The Dainty Sload

Erikur’s Devious Delivery

After completing 5 (or more) Additional Jobs in Solitude, Delvin Mallory informs you about a matter regarding Erikur, a businessman in Solitude. Find this Thane in the Blue Palace or near his impressive home. Whether it is by hook or by crook, as long as his business affairs flourish, Erikur is not afraid to get a little dirty. Recently, Captain Volf of the cargo ship The Dainty Sload has defaulted on a trade agreement he had with the Thane. The details of the agreement aren’t clear, but whatever happened, Erikur stands to lose quite a bit of money. This, and the Captain’s stubbornness, have made Erikur decide to contact the Thieves Guild for assistance on the matter.

The Guild has worked with Erikur before, and matters usually ended mutually beneficial for both parties. Trying to resolve the matters through legal channels would prove difficult, as the Captain of the vessel has covered his bases. To this end, Erikur has requested that you plant a substance known as “Balmora Blue” aboard the ship, framing the Captain as a smuggler. You’ll find the source of the contraband close to a second vessel, the Red Wave, moored in the harbor below Solitude.

Your contact is a deckhand named Sabine Nytte. Travel to the East Empire Company Warehouse, and look for a large ship moored off the jetty outside the East Empire store. Board the ship and speak to Sabine (she’ll always be up on deck during this quest). She has the merchandise you require, but it’s going to cost you! You can:

• (1,500 gold) Pay Sabine a large amount of gold and receive the Balmora Blue immediately.
• Ask if there’s another way to earn it. There isn’t.
• (Pickpocket) Oh, but there is! Carefully pick her pockets and obtain the key.
• Protest at the price. Sabine isn’t budging, and she isn’t stupid. She isn’t carrying the contraband for you to steal!
• (Sneak, Pickpocket) Or, you can find a second key on Sabine, pickpocket it, and then head into the bowels of the Red Wave to a safe. Inside the safe is a note pinpointing the location of the Balmora Blue Chest. Execute this plan if you’ve annoyed Sabine to the point of her refusing to speak to you or if you prefer a stealthy route to reach this objective.
• Or you can ignore Sabine completely and use this guide to pinpoint the hidden footlocker, swim down, and save yourself some coin!

Once you pay the money, Sabine hands you a key and explains where the stash is located: underwater, and close by.

• Sabine’s Footlocker Key
• Sabine’s Red Wave Key

Sabine’s contraband is sealed inside a footlocker below the jetty adjacent to the Red Wave. Dive down and locate the chest, using either Lockpick (Hard) or your key to open it.

• Balmora Blue

Journey to the Dainty Sload and attempt to sneak aboard, or utilize your magic to enter the hold. The sailors stationed here will attack on sight. Sprint past the sailors as you head counterclockwise through the ship’s interior to the hold stairs. Or simply use Invisibility and Pacify. Once inside the hold, cross to the opposite side, pass the first mate, and drop the Balmora Blue into the Captain’s Chest after you first unlock it (Average).

Quest Conclusion

When you return to Erikur to announce your success, he has already heard about it. He gives you something for your troubles and is now happy to reopen any doors the Guild needs in the city of Solitude. You receive the following from him:

• Spell Tome (Leveled)