Overview

Optimal Quest Start

The Thieves Guild Quests begin when you arrive at Riften for the first time. You can join the Guild whenever you like, although Stealth-focused characters may want to join sooner rather than later to gain access to this ready source of missions and trainers. Most of the other characters will encounter the Guild much later, as part of Main Quest: A Cornered Rat.

Sanctuary: The Ragged Flagon, under Riften

The Ratway’s main entrance, under the marketplace.

The Ragged Flagon, a hub of thievery and camaraderie.

The Ratway is the underbelly of Riften, both literally and figuratively. It is a cross-section of old avenues, buildings, and catacombs buried beneath the shifting surface of the city. After navigating these treacherous tunnels, fending off beggars, muggers, and Skeevers, you reach the Ragged Flagon, where mead and machinations run wild. The Ragged Flagon is retrofitted into the Cistern located beneath the well in the center of Riften’s marketplace; it’s the market beneath the market. This is the central part of the Ratway, and offers access into the Warrens (where only the most deranged of madfolk dwell) and the inner chambers of the Cistern.

The Cistern, where the senior Guild members reside.

Currently hidden in the woodland south of Riften, away from those who aren’t blessed by Nocturnal herself, Nightingale Hall is the source of power and residence for the Nightingales, a strange and secretive subsect of the Thieves Guild. No one knows quite what these powerful individuals are up to, but many scholars have speculated that Nightingales carry out the wishes of Nocturnal.

Important Characters

Patron: Nocturnal

Nocturnal, the Mistress of Shadows, is the daedric lord of twilight and shadow and the patron of thieves and gamblers, and influences luck throughout the realm. Her passiveness in the affairs of man only deepen her mystery. On the occasions where she deals directly with mortals, such as in the case of the Nightingales, she usually refers to everything in almost businesslike terms, calling oaths “transactions” and making “deals” with her followers.

Guild Master: Mercer Frey

Mercer grew up with Delvin Mallory in the Guild but climbed the ladder a little faster and was able to attain his rank in the Guild through manipulation and skill. He is the current head of the Thieves Guild of Skyrim. Frey is very clever, and even though he is a bit older, he is certainly not weak, maintaining a calm veneer and never appearing troubled or agitated.

Guild Second: Brynjolf

Brynjolf is a go-between, passing Mercer Frey’s rulings down to the newer recruits, whom he mentors and is fiercely proud of. He is extremely loyal to the Thieves Guild and has a reputation for being a problem solver, especially within Riften, where he maintains an excellent rapport with those who cooperate with them. When not in the Guild itself, he is often at the Ragged Flagon or the marketplace topside, scoping out possibilities for new recruits.

Former Guild Second (Outcast): Karliah

Karliah, a female Dunmer, was exiled from Riften after being accused of murdering Gallus. Her exile was self-imposed, under duress. She has been keeping an ear open for the right opportunity to arise and repay certain Guild members for their treachery. At first glance, Karliah is very cold and withdrawn. She isn’t used to much company, keeping herself in isolation. But those who warm to her will find Karliah to be quite cunning and agile.

Former Guild Master (Deceased): Gallus Desidenius

Gallus was Mercer Frey’s predecessor as Guild Master for the Thieves Guild in Skyrim. He was also a member of the Nightingale Trinity along with Karliah. Gallus was killed under suspicious circumstances.

Guild Third: Delvin Mallory

Delvin grew up in Riften’s Honorhall Orphanage. He was taken in by Gallus, but Delvin accidentally killed a man while on a robbery. Gallus arranged to have Delvin stay with the Dark Brotherhood, and he remained in hiding in their sanctuary for a year. While there, Delvin gained a new respect for the shadowy organization. After the death was long forgotten, Delvin Mallory returned to Riften, and the embrace of the Thieves Guild, but never forgot his friends in the Dark Brotherhood (and his lover, Astrid).

• Additional Jobs Giver
• Fence
• Trainer (Stealth: Master): Delvin Mallory

Guild Third: Vex

One of the newer members of the Thieves Guild, Vex is quiet and rarely shares in the normal camaraderie of her fellow guildmates. Since she refuses to give her real name and based on her actions, others began to call her “Vex.” She is an exceptional thief and is well aware that her behavior alienates her. And she likes it that way. Of all the Guild members, she is the best combatant (save for Mercer Frey). Accosting her in the Ragged Flagon was the last mistake several of its non-Guild denizens ever made.

• Additional Jobs Giver
• Trainer (Lockpicking: Master): Vex

Guild Matron: Maven Black-Briar

A powerful businesswoman, Maven is virtually unapproachable and elitist. Maven’s wealth, power, and influence in Riften make her an important asset to the Thieves Guild. She holds the actual pulse of Riften within her crushing grasp; nothing gets done without her say-so. She’s well connected within the Empire and Skyrim alike. Anyone who crosses her usually ends up dead or in prison—even her son, Sibbi Black-Briar.

Guild Member: Etienne Rarnis

Defiant, tough, but ultimately broken by the Thalmor, Etienne was responsible for revealing the location of Esbern’s hideout during Main Quest: Diplomatic Immunity. He seeks revenge on the man that caused his arrest; a ne’er-do-well spy named Gissur.

Guild Member: Dirge

Dirge is a hulking behemoth of an Imperial who serves as the bouncer and general crowd control for the Ragged Flagon. Dirge earned his nickname because his voice is the last thing people hear before they die. He has been good friends with Vekel the Man for years.

Guild Member: Vipir the Fleet

Vipir earned his name from the speed at which he can run and outmaneuver armored opponents. He plays to his strength and is most adept at pickpocketing and snatch-and-grab robberies. Of all the Thieves Guild members, Vipir is the most down-to-earth. He rarely acts condescendingly and is never overly rude or brash, but he can still handle himself when backed into a corner. He’s quite approachable and excellent for learning what’s new around the Guild.

• Trainer (Pickpocket: Master): Vipir the Fleet

Guild Member: Niruin

Niruin wandered into the Ragged Flagon with a well-worn travel cloak and a huge sack of coin that he “gifted” to Mercer Frey. He grew up in Valenwood as the son of a very wealthy Wood Elf Lord but very quickly grew tired of the pomp and circumstance that was expected of him. Thinking himself quite cavalier, he raided his father’s treasury and joined the Guild but possesses very little aptitude for actual theft. The only thing that has kept Niruin in the Guild’s good graces is his gift of gab.

• Trainer (Archery: Master): Niruin

Guild Member: Sapphire

Sapphire (the name she goes by within the Guild) left the Dark Brotherhood several years ago to satisfy her lust for wealth. Joining the Thieves Guild, she instantly became a natural at larceny, specializing in lifting the valuable (and favored) gemstones bearing her name. Sapphire is extraordinarily withdrawn, spending her time day training, always honing her skills with both the bow and the blade.

Guild Member: Cynric Endell

Cynric is an older member of the Thieves Guild, joining shortly after Brynjolf and Delvin Mallory. He’s quiet, reserved, and generally not as boisterous as the rest of his fellow Guild members, but once in conversation, his extreme cynicism surfaces. His specialty is break-ins, which he executes with his superior lockpicking abilities. He’s never been a problem for the Guild but tends to shy away from leadership, explaining why Vex surpassed him as a Guild Third.

Guild Member: Thrynn

Thrynn ran with a group of bandits for years until they forced him to slaughter a farming village full of women and children. He couldn’t take that way of life anymore. He wandered Skyrim and bumped into Brynjolf in Riften. Despite his attitude, Brynjolf saw Thrynn’s potential with a blade and allowed him to join. Thrynn has little experience as a stealthy thief. However, when the Guild needs a troubleshooter and brute force is necessary, Thrynn is generally the first one selected to carry out the assignment.

Guild Member: Rune

As a child, Rune was rescued from a sinking ship in the Sea of Ghosts. He was taken in by a fisherman who discovered a small stone covered in unidentifiable runes. It took Rune several weeks to recover, only to discover that he couldn’t remember who he was. Shown the mysterious stone, Rune vowed someday to discover his identity. He lived a happy childhood with the fisherman. When he reached the age of 16, Rune set out on adventure and met Brynjolf.

Guild Member: Garthar

Appearing in the Guild with an attitude problem but ready to help out and make a bit of money, Garthar considers himself a problem-solver. When something needs to get done and heads need to be knocked together, he’s the person others call upon. Even though he has a large frame and looks like quite the brute, Garthar is actually rather smart and is quite adept at stealth, lockpicking, and pickpocketing; he is quite a unique asset for the Thieves Guild.

Guild Member: Ravyn Imyan

Ravyn was a member of the Morag Tong (Morrowind’s assassin’s guild and bitter rivals of the Dark Brotherhood) and left it when the Red Mountain erupted and the great evacuation of Morrowind occurred. He is in the Guild biding his time until the Tong one day re-forms.

Guild Vendor: Vekel the Man

A sly Nord who owns and operates the Ragged Flagon tavern, Vekel was once a resident of the Honorhall Orphanage and continually got into trouble for concocting strange and powerful alcoholic drinks that kept his fellow orphans in a near continual stupor. He eventually ran away and saved enough from his burgeoning pickpocketing career to afford the tavern. He is loved and respected by his fellow thieves, partly because of his confidence, but also because of his amazing skills as a brewer.

• Vendor (Bartender)

Guild Vendor: Syndus

Syndus has strung bows for as long as he could remember. He has spent most of his life plying his trade in various places all over Tamriel, until finally settling in Solitude. After the city fell back under the Thieves Guild’s influence, Syndus decided to apply his knowledge of the ranged weapons for the darker side of the law and made contact with the Guild hoping to strike up a relationship.

• Vendor (Fletcher)

Guild Vendor: Herluin Lothaire

Herluin is young but is a very sharp apothecary with unique skills who can aid the Thieves Guild through his unusual concoctions. He is always preoccupied, a bit off into space when being spoken to, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for absentmindedness.

• Vendor (Apothecary)

Guild Vendor: Arnskar Ember-Master

Arnskar’s imposing appearance and boisterous Nordic temperament masks a shrewd and cheery man with an impressive skill at the forge.

• Vendor (Blacksmith)

Guild Vendor: Vanryth Gatharian

Vanryth is the Guild’s light armor vendor. He’s dismissive and a bit rude but is an expert craftsman when it comes to armor and armor repair.

• Vendor (Light Armor)

Guild Fence (Riften): Tonilia

Tonilia is a fetching Redguard who is the Thieves Guild’s main fence. She’s pretty, sure of herself, and quite cocky at times.

• Fence

Guild Fence (Solitude): Gulum-Ei

Gulum-Ei has long been a contact for the Thieves Guild in the East Empire Company but has become quite greedy and rarely pays the proper respects to the Guild any longer. He’s greedy and has set up an entire smuggling operation of his own in Brinewater Grotto.

• Fence (Solitude)

Guild Fence (Whiterun): Mallus Maccius

Mallus left Cyrodiil many years ago to seek his fortunes in Skyrim. All he got for his trouble was an empty coin purse and a menial job at the Honningbrew Meadery. The owner, Sabjorn, saw an opportunity to exploit Mallus when he walked through the door to the meadery that first day, a way to place poor Mallus in debt and make him work it off very slowly over time. Mallus fell in with Maven Black-Briar, and together they hatched a plan to take Sabjorn out of the picture.

• Fence (Whiterun)

Guild Fence (Winterhold): Enthir

Enthir is the “man who knows how to get things” in the College. While the College has very flexible rules on what’s acceptable research and what’s not, there are some reagents and spell components they don’t acquire through exactly legal means. Enthir, working with Birna in Winterhold, is the mage who takes care of that. He fancies himself a ladies’ man and believes that Birna helps him because she’s in love with him. Enthir and Gallus were good friends for a very long time (Gallus always fancied himself as somewhat of a scholar).

• Fence (Winterhold)

Guild Fence (Windhelm): Niranye

A beautiful High Elf who runs a stall in the Stone Quarter, many attribute her fortune to membership in the Thieves Guild, so they keep a wide berth. In actuality, Niranye is the Fence for the Summerset Shadows Thieves Guild. Linwe is the leader, and they maintain a small headquarters of about a dozen Altmer thieves in Uttering Hills Cave.

• Fence (Windhelm)

Guild Fence (Markarth): Endon

Endon is a silversmith in Markarth, like his forefathers and mothers before him. He is proud of the long cosmopolitan tradition in Markarth (unlike most of the rest of Skyrim), which is not widely known, and he deplores the sad state that the feuding of the Nords and Reachmen (known as the Forsworn) has brought the city. Endon works out of his small but tidy house in Dryside. His wife, Kerah, works with him, and also sells their jewelry in the market during the day. His daughter Adara is his apprentice.

• Fence (Markarth)

Guild Fence (Caravan): Ri’saad

Ri’saad is the patriarch of Skyrim’s Khajiit Caravans. A skilled merchant and gifted leader, he has organized a small syndicate of independent merchant caravans that travel the roads and cities of Skyrim.

Guild Fence (Caravan): Atahba

Ri’saad’s first wife is a shrewd businesswoman in her own right. She’s with Ri’saad mostly because he’s the shrewdest Khajiit in Skyrim and had more money than anyone else she knew, but she’s also grown to love him over the years. She refuses to talk about her past.

• Fence (Caravan)

Guild Fence (Caravan): Ma’jhad

Ma’jahd is a bodyguard in Ma’dran’s caravan, which travels the roads between Windhelm and Solitude. He is a seasoned safecracker, and is always willing to train customers in the fine art of Lockpicking.

• Fence (Caravan)
• Trainer (Lockpicking: Expert): Ma’jhad

Guild Fence (Caravan): Zaynabi

Struck by wanderlust, Zaynabi has traveled far and wide. She’s seen her fair share of troubles, but nothing seems to phase her go-lucky attitude. She has become quite the archer. She occasionally freelances out her scouting services and offers her services as a bowyer and fletcher.

• Fence (Caravan)

Associate: Maul

Maul is a close friend of Hemming Black-Briar, having met each other during a bandit ambush: Maul happened by and dove into the fray to save him. Ever since then, they have been literally partners in crime, with Maul assisting Hemming in his more nefarious activities assigned by Maven Black-Briar. Whenever Hemming needs “wet work” done, Maul is the go to for these things. Maul’s brother is Dirge. Maul is quite fond of his brother (as they grew up alone together) and would seek vengeance on anyone that harmed him.

Associate: Galathil

Assuming you’ve learned of her presence via Dawnguard Side Quests: Face to Face*, the water deck of the Ragged Flagon becomes home to a mysterious Dunmer named Galathil, who utilizes a mixture of magic and deft cutting to rearrange your features for a (potentially) reasonable fee of 1,000 gold. Nothing is known about her, except for her services: You can completely change your facial appearance, just like you did prior to your escape from Helgen at the very start of your adventure. You cannot change your race or sex. if you’re a female Khajiit, you stay one. If you’ve contracted vampirism, Galathil notices this straightaway. Her techniques work only on the living, so you’ll have to seek a cure before she agrees to work on you.

Associate: Glover Mallory

Glover Mallory is one of the most prominent non-Dunmer citizens in Raven Rock. He’s jovial, warm and when he isn’t at his anvil, can be found hoisting a mug at the Retching Netch. In actuality, Glover Mallory is a member of Skyrim’s Thieves Guild and brother to Delvin Mallory. Glover was sent to Solstheim by Mercer Frey in order to establish a base of operations there. Unbeknownst to Glover, this was Mercer’s way of separating Delvin from his brother, who he feared might tip the scales against him if his true nature was ever revealed. Glover (who possesses superior smithing skills) was more than happy to assist the Guild and make some extra money on the side and gladly accepted the funding that Mercer provided so he could establish a front on Solstheim. Pickings have been quite scarce in Raven Rock, but due to his cheery disposition, Glover’s made the most of it. Absolutely no one on the island is aware of his past.