So, the Oblivion Remaster finally shadow-dropped, and we’re all back in Cyrodiil. Honestly, it’s beautiful. Seeing the Great Forest without that 2006 "everything is a blurry smudge" look is a trip. But some things never change, specifically the headaches. If you’re currently standing in the Chorrol Mages Guild looking at a grumpy Argonian named Teekeeus, you’re likely stuck on one of the most annoying choices in the game.
The oblivion remaster chorrol recommendation quest—formally known as "Fingers of the Mountain"—is a classic Bethesda trap. It presents you with a choice between two people who both kind of suck, and if you pick the wrong one, you might end up with a spell that literally kills you.
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Let’s get into what you actually need to do to get into the Arcane University without ruining your character.
The Teekeeus vs. Earana Dilemma
Basically, Teekeeus wants you to get rid of a woman named Earana who’s loitering outside. Earana, meanwhile, wants you to go find a legendary book called Fingers of the Mountain up at Cloud Top. She tells you specifically NOT to tell the Mages Guild.
Pro tip: Tell them immediately.
You have to play both sides to even start the quest properly. Go talk to Earana at The Grey Mare, hear her out, then run back to Teekeeus and snitch. He’ll tell you to get the book for the Guild instead. You go up the mountain, grab the charred book from the remains at Cloud Top, and now you have the big choice.
Why You Should Give the Book to Teekeeus
If you want the recommendation quickly, give it to Teekeeus. Period.
- You get the recommendation instantly.
- You gain 2 Fame points.
- You can still get Earana’s reward later anyway.
If you give it to Earana first, she gives you a translation, but Teekeeus gets pissed. You’ll eventually have to steal the book back from her just to get your recommendation. It’s extra steps for almost no benefit. Just give the lizard the book, get your "quest complete" notification, and move on with your life.
How to Get Both Rewards (The "Double Agent" Method)
Wait, don't leave yet. You actually can have your cake and eat it too. Most veterans of the original game remember this, and it still works in the Oblivion Remaster.
After you give the book to Teekeeus and get your recommendation, wait for him to put the book in his chest upstairs. Then, you pickpocket his key (or just pick the lock if your Security skill is high enough) and steal the book back. Take it to Earana. She won’t know it was ever in the Guild’s hands.
She’ll tell you to wait 24 hours while she "translates" it. Go sleep at the inn, come back, and she’ll give you a note that starts Part II of the quest. This is where things get dangerous.
The Cloud Top Ritual: Don't Die
To get the actual "Finger of the Mountain" spell, you have to go back to Cloud Top with a Welkynd Stone. You cast a shock spell on the pillar, and boom—you learn the spell.
But here’s the catch. The pillar strikes you back with massive shock damage. In the Oblivion Remaster, the scaling is still as brutal as it was in 2006. If you are a high-level character, the "Finger of the Mountain" spell costs a ridiculous amount of Magicka and the strike from the pillar might actually one-shot you.
Expert Recommendation for the Ritual:
- Lower the Difficulty: If you’re just here for the completionist checkmark, slide that difficulty bar to the left before you cast the spell.
- Shock Resistance: Use a "Storm Rider" scroll or a strong Shock Shield potion.
- Level Scaling: Ironically, this spell is better if you do the quest at Level 1-5. If you’re Level 30, the spell is basically unusable because the Magicka cost scales higher than your total blue bar.
Is the Spell Actually Worth It?
Honestly? Not really. "Finger of the Mountain" is a cool name, but it’s notoriously inefficient. A custom-made shock spell at the Altar of Spellmaking (once you actually get into the University) will almost always be more powerful and cheaper to cast.
The real value of the oblivion remaster chorrol recommendation is simply getting that checkmark so you can access the Enchanting and Spellmaking altars. Don't overthink the morality of the choice. Teekeeus is a bureaucrat and Earana is a power-hungry outcast. Neither of them are the "good guys."
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Actionable Next Steps:
If you are standing in Chorrol right now, do this:
- Fast travel to Cloud Top (it's North-Northwest of the city).
- Grab the book and bring it to Teekeeus first.
- Confirm the recommendation appears in your quest log.
- Steal the book back from the chest in his living quarters (top floor).
- Give it to Earana to start the "Part 2" timer.
- Go do the Bruma recommendation while you wait for her to finish translating. It’s much faster and involves significantly less lightning to the face.