his shop closes to see what he gets up to. But remember, as with most, if not all, surveillance missions in Oblivion Remastered, you don’t actually have to remain undetected while following your target.
Where to follow Thoronir in Unfriendly Competition
Head outside the Copious Coinpurse and wait until 8pm. On closing, Thoronir will stride out into the evening air and turn southwards, taking the nearest gate to the Temple District.
From there he’ll walk towards the Temple of the One, stand and pray for many hours, before returning to the market district.
Back in town, things will start to get interesting. Instead of walking back to his shop, Thoronir will take a diversion down a back street, stopping in a dimly lit yard where he meets a mysterious man.
If you were ever curious as to whether being detected or not matters during these tailing missions, this next part proves it.
To initiate the next part of the conversation between Thoronir and his contact, you need to stand right between them. When you do, your HUD will disappear and you’ll hear them discussing a new shipment of goods for the store.
With a new lead, your objective changes to following the new man, Agarmir.
Tail Agarmir and he’ll make for the Imperial City Palace, before continuing onto the Talos Plaza District. Stick to him and he’ll lead you straight to his house.
Next, wait until the day time and progress the time hour-by-hour until you see Agarmir leave his front door – usually in the afternoon.
Now, you have a couple of options depending on your security skill. If you’re confident picking two average quality locks, then proceed as you like. However, if you’re short of lockpicks, make a quicksave and try to pickpocket Agarmir’s key from him as he leaves his house. The quicksave is to reload if you’re a butterfingers and he spots you.
However you can, get through his front door, then go to the back of the house and open Argamir’s basement.
In the dingy cellar, you find muddy boots and digging equipment, along with a “Macabre Manifest” detailing the specifics of how Argamir is acquiring such cheap merchandise.
Since you tailed Thoronir and saw him piously praying at the Temple of the One after work, give him the benefit of the doubt and confront him with the ledger.
Horrified by the revelation, Thoronir asks you to help him make amends, starting with cutting off his relationship with Argamir. Apparently, the graverobber mentioned that he was going on a supply run and you’re pointing towards the graveyard in the Imperial City.
Approach the Trentius Family Mausoleum in Green Emperor Way and find Argamir, who’s brought help to carry out the ill-gotten gains. After some brief crossed words, the two thugs will attempt to silence you to protect their operation, with Argamir attacking you with his unique shortsword, Debaser.
Once they’re defeated, ironically given the story of this quest, grab anything that’s not nailed down, including the unique elven mace, Calliben’s Grim Retort, behind Calliben Trentius’s burial vault. With that in-hand, leave using the key you took from Argamir, then return to the Copious Coinpurse to tell Thoromir what happened.
Thanking you for digging him out of trouble with some dangerous people, Thoronir hands over a brilliant reward, the Weatherward Circlet, an incredibly useful ring that resists both fire and ice. Given you can equip two rings at a time, and that many players complete this quest relatively early on in their adventure, you’ll probably keep this versatile piece around for a good while.
However, remember you’re not working for Thoronir after all. Before the day’s done, go back to Jensine’s Good as New Merchandise and tell her the good news. As a reward for your help resolving the matter, she’ll hand over a fat purse of gold.
For more intriguing quests with lots of twists and turns, check out our Canvas the Castle Quest guide, Paranoia Quest guide, or our map of every Deadric Artifact location in Oblivion Remastered.