Oblivion:The Path of Dawn

You must return to Baurus in the Imperial City to try to track down the stolen Amulet of Kings. Quest Giver: Jauffre at Cloud Ruler Temple Location(s): Cloud Ruler Temple, The Imperial City Prerequisite Quest: Weynon Priory Next Quest: Dagon Shrine Reward: None Fame/Infamy: Fame +1 ID: MQ05

Baurus attacks the Mythic Dawn members

Quick Walkthrough

1. Speak to Jauffre about the Amulet of Kings.
2. Find Baurus in the Imperial City. Help him defeat a Mythic Dawn assassin, which will give you a mysterious book.
3. Track down the rest of the Mythic Dawn Commentaries.
   1. Book Two can be found at the Arcane University.
   2. Book Three can be found at First Edition.
   3. Book Four requires meeting a cultist in the Imperial Sewers, with Baurus.
4. The books give you a location where, in turn, you'll learn where the Mythic Dawn sanctuary is.

Detailed Walkthrough

Preparation

During this quest, Baurus becomes non-essential, so before going on this quest, it is recommended to obtain some Convalescence spells to assist in keeping him alive.

An Old Friend

Cloud Ruler Temple

Talk to Jauffre after escorting him and Martin to Cloud Ruler Temple. Now that Martin is safe and secure, the next obvious step is to retrieve the Amulet of Kings so that Martin can light the Dragonfires. Anticipating this course of action, Baurus, the only Blade present at the Emperor's assassination to survive, has been gathering intelligence in the Imperial City. The two of you are to work in conjunction to retrieve the Amulet. You can find Baurus at Luther Broad's Boarding House in the Elven Gardens District.

Inside, you'll find Baurus sitting down and drinking. One other customer, Astav Wirich, is always present in the corner behind him. Have a seat next to Baurus and chat with him. In the course of his intelligence-gathering, he has attracted unwanted attention and is being stalked. Suspicious of Astav, Baurus formulates a sting operation: He will leave to the secluded basement in the hope the man will follow. Sure enough, as Baurus leaves Astav follows. Head downstairs and intercept him.

Volume One: Astav and Baurus

When Astav discovers that he has an opportunity to strike Baurus down without Imperial interference, he'll summon his Mythic Dawn gear and try to assassinate him. Although the fight is pretty one sided in Baurus' favor, Baurus won't mind if you fight Astav from the rear. After Astav is dead, Baurus will instruct you to check his body for anything useful. You'll find a strange book entitled Mythic Dawn Commentaries 1. Show it to Baurus, and he will suggest that you talk to Tar-Meena, an expert of Daedric Cults, in the Arcane University, who may be able to tell you more about the book.

Volume Two: The Arcane University

Travel to the Arcane University, located in the southeastern corner of the Imperial City. If you have completed Join the Mages Guild, Tar-Meena will be wandering around the Mystic Archives. If not she will be found reading in the Arch-Mage's Lobby. Talk to her about the Mythic Dawn, and find out more about this cult and its patriarch, Mankar Camoran. She says that you will need the complete set of the Mythic Dawn Commentaries, also known as Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes, to find their headquarters. She offers you the second book, which leaves you to find Books Three and Four.

Volume Three: First Edition

Find Phintias at the First Edition

Tar-Meena suggests that you visit the First Edition bookstore and speak with Phintias, the proprietor, who may have some information about the last two volumes. His bookstore is in the Market District on the northeast side of the Imperial City, near the center of the district. Upon arriving, ask Phintias about the Mysterium Xarxes. He'll say that while Books One and Two are rare, Books Three and Four are next to impossible to find. He does happen to have a copy of the third, but it has already been paid for by another customer, Gwinas. As for Book Four, he states that he has never even seen a copy of it and has absolutely no idea on where you would find one.

To obtain the third book at this point, you have a few options:

• As soon as Gwinas buys the book, talk to him and tell him that the Mythic Dawn were the ones who murdered the emperor. As soon as he realizes this, he will give you the book and a note about the meeting.
• If you boost Phintias' disposition above 80, he will reluctantly sell the book to you for 100 gold. You will still need to confront Gwinas for the note.
• Before Gwinas picks up the book, it can be found in a locked chest behind Phintias' counter. You can steal the book before Gwinas arrives and Phintias will not be able to give it to him. If you talk to Phintias, he will comment that the book has been stolen. Again, you will still need to get the note from Gwinas.
• Gwinas can also be pickpocketed or killed for the book and/or the note.

Volume Four can only be obtained from a member of the Mythic Dawn. Gwinas has set up a meeting, of which he'll tell you the time and place, with his sponsor, Raven Camoran. You must go in his place to receive the fourth and final volume.

Volume Four: The Sewers

A Mythic Dawn hideout

As the quest log suggests, go see Baurus back at the Boarding House before heading out to the meeting and let him know what you've found so far. Accompany him through the rather long Elven Garden Sewers where you'll encounter a few mud crabs and leveled goblins. There is very little loot throughout the sewers, so a direct route to the meeting place is advised. Rather annoyingly, Baurus remains walking the entire path and will stop walking if you run ahead, and you may find yourself backtracking often to retrieve him.

As you follow Baurus through the sewers, periodically heal him to keep him at full strength. Heal him again just before entering the final door to the meeting area. He'll let you know when that is. This will keep him alive through the sewers and, if necessary, throughout the fight. If you do not have a Convalescence spell, waiting will heal both of you at the same time. However, this will not work in the middle of a battle. The fight with the Mythic Dawn agents at the meeting area can be rather difficult, especially if you want to keep Baurus alive. Keeping Baurus alive is recommended because he can be a big help at lower levels, and also during the other battles in the Main Quest. Additionally, if you meet Baurus at the Cloud Ruler Temple after he and you travel through the sewers, he will thank you and give you a free skill increase in Blade, Block, and Heavy Armor.

You may also wish to take the lead in order to protect Baurus on the way, since he is no longer essential. If you get too far ahead of him, he'll simply wait for you to come close enough to continue on. Once you reach the meeting area, Baurus suggests that you cover him, although, you can take the lead and have him cover you if you insist. In this path though, he will be discovered and attacked. Whatever happens, he says, you must try to get the book and recover the Amulet of Kings. At this point, it is a good idea to rest or apply a Convalescence Spell to Baurus if you have one. Saving your game is also an excellent idea.

There are many possible ways to continue from here, including the following:

• If you take the stairs to the left of the door into the Sunken Sewers, you'll be on an overlooking walkway with a great vantage point, as Baurus mentioned. The Sponsor will enter and talk to Baurus as two more cultists enter from the top. Without stealth options, these cultists will likely discover you. Even if they don't see you, the first cultist will recognize Baurus and attack. You have a moment before the two cultists enter to attack the cultist below in your manner of choosing. This stratagem tilts the fight greatly in your and Baurus' favor. Alternatively, if you have reasonably good Sneak and Marksman skills you can shoot through the gates up above and eliminate both cultists before they even enter the room. You can then hop down and assist Baurus in finishing off Raven Camoran.

Meet the Sponsor

• Ignore Baurus' suggestion of using the vantage point and follow him through the door instead. He will sit at the table, while you should hide in the shadows to the right. The inset wall to the left is also an excellent place to wait. When the first cultist comes in, he stands facing the table with his back to you. If you have enough skill in Sneak you can immediately sneak up behind him and pick his pocket. If you take too long the other cultists will arrive. If you can pickpocket the book and sneak out of the room in Baurus' line of sight, he will shortly break off the meeting and follow you, and the two of you can leave in peace. He may leave even if you don't.
• You may meet the Sponsor instead. Baurus will hide up on the overlook. Sit down in the chair, and the Sponsor will enter. If you get up or try to talk to him he will yell at you. When the other two agents enter the room, they will see Baurus and attack. If you are quick here, there is an opportunity to pickpocket the book before Baurus enters. This will allow you to leave without having to fight the Mythic Dawn Agents. The opportunity arises after the Sponsor has walked behind you and turns his back on you. You can also pickpocket the key to the Sunken Sewers.
• Another option for keeping Baurus alive at higher levels is to tell Baurus that "I'm not ready to go yet" and then go through either door yourself. If you use a Detect Life spell, at least about 60 feet in range, you can see Raven Camoran through a metal gate on the lower level. He is usually around a corner, behind a wall. To attack him out of line-of-sight, use a ranged spell with an area-of-effect at the ground closest his feet. He and the other cultists will come out and attack you. You can safely take out all three while Baurus is still waiting outside. When you are finished and have the book, go back out and talk to Baurus, who will go ahead to Cloud Ruler Temple, allowing the quest will proceed. If you proceed to do it this way Baurus will remain essential.
• Another option is to go onto the overlooking bridge and make sure Raven sees you while he is still behind the door. This will make him turn hostile but he will not open the gate so you can take him down with a bow or Destruction spell. The other two attackers will come in but will not be very hard to take out. One will carry a key, allowing you to get the book from behind the gate.

Loot Book Four from the Sponsor along with a level-dependent ring, a Sunken Sewers Key, a potion, and a scroll. Be sure to thoroughly explore the Mythic Dawn room as well, where there are three crates and three chests, including one boss-level chest that may contain additional enchanted items as well as additional copies of Mythic Dawn Commentaries Books One to Three.

Once you have the book, you will part ways with Baurus, who states that he'll go to Cloud Ruler Temple to help protect Martin. It is possible for Baurus to die while making his way back to the temple. Exit the sewers either the way you came or through the new area unlocked by the Sunken Sewers Key you retrieved from the cultists. You can also return to outside the cult room, take an immediate left into the next room and then exit up a ladder into Fathis Ules' basement. This method involves trespassing, but it's the quickest way to the surface.

Cracking the Code

Before...

...and after

The four books each contain a clue as to the location of the cult. You should be able to figure it out by reading the texts but if you need help, go to Tar-Meena at the Arcane University. She'll think about the puzzle and asks you to get back to her tomorrow afternoon to see if she's made progress. If you wait a day and then ask her about the Mythic Dawn, she will tell you that she is sure that the key to the mystery lies in the first word—or even first letter—of each paragraph in the Commentaries....

Look at the large red letters that begin the paragraphs in the book. Put them all together to read: GREEN EMPEROR WAY WHERE TOWER TOUCHES MIDDAY SUN.

Green Emperor Way is the central district of the Imperial City, where the Imperial Palace is located. If you are going strictly by the clue from the books, you should wait until nearly midday. Look to see where the White Gold Tower blocks the sun. Find the point where the tip of the tower touches the middle of the sun. You should be standing right in front of the Tomb of Prince Camarril, where a set of red runes are glowing to reveal the location of the Mythic Dawn shrine. Click to activate the tomb and advance the quest.

If you're following the quest marker, there's no need to pay attention to the sun: you can follow the quest marker straight to the Tomb of Prince Camarril, located just south of the gate leading to the Talos Plaza District. You don't even need to talk to Tar-Meena. At any time after obtaining the fourth volume you can go to Green Emperor Way to advance the quest. The runes on the tomb will only glow from 11:48am to 12:30pm. You need to be standing on the south side of the tomb with the palace positioned behind the tomb to see the runes. The runes on the tomb actually glow every day from the very beginning of the game, but it is only possible to activate the tomb during this quest.

Notes

• Attacking Astav before he becomes hostile in the basement counts as assault, as he is not yet flagged as evil.
• You can proceed in the quest without having the books in your inventory.
• This is your only chance to get to the Sunken Sewers key to the Talos Plaza sewers from Raven Camoran. If you forget it you must use console commands.
• You will only receive the free skill boost from Baurus at Cloud Ruler Temple if your level in the skill is less than 90 when you talk with him.
• An achievement will be unlocked upon activating the tomb at midday.

Bugs

• In some non-English versions of the game the riddle may be unsolveable, due to a translation error / miscommunication that results in the intended solution spelling out gibberish instead. In the German version, for example, it's impossible to solve the riddle yourself due to such.
• The seats that Astav Wirich and Baurus sit on during the first part of the quest are considered "owned furniture," meaning you are unable to sit on them.
  • The Unofficial Oblivion Patch fixes this bug.
• If you dawdle before reporting to Baurus after procuring Volume 3, he may come and find you instead, and his range extends even outside the Imperial City. This can prove annoying, as you will be forced to manually travel with Baurus the entire way back to the sewers. Using fast travel to speed up the journey will not work, as Baurus does not follow you. More annoying still is the possibility that Baurus will get stuck. If you meet him outside the Imperial City, he may not be able to figure out how to get back. This fatally crashes the main storyline. One possibility for "rescuing" Baurus is to attack him. Strike him enough times and he will chase you, allowing you to lead him where you need him to go, at which point you can yield to him. However, remember that assaulting Baurus will earn you a bounty, and you may be chased by the guards, so be sure to yield to Baurus before a guard catches up to you. You can solve this problem by being arrested and going to jail; serve your time, and when you get back outside, Baurus will be waiting. The quickest way to get arrested is to simply walk up to an Imperial City Guard and pickpocket them in plain view.
  • The Unofficial Oblivion Patch fixes this bug.
• When Baurus is walking up the stairs in the sewers, it is possible (although rare) for him to fall off the edge of the stairs and get trapped behind the barrels, thus requiring the reloading of an earlier save.
  • The Unofficial Oblivion Patch fixes this bug.
• If you have been expelled from the Mages Guild, Tar-Meena will not appear in the Arch-Mage's Lobby; she will stay in the Mystic Archives. The only way to get to her is to regain entrance to the University by completing the assigned tasks. If you have been permanently expelled, the only way to reach Tar-Meena is by using the paint brush glitch to jump the wall and wait on her to come out of the Mystic Archives at 6pm to head to the Mage's Quarters where she sleeps until midnight.
  • The Unofficial Oblivion Patch fixes this bug.

Journal Entries

The Path of Dawn (MQ05)
Stage	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
0
10		I should speak to Jauffre about how to recover the Amulet from the enemy.
20		Jauffre wants me to contact Baurus at Luther Broad's Boarding House in the Imperial City. The enemy has the Amulet of Kings, and Baurus may have the leads we need to get it back.
25		I must follow the man who is watching Baurus and me.
30		(Triggers Astav Wirich to follow Baurus)
31		(Set when Astav ready to attack Baurus)
32		The enemy agent who attacked Baurus is dead. I should find out what Baurus has learned about our enemies.
34		Baurus wants me to search the dead agent's body.
35		I have found a strange book about the Mythic Dawn cult. I should show this to Baurus.
36		Baurus has learned that the enemy is a secret cult of Mehrunes Dagon worshippers known as the Mythic Dawn. He will continue to track down agents in the Imperial City. I should talk to Tar-Meena at the Arcane University, an expert in daedric cults. She may be able to tell me more about how to find the Mythic Dawn.
40		Tar-Meena told me that Mankar Camoran is the leader of the Mythic Dawn. Tar-Meena believes that the location of their secret shrine is hidden within Mankar Camoran's books about the Mysterium Xarxes. If I want to locate the Mythic Dawn, I must find and decipher the clues in all four volumes. Tar-Meena gave me the second of Mankar Camoran's books about the Mysterium Xarxes, but said that she has never seen Mankar Camoran's third and fourth books on the Mysterium Xarxes. She suggested that I speak to Phintias, the prioprietor [sic] of the First Edition bookstore in the Market District.
44		(Phintias sells player Volume 3)
45		I now have Volume 3 of the four books I need. I should search Gwinas's body for clues to what he wanted with it. (If Gwinas is dead, stage 50 is done, and stage 71 is not done) or I now have Volume 3 of the four books I need. I now need to meet with the Sponsor to get Volume 4, but I should find Baurus first. (If stage 50 is done and stage 71 is done) or I now have Volume 3 of the four books I need, but I should find out why the bookseller had it. (If stage 50 is not done) or I now have Volume 3 of the four books I need. I should wait for Gwinas to come to the store, and see why he wanted it. (If stage 50 is done, stage 71 is not done, and Gwinas has not visited store) or I now have Volume 3 of the four books I need. I still need to find out what Gwinas wanted with it. (If stage 50 is done, stage 71 is not done, and Gwinas has visited store)
50		Phintias, the bookseller at First Edition, has told me that he has a copy of Volume 3 of Mankar Camoran's "Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes" locked away. He is holding it for a client named Gwinas who has already paid for it. I need to get that book, and find out why Gwinas wanted it. (If Phintias has book)or Phintias told me he was holding Volume 3 of Mankar Camoran's "Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes" for a client named Gwinas, who has already paid for it. I should wait for Gwinas to come to the store, and see why he wanted it. (If Phintias does not have book)
60		Phintias told me that Gwinas is on his way to pick up his copy of Volume 3. I should wait for him to arrive and find out what Gwinas knows.
62		Gwinas has picked up his copy of Volume 3. I need to get that book from Gwinas.
64		I found out that Gwinas is staying at the Tiber Septim Hotel in the Talos Plaza District. I need to find Gwinas and get Volume 3 of Camoran's "Commentaries" from him.
65		I found out that Gwinas is staying at the Tiber Septim Hotel in the Talos Plaza District. I need to find out what Gwinas wanted with Volume 3 of Camoran's "Commentaries".
70		Gwinas told me that Volume 4, the last book I need, can only be given to you by a member of the Mythic Dawn. He had set up a meeting with one, whom he called "The Sponsor". He was to go alone and sit at the table in the Sunken Sewer beneath the Imperial City. I will go and take that meeting instead, but should find Baurus first.
71		I took a note from Gwinas, from someone in the Mythic Dawn calling themselves "The Sponsor". The note explains that Volume 4, one of the books I need, can only be given to you by a member of the Mythic Dawn. He was to go alone and sit at the table in the Sunken Sewer beneath the Imperial City, where The Sponsor would meet him. I will go and take that meeting instead, but must get Volume 3 first. (If stage 45 is not done) or I took a note from Gwinas, from someone in the Mythic Dawn calling themselves "The Sponsor". The note explains that Volume 4, the last book I need, can only be given to you by a member of the Mythic Dawn. He was to go alone and sit at the table in the Sunken Sewer beneath the Imperial City, where The Sponsor would meet him. I will go and take that meeting instead, but should find Baurus first. (If stage 45 is done)
72		(Triggers Baurus repositioning)
75		I must follow Baurus to the Sunken Sewer beneath the Elven Gardens District and obtain Volume 4 of Mankar Camoran's "Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes". One of us will need to meet "The Sponsor" alone to get the book.
76		(Enables Raven when Baurus reaches sewers)
77		I've decided to be the one to take the book from The Sponsor and Baurus will provide backup. No matter what happens, I must get that book.
78		I've decided Baurus will be the one to take the book from The Sponsor and I will provide backup. No matter what happens, we must get that book.
79		(Raven enters room; Baurus ceases to be essential)
80		(Raven starts talking)
81		The Sponsor has realized that I did not come alone. I must get the fourth book from him! (If stage 77 is done) or The Sponsor has realized that Baurus did not come alone. I must get the fourth book from him! (If stage 78 is done)
82		The Sponsor wants me dead! I need to get the fourth book of Mankar Camoran's "Commentaries" from him no matter what. (If stage 77 is done) or The Sponsor wants Baurus dead! I need to get the fourth book of Mankar Camoran's "Commentaries" from him no matter what. (If stage 78 is done)
85		(Triggers fighting)
90		I have the fourth and last volume of Mankar Camoran's writings on the Mysterium Xarxes. I can now piece together the clues within them to find the Mythic Dawn's secret shrine. Maybe Tar-Meena can help.
91		Tar-Meena says that Mankar Camoran hid a message within his writings, so only the "enlightened ones" could join him and the Mythic Dawn. I should study these books some more.
92		Tar-Meena thinks using the first word of each paragraph in the books may reveal a message. I need to keep looking and see where this leads.
93		Tar-Meena has discovered the message in the books: "Green Emperor Way Where Tower Touches Midday Sun". I should go to Green Emperor Way by the Imperial Tower and see what can be found.
95
100	Finishes quest

Notes

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in random order.
• If an entry is marked as "Finishes Quest" it means the quest disappears from the Active Quest list, but you may still receive new entries for that quest.
• It is possible to use the console to advance through the quest by entering setstage MQ05 stage, where stage is the number of the stage you wish to complete. It is not possible to un-complete (i.e. go back) quest stages. See SetStage for more information.

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Up: Main Quest

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