Other Advantages

Guild Chests

In addition to your kinsmen and an influx of like-minded ne’er-do-wells joining the Guild as news spreads of its power and influence, there are other advantages of being a Thieves Guild member. In the Cistern, there are a group of “Guild Chests” that you can loot: They contain useful items such as lockpicks, potions, and gold. But the real advantage is that you can use the chests to store your items, without fear of them being lost. Use this as a dumping ground for extra equipment you wish to sell, craft, or otherwise dispose of.

Mercer’s Bookcases

The shelving behind Mercer’s desk in the Cistern slowly fills with trophies relevant to your exploits and with any Larceny Targets you may recover and sell to Delvin. As you finish the Additional Jobs that Vex and Delvin give you, trophies of recovered items begin to fill the shelves too:

Jeweled Candlesticks appear after you complete five jobs.

An Ornate Drinking Horn appears after you complete 15 jobs.

A Golden Ship Model appears after you complete 25 jobs.

A Golden Urn appears after you complete 35 jobs.

A Jeweled Goblet appears after you complete 45 jobs.

A Jeweled Pitcher appears after you complete 55 jobs.

A Jeweled Flagon appears after you complete 75 jobs.

A safe appears along the back wall, next to the bookcases, after you complete 125 jobs. It contains gems, gold, and some very useful customized Thief potions!

If you complete Thieves Guild Radiant Quests: No Stone Unturned, the Crown will appear on the bust and pedestal behind the desk, between the bookshelves.

Additional Accouterments

If you complete Thieves Guild Quests: Darkness Returns, a Shrine of Nocturnal appears in the Cistern. This is the same as the other temple shrines scattered across Skyrim, which cure diseases. This bestows a Sneak Blessing.

If you become the Guild Master, a tribute chest appears in front of the desk in the Cistern. It contains gold and gems and is periodically restocked.

The Guild has four visible Stages of growth. As the Stages progress, you will witness more opulent furnishings; additional boxes, barrels, and banners; and the occasional new Guild member. A new vendor appears in the Ragged Flagon in an empty niche, one per Stage.

Alas, no one in the Thieves Guild is the marrying type.