Skyrim talk:Discerning the Transmundane

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Archive 2: Apr 2012 - Jul 2013

Quest Bug with Dragonborn installed

With Dragonborn installed, Septimus does not get killed by Hermaeus Mora after he realizes the prize is a book (possibly because of missing animation or dialogue now that Hermaeus has a new form?). Killing him myself at this point finishes the quest (incrementing the Daedric Quest statistic) but the Oghma Infinium does not prompt me for skill increases. Killing Septimus right after he opens the gate but before he rushes in FAILS the quest (NOT incrementing the Daedric Quest statistic) but reading the book prompts me for skill increases.

Is there a fix? Does failing the associated Daedric Quest interfere with the Oblivion Walker achievement? 108.231.221.47 02:13, 6 August 2013 (GMT)

There is a bug just like this that was added before Dragonborn was released, so why do you think this is due to Dragonborn? Killing Septimus after he discovers the Oghma normally finishes the quest, and shouldn't prevent you from using the Oghma. I would completely exit the game, reload and try it again. If this doesn't work and you are playing on PC, there are a few console codes you could try.

If you fail this quest and still want to get the achievement, you will have to try to get both the Savior's Hide and the Ring of Hircine from the quest Ill Met By Moonlight. --Xyzzy ^Talk 05:25, 6 August 2013 (GMT)

Failing the quest does not affect the Oblivion Walker achievement if you are able to get the artifact. Oblivion Walker counts artifacts, not quests. --Morrolan (talk) 19:05, 4 October 2013 (GMT)

Silent Hermaeus Mora bug

After I returned to Septimus and gave him the inscribed Lexicon, he gave me the quest to gather blood samples and HM appeared in the doorway as usual. This time, however, HM won't talk to me when I try to leave, and clicking on him does nothing. So I'm stuck in Septimus's frigid little hermitage with no way out, since HM is blocking the only door. Any idea how to get HM to talk to me? Wordmama (talk) 14:03, 4 October 2013 (GMT)

Do you have Dragonborn installed? I've found that with DB installed, it's hard to accurately select Mora's new image. --Morrolan (talk) 14:13, 4 October 2013 (GMT)

I do have it, but I don't have it turned on at the moment. Maybe I should just to see if it makes a difference. Wordmama (talk) 18:17, 4 October 2013 (GMT)

That's weird then. Do you have any mods at all active? Anything that might affect his shape could be causing the problem, so pretty much all visual mods could possibly be culprits. --Morrolan (talk) 19:03, 4 October 2013 (GMT)

The only thing I can come up with is that I had DB active when I started this avatar, but turned it off before I left Helgen. I did just now find a way out of it; I used the console and typed "setstage_DA04_100," which is the last stage of this quest, and HM disappeared and the Ogmha Infinium became useable. I agree, very weird, but at least I'm not trapped anymore. Wordmama (talk) 21:50, 4 October 2013 (GMT)

Disabling mods, official or otherwise, can have strange effects. I suspect this is linked to the problems I've had trying to select Mora with DB active. Your solution may lead to bugs in the DB quest with Mora's dialogue; the conversation at the end of this quest sets variables which affect some of his dialogue in the main DB questline. --Morrolan (talk) 01:17, 5 October 2013 (GMT)

I had the same issue on ps3 with being unable to speak to HM after uninstalling DB when I had begun the game with it installed. I reinstalled DB and the problem is fixed. — Unsigned comment by 205.178.23.222 (talk) at 03:11 on 19 August 2014 (GMT)

setstage_DA04_100 worked for me, too. I'll add it to the page unless someone tells me different. Off the Rails (talk) 05:41, 26 April 2015 (GMT)

Can't Harvest - Have Perk and Essence Extractor

When I go up to a corpse of one of the harvest types and activate it, I get a choice to either harvest blood or search the corpse. Nothing happens when I choose harvest. King Mango (talk) 08:24, 19 October 2013 (GMT)

What kind of platform are you paying? If PC, are there any mods and/or unofficial patches installed? —MortenOSlash (talk) 17:37, 19 October 2013 (GMT)

In my case, this happened with an Altmer vampire. It seems like the script that allows you the "Harvest blood" option is perfectly happy with the "HighElfVampire" race, but the actual blood harvesting script is not. lavacano201014 ^{(yell at me here)} 22:40, 22 March 2015 (GMT)

And you have no mods or unofficial patches that may have interfered with your race or vampirism now or earlier in the game? —MortenOSlash (talk) 23:04, 22 March 2015 (GMT)

Same thing happens for me when trying to harvest a Bosmer vampire. DLCs, unofficial patches and some other minor "fix" mods. Personally don't have a big problem with it, it's perfectly explainable by saying that vampirism contaminates the blood and makes it unusable, though it can be confusing. — Unsigned comment by 58.153.85.73 (talk) at 17:37 on 30 July 2015 (UTC)

(←) I've completed this quest with a vampire PC, playing on 360. One of your mods is probably breaking the quest. --Morrolan (talk) 19:49, 3 August 2015 (UTC)

Glitch when picking up Oghma SOLVED!

I've stumbled on this new weird bug where after you bring the blood mixture to Septimus, he opens the box, dies and then when you try to pick up the Oghma, the quest won't update. Dropping the Oghma on the floor will make the Quest marker appear again. Picking it back up didn't solve it.

Then I tried fiddling with the SetStage console commands. The following command, which quest stage was said to be "ommitted because it's empty" fixed my problem.

After picking up the Oghma Ininium, enter this console command to trigger the next quest stage, which will make Haermeus Mora(Wretched Abyss) appear.

setstage DA04 60

I tried setstage DA04 100 first, but it completed the quest without me having to talk to Haermeus Mora, skipping an important flag for the Oblivion Walker achievement. I hope this helps someone, one day... - Vagrant — Unsigned comment by ‎ 70.83.181.144 (talk) at 00:21 on 4 January 2014

Do you have any mods installed that may be causing the quest to stall, and are you running the game with the latest patch installed? --Xyzzy ^Talk 05:19, 4 January 2014 (GMT)

-Thank you so much!!! I was stuck in the same spot and had no idea that console commands could fix it! -YKK March 20 2014 — Unsigned comment by 68.32.60.40 (talk) at 04:04 on 20 March 2014 (GMT)

Xbox 360 can't complete quest

This has been marked as a question that needs to be answered.

Basic info: I play on the Xbox 360, I have all OFFICIAL DLC's and I'm still below lvl 15.

Bug?: I didn't read the "insane book" which was given to me by Urag because I had already completed the quest on a different save (which is now deleted) so I knew where Septimus's hideout was so I went there. I transcribed the lexicon and then I was told to be "contacted" (Reach lvl 15+). While I was still below lvl 15 I went to the Collage of Winterhold and I accidental read the "insane book" and now the quest tells me to talk to Urag about the insane book. When I tried to do so no option came up for me to do so. Is there anyway to fix this?

--Atlantis227 (talk) 21:31, 27 January 2014 (GMT)

Looting the Extractor

This has been marked as a question that needs to be answered.

The Extractor can be safely looted without being stuck as a quest item, only the runed lexicon is bugged. This may be falsely attributed to the unofficial skyrim patch, because I have the extractor on multiple characters on PS3. I can't seem to get stuck with the extractor any way I try, has anyone actually got stuck with it? AutoPilot (talk) 08:38, 31 January 2014 (GMT)

• I don't see any changes in the unofficial skyrim patch at 0001a31c. 99.179.145.178 19:50, 7 October 2023 (UTC)

Raise vs. raze - copied from Bugs

Septimus Signus is supposed to be raised and turned into ashes after approaching the Oghma Infinium book and saying the final line.

I'm a little confused about this, and a recent editor may be as well. Does this mean that Septimus is killed, then raised, then turned to ash; or that he is alive, then razed and turned to ash? --Xyzzy ^Talk 15:22, 31 January 2014 (GMT)

To raze something is to tear it down, to raise something is to build it up since turned into ashes is specifically mentioned it makes it sound as if he is brought back to life then turned to ash. I believe rewording it to something else would be beneficial, perhaps supposed to be brought back to life and turned? Unless of course i've got it wrapped around my head and he is just vaporized from living straight through to ash, in which case supposed to be raised and turned into ashes after would be better.

Now you've confused me... --Kiz^{(email - talk)} 16:28, 31 January 2014 (GMT)

I think we will both have to remain confused, as someone solved the problem by simply rewording the bug. --Xyzzy ^Talk 05:38, 1 February 2014 (GMT)

Both. I've edited the bug to read "...supposed to be lifted into the air and turned into ashes" after checking it in-game. Sure enough, he was raised and razed, in that order. Off the Rails (talk) 05:56, 26 April 2015 (GMT)

Lexicon bug - moved from article

It is possible to remove the Elder Scroll before transcribing the Blank Lexicon into the Runed Lexicon. If this happens the only way to continue the quest line (outside of loading a save file) is to add the Runed Lexicon to inventory via console "player.additem 3a3dd 1" Then set the quest stage "setstage DA04 30" this will allow you to give the Runed Lexicon to Septimus. (FYI I left the Blank Lexicon in the Lexicon Receptical at Tower Mzark)

I'm moving this here because, IIRC, aligning the Oculory to get the Elder Scroll automatically transcribes the Blank Lexicon into the Runed Lexicon, so I don't see how you could get the Scroll "before" transcribing the Lexicon. Can someone clarify or confirm this? --Xyzzy ^Talk 05:23, 19 February 2014 (GMT)

A way around the silent Hermaeus Mora bug

I'm on the PS3. I was thoroughly upset when I was unable to speak to Hermaeus Mora, so I was determined to find a way around this annoyance. When you return to Septimus to give him the "Transcribed Lexicon" a mute Hermaeus Mora (Bug) may show up in the doorway, blocking the path and only exit. A way around this that I found is to reload and hit Septimus. He should only flee and not fight back. When he does, he should head for the exit, follow him with your weapon or fists still out. When he gets next to the ladder to exit, lower your weapon or hands and talk to him to receive the "Essence Extractor" to harvest the blood from the Elves and Orc with. Then Hermaeus Mora wil appear but you will be behind him and able to leave. Unfortunately, once you harvest the blood and return to the Outpost, Hermaeus Mora will still be blocking the path. The way to get past him is to get to the very top of the pathway, the highest peak but still in view of Hermeaus. When on top, use the Whirlwind Sprint shout and you will soar over him. Giving you access to the inner room and to Septimus. Once Again, unfortunately, Hermaeus Mora will appear after Septimus is incenterated and you retrieve the Ohgma Infinium, blocking the path and the only exit. A way around this is to preform the "platter glitch" where you walk through a wall by holding a platter against the wall and run into it. Preform this glitch on the left side of the room, or the side that the main exit to "Skyrim" is. When you pass through the wall, push toward the main exit and once you resurface, you should be on the path right next to the ladder exit, allowing you to leave and entirely avoid speaking to Hermaeus Mora. Though, once again, unfortunately, the quest will be incomplete since you hadn't spoke with Hermaeus Mora to entirely complete the quest. Well, there it is. Hopes this is helpful because this took a while to type out on my phone. Cjesseg (talk) 03:18, 2 July 2014 (GMT)

Blank Lexicon and Lexicon Pedestal

Uncertain if this occurs with/without the unofficial Patch, after starting the quest and entering the Tower of Mzark. Once you reach the top where the controls are, the lettering for "Activate Pedestal" come up when in range. After pressing the button to activate, nothing happenings and the blank is still sitting in your inventory. This has occured on pc(steam) with the unofficial patch on, attempting to try without patch has proven difficult (patch won't disable). —13massnat Aug 4, 2022