Misdirection is the fifth main quest in Oblivion's Thieves Guild questline, sending you off on a mission to steal a staff from the Arcane University.

To unlock this quest, you'll first need to have completed the previous quest, Ahdaji's Heirloom, and then fenced 300 Gold's worth of items.

In this guide, we'll be running through where to find Methredhel and the location of Hrormir's Icestaff, as well as where to hide the staff.

If you're just jumping into the Thieves Guild questline, check out our walkthrough for the full quests list, as well as our how to join page, handy for those yet to become a member.

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How to begin the Misdirection quest

First off, to fully begin Misdirection, you'll need to have sold 300 Gold's worth of goods to a Fence. In doing so, your Independent Thievery quest will update, and you can visit S'krivva in Bravil to begin the next quest.

As you learn, a situation has developed in the Imperial City Waterfront District, and you need to locate and meet up with Methredhel to understand what's happened.

After your conversation has finished, you'll have multiple map markers for several districts in the Imperial City - the most convenient place to go for this step is the Talos Plaza District.

This is where you can speak to a beggar and find Methredhel in the same location.

Where to find Methredhel location explained

Once you're in the Talos Plaza, look for Simplicia the Slow - or any beggar that might be around - and ask about Methredhel's location. There should be a map marker denoting their location.

To learn the information from the beggar, you'll have to pay 15 Gold, or you can skip this step and read below to head straight to Methredhel (though it it doesn't work, be sure to try and learn the information manually from one of the NPCs as outlined above).

After a brief conversation with whichever NPC you speak to, you'll lean that Methredhel is hiding in Dynari Amnis' house, also found in the same district.

With your newfound knowledge, use the local map or your compass, and head to the house to speak with her.

Re-uniting with Methredhel and the path forward

After you find Methredhel once more, ask her about the Waterfront invasion, and she'll explain more about what's going on and lay out a plan of action she has devised as a way to fight back at the growing Imperial presence in the Waterfront.

The plan involves you and three others carrying out various heists to distract the Imperials in the area away, back to their original posts that will allow the Thieves Guild to continue their work uninterrupted.

Your personal hand in this will be to steal Hrormir's Icestaff from the Archmage's Room in the Arcane University, also located in the Imperial City.

She briefs you with some handy info, noting that he sleeps between 1am and 7am, and you are to leave a note in his nightstand before you leave.

Whilst where you'll be heading is a restricted area for most, if you're a part of the Mage's Guild, you should have an easier time entering these rooms thanks to already becoming familiar with the various mages here.

For those who aren't a part of the guild just yet though, be prepared to stealth it up. Whenever you're ready, the Arcane University awaits your theft!

Where to find Hrormir's Icestaff location explained

As mentioned, the Arcane University is also found in the Imperial City and can be quickly accessed via an associated fast travel point on the map.

Once you're there, be sure to set the time past 1am and enter the front door.

Unlike most other areas in the game, you won't need to worry about using keys or lockpicks here since you'll be utilising the portal on your left as you enter to move up to the above floor, the Arch-Mage's Tower Council Chambers.

There might be an NPC in the next room, so you'll have to avoid him, and jump through the portal on your right, which will take you to the Arch-Mage's Quarters.

Upon exiting, you'll notice the mage sleeping which means your silent, fleet-footed movements are advised.

Take Hrormir's Icestaff found on top of the drawers at the front end of the bed, and then leave the note in the nightstand found on the left side of the bed.

Each of those aforementioned actions will trigger quest updates, and the second will be your cue to exit the way you came, leaving the Arcane University to return to Methredhel.

How to eavesdrop on Hieronymus Lex

After returning to Methredhel, she'll provide you with your next objective: eavesdrop on Hieronymus Lex's conversations.

He can be found over in the Waterfront District, so fast travel there, and then head over near the area you might have encountered him previously in The Elven Maiden quest. This is also nearby where you'llhave previously encountered Armand Christophe in some of the other Thieves Guild quests.

Give it a few moments for him to show up, but it shouldn't take long and the images below show where I found him, as well as where the subsequent scene played out.

After his conversation with a Dremora, he'll drop the letter he received onto the floor - it's a letter from Raminus Polus of the Arcane University showing frustration at how the loss of security led to them losing Hrormir's Icestaff (oops).

Be sure to pick this up before heading back to the Talos Plaza District to speak with Methredhel and report your findings.

Where to hide Hrormir's Icestaff

Now the Imperial Guard have cleared out of the Waterfront District and the Thieves Guild can begin to return to their normal routine, Methredhel now wants you to return Hrormir's Icestaff, but not quite in the location you found it.

Instead, she sends you to Ontus Vanin's house to hand the staff back that way, so as to not attract any attention through the now likely-more-heavily-guarded Arcane University.

To get to Ontus' home, you'll want to head out and just around the corner as it is also found in the Talos Plaza District.

We'd recommend doing this at nighttime, allowing you to have easier access to the chest and less chance of being spotted as you break in through the front door.

Once the time is right, use a lockpick on the front entrance to head on inside, and then up the stairs and through the lockpick-able door into his Private Chambers.

Once there, interact with the chest on the other side of the room to place the Staff, then make a swift exit back outside.

With all that done, it's time to hand in the quest - head back to Bravil.

How to complete Misdirection and reach the rank Cat Burglar

After you return to Bravil, speak to S'krivva in her home and report the completion of your most recent job.

Not only will you receive your usual quest rewards, but you'll also be promoted to the rank of 'Cat Burglar', with access to a new fence: Luciana Galena.

With all that wrapped up, you're free to continue and progress onto the next quest, Lost Histories.

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