The purpose of this mod is to make the more interesting characters in Cyrodiil and the Shivering Isles have some weapon to fit their character. You will encounter these weapons normally as you progress through the game. There are 27 new artifacts in total.

I decided against giving new weapons to NPCs who are essential always and never die. It would mean you missing out on content from this mod if you don't use the console to obtain their weapons. All artifacts in this mod are readily available to obtain. This may seem slightly immersion breaking, having no new weapons on the Counts or people like Martin Septim and the Gray Fox, but this is the only way I see it as being fair to collectors.

None of the models and textures used are brand new; they're from resources provided by people on Nexus Mods. Most of these weapons blend in fairly well with the vanilla game. I tried to make the weapons not appear too outlandish, but still have a noticeably unique appearance where possible.

Unique Artifacts for Unique People.esp

The core ESP. Contains only new records. Does not distribute any weapons to characters on its own.

Unique Artifacts for Unique People - Distribution.esp

Distributes unique weapons to the notable characters in Oblivion and the DLC. Do not activate this plugin, instead you must deactivate it and import it into your bashed patch in Wrye Bash as a filter patch. This plugin is a filter patch, which means that you don't need all of its masters, provided that you are using a Wrye Bash bashed patch. So, you can still use this mod without having every one of the smaller official DLCs. Requires the main plugin (Unique Artifacts for Unique People.esp).

Compatibility and requirements

No files will be replaced by installing this mod. There are patches available for MOBS/OMOBS, OOO - Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul - Updated and Extended UI in the optional files.

A Wrye Bash bashed patch is needed for compatibility with mods that edit NPCs and certain creatures, such as Oblivion Character Overhaul and Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul. Weapon Drop Fix is recommended so that the weapons stay on the bodies of people and creatures when killed.




Bloodseeker - Seridur's one-handed mace
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Enchantment: Absorb 4 health over 3 seconds on hit.
Equivalent to: Elven Mace
Backstory: Bloodseeker is a threatening mace which absorbs the life force of the victim. The name reflects Seridur's hidden affliction and his constant need to satisfy his blood cravings. 
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Brugo's Slicer - Black Brugo's war axe
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Enchantment: Damage Health 10 points and Disintegrate Weapon 30 points on hit.
Equivalent to: Elven Waraxe
Backstory: Black Brugo uses his Slicer to terrorize the locals of County Leyawiin. Its menacing appearance matches Brugo's unruly nature.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Crystal Gazer's Staff - Hannibal Traven's staff
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Enchantment: Deals 50 points of Fire Damage in 3 yards, 35 points of Frost Damage in 3 yards and Drain Magicka 50 points for 5 seconds.
Backstory: Hannibal Traven uses the Crystal Gazer's Staff to scry into future events. His fortellings have lead him to fear for the safety of the Mages Guild.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Dagger of Foul Magics - Falcar's dagger
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Enchantment: Absorb Magicka 5 points over 5 seconds and Weakness to Magicka 15% for 15 seconds on hit.
Equivalent to: Daedric Dagger
Backstory: Falcar's interest in the black arts led him to craft this nefarious artfiact. He fashioned the dagger while under the the Shade of the Revenant at the Dark Fissure.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Desecrator - Raelynn the Gravefinder's one-handed mace
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Enchantment: Weakness to Shock 15% for 5 seconds and 15 points of Shock Damage on hit.
Equivalent to: Silver Mace
Backstory: Raelynn the Gravefinder found this mace in a nobleman's coffin while seeking corpses to raise. She named it so because of her indifference to the sanctity of Tamriel's dead.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Devastation - Raynil Dralas' claymore
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Enchantment: Absorb Magicka 5 points for 5 seconds and Fire Damage 15 points on hit.
Equivalent to: Silver Claymore
Backstory: The claymore Devastation was an artifact of the Brotherhood shared between Bradon Lirrian, Gelebourne and Raynil Dralas. Ranyil used it to slay Bradon in cold blood.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Dugal's Command - Cap'n Dugal's cutlass
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Enchantment: Weakness to Frost 15 points for 5 seconds and 15 Frost Damage on hit.
Equivalent to: Masterforge Steel Cutlass
Backstory: Cap'n Dugal, in life the Lord Captain of the Red Sabre, used this cutlass to maintain order of his rowdy crew of buccaneers and pirates.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Dynar's Light - Umbacano's shortsword
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Enchantment: 20 points of Fire Damage on hit.
Equivalent to: Glass Shortsword
Backstory: Umbacano named this rare Ayleid find he bought from an adventurer after Laloriaran Dynar, the famous Last King of the Ayleids. Dynar's name means "Ruler in Dark Times" in the Ayleid tongue.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


The Gray Blade - Agronak gro-Malog's longsword
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Enchantment: 25 points of Shock Damage on hit.
Equivalent to: Ebony Longsword
Backstory: It was forged by the master blacksmith Gin-Wulm as an award to the Gray Prince for his displays of valor in the Arena.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Legacy - Lord Lovidicus' war axe
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Enchantment: Dispel 75 points and 15 points of Shock Damage on hit.
Equivalent to: Dwarven Battleaxe
Backstory: Lord Lovidicus' battleaxe was a gift from his former lover Luktuv. Though he grew to despise Luktuv, the axe reminds him of better times in his past.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Man-Carver - Goblin Jim's war axe
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Enchantment: Absorb Speed 15 points for 5 seconds, Drain Fatigue 50 points for 10 seconds.
Equivalent to: Dwarven Waraxe
Backstory: Goblin Jim's skilled use of his signature waraxe propelled him to the rank of Shaman for the White Skin Goblin Tribe. It is highly effective at carving human flesh.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Menace - Kylius Lonavo's claymore
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Enchantment: 7 points of Fire, Frost and Shock Damage on hit.
Equivalent to: Dwarven Claymore
Backstory: Kylius Lonavo's accrued wealth from Skooma trafficking afforded him the chance to purchase this blade from a travelling merchant. He named it after what the Imperial Legion have labeled him as.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Might of the Hist - Ri'Zakar's two-handed mace
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Enchantment: Silence for 5 seconds, Burden 40 points  for 40 seconds and Absorb Strength 12 points for 5 seconds on hit.
Equivalent to: Ebony Warhammer
Backstory: Ri'Zakar understands well the lethal strength of the Hist, and named this ebony two-handed mace as a representation of its defiant power.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Night Mother's Gift - Ungolim's bow
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Enchantment: Damage Health 20 points and Weakness to Poison 20% on hit.
Equivalent to:  Ebony Bow
Backstory: The Night Mother bestowed this unholy bow to Ungolim as a symbol of his office.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Pale Sting - Pale Lady's dagger
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Enchantment: Drain Health 20 points for 6 seconds and Damage Fatigue 15 points on hit.
Equivalent to: Elven Dagger
Backstory: Pale Sting is the Pale Lady's personal dagger, and she uses it to torture those she holds captive.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Prey's Bane - Kurdan gro-Dragol's battleaxe
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Enchantment: Burden 100 points for 10 seconds and Fire Damage 15 points on hit.
Equivalent to: Elven Battleaxe
Backstory: Kurdan gro-Dragol's artifact is an intimidating battleaxe that many innocent people have found themselves on the wrong end of. The axe has a sinister effect on Kurdan's mind.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Solitude - Hirrus Clutumnus's shortsword
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Enchantment: Calm up to level 8 for 10 seconds on hit.
Equivalent to: Silver Shortsword
Backstory: The woes of a lonely soul led Hirrus Clutumnus to purchase this artifact from a mysterious enchanter with the promise of it comforting him during his darkest hours. While the shortsword may or may not have worked, one thing's for sure is that Hirrus was glad to be able to spend the last months of his life wielding it.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Soulweaver - Arielle Jurard's (lich) staff
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Enchantment: Soul Trap for 30 seconds, Reanimate for 30 seconds and Fire Damage 55 points.
Backstory: Rumour has it that this staff was a gift from the King of Worms himself. Arielle Jurard attempted to raise Lord Kain with the help of this artifact.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Staff of Ayleid Mysteries - King of Miscarcand's staff
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Enchantment: Dispel 100 points and 65 points of Shock Damage.
Backstory: The King of Miscarcand uses this artifact to ward off intruders to the great Miscarcand. Its origins are unknown.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Staff of the Revenant - Lorgren Benirus' staff
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Enchantment: Drain Intelligence and Willpower 25 points for 18 seconds and 55 points of Shock Damage.
Backstory: In life, Benirus' experiments in necromancy led him to forge this staff as a way to protect himself from the offenses of the Mages Guild. The artifact vanished along with Lorgren Benirus' body after the Mages Guild raid on Benirus Manor.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Sword of Indarys - Llathasa's Spirit's longsword
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Enchantment: Damage Endurance 7 points and Shock Damage 15 points on hit.
Equivalent to: Dwarven Longsword
Backstory: Llathasa's sword was a heirloom of the Indarys family that she was buried with. The cause of her death remains shrouded in conjecture, and should her resting place be disturbed, she may take up this blade for battle.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Treachery - Mathieu Bellamont's dagger
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Enchantment: 20 points of Frost Damage on hit.
Equivalent to: Ebony Dagger
Backstory: Mathieu Bellamont found this dagger stowed away in a chest on the Serpent's Wake ship, after he had killed all of the sailors aboard. He named it after his dark secret that the Dark Brotherhood is oblivious to.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Usurper - Frathen Drothan's longsword
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Enchantment: 15 points of Fire Damage and Weakness fo Fire 15% for 5 seconds on hit.
Equivalent to: Elven Longsword
Backstory: Frathen Drothan leads the Drothmeri Army and searches Varsa Baalim for Mehrunes Razor. In the meantime he uses his longsword Usurper as a way to challenge the Imperial rule.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Vangaril's Boon - Erandur-Vangaril's staff
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Enchantment: Deals 45 points of Fire Damage and 35 points of Shock Damage.
Backstory: This staff was a gift to Vangaril from his father. While Vangaril ended up choosing the path of the spellsword, he kept it on him in case of emergency. Erandur, now known as the lich Erandur-Vangaril, wields this staff today as an artifact of great power (you must be level 23 or higher to fight this lich).
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Vengeance's Chill - Vicente Valtieri's claymore
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Enchantment: 25 points of Frost Damage on hit.
Equivalent to: Elven Claymore
Backstory: Vicente Valtieri receieved this artifact from Lucien Lachance as a reward for completing a dangerous contract. Its enchantment represents his cold-blooded nature as a vampire.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Visage of Darkness - Hindaril's one-handed mace
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Enchantment: Demoralize up to level 8 for 10 seconds on hit.
Equivalent to: Dwarven Mace
Backstory: The Visage of Darkness is Hindaril's personal mace, a weapon of the night. It sends foes running in terror.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.


Visionary Staff - Ciirta's staff
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Enchantment: Fire Damage 60 points, Light 50 points for 30 seconds and Turn Undead up to level 24 for 30 seconds.
Backstory: Ciirta has seen things with her eyes that no mortal has. The Visionary Staff grants her advanced seer-like capabilities.
Click here to see an image of this artifact.



How to Acquire the New Weapons

Play the game normally and you will come across opportunities (usually during quests) to obtain them, or see this article for exact information on how to obtain the new weapons.


Install

If installing on an existing game, you may need to recycle the actors that hold the new weapons if they are not wielding them. To do this, simply click on the NPC or creature in the console, type and enter 'disable', followed by 'enable', and then close the console. Their new weapon should appear.


Wrye Bash BAIN (Recommended)

1. Drop the archive into your Oblivion Mods\Bash Installers folder, then install as usual. Make sure the mod is active in the Wrye Bash mods tab.
2. Put the two ESPs in reasonable places in your load order, and then rebuild your bashed patch.


Manual

1. Drop the Unique Artifacts for Unique People.esp, Unique Artifacts for Unique People - Distribution.esp and Unique Artifacts for Unique People.bsa files into your Data folder.
2. Activate the mod using whatever management tool suits you (preferably not with the Oblivion Launcher).
3. (Strongly recommended) Rebuild your bashed patch in Wrye Bash.


Uninstall

Simply uninstall through BAIN or manually remove the ESPs and BSA this mod adds from your Data folder. Then rebuild your bashed patch to match your updated load order.