Oblivion Remastered: Vahtacen's Secret Walkthrough

Vahtacen's Secret is a faction quest issued by the Mages Guild in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. Raminus Polus tells the Hero to aid Irlav Jarol in unearthing the secrets of an Ayleid Ruin named Vahtacen. Irlav, however, finds himself busy with his duties and offloads the task to a junior mage, an Argonian named Kaleel.

Kaleel and her aide, Denel, are unable to decipher the strange markings on the walls of the Ruins, which they suspect hold the secret to unlocking the marble pillar blocking the entrance to the deeper ruins. These inscriptions are in an unfamiliar language and understanding what they say is key to solving the pillar puzzle in Vahtacen.

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By Kristy Ambrose

Vahtacen's Secret Pillar Puzzle Solution

Enter Vahtacen Ayleid Ruin and talk to Skaleel, the Argonian. She will tell you that she's had no success deciphering the curious pillar that blocks the entrance to the deeper levels of the ruins. She will give you the Vahtacen Ruins Key to progress deeper into the dungeon.
Use the key on the door on the far side of the room and go down the corridor.
Talk to Denel, the mage researcher standing by the entrance to the pillar puzzle room. He will mention that he needs an 'Ayleid Reference,' something to cross-reference in order to understand the Ayleid language on the tablet inscriptions inside the pillar room.
Go back to Skaleel and repeat what Denel told you. She will acquiesce and hand over an Ayleid Reference book.
Return to Denel and give him the book.
Go into the puzzle room and interact with all four inscriptions on the walls. There is one in front of every red gem.
Return to Denel and select the dialogue options ‘Translation.'
He will offer the following translation for each of the inscriptions:
- Av molag anyammis: Fire Spell
- Av mafre nagaia: Frost Spell
- Magicka loria: Damage Magicka Spell
- Magicka sila: Fortify Magicka Spell

With all this information in hand, it's possible to infer the solution to the Vahtacen's Secret pillar puzzle. Cast four spells on the pillar according to the Ayleid inscriptions. The order of the spells is: fire, frost, damage magicka, and fortify magicka, if going in clockwise order.

free spell scroll location in the elder scrolls 4 oblivion remastered

The spells need to be in the Touch or Target category in order for them to have an effect; spells the player like 'Fortify Magicka on Self' will not work. If you do not already know these spells, you will find a chest filled with scrolls of all types of spells behind Denel, including Fire (Flare), Frost (Snowball), Damage Magicka (Sever Magicka), and Fortify Magicka (Elevate Magicka). You can use these scrolls in place of learned spells to achieve the same result and solve the pillar puzzle.

Cast the spells on the pillar in the center of the room, not the inscriptions on the walls or the red gems.

After you cast the spells according to the order mentioned above, the pillar will fall down, and the door to the dungeon will open. Be prepared before heading down as the area is filled with Ghosts, and the only way to damage them is by using Silver weapons or spells. Enchanted weapons work as well.

At the end of the dungeon, you will find a very large room with a large lifted platform in the middle. Pressing the activation button on the far end of this chamber will bring up a stone staircase, allowing you to access this platform and pick up the Ancient Elven Helm. Bring the Ancient Elven Helm back to Irlav Jarol. Then, speak with Raminus Polus in the Arch-Mage Tower's Lobby to complete the quest and obtain the final reward: a promotion to Conjurer in the Mages Guild and the Robe of the Conjurer.