You’re wandering north of the Imperial City, just trying to find a place to dump twenty iron war hammers, and you stumble into Aleswell. It’s quiet. Too quiet. Suddenly, a voice starts talking to you from thin air. It’s Diram Serethi, the innkeeper, and he’s invisible. The whole town is.
Oblivion Remastered Zero Visibility is one of those classic quests that Bethesda brought back for the 2025 UE5 overhaul, and honestly, it’s just as glitchy and rewarding as it was two decades ago. If you’re playing the remaster on Game Pass or PS5, you probably want that free hotel room. It’s the best early-game player housing you can get without joining a guild or dropping 2,000 gold on a shack in the Waterfront.
But man, people mess this up. They rush it. They ignore the mage. Then they wonder why their Luck stat just permanently tanked to 20.
Where to Start Zero Visibility
Basically, you need to head to the Aleswell Inn. It’s right on the Red Ring Road, northwest of the capital. Once you walk in, Diram will accost you. He’s tired of being see-through. He tells you a wizard at Fort Caractacus (just down the hill to the south) is likely responsible.
In the remaster, the visuals here are actually stunning. Instead of just "nothing" being there, the UE5 engine adds these subtle refractive ripples in the air. It’s way easier to spot the invisible NPCs now, but finding the actual wizard? Still a total pain.
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The Ancotar Problem: Don't Kill the Invisible Guy
You’ll head south to the fort. You’ll probably get jumped by invisible rats or wolves. These scale with your level, so if you’re level 30, prepare for invisible bears. Not fun.
Once you reach the ruins, don't just start swinging. The mage, Ancotar, is wandering around the top floor or the exterior. He’s also invisible.
- Pro Tip: Use a "Detect Life" spell. It makes him glow like a neon sign.
- If you don't have the spell, look for the little shimmer on the second floor near the desk.
- CRITICAL: Read his journal on the desk first. It proves he’s the one who messed up the village's visibility with a botched experiment.
When you talk to him, be nice. Seriously. If you’re rude, or if you don't build his disposition high enough (around 70+), he won't give you the Ring of Protection. You need that ring.
The "Luck" Trap in Oblivion Remastered Zero Visibility
Here is where 90% of players fail the Oblivion Remastered Zero Visibility quest. Ancotar gives you a scroll to reverse the spell. He might give you a ring.
If you cast that scroll without wearing the ring, the spell "backfires" on you. It doesn't kill you. It doesn't keep you invisible. Instead, it permanently drains your Luck attribute by 50 points. In a game where Luck affects everything from loot drops to critical hit chances, a 50-point drain is devastating.
If you already did this and your Luck is sitting at 15, go to a Chapel in any city and pray at the altar. It’ll fix it, but only if your Fame is higher than your Infamy. If you're a thief or an assassin? You're stuck with bad luck until you find a "Restore Luck" potion or spell.
Fixes for the Common Remaster Bugs
Because this is a Bethesda-adjacent release (even with Virtuos helping), there are bugs. The most common one in the remaster is the "Half-Visible Village." You cast the spell in the garden, and Diram becomes visible, but his sisters inside the inn stay invisible forever.
- The Reload Fix: Save the game right after casting the scroll. Close the game entirely. Reload. This usually forces the NPC shaders to reset.
- The Night Method: Wait until 2:00 AM. Most NPCs will be inside their beds. Go into the inn and cast the scroll there.
- The "Punch" Trick: If someone is still invisible, punch them (don't use a weapon!). Lead them outside. Once they cross the loading screen boundary, cast the spell again if you have a backup save, or just reload.
Why You Actually Want This Reward
The reward for Oblivion Remastered Zero Visibility isn't gold. It’s better. Diram gives you the "Aleswell Guest Room" for free, forever.
In the remaster, this room includes a safe storage chest. Unlike most random barrels in the world, the containers in your Aleswell room won't reset. You can stash your Dragonfire armor or your extra soul gems here and they’ll still be there 100 hours later. It’s the perfect home base for the first 20 levels of the game.
Actionable Steps for Success
To finish this quest perfectly and get your free room, follow these specific steps:
- Boost Personality: Before talking to Ancotar, use a Charm spell or a scroll. He needs to like you to give up that ring.
- Equip the Ring: Triple-check your inventory. Is Ancotar’s Ring of Protection actually on your finger? Good.
- Stand in the Garden: Don't cast the scroll inside the fort. Walk back to the center of the Aleswell vegetable garden. Look for the green quest marker.
- Check the Inn: Immediately after casting, talk to Diram. If he says "my sisters... I wouldn't mind if they stayed invisible," he’s just being a jerk—they should be visible now. If they aren't, do the Save/Reload trick mentioned above.
Don't ignore the rumors in the Imperial City; they often point you toward these high-value side quests like Zero Visibility long before the main quest even sends you north.