Oblivion talk:A Shadow Over Hackdirt

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Archive 1: July 2006 - Oct 2011

Bug or did I just screw up somehow?

Dar-Ma introduced herself to me in Chorrol a LONG time ago, before I thought to do this quest or even knew about it. Seed-Neeus wouldn't say anything about her missing daughter, nor would anyone else in town. Decided to try doing it anyway; just went to Hackdirt and asked around town, nobody would say anything. Bought a room in the inn, tried sleeping, after an hour (game time) got woken up and attacked by one of the Brethren. Found Dar-Ma's diary in a dresser in the messed up room; got the innkeeper to just claim she left without it, nobody would talk about anything else. Found Blossom, nobody would talk about her. OK... not even Jiv would say anything (other than I shouldn't be asking about the Brethren) so I just went into the caves anyway. Killed all the Brethren in there, talked to Dar-Ma, which is the first time I got any quest whatsoever mentioning rescuing her. Escorted her all the way to Chorrol where oddly enough nobody whatsoever attacked (didn't even see any of the townsfolk the entire trip). Went back to Seed-Neeus's shop, she thanked me for rescuing her daughter, but it doesn't update the quest; my quest journal still insists the quest isn't complete. Dar-Ma thanks me for rescuing her but doesn't update the quest either. Any idea what to do at this point? Tried waiting a few days and talking to them again but same story. 67.177.228.142 22:23, 26 February 2012 (UTC)

As a side note, I took both Dar-Ma's diary and the bible from the chapel; oddly enough the diary is still flagged as stolen, but the bible isn't (weird because whenever I tried taking the bible with any of the townsfolk around they all yelled "stop thief" and got a bounty for taking it, but it's not even flagged as stolen when I take it with nobody looking.) 67.177.228.142 22:35, 26 February 2012 (UTC)

P.S. if it helps the first entry in my journal is stage 61 ("I have found a young Argonian named Dar-Ma held captive in the caves beneath Hackdirt. She has asked me to help her escape."). I got this when I met and talked to Dar-Ma in the caves. After agreeing to help her escape I got stage 80 ("I have agreed to help Dar-Ma escape. She asked me to carry word to her mother, Seed-Neeus of Chorrol, if she does not survive the attempt.") I received no further updates after Dar-Ma successfully returned to Chorrol; she just stands there in the shop, talking to either Dar-Ma or Seed-Neeus gets me thanks for rescuing her but no update whatsoever. (This is the XBox 360 version if that matters). 67.177.228.142 22:35, 26 February 2012 (UTC)

Jiv Hiriel don't talk about Dar-Ma when I'm at his house — Unsigned comment by 189.54.146.192 (talk) at 03:06 on 29 September 2012

cell door

Is it normal that Dar-Ma's cell door doesn't actually open? She was still able to follow me upstairs -- but I spent several minutes trying to get the door open after I unlocked it. Bewing (talk) 07:18, 13 October 2013 (GMT)

Dar-Ma slow on horseback NOT a bug...

Her diary says that Blossom threw a shoe while they made their way to Hackdirt across rough terrain, thus Dar-Ma's slow ride on horseback back to Chorrol. — Unsigned comment by 68.56.204.228 (talk) at 21:32 on 20 May 2014‎

Killing entire village does not incur a bounty

Well, kind of; I don't understand if this is a bug or if this is part of the game, but I have played this quest approximately 4-5 times and each time, I murdered everyone in the town, including the Moslins and the man who helps you, but never did I get a serious bounty or did the game stats register the kills being a "murder". I did, however, get a 440 gold bounty (not sure how) but I was never confronted for murder or even assault. I think the notes is incorrect? — Unsigned comment by 172.248.13.189 (talk) at 07:38 on 7 December 2014‎

Level Requirement?

An IP suggested a level requirement of 4 on the Xbox. The CS has the script for the quest which doesn't have a level listed, but as the CS isn't fully comprehensive for Oblivion can someone provide ingame verification either way. Silence is Golden^{Break the Silence} 11:20, 21 June 2015 (UTC)

Easiest way to complete quest

I found that the easiest way to complete the quest is after taking the quest, but before rescuing Dar-Ma, wipe out any aggressive villagers (in other words, all villagers, except the Moslins and Jiv) beforehand and take their keys (doing this will probably provoke the Brethren, so kill them, too), go into the caverns and make sure that no Brethren are still alive there either, and make very well sure that there are no signs of life in the caverns aside from Dar-Ma (Detect Life helps). Afterwards, you can escort Dar-Ma to her horse and walk out of the village (IIRC, you can even fast travel). I always did the quest this way. I'm not sure if I incurred any murder count (why does a Dark Brotherhood assassin care, right?), but I was never charged legally with murder (the village seems to have its own legal system, so all that will happen is more Brethren attacks, which you should have defeated before rescuing Dar-Ma). MidbossVyers (talk) 23:48, 7 April 2016 (UTC)

I did encounter only 5 or 6 brethren and two hostile villagers in the cavern. I arrived late afternoon and talked to the innkeeper, the shopkeeper and the helpful villager who let me in. All dispositions raised. After meeting Jiv at night (which meant leaving his house and reenter, already night when I met him first) the villagers were gathering in the chapel. I entered the cave and had to battle the 5 or 6 brethren at once. After recovering I freed Dar-Ma, left where I came in and led her to Blossom. Shortly outside the village she thanked me and rode away, so I left her and did the cave again. I entered the main cave, 5 citizens standing around. Two of them attacked on sight (easy) while the others, the ones with already raised disposition, stayed friendly. No further brethren, only looting. The villagers left, I traveled home, Dar-Ma standing beside her mother. Now I’ll rob the houses of the two fanatics I had to kill. 80.187.113.169 16:06, 10 August 2021 (UTC)

P.S.: I took the bible after exiting the cave, greeting the friendly innkeeper and looking for some ingredients in the store. No theft. Seems they’re cured? I’ll return tonight, promised.— Unsigned comment by 80.187.113.169 (talk) at 16:17 on 10 August 2021

P.P.S.: Still friendly townsfolk there. And it was 6 brethren, made some light and counted the bodies.— Unsigned comment by 80.187.113.169 (talk) at 05:00 on 11 August 2021