Proper Lock Design

Summary



 * Full Title: Proper Lock Design and Construction
 * Author: Anonymous
 * Value: 50
 * Weight: 1

Effects

 * Permanently increases Security skill (Oblivion)
 * Increases Lockpicking skill by one level (Skyrim)

Known Locations (Oblivion)

 * Imperial City Waterfront in Dareloth's house, on desk on 2nd floor (complete the Thieves Guild quest line for access)

Known Locations (Skyrim)

 * Twilight Sepulcher - shortly after completing the trial that requires the Dragonborn extinguish the torches on either side of the Nocturnal statue, take a left which leads them to a large room with a stairs down to a lot of notable loot such as potions. The book is located on the desk among these. (Requires: Darkness Returns quest to access).
 * On the final hill that leads to Steepfall Burrow there is a Frost Troll. The book is found on a body in his den.
 * On the corpse of a Stormcloak Soldier that is guarded by an Ice Wraith in an unnamed tower ruin east of the Northwatch Keep.

Content
I have encountered many thieves whose sole interest in locks is how to open them and thereby pilfer the protected contents of the room or chest. I have taken it upon myself to devise a system of locks that can defeat such villainous intent.

The materials used to create a lock are of utmost importance. Shoddy brass or copper will give way to a well placed kick, thereby rendering the lock itself useless. I recommend steel over iron when choosing a material. More robust materials tend to be prohibitively expensive and necessitate the door being made of similar metals. I have been chagrined to stumble across the shattered shell of a wooden chest, it's dwarven lock intact and still locked.

Once these basics are settled, pay particular attention to the offset of the tumblers. A seven degree offset to the keyhole will allow a torque style key to work smoothly, while at the same time causing numerous headaches for the thief attempting to insert non-torque lockpicks.

In similar fashion, the springs of the tumblers should be made by different smiths. Each smith will unknowingly create a spring with different tension than his fellow smiths. This variance will also create difficulties for anyone attempting to pick the lock.

Appearances

 * The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
 * The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim