How To Get The Waterfront Taxes Back In Oblivion Remastered

If you’ve just joined the Thieves Guild, and you’re itching to prove yourself as a master thief to the Gray Fox in Oblivion Remastered, then it’s time to head to the Waterfront to speak with Armand Christophe. However, even eager thieves need to earn their place, so you’ll need to sell at least 50 gold worth of stolen items before you can begin Untaxing the Poor.

The main character looking at Soul Gems on a table in Oblivion Remastered.

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Untaxing the Poor is the first Thieves Guild special job offered to you, and will start you on the path of becoming a master thief. Armand Christophe will be your primary point of contact for this mission, and he’ll explain where you’ll find the Waterfront Tax Records.

How To Start Untaxing The Poor

Once you’ve fenced 50 gold worth of stolen goods and spoken to Armand Christophe about it, you’ll begin the Untaxing The Poor quest.

Armand will explain that Hieronymus Lex, the head of the Imperial City guard, has been imposing heavy taxes on the poor people of the city, exploiting them.

You’ll be tasked with sneaking into the South Watch Tower and stealing the tax records and money that Lex took.

Chameleon or full invisibility combined with a high Sneak skill will make this quest much easier.

You can buy the Spectre Ring at Red Diamond Jewelry in the Imperial City Market District to gain 25 percent Chameleon or get the Ring of Khajiti for 35 percent from the Meridia Daedric quest.

Load up on some lockpicks from Armand before you head off; you’ll need them.

How To Steal The Waterfront Tax Records

Head to the Imperial City – either the Temple or the Arboretum, as both offer entrances to the South Tower.

Approach the area under the cover of night to make sneaking around easier, as most of the guards are typically asleep by 2:00 or 3:00 am.

Enter the South Watch Tower door and observe the area. If there are guards awake in this area, don’t proceed until they’re all gone.

If you have a chameleon item or spell you can use, now is the time.

This initial space is public, so don’t worry about trespassing, but the Barracks are off-limits to citizens, so don’t get caught trying to enter them while there are guards around.

When the room is cleared out in the middle of the night, sneak over to the ladder and enter the Barracks section.

If any guards are awake and roaming around in the first Barracks, leave immediately (unless you can remain unseen) or reload a save if you’re caught.

Immediately after entering the first Barracks room, turn left to see another ladder leading further upward and ascend into the next room.

Lastly, you’ll find one more ladder to the South Watch Captain’s Quarters, which is sealed by an average lock you’ll need to pick.

Oblivion Remastered Untaxing The Poor Waterfront Tax Records.

With that lock picked, you’ll be in Lex’s Quarters. Immediately turn right and break the hard lock on the desk and steal the Waterfront Tax Records, along with some free gold.

With the records in hand, quickly retreat down the series of ladders again and bolt back to the Imperial City Waterfront.

If you’re fast, you can do this whole quest in the same in-game night, though the timing will be very tight.