The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion/Raminus Polus Quests

After you have all the recommendations, travel to the Arcane University and speak to Raminus Polus to become an Apprentice mage. You've completed all those annoying recommendation quests and are finally recognized as member of the guild.

A Mage's Staff
You aren't a proper mage without a staff! To be sent in search of one, ask Raminus Polus for your first quest as a member of the mages guild.

Raminus will tell you to visit Wellspring cave and find Elette or Zahrasha. Your first problem is that just inside the cave Zahrasha is lying dead Search her body and get the Wellspring Key. Setting the pattern for your mages guild quests, several necromancers await you in the cave. Go through the cave and use the Wellspring key to exit from the other side. A few more necromancers are lurking outside. Kill them.

When all the necromancers are dead, get the wood for your staff from the Stone Chest at the center of the island. Return to Raminus, who will direct you to Delmar in the Chironasium to continue your staff creation.

You will be able to chose your staff's effects through this dialogue After 24 hours your finished staff will be in the cupboard at the back of the room. Upon receiving your staff and talking to Raminus you are promoted to Journeyman of the Mage's Guild.
 * Note: The Staff you select will have stats in comparison to your current level. If you are not in a hurry to complete the Mage's Guild story line, by all means, wait a little while.

Ulterior Motives
Raminus wants you to head to over to Castle Skingrad for the first part of this quest to retrieve a book that belongs to the Arcane University. You may need to speak with Mercator Hosidus first to seek an audience with Count Janus, however, he will tell you that the count is having any guests at the moment. Mercator says to come back in a day while he tried to convince the Count grant an audience. If you so please, wait the day where you stand. Mercator will tell you once the day has passed that the Count of Skingrad will meet with you, but...only after 2AM outside the West Gate of Skingrad.
 * NOTE: This part glitches on Xbox 360 and it would take a quite few tries for Mercator to tell me this part. I'd recommend saving before you wait and restart to clear your cache if you run into the same problem.

Once you are at the quest marker at around 2AM you'll see Mercator approaching with two black robed figures. Mercator is in cahoots with Necromancers and tries to kill you, be prepared for a tough fight. If you have summoning scrolls or spells, now would be a good time to use them...this fight can quickly break into a five-on-one assault. You will be aided a few moments into this fight, but a powerful individual. He seems to only get in your way, but if you can manage to draw one of the enemies away while he fights the others, it makes it a much easier fight.

Once you're through with all of them, the stranger walks up and speaks with you, revealing that it is none other than Count Janus. He informs you that you weren't sent there for a book, but a reconnaissance mission because word got around of some necromancers in Skingrad.

Once you are done talking with him go back to the Arcane University and speak with Raminus to inform him what transpired in Skingrad. Raminus rewards you with the Spelldrinker Amulet, and promote you to Evoker.
 * Note: The amulet is comparable to your current level, like the staves.

Vahtacen's Secret
Raminus now wants you to talk to Irlav Jarol to gather some info. Irlav is usually hanging out on the 2nd floor of the Arch Mage's tower. He wants you to travel on over to Vahtacen and check up on things for him since he's been so busy, and help the research team. Vahtacen is south of Cheydinhal. Before departing prepare yourself with 4 spells or scrolls. You will require a fire spell on target, ice spell on target, Fortify Magicka spell on target, and Damage Magicka spell on target. You will really only need to find the ice spell, there is one of each of the other 3 in scroll form, in Vatacen. (If you'd like to figure the puzzle out in your head, get the spells).

You're going to need to speak with Skaleel when you arrive at Vahtacen. After hearing her worries seek out Denel a little ways away. He is trying to decipher the Ayleid writing in the room, but needs the book Skaleel has. fetch the book from Skaleel and bring it to Denel. The room next to Denel has a giant pillar, and four crystals nearby, each with Ayleid writing near it. familiarize yourself with each writing after you get Denel to translate them. AV Molag Anyammis - Fire AV Mafre Nagaia - Frost Nagicka Sila - Fortify Magicka Magicka Loria - Damage Magicka

Open the chest near Denel for the scrolls spoken of earlier. SAVE. First go to AV Molag Anyammis and cast the fire spell upon the pillar, it will move... AV Mafre Nagaia next and cast your frost attack. Third, Magicka Moria, cast Damage Magicka on Target. The moment of truth, go to Nagicka Sila, and cast Fortify Magicka on target pillar, puzzle solved. Talk to Delen, he tells you go on in and find a valuable for Irlav.

Upon entering you'll have to fight your way through a few undead most likely. Once you're done with and have entered the room take caution not to step on the tile in the middle of the room with the holes. Walk around it and continue on, the path is pretty straight through and through... Once in the larger room with the suspended cages, watch where you walk while going towards the back on the 2nd floor and you'll find a button that activates the stairs to drop in the middle of the room. Climb the stairs and grab the Ancient Elven Helm.

Head out of the ruins and back to Denel. After seeing your artifact he will tell you to bring it to Skaleel for inspection. She sends you back to Irlav with it, who thanks you and sends you back to Raminus. Raminus presents you with a Conjurer Robe and promotes you to Conjurer.

Necromancer's Moon
Tar-Meena out in the Mystic Archives has been getting bowled over requests from the Council and Raminus wants you to have her find of greater importance. Black Soul Gems. Found in Cheydinhal with Falcar. She wants you to find a book for her.. you'll find it on table next to a bookshelf, just inside the door. Bring it to Tar-Meena and after a short discussion go speak with Raminus. Now talk to Bothiel about the Shade of the Revenant. She'll be around the Arcane University, and will make some head-way on about the Black Soul Gems and bring up the note she discovered left by Falcar. Speak with Raminus again, he'll want you steak out the Dark Fissure which is just south east of Vahtacen. Prepare your self for battle and head out. SAVE.

The enemy you're after is called Worm Anchorite. It should drop a Handwritten Note. They can appear outside between 12AM and 2AM on Freedas, or you can delve into the cave and irradicate'em. If you don't receive the note reload from your saved file.

Return back to Raminus with the note to complete the quest. Raminus has no more quests for us, but promotes you to Magician and informs you that Arch Mage Travel wants a word with you. Arch Mage Traven is usually up on the second or third floors (You get to them through the portal in the lobby).