A Shadow Over Hackdirt | Oblivion Remastered Wiki

A Shadow Over Hackdirt is a Quest in Oblivion Remastered. In A Shadow Over Hackdirt, you will have to look for the missing daughter of Seed-Neeus. Completing A Shadow Over Hackdirt rewards the player with +5 to the Mercantile skill.

Seed-Neeus' daughter Dar-Ma has gone missing

How to Unlock A Shadow Over Hackdirt Quest in Oblivion Remastered

• The quest A Shadow Over Hackdirt will be started after encountering Dar-Ma in Chorrol, then leaving town for at least two in-game days. Talk to Seed-Neeus to start the quest

A Shadow Over Hackdirt Quest Notes & Tips

• Dar-Ma can be killed while on the way back to Chorrol. If you are not fast-travelling there, make sure to protect her
• You can kill most of the Hackdirt denizens without a bounty
• All enemies in this quest level with you, but Dar-Ma doesn't. The later you do this quest, the harder it will be to keep her alive

A Shadow Over Hackdirt Quest Rewards

• +5 points to the Mercantile skill

Oblivion Remastered A Shadow Over Hackdirt Quest Walkthrough

A Shadow Over Hackdirt Quest Progression

1. Talk to Seed-Neeus about her missing daughter, Dar-Ma
2. Go to Hackdirt to search for Dar-Ma
3. Inquire about the Brethren. This should trigger an attack from them
4. Loot the Hackdirt Key from one of the bodies
5. Rescue Dar-Ma from the Moslin's Inn's caves
6. Escort Dar-Ma to her horse, Blossom
7. Bring Dar-Ma to Chorrol

Meet Seed-Neeus, Revisit Chorrol

A Shadow Over hackdirt requires that you have met Dar-Ma previously. This should happen naturally, since her mom owns one of the stores in the city, so you may have need to barter with her at some point. But even if you don't, she will also approach you and introduce herself and talk about her store, so if you spend time in Chorrol, you should get to know her. If you haven't, you can simply go to the Northern Goods and Trade store that she tends to.

After having met her, leave Chorrol for at least two in-game days and come back after. Now, the townsfolk will all have rumours about how Seed-Neeus daughter, Dar-Ma, is now missing. These rumours, unlike other quests, do not trigger the quest automatically. You need to find Seed-Neeus, probably in her store, and ask her about Dar-Ma. She will tell you that Dar-Ma left to make a delivery at Hackdirt, a village south of Chorrol, and never returned.

She suggests you can talk to Etire Moslin in the village, or find Dar-Ma's horse, Blossom, as she can't be too far away from wherever the horse is.

Alternatively, you can simply go to Hackdirt and sleep in a rented room to skip to the action of the quest, as long as you've met Seed-Neeus and have waited at least those 2 in-game days.

While in Hackdirt

Hackdirt is your signature weird Bethesda town. There is always one. The town itself is nestled between some burnt-out ruins, and the people in it are generally unpleasant and strange. You can ask around about Dar-Ma, but the townsfolk will mostly give you the run around and claim to know nothing. You should head to Moslin's Dry Goods and go around it to find Blossom the horse, indicating that Dar-Ma was indeed here. Make a mental note of where the horse is, since you will need it for the escape once you have retrieved Dar-Ma.

Inside the Inn, you can find a ransacked room with Dar-Ma's diary. The Moslin's will still try to play coy even when confronted with this piece of evidence. The only resident who is willing to help is Jiv Hiriel. He will tell you that Dar-Ma is in danger and to meet him at his house at night. Here, he will tell you that Dar-Ma has been taken to the underground caverns and is going to be sacrificed. He will then give you a key to all the trapdoors that lead to the caves, and he will suggest that the trapdoor inside Moslin's Inn is the best, since it would be the closest.

Having the key to the trapdoors is not mandatory, as you can also lockpick any of them if you feel like it. Every house has a trapdoor, and there are even a couple in the ruins outside the village. If you are focused on the quest at hand, however, Jiv Hiriel is correct that the trapdoor inside the Inn is probably the best to find her quickly.

Beware the Brethren

The Brethren will come up in conversation while you are inquiring about Dar-Ma. They are the hostile inhabitants of Hackdirt, although they mostly remain hidden, unlike the rest of the townsfolk. The caves under the village are where the Brethren can be found, and they will be immediately hostile. They all have unsettlingly big eyes, which is their giveaway that they are Brethren, and not regular villagers.

You may also get attacked by the Brethren if you keep asking about them and spend the night in the inn. If you are inside the caves, the Brethren will be aware of your presence unless you use invisibility or chameleon at 100%. You are not likely to be able to sneak past them.

Rescue Dar-Ma

Dar-Ma is, sure enough, locked up in a cell close to the trapdoor in the inn. The key to the cell is right outside it, so that shouldn't be a problem. Remember that if the cell is open and you are seen by the Brethren, they will attack not only you, but also Dar-Ma, and they can kill her. It is recommended to drop a weapon close to her, and she will pick it up to defend herself.

Dar-Ma will follow you outside the caverns, so you can use the closest trapdoor, the one inside the Inn. However, she will refuse to leave without Blossom, her horse. This is where knowing where her horse is being kept pays off. You can talk to Dar-Ma and ask her to wait inside the Inn while you go outside and fight off all the enemies, and also bring Blossom over to the door. Once Dar-Ma has Blossom, you will now be able to fast travel to the stables outside of Chorrol if you wish. Otherwise, you can walk her, making sure she stays safe.

Back to Chorrol

Once you make it back into the city, go straight to Seed-Neeus. She will be thankful for bringing her daughter back and will give you a boost to your Mercantile skill of 5 points.