Repairing the Orrery is an optional side quest in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, which enables the Orrery–a dwarven machine designed to grant the Hero enhanced powers depending on the current phase of the moon. When players enter the lobby of the Arch-Mage’s room in the Arcane University, they will meet Bothiel, a Wood Elf seeking assistance in fixing the Imperial Orrery.

Access to the Imperial Orrery is through a locked door in the Arch-Mage’s lobby. To unlock this door and activate the machine’s capabilities, players must fulfill Bothiel’s request by collecting the necessary dwarven artifacts for repairs.

How to Begin the Orrery Repair

To initiate the quest «Repairing the Orrery,» travel to the Arcane University located in the Imperial City and enter the Arch-Mage’s Lobby. Speak with Bothiel, the resident Wood Elf mage, and agree to gather the dwarven materials she requires for the repair. This will set the quest in motion.

Step-by-Step Guide to Repairing the Orrery

Bothiel needs five specific dwarven artifacts to carry out the repairs, all of which are held by bandit leaders in various camps around the mountains near Kvatch. The first location you will visit is Camp Ales, which is situated directly north of Kvatch. Defeat the bandits at this camp, and you will find a ‘Dwarven Cog’ along with an ‘Undelivered Letter’ on the leader’s body.

Be sure to read the ‘Undelivered Letter,’ as it will reveal the locations of the other four bandit camps:

• Bodean Camp (Dwarven Cylinder)
• Brotch Camp (Dwarven Cog)
• Dagny’s Camp (Dwarven Coherer)
• Varus Camp (Dwarven Tube)

As a tip, the bandits you encounter during this quest are likely to carry valuable gear, which can be sold for a significant profit. Ensure you have enough carry weight to transport all the loot you collect from each camp.

Once you have retrieved all the required dwarven artifacts, return to Bothiel at the Arcane University and present her with the items. Depending on your character level, she will reward you with gold.

Unlocking the Imperial Orrery

After handing over the dwarven artifacts to Bothiel, she will proceed to repair the locked door leading to the Imperial Orrery using these materials. To unlock the Orrery, simply wait for 24 hours in-game. A notification will appear confirming that the Orrery at the Arcane University is now functional. You can now access the Orrery anytime.

Upon entering the Orrery, go up the stairs and interact with the ‘Imperial Orrery Console’ to activate it. The machine will power on, lowering barriers around it and creating a glowing blue effect.

Utilizing the Orrery

The purpose of the Imperial Orrery is to bestow unique Greater Powers to the player, depending on the phases of the moons Masser and Secunda. These powers can only be activated once per day and last for one minute (60 seconds). They function as spells rather than active effects.

Each Orrery Greater Power comes with a dual effect: they strengthen one attribute by +20 points while simultaneously reducing another by -20 points. The specific attributes affected depend on the moon phases. The detailed effects are listed in the table below:

The Greater Powers provided by the Orrery will change every 3 in-game days in accordance with the lunar cycle. If you initially receive Masser’s Might during your first activation, waiting three days will yield Masser’s Grace, and after another three days, you will get Secunda’s Opportunity, and so forth.