A Worthy Expansion

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Knights of the Nine
1.Overall
2.The Features
a. Frostcrag Spire
b. Vile Lair
c. Mehrune's Razor
d. Pirate Cove
e. The Orrery
3.The Nights of the Nine
4. Buy or Deny?

1. Overall
Oblivion took the Elder Scrolls series to new hights with its smooth gameplay, wonderful replay value and variety of quests, and it's stunning visuals. Nobody has seen the likes of it before, due to its massive world and amazing free roaming. Now, for those Oblivion junkies (like myself) that are obsessed with the game and have finished all factions and story mode, or you're just plain done with the normal stuff, then get ready for a treat from Bethsda Studios.

Oblivion: The Nights of the Nine has a fairly wide variety of things to do. You get 3 new places that are almost like homes, but amazing XD. The Orrery in the mages guild is now unlocked, and spell tomes are added in dungeons, which boost certain magic abilities when read. Mehrune's Razor, the prettiest and best dagger in the game EVER is also included, as well as armor for your horse. Not to mention, the Nights of The Nine Faction.

2. The Features
a.Frostcrag Spire
The Mage's Tower, or Frostcrag Spire as it's formally called, is one of the most useful things in the game. When you enter, there is a frozen atronach's hand bolting from the floor in the middle of an ice pond that is in the middle of a gigantic room. Once the book is read, the wall opens and reveals the rest of the tower. In the main room there is a table with alchemy equipment (novice) as well as portals to your bank (storage) and your private quarters. There are also spell making and enchanting alters, as well as your very own atronach creation station. In your private quarters is a bed, chest, jewelry box, and best of all, a table that once is you are near boosts your alchemical skills by 20. There is also the ingredient room connected to your bedroom with multiple of almost every ingredient in Cyrodil, including the ones from Oblivion like Harrada Root. There is a patio that has portals to every mage guild, and a storage bank with tons of chests to hold your treasures. TIP: For the atronach alter, if you are the mages guild master, then take fire, frost or void salts and put one in your chest that makes ingredients. You can keep them on the altar, and it's an easy way to be able to make atronachs with little effort.

b.Vile Lair
For you devils in Oblivion, this is the perfect place for you. Equipped with its own blood servant that you may leech off of (for vampires) and a vampire reversal pool, this is a nice cave. As soon as you enter, its yours. Its at the bottom of a lake at the far end of the map in the southeast. There are plenty of little treasures throughout, and fun traps to have fun with. A fun addition.

c.Mehrune's Razor
Mehrune's Razor is easily the best dagger in the game, unless you make an even better one. It is by far the coolest looking, but you have to go through a lot to get to it. As to see what it does, that is your treat. TIP: Get your character strong, and have some form of healing before attempting this.

d.Pirate's Cove
When you enter your new pirate cove, you will see a giant (wrecked) ship. It's inside of a cave, and you will be assaulted by numerous ghosts. You must kill all of the ghosts, and their spirits are free. Then, you have to recruit your crew (as guided by the game) and then once a week they can go plunder for loot. They give you all of their earnings, and you have another place to store your items. TIP: Don't forget about this. It's easy to space the fact that you can get an easy 2-5k every week in Oblivion, and is an easy way to make cash for a quick warp in and warp out.

e.The Orrery
Personally, I haven't explored The Orrery much. I do know that you may choose a sign and it will grant you powers, but that is the extent of my knowledge. I guess that's another thing you must do for yourself!

3. Nights of the Nine
Ah... Finally. The good stuff. The Nights of the Nine is an ancient band of soldiers that have dedicated their (after)lives to guarding their sanctum. They possess one of the nine relics of the Ancient Crusader. A villain is let loose, and after visiting each of the Wayshrines of the Divine (as guided by a map, it's a pain) you embark on a journey to regain the armor and defeat him once and for all. You must not only defeat his physical being, but travel in the afterlife as well and defeat him there. I'd say that he's pretty easy, but that's just me. It's definately a fun faction, and it doesn't take too long do, but it's just the right amount of time. I wanted to finish it before getting The Shivering Isles, and I was able to beat it in two days of obsessive playing.

4.Buy or Deny?
BUY
For the low price of $20.00, The Nights of the Nine is a nice expansion for Oblivion. I had already purchased everything except for spell tomes, horse armor and the orrery earlier on through the Xbox Marketplace and I played those a LOT. I have probably racked up quite an impressive amount of hours on this expansion. Needless to say, this is a nice add on to the Oblivion series. It takes Cyrodil on yet another quest, and you can keep the armor! Now The Shivering Isles... That is another tale.