Clavicus Vile is one of the Daedric Princes in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and he deals in deals, ambition, and fatal bargains. As all Daedric quests do, this quest presents the player with an ethical conflict: exchange an incredibly potent sword or simply take it for yourself — no holds barred.

How to Start the Quest

To initiate the quest, you need to have at least level 20. Then, go to the Shrine of Clavicus Vile, which is southwest of Imperial City, along the road to Skingrad. Inside the shrine, you have a Khajiit named Ma’Raska. Talk to him, and you have to offer 500 gold coins to call for Clavicus.

Once you see the Prince, he’ll inform you about the Umbra sword, which is an extremely potent blade carrying the soul of its former owner. The Prince will instruct you to go get the sword and bring it back to him.

Where to Find Umbra

Umbra is the name of a female Bosmer who carries the eponymous sword. To find her, head to the village of Pell’s Gate, southeast of the shrine. Speak to the locals, especially Irroke the Wide, who will inform you that Umbra resides in the ruins of Vindasel. These ruins are located northwest of Pell’s Gate, near the forest.

Inside the ruins, you’ll face a tough battle. Umbra wears ebony armor and wields a deadly weapon. She won’t attack first, but after a short conversation, you’ll have the choice to either leave or fight her.

How to Defeat Umbra

Umbra is dangerous, especially on higher difficulty settings. It’s recommended to take advantage of traps in the ruins, attack her from a safe distance, or — for an easier fight — lure her out and lead her to the nearest Imperial Legion outpost. The guards will assist you in the fight. Paralysis spells, poisoned weapons, or perks focused on blocking and counterattacks are also very effective.

Once you defeat her, you’ll obtain the Umbra sword — a weapon with high base damage and a soul trap effect. You can also loot her ebony armor.

The Choice: Return the Sword or Keep It

Here’s where the game presents the main dilemma of the quest. If you return the sword to Clavicus Vile, you’ll receive the Mask of Clavicus — a heavy helmet that grants +20 Personality. This is a useful artifact for negotiations and lowering shop prices. Moreover, completing the quest is required if you want to take on Hermaeus Mora’s task later.

If you decide to keep the sword, the quest will remain incomplete. However, the sword will no longer be marked as a quest item, meaning you can carry it without additional weight. This option is favored by players who hunt souls, as Umbra is one of the most effective weapons for this purpose. On the downside, you’ll miss out on the Mask and may face hostility from Clavicus’s followers.

Tips for Players

– If you want both the sword and the reward, you can exploit a glitch: after defeating Umbra, simply don’t complete the quest and continue using the sword as a regular weapon.

– If you're aiming to complete all Daedric quests for 100% completion, you'll eventually have to return Umbra.

– You can create a save before making the final choice, allowing you to change your decision later if needed.

The Clavicus Vile quest isn’t just a combat challenge — it’s a moral test of greed versus sacrifice. It’s one of those Oblivion moments that stick with you long after the game is over. No matter what you choose, this story will stay with you.