Curing Vampirism in Oblivion: A Guide to Ending Porphyric Hemophilia

Introduction

Porphyric Hemophilia. Just the name sends shivers down the spines of many a Cyrodiil adventurer. It’s the dreaded disease that, if left untreated, transforms your character into a creature of the night, a vampire bound to the shadows and fueled by the blood of the living. While embracing the darkness might seem appealing initially, with its promises of enhanced strength and speed, the reality of vampirism in Oblivion is far more complex and, for many, ultimately undesirable. This guide is dedicated to helping you understand and, more importantly, cure Porphyric Hemophilia, freeing you from the curse of vampirism and allowing you to once again walk the sunlit lands of Cyrodiil without fear. We’ll delve into the intricacies of the disease, the consequences of succumbing to its effects, and, most importantly, provide a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough of the “Cure for Vampirism” quest, the only reliable method of reversing the transformation.

Understanding the Thirst: Porphyric Hemophilia and its Transformation

Before we jump into the cure, it’s crucial to understand what Porphyric Hemophilia actually is. You contract this insidious disease from vampires themselves, through their melee attacks and spells. Each time you’re struck, there’s a chance you’ll become infected. The early symptoms are subtle: perhaps a slight sensitivity to sunlight, a fleeting moment of unease during the day. These are your warning signs, your only chance to act before the transformation becomes irreversible. Using a “Cure Disease” potion or visiting a temple to receive a blessing is crucial to eradicate Porphyric Hemophilia within the first seventy-two in-game hours after infection.

If left untreated for three days, Porphyric Hemophilia will escalate into full-blown vampirism, progressing through a series of distinct stages. These stages dramatically alter your character’s abilities, appearance, and, most significantly, their relationship with the world around them.

The Stages of the Curse: Embracing and Rejecting Darkness

There are four distinct stages of vampirism in Oblivion, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. In the initial stages, the advantages might seem to outweigh the disadvantages. You’ll find yourself stronger, faster, and more resistant to disease and poison. However, these benefits come at a price.

As you progress through the stages, your weaknesses become increasingly pronounced. Your vulnerability to sunlight intensifies, causing significant damage while exposed during daylight hours. Furthermore, you’ll face negative reactions from NPCs; townsfolk will shun you, guards will become suspicious, and merchants might refuse to trade. Most critically, you’ll develop an insatiable thirst for blood.

The need to feed becomes a constant burden. If you fail to quench your thirst regularly, your vampiric powers will wane, and the negative effects will become even more severe. Feeding can be accomplished by sneaking into people’s houses while they are asleep and feeding on their neck.

The visual changes are also undeniable. Your skin becomes pale, your eyes glow with an unnatural intensity, and your features take on a distinctly gaunt appearance. While some might find this transformation aesthetically appealing, it further contributes to the negative reactions you’ll encounter in the world.

Why Seek the Light: The Detriments of the Undead Existence

While the lure of enhanced powers might tempt some players to embrace vampirism, the drawbacks often outweigh the advantages, especially in the later stages. The crippling sunlight weakness makes daytime exploration and quest completion a constant struggle. The negative NPC reactions can significantly hinder your ability to interact with the world and progress through certain storylines.

Furthermore, feeding can be a challenging and morally questionable activity. You’ll need to sneak into homes undetected and feed on unsuspecting individuals, an action that can have serious consequences if you’re caught. This makes certain playstyles difficult, if not impossible. For many, the burdens of vampirism simply outweigh the benefits, making the quest for a cure a top priority. This is why learning how to cure vampirism becomes an important step for many players.

The Cure for Vampirism Quest: A Path Back to the Living

Fortunately, a cure for vampirism exists in Oblivion, though obtaining it is no easy feat. The “Cure for Vampirism” quest is a lengthy and challenging undertaking that will test your skills as an adventurer.

Initiating the Search: Whispers of a Remedy

The quest begins with a simple rumor. If you’re a vampire, talk to a guard. Rumors of a cure for vampirism are something they might tell you. Alternatively, head to the Arcane University in the Imperial City and speak with Raminus Polus, a high-ranking member of the Mages Guild. He’ll tell you that the only person who might know anything about a cure is Count Hassildor of Skingrad, a reclusive noble shrouded in mystery.

A Count’s Secret: The Price of Knowledge

Travel to Skingrad and seek out Count Hassildor. He is often found within his castle. Be warned; the Count is initially reluctant to offer any assistance. His disposition towards you will likely be low, requiring you to raise it through persuasion, bribery, or flattery.

Eventually, with enough effort, the Count will reveal his true motive for secrecy: his own wife is a vampire. He tasks you with finding a cure for her, not just you. He has already done much research and has some idea of what will be needed. He will request that you go to the local chapel in Skingrad, where they have a book that will provide valuable insight into the next steps. He also notes you will need to speak to someone with knowledge of magic and alchemy.

Gathering the Reagents: The Ingredients of Salvation

The cure requires five specific ingredients, each with its own unique challenges in acquisition: a Grand Soul Gem (filled), six cloves of Garlic, five Nightshade plants, two Bloodgrass sprigs, and the Ashes of a Powerful Vampire.

Securing a Grand Soul: Imprisoning a Powerful Spirit

The Grand Soul Gem is the foundation of the cure. You can find it at magical goods stores or by exploring dungeons. But finding the gem is only half the battle; you also need to fill it with a Grand Soul. This requires using a Soul Trap spell on a creature with a Grand Soul before killing it. Common targets for Grand Souls include Minotaurs, Daedra, and Dremora Lords. The Soul Trap spell must be cast on the target before it dies. The spell effect must be active when they die, otherwise the soul will not be trapped.

The Garlic Harvest: Ward Against the Night

Garlic, thankfully, is relatively easy to come by. You can purchase it from merchants, find it in alchemy shops, or even pilfer it from inns and homes. Six cloves are required. This is one of the easiest ingredients to obtain, as most alchemist shops carry garlic. Check places such as Chorrol and Skingrad for garlic merchants.

Nightshade’s Embrace: A Deadly Bloom

Nightshade can be found in graveyards, and near bodies of water. They are often easy to spot, but can be tricky to find in large quantities. A good spot is along the Blue Road going North East from Bravil, there are many Nightshade bushes and other interesting plants.

Venturing into Oblivion: Bloodgrass’s Crimson Hue

Bloodgrass is exclusive to the Planes of Oblivion, accessible through Oblivion Gates that randomly appear throughout Cyrodiil. Entering Oblivion is a risky endeavor, as these realms are filled with dangerous creatures and treacherous terrain. However, Bloodgrass is relatively common within these planes, often growing in open areas.

Alternatively, if you have completed the main quest line and closed the Oblivion Gates permanently, Bloodgrass may begin to appear in gardens, such as the one near Skingrad. This is by far the safer alternative, if it is available.

Ashes of Power: Confronting the Undead Elite

The Ashes of a Powerful Vampire are, without a doubt, the most challenging ingredient to obtain. You’ll need to seek out and defeat a vampire of considerable strength, often found in dedicated vampire lairs and dungeons. Redwater Slough and Bloodcrust Cavern are good places to start. Prepare for a difficult fight, as these vampires are resistant to many forms of attack and possess potent vampiric abilities. Having silver weapons will help you greatly.

Defeating the vampire is only the first step. After slaying it, loot its corpse for the required ashes. Don’t assume that every vampire lair will contain this ingredient; you might need to explore multiple locations before finding a suitable target.

The Ritual Awaits: Returning to the Count

With all the ingredients in hand, return to Count Hassildor. He’ll express gratitude for your efforts and agree to perform the ritual to create the cure. The game will automatically progress, and you will watch as the Count will make the potion. The Count will tell you to drink the potion, and hopefully the curse will be lifted.

Administering the Potion: A Return to Humanity

Drink the potion that Count Hassildor provides. If successful, your vampirism will be cured, and you’ll be free from its debilitating effects. Check your active effects to confirm the cure has worked. You should no longer suffer from sunlight damage. However, if you are beyond the point of being able to be cured by this quest, the potion will have no effect.

Console Commands: A Risky Shortcut (PC Only)

This is not advised, but for PC players: there are console commands that can instantly cure vampirism. However, using console commands can disrupt your game and cause unexpected issues, so proceed with caution and save your game beforehand.

A Brighter Tomorrow: Life After the Curse

Curing vampirism is a significant achievement in Oblivion, freeing you from the constraints of the night and allowing you to embrace the light of day once more. You’ll be able to interact with NPCs without fear of reprisal, explore the world without worrying about sunlight exposure, and pursue any quest without the limitations imposed by vampirism. Enjoy your newfound freedom! Continue your adventures with greater ease. There are still many quests to discover, and dungeons to explore in the vast world of Cyrodiil.

Remember to always prepare for adventures. Buy extra supplies, and make sure you have plenty of health potions. Good luck, and may the sun always shine upon you!