A Chance Arrangement

Sizing up Your Mark

The first time you visit the Bee and Barb or look around the marketplace in Riften, a man named Brynjolf strikes up a conversation with you. He has an errand he wants your help with, and will reward you with gold.

He tells you to pilfer a silver ring from Madesi’s stall in the marketplace while he creates a distraction. You are then to place it in the pocket of a Dark Elf vendor named Brand-Shei. If you’re caught, you’re on your own; if you succeed, Brynjolf will have some better-paying schemes. If you’ve met Brynjolf during the evening or night, he’ll be waiting between eight in the morning and eight in the evening for you. If you met Brynjolf during the night, wait until daylight and meet up again.

Making Your Mark

Brynjolf is waiting for you by his plaza stand, where he’s about to hawk his “amazing” Falmerblood Elixir. Naturally, this patter is designed to draw a crowd (including Madesi and Brand-Shei), allowing you to quickly move around the plaza’s perimeter stone wall and crouch behind Madesi’s stall.

(Lockpick [Novice]) Produce your lockpicks and unlock the sliding door under the stall counter; then unlock Madesi’s strongbox and quickly rummage around inside. You can help yourself to any of the items here, but the valuable you’re concerned with is Madesi’s Silver Ring. Steal it quickly, before any of the city guards spot you.Attempt this Lockpick only after any city guards pass you by, and you’re hidden from view while sneaking.

• Madesi’s Silver Ring

Creep around so you’re unseen by most of the assembled beggars and storekeepers, and position yourself behind Brand-Shei.

(Sneak and Pickpocket) You must now “reverse-pickpocket” the Dark Elf. This involves Pickpocketing, choosing your own Apparel menu, selecting Madesi’s Silver Ring, and giving it to Brand-Shei to finish the technique, without being seen by anyone. As this is likely your first attempt at such an action, you have a slight boost to your Pickpocket skill, but don’t expect this to happen again!

If you’re successful, Brand-Shei is mistaken for a thief and hauled away to Riften prison. Your paths may cross again in the future....

Quest Conclusion

Speak to Brynjolf after the misdirection goes down, and he congratulates (and rewards) you if the plan was a success. You receive no monetary gain if you failed. Then he mentions his organization has been having a run of bad luck, but quickly mentions that there’s more money to earn if you can handle it. Reply that you can, and Brynjolf recommends you meet him at the Ragged Flagon tavern, deep inside Riften’s subterranean Ratway.

• 100 gold pieces

Postquest Activities

Thieves Guild Quests: Taking Care of Business is now active. After this quest concludes, stay for a moment and watch the guard arrest Brand-Shei. He’s hauled off toward Mistveil Keep and spends a week there before being released back into Riften. Visit him during this time if you like, but he doesn’t have much to say to the likes of you!

If you encountered a man named Maul close to Riften’s north gate, you have another chance to get to know the Thieves Guild, but only if you’re carrying an Unusual Gem you may have found scattered around Skyrim. Consult Thieves Guild Quests: No Stone Unturned for more information. Maul points you toward Brynjolf if you’re not yet a member of the Thieves Guild.