Clavicus Vile's Shrine

Clavicus Vile's Shrine is a daedric shrine dedicated to Clavicus Vile located southwest of Imperial City in the Heartlands, and north of Felgageldt Cave And almost right near the quest location. It is attended by Anedhel and Gul gro-Burbog and overseen by Ma'Raska. Plants of note near the shrine include a couple of monkshood, a few steel-blue entoloma and some viper's bugloss.

Overview

 * Prerequisites: An offering of 500 gold and be at least level 20.

Walkthrough

 * For tips on defeating Umbra, see the Umbra article.

After giving Clavicus the offering of gold, he speaks of a sword he wishes to recover, "Umbra." When the statuette of Barbas is given, continue on to the next item on the agenda.

After walking a bit, the statuette will speak, giving a short story before pleading to not return the sword to Clavicus Vile.

The quest says to start in Pell's Gate, a small settlement. The treasure is actually to the west, in an Ayleid ruin, Vindasel. The ruin is not deep, but there is a crusher and a gas trap inside, so remain vigilant.

Upon reaching the destination, it will be clear that Umbra is not only the name of the sword, but also the person that wields it (or rather, an alias the wielder assumes). Kill Umbra and retrieve the sword.

When returning to the Shrine, the choice of either keeping Umbra or giving it to Clavicus for reward will be present (a dialog will appear, asking for the sword). If the choice is made to return it, the reward will be the daedric artifact, Masque of Clavicus Vile. The quest will finish either way, so even the decision is to keep Umbra, he/she can still do the quest at the Shrine of Hermaeus Mora.

If one decides to keep the sword, the followers of Clavicus will attack him/her to give him the sword and gain fame for himself and it will no longer be weightless. It will then have a weight of 45.

By choosing to side with Barbas (Clavicus Vile's dog) when he speaks through the Statuette of a Dog (which appears in the inventory upon starting the quest) and not kill Umbra, the dog in the statue completely disappears.

Bugs

 * There is a bug where either keeping or giving the sword to Vile, the game freezes 5 seconds later. To avoid this, simply keep Umbra and don't return to the shrine. Unfortunately, this will not allow one to do the Shrine of Hermaeus Mora quest. This bug can be defeated by first finding the Shrine of Hermaeus Mora, then as soon as Clavicus Vile stops talking fast travel to Shrine of Hermaeus Mora and activate the statue as fast as possible.


 * It is possible to go to Vindasel and kill Umbra even if the player isn't level 20 or hasn't given an offering. One can then take the sword and finish the quest without starting it. (Not truly a bug, just a way around part of the quest.)


 * Solution: One way to avoid the bug is by going to Vindasel and killing Umbra before the quest, then going to the shrine and starting the quest. If the quest has already been started and this bug is active, he/she can get past it (regardless of giving the sword or not) by fast traveling to Cheydinhal East gate immediately after he stops talking and the quest updates. The dog statue should start talking, then be removed from the player's inventory without freezing. Note: The dog statue is what causes the bug. The dog statue being removed is what makes the game freeze up, but fast traveling to Cheydinhal East Gate removes the dog without freezing.

Journal Entries
After speaking to a follower:
 * One of Clavicus Vile's worshippers has told me that in order to summon the Daedra, an offering of 500 gold must be given to the statue. [You must be level 20 to begin this quest.]

After offering to Clavicus Vile:
 * When I gave my offering at the Shrine of Clavicus Vile, the Daedra Lord told me about Umbra, and how he wishes me to return to him the Umbra Sword. I should start my search in Pell's Gate.

After Barbas speaks to you:
 * Barbas, the Hound of Clavicus Vile, has spoken to me through the figurine that appeared in my pack. He tells me that returning the Umbra Sword to Clavicus Vile is a mistake, likely to cause great ruin to Vile's domain.

After finding out more information about Umbra:
 * I've been told that Umbra was once a resident of Pell's Gate, but now has left. Some claim to have seen her recently near the Vindasel Ruins.

After meeting Umbra and talking to her:
 * I have met the one called Umbra and been offered a choice: stay and fight, or leave in peace.

If you decide to leave Umbra in peace:
 * I have chosen to leave Umbra in peace. I should return to the Shrine of Clavicus Vile and make my decision known to the Daedra Lord.

If you decide to kill her and retrieve the sword:
 * I have retrieved the Umbra Sword.

If you return the sword to Clavicus Vile:
 * Clavicus Vile appreciated my efforts. He has taken the Umbra Sword and rewarded me with the Masque of Clavicus Vile.

If you decide not to return the sword to Clavicus Vile:
 * Clavicus Vile was not pleased that I elected not to return to him the Umbra Sword.