The Pursuit

A Perfect Heist

This quest begins with the first objective already in play. Return to the familiar grounds of the Thieves Guild, and you’ll find your usual entrance point by the Hall of the Dead Mausoleum is locked. You must navigate the sights (and smells) of the Ratway, down to the Ragged Flagon, where you’ll meet Karliah. She has Gallus’s translated journal ready to show the Guild members who require convincing. Agree to back her up and move into the Cistern. As expected, Brynjolf (flanked by Vex and Delvin Mallory) draws his blade and sharply asks why you’re here with “a murderer.” Armed with proof of Mercer’s betrayal, Karliah hands over Gallus’s Journal.

Brynjolf cannot believe Mercer has been stealing from the Guild, so he orders Delvin to open the vault. The gold, the jewels...they’re all gone! It takes two keys to unlock the vault. Delvin, Brynjolf, and Mercer are the only ones who carry such keys, so how did Mercer break into the vault alone? The answer is a mystery (even though Karliah quietly has her suspicions). Although vindicated, Karliah is just as angered by this as the rest of the Guild, except perhaps for the seething Vex, who vows to kill Mercer immediately. Brynjolf’s cooler head prevails, and he orders Vex and Delvin to guard the Ragged Flagon. Then he turns to you and asks what you’ve learned from Karliah.

Explain that Mercer killed Gallus, that the three of them were Nightingales, and that Karliah was behind Goldenglow and Honningbrew (a cunning plan to try and make Mercer look weak in front of Maven Black-Briar). Then Brynjolf has an important task for you: Break into Mercer’s Riften house—Riftweald Manor—and gather any information that may indicate where the traitor has gone. Before you leave Brynjolf, ask him what is the best way into Riftweald Manor. You receive information about a “watchdog” and an exterior ramp with a mechanism to lower it, which could aid in your escape. Then ask about the “watchdog” named Vald. Brynjolf indicates Vex may have more information to provide. These grant you two optional objectives.

Locate Vex in the Cistern or Ragged Flagon, and ask her about Vald. She tells you he’s only interested in gold, so buying him off is a possibility. But even Vald might not betray Mercer Frey (as he wouldn’t live long enough to spend his bribe). Instead, Vex suggests you speak to Maven Black-Briar about erasing Vald’s debt. Or you could run him through with your blade...Vex doesn’t care either way.

• Quill of Gemination

• Vald’s Debt

Ransacking Riftweald Manor

Whether or not you went swimming for a Quill, you should figure out how best to enter Mercer Frey’s abode. All of the ground-level doors are barred from the inside and are never accessible. The only way in is the door off the balcony.

Head to the rear gate and speak to Vald. He is immune to Bribery or Intimidation, and ignores you unless you present him with Vald’s debt document. He agrees to flee the area, unlocks the (otherwise impassable) side gate, and gives you the key to Mercer’s house.

A successful Persuade will trick him into leaving you to guard the house, and he’ll present you with the key to the house. He’ll then walk away from the house and you are free to bring down the ramp.

(Lockpick [Expert]) Or, you can lockpick the rear gate. You need to deal with Vald, but remember that killing him in cold blood doesn’t win over the local guards and increases your Bounty. The moment you enter the backyard in this manner, Vald will become hostile and attack.

For those less inclined to lockpick: Vald’s patrol causes him to pause with his back to the gate. It’s possible to pick his pocket and grab the key right off of him, but you may still have to deal with him if he detects you once you pop the lock and enter the yard!

• Mercer’s House Key

Time for a spot of precision archery: Aim your arrow at the mechanism just below and to the left of the upper balcony, and fire. This releases the ramp, allowing you a much more stealthy way into the residence, instead of through the front door. Climb the ramp, and use the house key to unlock the otherwise-difficult-to-open door (Lockpick [Expert]).

Head through Mercer’s House, electing to sneak by or slaughter any bandits guarding the location. Progress downstairs and find the room with the bench table and single chair. Adjacent to the barred door is a suspicious cabinet. Open it and activate the false back panel. Step into a secret room with stairs leading down into a subterranean cellar; this is part of the sewer system linking to the Ratway. Head through, watching for dart, fire, and swinging traps, and open the door into Mercer’s hidden office. Gather some gold and his plans. Before you leave, attempt to open the display case (Master), which houses Mercer’s exceptional frost sword!

• Mercer’s Plans
• Chillrend

Either retrace your steps back to the surface or (better yet) head into the Ratway Sewers, which offer you a quick route back to the Ragged Flagon.

Quest Conclusion

Return to Brynjolf, who hasn’t had any luck in tracking Mercer down. But after you produce the plans, these reveal that Mercer is intent on taking the Eyes of the Falmer, a heist Gallus had been planning for years. The only course of action is clear: to pursue this cur into an ancient Falmer dungeon and intercept him before he can take this invaluable item! Aside from Chillrend, there are no other rewards, only a summoning to meet Karliah at once.

Postquest Activities

Thieves Guild Quests: Trinity Restored now commences.