The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Has Changed The Jiub Head

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Summary

  • It has long been assumed that the decapitated head we find in Kvatch was Jiub’s, the first character we meet in Morrowind.
  • In the original Oblivion, it looked vaguely Dunmer (even if it lacked the pointed elven ears), but the remake seems to have finally disproven that idea.
  • In its place, we can now find a generic zombie head, which doesn’t resemble Jiub whatsoever.

I can’t help but feel captivated by Jiub, one of the most peculiar characters in The Elder Scrolls universe. As we find ourselves sharing cramped quarters on a prison ship bound for Vvardenfell, our initial encounter sets the stage for him to become an enduring symbol within this beloved series.

As a devoted fan, I found it amusingly ironic when they joked about one of Morrowind’s most irritating adversaries being sanctified for eliminating every Cliff Racer on the continent post-game. However, this intriguing character wouldn’t reappear until Skyrim, as he tragically perished during the Oblivion Crisis in Kvatch of all places.

The Jiub Head Mystery

Over time, fans were drawn into an intriguing mystery: If he supposedly died in Kvatch, then where exactly was his body found? Initially, many fans believed they had a definitive solution to this puzzle.

At the church where Martin Septim is initially introduced, an uncanny head on a stool is noticeable from early on. The head bears a resemblance to a Dark Elf and shares scars similar to Jiub’s, leading some to believe it could be the same Dunmer who journeyed with the Nerevarine. However, this theory has several inconsistencies:

1) The model used for this head is also found elsewhere in the game.
2) It has round, human-like ears instead of elven, pointed ones.
3) Unlike the assumed character, it does not have an eye missing.

Regardless of any other factors, fans adored the concept so thoroughly that it essentially became universally accepted, if you catch my drift. Consequently, when I started playing Oblivion Remastered, my first action was to head straight for Kvatch, hoping to discover if Virtuos had given the character a more pronounced Jiub appearance, thereby validating a long-standing fan theory. Sadly, they hadn’t.

Instead, it’s a generic zombie head, seemingly disproving the Jiub mystery once and for all.

Jiub Didn’t Realise He Was Dead

Despite not being discouraged, I continued searching Kvatch for any trace of Jiub, but I couldn’t locate any sign of him (perhaps someone else will have better fortune). However, you can encounter him in Skyrim thanks to the Dawnguard DLC. It’s a bit peculiar because he doesn’t realize he’s deceased.

It seems he found himself captured by a Dremora in Kvatch and transported to the Soul Cairn, leading him to believe he was merely being held captive instead of killed. One would assume he’d recognize his own demise if his head had been severed (since there are ghosts resembling headless horsemen often sighted wandering at night).

After conversing with him and assisting him in accepting his tragic end, he disclosed to us what he had been doing in Kvatch. He had relocated to Cyrodiil after being consecrated for the purpose of writing an autobiography, chronicling his relentless single-handed battle against one of the most formidable (and frustrating) creatures in Vvardenfell. Unfortunately, he was one of the first casualties during the Oblivion Crisis. The specifics of his demise remain unclear, but we do know that it was at the hands of a Dremora eager to fulfill a soul gem, rather than a common scamp or clanfear.

In Oblivion or its remake, it seems we won’t uncover Jiub’s tale, but instead, a fresh enigma emerges for us to ponder and discuss for the next decade: who suffered decapitation in this place?

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2025-04-24 00:05