Look, let’s be real. Most people play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to close hell-gates or maybe join the Dark Brotherhood because, well, Lucien Lachance is an icon. But there is this one specific quest line—The Collector—that basically turns the entire province of Cyrodiil into a massive, underground scavenger hunt. It’s long. It’s grueling. It sends you into the dampest, most skeleton-infested Ayleid ruins you can find.
If you’ve ever stepped into the Talos Plaza District of the Imperial City and had a stray elf named Umbacano invite you into his mansion, you know exactly how this starts. He’s rich, he’s obsessed with the past, and he has a very specific itch that only ancient Ayleid Statues can scratch.
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Most players find one statue, get their gold, and then just... stop. They get distracted by a Daedric prince or a stray mudcrab. That is a mistake. Oblivion quest The Collector isn't just a fetch quest; it is a masterclass in world-building that rewards you for actually paying attention to the ruins dotting the landscape.
The First Statue is Just the Hook
You usually stumble into this quest by accident. You’re clearing out a ruin—maybe Culotte or Fanacas—and you find this weird, carved stone bird. It’s heavy. It’s worth 500 gold, which, in the early game, is a decent chunk of change. You sell it to a vendor, but then a messenger finds you. Or, if you’re proactive, you go straight to Umbacano.
He wants more. Ten, to be exact.
Finding all ten statues for the Oblivion quest The Collector is where the game stops holding your hand. There are no quest markers for the remaining nine. You have to actually explore. You have to look at the map and realize that those little arched icons aren't just background noise; they are the keys to a massive payout. Honestly, the lack of markers is what makes it feel like actual archaeology instead of just checking off a grocery list.
Where Everyone Gets Stuck
The frustration usually sets in around statue four or five. You’ve checked the ruins near the Imperial City, and now you’re trekking through the Jerall Mountains or the Blackwood swamps. Here’s the thing: there are twenty-eight Ayleid ruins in the game that could have statues, but only ten actually do.
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If you're hunting them down, you need to hit specific spots. Moranda is a big one. So is Wendir. You’ll find yourself in places like Ninendava, way up north of Chorrol, fighting through liches just to find a decorative bird. It’s a lot. You’ll spend hours in the dark, listening to that specific clink-clink sound of Ayleid floor traps.
The statues are located in:
- Culotte
- Fanacas
- Mackamentain
- Moranda
- Ninendava
- Fanacasecul
- Wendir
- Wenyandawik
- Welke
- Vilverin (The one everyone finds first because it's right outside the tutorial sewer exit)
It’s a massive commitment. But Umbacano doesn't just want the statues. Once you’ve proven you aren't just some random looter, he starts giving you the "real" work. This leads into the follow-up quests: Nothing You Can Possess and Secrets of the Ayleids.
The High Price of Obsession
The transition from Oblivion quest The Collector into the later stages of the arc is where the narrative gets dark. Umbacano isn't just a hobbyist. He’s a High Elf with a serious superiority complex and a desire to reclaim the "glory" of the Ayleid Empire—you know, the guys who used to enslave humans and make "flesh sculptures."
You’re tasked with finding the Crown of Nenalata or the Crown of Lindai. This is where your choices actually matter for the finale. If you give him the right crown, things go one way. If you give him the "wrong" one (or the one from the rival ruin), the ending of the questline at Nenalata is... explosive.
Watching a wealthy aristocrat try to transform himself into an Ayleid King in the middle of a dusty ruin is one of those "only in Oblivion" moments. It’s peak RPG storytelling. It reminds us that the Ayleids didn't just disappear; they left behind a lingering rot that still infects people like Umbacano.
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Why You Should Care in 2026
You might wonder why we’re still talking about a quest from a game that came out two decades ago. It’s because modern games don't really do this anymore. Everything is "go to the yellow circle and press X." Oblivion quest The Collector demands that you learn the geography. You start recognizing Ayleid architectural patterns. You start noticing that "Moranda" sounds different than "Vilverin" for a reason.
It’s also one of the best ways to make money without cheesing the game. By the time you finish the statues and the subsequent tasks, you’ve pocketed thousands of septims. More importantly, you’ve seen corners of the map you would have otherwise ignored. You’ve fought King Miscarcand. You’ve navigated the trap-filled halls of Nenalata. You’ve actually played the game.
Tactical Advice for the Modern Player
If you are going to dive back in and finish this, don't try to do it all at once. You will burn out on blue-tinted hallways and Welkynd stones. Instead, treat it like a side hustle. Every time you’re near a ruin on your way to a Mages Guild quest, pop in.
Check the "boss" chests and the hidden alcoves. The statues are usually at the very end of the dungeon, often on a pedestal that looks like it’s screaming "I am important."
Also, bring Feather potions or enchanted gear. Those statues weigh 20 units each. If you're carrying five of them, you’re going to be overencumbered before you even find the exit. It’s a literal burden of history.
The Actionable Path Forward
To actually clear Oblivion quest The Collector and its sequels with the best possible outcome, follow these steps:
- Secure the Vilverin Statue First: It’s the easiest one. Grab it immediately after leaving the sewers at the start of the game.
- Trigger the Quest: Take that statue to Umbacano in the Imperial City Talos Plaza District. Don't sell it to a random fence.
- The 3-Statue Milestone: Once you sell him three statues, he gives you the next quest, Nothing You Can Possess. Do this immediately to unlock more lore and better rewards.
- The Crown Choice: When you get to the Secrets of the Ayleids quest, pay attention to the crowns. If you want the "good" ending (where Umbacano doesn't immediately try to murder you), give him the Crown of Nenalata. If you want a boss fight and some unique loot, give him the Crown of Lindai.
- Clear the Ruins in Batches: Map out the ten ruins listed above. Tackle them by region. Do the ones near Cheydinhal, then move to the ones near Bravil.
Don't rush the ending. The final confrontation in the throne room of Nenalata is one of the most atmospheric moments in the Elder Scrolls series. It’s the culmination of hours of digging through the trash of a dead civilization. Whether you see Umbacano as a visionary or a lunatic, finishing his quest is the only way to truly understand what happened to the people who built Cyrodiil before the Empire took over.
Go get those statues. Just watch out for the swinging blade traps on your way out.