Oblivion:Caught in the Hunt

Current Best Route

Quest stages are indicated in parentheses at the end of each step when they are updated. Keep in mind that these optimized steps are within the context of the 100% speedrun route, meaning that certain items and setups are sometimes assumed to have already been performed prior to the start of the quest.

1. At Aleron Loche's House in Bravil, talk to Ursanne Loche.

   ↳ Aleron Loche. (10)

   ↳ Advance predetermined dialogue. (20)

2. Head to The Lonely Suitor Lodge in Bravil, then go upstairs and talk to Kurdan gro-Dragol.

   Bribe to max disposition.

   ↳ Aleron Loche.

   ↳ Advance predetermined dialogue. (30)

3. Exit dialogue with Kurdan and talk to him again.

   ↳ Yes, I’m ready. (40)

4. Follow the Quest Marker to activate the boat by the dock. (50)
5. Turn the handle to the right of the front gate to enter.
6. Make a save in front of the door to the Hunter’s Run.
7. Advance through the Hunter’s Run, ignoring all the hunters. When you get to the first area with water, fall in and follow the tunnel out to collect the Nirnroot at the water’s edge. Hug the right wall ignoring the spike pit to make your way up through the tunnels and loop around back to the water area and jump up to the door above the bridge.
8. Find the Orc hunter in the next area and kill him. Wait for the quest to update, then take the key off his corpse. (70) (75)
9. Load Warp back to the start of the Hunter's Run.
10. Pull the Turn Handle behind the gate right next to the exit. Exit the dungeon.
11. After the cutscene ends, kill Kurdan gro-Dragol without talking to him.
12. Wait for the quest to update and then take the key off Kurdan’s corpse. (80) (90)
13. Go back to the boat outside of the fort to return to Bravil.
14. Follow the Quest Marker back to Ursanne Loche and talk to her.

    ↳ Advance predetermined dialogue. (✔ 100)

Bugs

• There are several quest breaking bugs within the Hunter's Run, which can be avoided by waiting for quest updates prior to looting keys off of NPCs.

Route Logic Considerations

• There is a Nirnroot inside Fort Grief at the edge of a water tunnel in the first zone.
• The quest reward is a skill book, Biography of the Wolf Queen [Speechcraft], which should be read.
• If Aleron Loche, Ursanne Loche, or Kurdan gro-Dragol are killed earlier than specified, you will not get the Fame.
• Kurdan gro-Dragol can be soul trapped when you kill him during this quest as part of Hermaeus Mora.
• The merchant Bogrum Gro-Galash should be invested in at the The Lonely Suitor Lodge during this quest.
• Other possible quest overlap at the Lonely Suitor Lodge during this quest includes Light Armor Training and More Unfinished Business.
• The 2 Shadowbanish Wine outside at the top of Fort Grief should be acquired during this quest for A Venerable Vintage.
• The final cutscene where Kurdan kills Aleron is one of the shortest cutscenes in the game, making it a prime candidate for utilization in Cutscene Overlapping.

This quest is the source of The Drip, which is underneath the wooden ramp in the center of Fort Grief. This item is optional and technically slows the run down, but it is a running gag to acquire it.

Script Analysis

No script analysis has been done for this quest.

Quest Stages

Caught in the Hunt (MS08)

Stage	Finish	setstage Scripts	Journal Entry
5			While in Bravil, I've heard that Ursanne Loche's husband, Aleron, is missing. If I wish to help, I should attempt to locate Ursanne and see if I can find out more information.
10			I've met Ursanne Loche in Bravil. She's told me that her husband, Aleron Loche is missing and she needs my help to locate him. I should ask her more about Aleron to help determine if I'm interested in helping.
20			Aleron owed a great deal of money to an Orc usurer named Kurdan gro-Dragol. He went there a day ago to beg for more time, and hasn't returned since. Kurdan gro-Dragol usually frequents The Lonely Suitor Lodge, which is close by. Perhaps I should pay him a visit.
30			Kurdan gro-Dragol has told me that he knows the location of Aleron Loche, and if I want him to reveal it to me, I'll have to retrieve an axe that belonged to his father and was lost on Fort Grief Island some time ago. If I don't bring the axe back, he says that Aleron will die. When I'm ready, I need to speak to Kurdan who will provide a boat for me.
40			Kurdan gro-Dragol told me that the boat is waiting for me at the dock next to the magic shop here in Bravil. I should get underway soon, as I wish to find out what's happened to Aleron.
50			I've arrived at Fort Grief. I should proceed inside the ruined keep and begin my search for the axe.
60			To my surprise, I've come across Aleron Loche inside the ruined keep of Fort Grief! He told me that the search for the axe is a ruse that Kurdan gro-Dragol uses to lure people into the ruins. Apparently, Aleron and I are now the prey in a bizarre hunting sport that Kurdan created. I should talk to Aleron and find out more.
65			If Aleron and I are to survive, I need to proceed down into the Hunter's Run and defeat the hunters being sent after us. According to the "rules", one of them will have the key to unlock the door Kurdan sealed behind us. Since Aleron is in no condition to fight, I'll have to seek these hunters out myself.
70			I've defeated all of the hunters. I should search the body of the Orc Hunter for the key to the keep door of Fort Grief.
75			I've found the key to the door of the keep at Fort Grief. I should now return to Aleron and get us both off this island.
80			I've returned to find Kurdan himself standing over the corpse of Aleron, whom he'd murdered. I had no choice but to attack and slay him. I should search Kurdan's corpse for anything that may help me get out of these ruins.
90			The key I discovered on the Orc Hunter was indeed a fake and the real key was on Kurdan's body. He'd never intended to let us leave whether we won his demented hunt or not. The real key should allow me to unlock the gateroom inside the Hunter's Run and then leave Fort Grief. I will then have to bring Ursanne the sad news.
100	✔		I've told Ursanne about her husband's death. I said that he fought bravely and that his thoughts were with her before he died. She thanked me for my kind words and bestowed a book upon me that belonged to Aleron. I know that I did the best I could, but at least Aleron's death was avenged.
150	✔		One of the characters needed to complete this quest has died.