The air in the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary usually feels cold and calculated, but nothing prepares you for the sheer atmospheric shift that occurs during the quest Oblivion Following a Lead. This isn't just another contract; it is the moment the entire foundation of the guild crumbles under the weight of a long-gestating conspiracy. By the time you reach this stage in the questline, you have likely spent hours following "Dead Drops," believing you were cleansing Cyrodiil of the Brotherhood's enemies. The reality, as revealed in this mission, is far more haunting.

The Moment of Confrontation

The quest begins with a jolt. Immediately after you eliminate Ungolim in Bravil—a target you likely assumed was just another name on a list—Lucien Lachance appears. This isn't the calm, composed Speaker you’ve come to know. He is livid, his blade drawn, accusing you of the highest treason. In most RPGs, this would be a scripted boss fight, but in Oblivion, it is a moment of narrative clarity.

Lucien reveals that the targets you’ve been systematically murdering since the quest "Next of Kin" were actually your own brothers and sisters in the Black Hand. The Speakers and Silencers you thought were enemies were actually the backbone of the guild. The horror of the situation is palpable: you have unwittingly become the very tool used to dismantle the organization from within. Once Lucien realizes you were merely following false orders, the mission shifts from survival to investigation. Your task is simple yet daunting: head to Anvil and find the person hijacking the Dead Drops.

Staking Out the Anvil Mermaid

Your first destination is the picturesque city of Anvil. Unlike the dark corners of the Cheydinhal Sanctuary, the investigation takes place in broad daylight near the city gate. There is a small pond featuring a mermaid statue, and behind it sits a nondescript barrel. This has been your latest Dead Drop location, and it is here that the traitor’s messenger will appear.

For the best results, you should enter sneak mode and wait nearby. Around mid-day, a Wood Elf named Enilroth will approach the barrel to swap the orders. It is best to wait until he actually interacts with the container before confronting him. When you do, the dialogue reveals a crucial detail: Enilroth isn't the mastermind. He is just a courier paid by a mysterious "robed man" staying in the local lighthouse cellar.

Pro tip for players: While you can choose to be aggressive with Enilroth, he is relatively cooperative if you simply demand answers. He will even mention that the lighthouse keeper might have the key you need. If you're looking for a bit of extra gold, Enilroth often carries the 500-gold reward intended for your next (fake) hit, which you can retrieve through various means.

The Horrors of the Anvil Lighthouse Cellar

The quest takes a sharp turn into psychological horror once you reach the Anvil Lighthouse. You need to speak with Ulfgar Fog-Eye, the lighthouse keeper. If you mention Brotherhood business, he often yields the cellar key out of fear or a desire to be rid of his tenant. He mentions strange smells and unsettling noises coming from below, setting a grim tone for what lies ahead.

Upon entering the cellar, the atmosphere changes instantly. This is perhaps one of the most macabre interior spaces in all of Cyrodiil. Strewn with animal carcasses and human remains, the cellar is a testament to the traitor’s insanity. You will encounter a crazed dog that must be dealt with, but the real "treasure" lies in the back room.

There, on a table, you will find two items of immense importance:

  1. The Traitor’s Diary: Reading this is essential for understanding the "Why." It details a grudge dating back decades, rooted in the murder of the traitor's mother by Lucien Lachance. It reveals how the traitor successfully infiltrated the guild and rose to the rank of Speaker, all while plotting its total annihilation.
  2. Mother’s Head: A gruesome trophy the traitor has been keeping. While picking it up is optional for quest completion, it serves a unique purpose later if you want to confirm the traitor’s identity before the final reveal.

The Tragedy at Apple Watch

Armed with the diary, your next stop is Apple Watch, a small farmstead west of Bruma. This was supposed to be your rendezvous with Lucien. However, as you approach the farmhouse, the music shifts to a somber tone. Inside, the scene is devastating.

The remaining members of the Black Hand—Arquen, Mathieu Bellamont, Belisarius Arius, and Banus Alor—are standing around a mutilated body hanging from the rafters. It is Lucien Lachance. The Black Hand, believing Lucien was the traitor you were searching for, has carried out a brutal execution.

This is where the "Oblivion Following a Lead" quest reaches its emotional peak. You know the truth, but the guild has already destroyed its most loyal servant. Arquen, now acting as the de facto leader, welcomes you as a hero. In a bitter twist of irony, she promotes you to the rank of Speaker to fill the void left by Lucien’s death.

Rewards of a Speaker

Despite the tragic circumstances, the rewards for this quest are among the best in the game for stealth-based characters. Upon your promotion, you receive the Black Hand Robe and the Black Hand Hood.

These items are prized for their powerful enchantments:

  • Black Hand Robe: Typically offers significant boosts to Fortify Sneak, Marksman, Security, Blade, and Speechcraft (usually +11 or more depending on the version).
  • Black Hand Hood: Complements the robe with further boosts to the same skills.

While these robes lack the armor rating of Light Armor, their skill bonuses make them the gold standard for assassins who prefer to never be seen in the first place. Wearing them at Apple Watch adds a layer of dark prestige to your character as you prepare for the final confrontation.

Navigating Common Bugs and Issues

Even in modern iterations or heavily modded setups, "Following a Lead" can occasionally encounter technical hiccups. Here is how to handle the most common issues:

  • Enilroth Not Appearing: If the courier doesn't show up at the Anvil pond, he might be stuck in a pathfinding loop near the city gates or the Flowing Bowl. Waiting for an hour or searching near the city's main entrance usually resets his AI.
  • The Diary Missing: Sometimes the Traitor's Diary may clip through the table in the cellar. If you can't see it, try using a light spell or checking the floor directly beneath the table.
  • Arquen’s Ritual Timing: After the promotion, you must speak with Arquen between midnight and 3:00 AM to progress to the final quest, "Honor Thy Mother." If she doesn't offer the dialogue option, try stepping outside the farmhouse and waiting until the exact window of time before re-entering.
  • The "Sitting" Bug: If you are sitting down when you agree to be transported to the Night Mother’s sanctuary at the end of the quest, your character may become stuck in a sitting animation upon arrival. It is highly recommended to stand up before initiating the final dialogue with Arquen.

Lore Deep Dive: Who is the Real Traitor?

For those who pay close attention to the environment, the quest provides subtle clues about the traitor’s identity before the game explicitly tells you. If you take the Mother's Head from the lighthouse and drop it on the floor at Apple Watch, watch the reactions of the Black Hand members.

While most will ignore it or react with generic disgust, one member—Mathieu Bellamont—will show visible distress and agitation. This small detail is a masterclass in environmental storytelling, confirming that the man standing right next to you, claiming to have "saved" the Brotherhood by killing Lucien, is the one who orchestrated the entire purge.

His backstory, as pieced together from the diary, reveals a child who watched his mother die at the hands of the Dark Brotherhood and spent his entire life becoming the very thing he hated just to destroy it. It adds a layer of complexity to the Brotherhood’s villainy; in this world, the cycle of violence eventually consumes even the most secretive organizations.

The Path Forward

Completing "Following a Lead" sets the stage for the finale of the Dark Brotherhood storyline. You are now a Speaker, but you are a Speaker of a dying guild. The atmosphere of paranoia and loss that defines this quest lingers long after you leave Apple Watch.

Whether you are playing the classic version or a modern remastered build, this mission remains a highlight of Bethesda's quest design. It successfully subverts the player's sense of agency, turning your previous successes into failures and your rewards into reminders of what was lost. As you move toward the Night Mother's sanctuary, you aren't just looking for a new contract—you're looking for redemption for the blood of your brothers on your hands.

In the grand scheme of Cyrodiil's history, the events at the Anvil Lighthouse and Apple Watch represent the near-extinction of the Dark Brotherhood. For the player, it represents a transition from a simple assassin to a high-ranking official in a fractured empire, forced to lead in the wake of a masterfully executed betrayal.