A Watery Grave Walkthrough in Oblivion Remastered

Few of the guilds in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered are as legendary, disturbing, and morally gray as the Dark Brotherhood. With cryptic offers transmitted by Lucien Lachance through to ghostly vows sworn in the darkness of the Night Mother, every contract you fulfill pulls you further into the dark heart of Tamriel's assassin's underbelly. The first such contract of killing is "A Watery Grave," a mission that is ideal for the tone of the Dark Brotherhood questline: precision, stealth, and silent killing. This quest not only familiarizes the player with assassination game mechanics but also sets up the Brotherhood's sinister plot. A veteran player of the original or a first-time player of Oblivion Remastered, this quest is a perfect introduction to one of the all-time great RPGs' greatest storylines.

How to Start "A Watery Grave" in Oblivion Remastered

To initiate A Watery Grave Oblivion, you have to become a Dark Brotherhood member first. This is done only by murdering someone (not in self-defense) and sleeping in a bed afterwards. When you wake up, there is Lucien Lachance over you, darkly dressed, and he welcomes you into the group. Once you've proved yourself by slaying the initiation kill, you can enter the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, which is just outside the city of Cheydinhal. Inside the sanctuary, you'll encounter Vicente Valtieri, a vampire for centuries and one of the Brotherhood's higher-ranking members. Courteous and unobtrusively kind for a brought-back killer, Vicente is your sponsor under your first contracts. When you first talk to him, he'll present your first formal mission: "A Watery Grave." Vicente lays out the task straightforwardly, his gemstone red eyes never wavering: "I don't know if you're a pirate fan, but you've got to kill one. A captain, really. On his ship. In front of his crew. You in?" The target is Captain Gaston Tussaud, leader of a pirate crew docked in the Imperial City’s Waterfront District. Your task is simple: find a way onto his ship and eliminate him by any means necessary. While this initial contract doesn’t grant a special bonus for style or discretion, it’s an excellent chance to learn how stealth assassinations work in Oblivion Remastered A Watery Grave.

Finding the Pirate Ship - The Marie Elena

Your destination is the Waterfront District of the Imperial City. This location sits just outside the main city walls, home to beggars, thieves, and the occasional pirate crew. Upon arrival, head left from the city gate and follow the wooden docks along the waterline. At the far end, you’ll see a large vessel moored at the pier, the Marie Elena, with several pirates standing guard. Vicente says there's a sneaky way on board, and there is. In the back of the dock, by some crates, is a big cargo box with "For shipping" written on it. Approach it, and you'll get asked if you want to hide out in it. Type in a yes, and your character will sneak into the box, and the screen will darken. Before long, you wake up aboard the pirate vessel, in the hold. You've survived smuggling aboard the Marie Elena. Or, if you're feeling ambitious, you can attempt the simpler path of boarding the ship on foot. This will infuriate the pirates, but if there are Imperial Guards present, they'll intervene and fight the pirates, typically culminating in a chaotic-but-amusing arrival at the destination.

Sneaking Through the Marie Elena

If you've decided to sneak, you'll begin sneaking in from under the lower hold of the ship. The dark, poorly lit alleys are lined with crates, barrels, and narrow hallways perfect for sneaking. Sneak stealthily, crouch to avoid noise, and watch out for patrolling pirates. Leave your Sneak skill active; no experience points will be lost sneaking around. There is a ladder to climb up to the lower level. Come up gradually and onto the second deck, where two pirates are having a friendly argument in the middle. Listen for a minute or two if you like; there is arguing on tap regarding their captain's most recent escapades, but do not proceed further until they part ways and resume their patrol. When you can do so safely, slide past them and head to the next ladder that will lead you to the Captain's Quarters. And of course, not all assassins prefer to sneakily get their job done. If your character is stronger or has destruction magic, you can just take out the guards with raw power. There is no reward loss or penalty for being noisy in Oblivion A Watery Grave, so go ahead and have some fun playing around with your fighting skills if you want to.

Killing Captain Gaston Tussaud

When you arrive on the top deck, open the hatch on Gaston Tussaud's cabin. Within, you're faced with the intimidating presence of the Captain himself, a gangly, hulking man wielding a massive cutlass and having the look of a man who has had too many battles. If you can slip in unnoticed at all, you can try a Sneak Attack, striking with immediate bursts of fantastic damage. An Enchanted bow or dagger with Damage Health or Paralyze will guarantee a certain kill. If Captain sees you, he will attack immediately. The room is cramped, so dodging will be difficult, but you can duck behind the narrow center table or back away to the door to be out of his swing area. You can slay him with whatever you like: poison, sword, magic, and when the Captain is killed, your bargain is complete. Later, loot his corpse for gold and a little pirate gear. Then, before the crew discovers what’s happened, find your exit. The safest route is through the rear cabin door, which leads to a small deck overlooking the water. Jump off into the bay below to make your escape. Within moments, you’ll hear the muffled sound of two pirates knocking on their captain’s door. If you linger around, they'll find the body and attack, so your best option is to disappear underwater.

Optional: The Poisoned Apple Trick

While A Watery Grave Oblivion does not technically give you a style award, players do like to make the killing an art form. One of the more graphic ways of killing someone is through the use of a Poisoned Apple, a poisoned dessert that will kill whoever eats it instantly. If you can manage to get your hands on one (you can purchase them later at the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary or purchase them from some shady traders), sneak onto the ship undetected and rear-pickpocket the apple into the Captain's inventory. Rifle through all of his other rations from his bedroom, then wait a few in-game hours. Last of all, he'll relax and bite down, and quietly die without anyone even noticing that he has died. It's the classic silent kill, a signature of the Brotherhood's professionalism.

Back to Vicente Valtieri

Now that Captain Tussaud is dead, return to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary in Cheydinhal. Inform Vicente Valtieri again of your success. He will smile weakly and compliment you on completing your first real contract for the Brotherhood. As a token of appreciation, he gives you the Black Band, a costly magical ring that aids Light Armor, raises Security, and makes you resistant to magic. It's useful for sneaky-type characters and something you'll be wearing a lot throughout most of the early game. You'll also earn a Public Enmity point, which shows your growing status within Tamriel's shadowy underworld. You may be suspiciously looked upon or even outright feared by some of the citizens, but among the ranks of the thieves and assassins, your notoriety begins to grow.

What Comes Next in the Dark Brotherhood Questline

After completing Oblivion Remastered: A Watery Grave, Vicente will immediately offer you a new mission: "Accidents Happen." The next mission ups the stakes, having you orchestrate an assassination that appears as a bloody home accident. You'll become a master of orchestrating subterfuge and stealth, orchestrating the perfect kill without anyone finding out or suspecting anything. From this point forward, the Dark Brotherhood quest turns into one of Oblivion Remastered's richest and most intriguing tales, exploring themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the covert science of assassination on behalf of the Night Mother.

Final Thoughts

The mission A Watery Grave in Oblivion Remastered is not just an assassination contract; it's a coming of age. It presents the main stealth killing, moral grays, and choice-making that are the Dark Brotherhood's bread and butter. Whether you burst onto the ship like a ghostly rage or stalk aboard unnoticed, the decisions you make are all specific to the type of assassin you'll be. From this first killing in the tranquil waters of the Imperial City to the subsequent blood betrayals of the Brotherhood's past, your service as a minion of Sithis begins here, with the assassination of one pirate and the voice of the Night Mother beneath the waves.