It's fair to say that everyone possesses a varied set of motivations in life. These motivations tend to influence the decision-making process when confronted with a dilemma. The manifold inhabitants of Cyrodiil in The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion are no exception when it comes to realizing some sort of agenda. Whether they are personal, professional, or both, not everyone is upfront about what they want.
Some desire wealth, while others scheme to attain extraordinary levels of power. Certain individuals keep their motivations a secret in order to perform some type of good. It's left up to the player to discover what kind of mysteries lie just beneath the surface. The denizens of Cyrodiil are many, but these NPCs all maintain hidden agendas, for good or for ill.
10 Umbacano
To most outside observers this wealthy High Elf appears to be a harmless collector of Ayleid artifacts. He claims that the enlargement and preservation of his collection of ancient antiques accomplishes a valuable goal: the development of further knowledge. This ambition is at the forefront of his endeavors, at least on the surface.
It is only when the player completes Umbacano's collection that his true motivations are revealed. He seeks to bring about the return of the Ayleids, an ancient elven race that had once ruled Cyrodiil. Their successful return surely guarantees untold levels of destruction for Tamriel. Thus, the crazed collector's hunt for increasingly rarer artifacts goes far beyond simple preservation.
9 Janus Hassildor
The Count of Skingrad is a reclusive and enigmatic figure. Generally well-liked by his subjects, his elusiveness is a constant source of intrigue and gossip. Only a few of the count's trusted advisers know his true motivations, and they don't let just anyone in on the secret.
However, if the player gets on the count's good side, it's revealed that the leading nobleman of Skingrad is actually a vampire. Faced with certain execution if the truth is brought to light, Janus Hassildor keeps his true form under a tight lid. He struggles to cure his wife of the same disease, which has rendered her nearly lifeless.
8 Thoronir
This cheerful Wood Elf, proprietor of the Copious Coinpurse, is a seemingly honest merchant who has recently achieved a significant level of success. His competitors in the Market District of the Imperial City don't buy his story for a second. The player is hired to get to the bottom of Thoronir's suspicious business acumen.
With a little digging it turns out the disgruntled collection of merchants are right. It's disclosed that Thoronir's vastly low prices are due to the fact that they are purchased from a shady Nord who robs graves for a living. Thoronir's desire to outdo his rivals leads to his unwitting partnership with a criminal and a reluctance to ask too many questions.
7 Maelona
When wandering the streets of Anvil it's possible the player may run into Maelona, a disgruntled Redguard woman with a score to settle. She tasks the player with retrieving a ring that was stolen from her unfaithful husband, Gogan, by a band of home-wrecking con artists.
Once the comely thieves have been dispatched it's clear that Maelona is not as helpless as initially thought. She is, in fact, a member of the Anvil city guard who purposely recruits the player for the sting operation. Her witless husband also turns out to be a disguised guardsman and is aware of the plan from the very beginning.
6 Velwyn Benirus
Velwyn Benirus is a resident of Anvil who is overly eager to sell his family manor at a reduced cost. He claims he is in a hurry to attend to pressing business matters elsewhere, hence his willingness to provide a discount. Nothing is further from the truth.
When Benirus Manor is purchased it becomes evident that the player has been scammed. The residence turns out to be haunted by a long-dead member of Velwyn's family. Aware that nobody would buy the house if the true nature of the dwelling is exposed, he lies in order to rid himself of the burden.
5 Arnora Auria
Arnora Auria can be found in Bruma lamenting the incarceration of her boyfriend, Jorundr. She relates a sad tale whereby Jorundr forced her to act as his accomplice in a robbery that went bad, resulting in the death of a guard. Arnora tasks the player with convincing Jorundr to give up the location of the ill-gotten loot.
However, after obtaining the boyfriend's side of the story, it's revealed that Arnora is the real perpetrator behind the guard's murder. When the Bruma city watch captured Jorundr the whole debacle was pinned on him. The player is left to decide who to exact revenge upon at the conclusion of the quest.
4 Kurdan Gro-Dragol
Getting into debt with Kurdan Gro-Dragol is not an enviable situation. An Orc moneylender from Bravil, Kurdan's customers often regret coming to him for money due to his usurious interest rates. But his gig as a loan shark is only a screen for his real occupation.
In actuality, wealthy and influential patrons pay Kurdan to operate a "hunters run" based inside Fort Grief. Debtors are hunted down like animals for sport by those who are willing to pay Kurdan for the service. It's a dark secret that makes an already unscrupulous Orc more unsavory.
3 Raynil Dralas
Players who find themselves exploring the bustling city of Bruma will eventually hear about a murder that was committed in one of the residences. Raynil Dralas, a purported vampire hunter, fled the scene of the crime after killing Bradon Lirrian, who was suspected of being a vampire due to his odd nocturnal habits.
Through some diligent detective work, it's affirmed that Raynil Dralas is a fraud. Rather than a vampire hunter he is indeed a treasure seeker who assassinated his former partner, Bradon Lirrian, in an attempt to secure the loot for himself. His alias as a vampire hunter is just a ruse to get away with murder.
2 Seridur
The Order of the Virtuous Blood is founded upon a noble ideal. Its mission is to seek out vampires wherever they may dwell and destroy them. Seridur is the leader of this distinguished band of heroes. When introduced to Seridur he tasks the player with hunting down and eliminating a vicious vampire named Roland Jenseric.
Seridur's duplicity, however, is divulged when Roland proves that he is innocent. The leader of the Order of the Virtuous Blood is, in fact, a master vampire hiding in plain site. When caught in the act, Seridur framed Roland and cast him out of the Order, maintaining his cover as a phony champion of virtue.
1 Chanel
Chanel is a court mage working for the Countess of Chorrol, Arriana Valga. When the countess enlists the aid of the player to locate a missing painting of her departed husband, Chanel is one of the many suspects that comes under suspicion. Although tight-lipped at first Chanel will divulge the details of her hidden past if confronted with enough evidence.
It turns out that Chanel was in love with Arriana's husband, the late Count of Chorrol. Chanel herself is actually the author of the painting and grew jealous of the attention the countess showered upon it after the count's death. The court mage stole back the painting as her rightful property.