Skyrim:Riften

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Riften
Riften in The Rift hold
(view on map)
RiftenOrigin
Government
Inns
Shops and Services
Guilds and Temples
Houses
Other
Riften

Riften is the capital city of the Rift, located in the southeast corner of the hold. The city lies near the borders of both Morrowind and Cyrodiil, and is home to the Thieves Guild, who inhabit the sewers beneath Riften known as the Ratway. Honorhall Orphanage is located in the city, as well as Mistveil Keep, the jarl's residence.

When you come to Riften for the first time, the guards will tell you to head to the north gate, where you need to pay a tax before entering the city. You can choose to pay the tax (the amount depends on the level of your character), or try to persuade or intimidate the guards, convincing them to open the door for free. Another option is to commit a crime and be arrested. You will be taken to the city's jail inside the walls, and released outside the jail, or you can escape. Or you can enter from the Black-Briar Meadery's back door (near the western gate), or through the sewer grate next to the docks that leads into the jail. Alternatively, with a good enough pickpocket level, one can steal the key off of the guard demanding pay.

The market at Riften Grand Plaza is made up of stalls run by a few of Riften's citizens: Madesi, an Argonian jeweler whom you can assist in finding materials for his jewelry; Grelka, a cranky armor merchant who offers expert Light Armor training; Brand-Shei, an Argonian-raised Dunmer who sells a little bit of everything, and Marise Aravel, who sells fresh meat and produce. Brynjolf, a merchant of ill-repute, can also be found here. Down on the lower decks near the canals is Elgrim's Elixirs, which is run by Elgrim and his wife Hafjorg. The forge is run by Balimund, who seems quite proud of his work, along with his apprentice Asbjorn Fire-Tamer. The Pawned Prawn is run by Bersi Honey-Hand and his wife, Drifa. Finally, there's the Black-Briar Meadery and the town inn, the Bee and Barb, which is run by Keerava and Talen-Jei.

Riften is also home to a powerful noble family, the Black-Briars. Maven, the head of the family, owns the Black-Briar Meadery, and has ties to the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood. According to Maul, "If she tells you to do something, you damn well better do exactly what she says", indicating that she is not someone to trifle with.

For more historical information on Riften, see the lore article.

Riften People[edit]

Aerin's House
Aerin
Mjoll the Lioness Follower
The Bee and Barb
Keerava Innkeeper Food and Drink
Louis Letrush
Marcurio Follower
Talen-Jei Food and Drink
Beggar's Row
Edda
Madesi Jeweler [a]
Snilf
Black-Briar Manor
Hemming Black-Briar
Ingun Black-Briar
Maul
Maven Black-Briar
Black-Briar Meadery
Indaryn
Bolli's House
Bolli
Nivenor
Elgrim's Elixirs
Elgrim Apothecary
Hafjorg Apothecary
Haelga's Bunkhouse
Brand-Shei General Goods [a]
From-Deepest-Fathoms
Grelka General Goods Trainer (Expert)Light Armor (Expert) [a]
Haelga
Niluva Hlaalu
Svana Far-Shield
Tythis Ulen
Ungrien Food and Drink
Wujeeta
Hall of the Dead
Alessandra
Honeyside
Iona Follower
Honorhall Orphanage
Constance Michel
Francois Beaufort
Grelod the Kind
Hroar
Runa Fair-Shield
Samuel
Marise Aravel's House
Marise Aravel Food and Drink [a]
Merryfair Farm
Dravin Llanith
Synda Llanith
Mistveil Keep
Anuriel Honeyside
Harrald
Jarl Laila Law-Giver
Saerlund
Unmid Snow-Shod
Wylandriah Magical Implements
Other
Shavari [b]
Pawned Prawn
Bersi Honey-Hand General Goods
Drifa General Goods
The Ragged Flagon
Brynjolf
Delvin MalloryTrainer (Master)Sneak (Master)
DirgeFood and Drink
Galathil DG
Sapphire
ToniliaFence
Vekel the ManFood and Drink
VexTrainer (Master)Lockpicking (Master)
The Ratway
Drahff
Esbern [c]
Gian the Fist
Hefid the Deaf
Hewnon Black-Skeever
Knjakr
Salvianus
Riften Fishery
Snippy CC (mudcrab) [d]
Swims-In-Deep-Water CC
Viriya CC
Riften Jail
Molgrom Twice-Killed
Sibbi Black-Briar
Threki the Innocent
Riften Stables
Hofgrir Horse-Crusher Hostler
Shadr Hostler
Sigaar Carriage Service
Riften Warehouse
Orini Dral
Sarthis Idren
Romlyn Dreth's House
Romlyn Dreth
The Scorched Hammer
Asbjorn Fire-Tamer Blacksmith *
Balimund Blacksmith Trainer (Expert)Smithing (Expert)
Snow-Shod Farm
Addvild
Leonara Arius
Snow-Shod Manor
Asgeir Snow-Shod
Nura Snow-Shod
Vulwulf Snow-Shod
Temple of Mara
Briehl
Dinya Balu
Maramal
Thieves Guild Headquarters
Arnskar Ember-MasterBlacksmith
Cynric Endell
Etienne Rarnis
Garthar
Herluin LothaireAlchemist
Mercer Frey
NiruinTrainer (Master)Archery (Master)
Ravyn Imyan
Rune
SyndusFletcher
Thrynn
Vanryth GatharianBlacksmith
Vipir the FleetTrainer (Master)Pickpocket (Master)
Valindor's House
Valindor
^aRiften Grand Plaza street vendor
^bAppears only during A Cornered Rat
^cLeaves after A Cornered Rat
^dAppears after In A PinchCC

* Only becomes a merchant if Balimund is killed
Thieves Guild ally
Thieves Guild member

Related Quests[edit]

Quests Starting Here[edit]

Most of the Thieves Guild quests start here. For details, see its page.

Side Quests[edit]

Creation Club[edit]

Miscellaneous Quests[edit]

Quest Giver Giver Location Quest Objective(s) Requirement
Alessandra Hall of the Dead Pilgrimage: Help Alessandra make peace with her dead father.
  • Bring Alessandra's Dagger to Andurs in Whiterun
  • Return to Alessandra
Balimund The Scorched Hammer Stoking the Flames: Find 10 fire salts to restore Balimund's forge.
  • Bring 10 fire salts to Balimund
  • Return to Balimund
Bolli Riften Fishery Special Delivery: Deliver a purchase agreement to Kleppr in Markarth.
  • Deliver the purchase agreement to Kleppr in Markarth
Brand-Shei Haelga's Bunkhouse Distant Memories: Help Brand-Shei uncover his past.
  • Locate a clue about Brand-Shei's past
  • Return to Brand-Shei
Constance Michel Honorhall Orphanage Consider Adoption: Speak with Constance Michel about Adoption (HF)
  • Speak with Constance Michel about Adoption
Innocence Lost
Dinya Balu Temple of Mara Spread the Love: Distribute religious literature to the citizens of Riften.
  • Distribute the Warmth of Mara within Riften
  • Return to Dinya
The Book of Love
Galathil (DG) The Ragged Flagon SurgeryDG: Change your appearance. (DG)
  • Locate the face sculptor in Riften
  • Talk to the face sculptor in the Ragged Flagon
Dawnguard installed
Hafjorg Elgrim's Elixirs Truth Ore Consequences: Retrieve an ore sample from Filnjar.
  • Obtain Ore Sample from Filnjar
  • Return Ore Sample to Hafjorg
Harrald Mistveil Keep Bring It!: Deliver Harrald's sword.
  • Pick up Harrald's Sword from Balimund
  • Deliver Harrald's Sword
Hofgrir Horse-Crusher Riften Stables Bloody Nose: Defeat Hofgrir Horse-Crusher in a brawl.
  • Defeat Hofgrir in an unarmed brawl
Ingun Black-Briar Elgrim's Elixirs Few and Far Between: Help Ingun restock Elgrim's rare ingredients.
  • Find 20 nirnroot for Ingun Black-Briar
  • Find 20 nightshade for Ingun Black-Briar
  • Find 20 deathbell for Ingun Black-Briar
Laila Law-Giver Mistveil Keep Supply and Demand: Clear Cragslane Cavern for the Jarl of Riften.
  • Report skooma source to Jarl of Riften
  • Find the skooma dealers in Cragslane Cavern
  • Disrupt the skooma operation
  • Report to the Jarl of Riften
The Raid
I Done Got Thaned!: Help out the Jarl and citizens of the Rift, and be named Thane for your service. (radiant)
  • Speak to the Jarl of Riften
  • Return to the Jarl of Riften
  • Purchase Honeyside from Riften's Steward
Supply and Demand
Madesi Riften Ringmaker: Help Madesi make jewelry.
  • Find 2 flawless sapphires for Madesi
  • Find a mammoth tusk for Madesi
  • Find gold ore for Madesi
Maramal Temple of Mara The Bonds of Matrimony: Find someone in Skyrim to marry.
  • Speak to Maramal about arranging your wedding
  • Attend your wedding ceremony
Marise Aravel Marise Aravel's House Ice Cold: Find five ice wraith teeth for Marise Aravel.
  • Find 5 Ice Wraith Teeth for Marise
  • Return to Marise
Maven Black-Briar Mistveil Keep Supply and Demand: Clear Cragslane Cavern for the Jarl of Riften.
  • Report skooma source to Jarl of Riften
  • Find the skooma dealers in Cragslane Cavern
  • Disrupt the skooma operation
  • Report to the Jarl of Riften
The Raid
I Done Got Thaned!: Help out the Jarl and citizens of the Rift, and be named Thane for your service. (radiant)
  • Speak to the Jarl of Riften
  • Return to the Jarl of Riften
  • Purchase Honeyside from Riften's Steward
Supply and Demand
Mjoll the Lioness Aerin's House Grimsever's Return: Recover Mjoll's beloved sword, Grimsever, from Mzinchaleft.
  • Locate Grimsever
  • Return to Mjoll
Romlyn Dreth Black-Briar Meadery Under the Table: Deliver a smuggled Black-Briar Mead keg to the inn at Ivarstead.
  • Deliver Mead to Wilhelm
  • Show Mead to Indaryn
Shadr Riften Stabilized: Help Shadr clear his debt with Sapphire.
  • Speak to Sapphire about Shadr's debt
  • Return to Shadr
Sibbi Black-Briar Riften Jail The Lover's Requital: Help Sibbi Black-Briar locate his former fiancee, so he can kill her.
  • Discover Svidi's whereabouts
  • Tell Sibbi Black-Briar about Lynly
  • Lie to Sibbi Black-Briar about Lynly
Svana Far-Shield Haelga's Bunkhouse Caught Red Handed: Gather three marks of Dibella to help Svana Far-Shield against Haelga.
  • Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Bolli
  • Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Hofgrir
  • Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Indaryn
  • Confront Haelga with the Marks of Dibella
  • Speak to Svana
Talen-Jei The Bee and Barb Sealing the Deal: Find three flawless amethysts for Talen-Jei's engagement ring.
  • Get 3 flawless amethysts for Talen-Jei
  • Return to Talen-Jei
Wujeeta Haelga's Bunkhouse Helping Hand: Help Wujeeta cure her skooma addiction.
  • Give Wujeeta a healing potion
The Raid: Help the Jarl of Riften to uncover and stop the illegal skooma trade in town.
  • Identify Riften's skooma dealer
  • Report Sarthis Idren to the Jarl of Riften
  • Enter Riften Warehouse
  • Eliminate Sarthis Idren
  • Recover skooma source information
Helping Hand
Wylandriah Mistveil Keep Hunt and Gather: Retrieve Wylandriah's spoon, ingot, and soul gem.
  • Retrieve Wylandriah's Spoon
  • Retrieve Wylandriah's Ingot
  • Retrieve Wylandriah's Soul Gem
  • Return to Wylandriah

Map[edit]

Map of Riften
  1. Skyrim
  2. Bolli's House
  3. Aerin's House
  4. Haelga's Bunkhouse
  5. Beggar's Row
  6. Honeyside
  7. Snow-Shod Manor
  8. Elgrim's Elixirs
  9. The Bee and Barb
  10. The Pawned Prawn
  11. Riftweald Manor
  12. Black-Briar Meadery
  13. Marise Aravel's House
  14. The Ratway
  15. Temple of Mara
  16. The Scorched Hammer
  17. Valindor's House
  18. Hall of the Dead
  19. The Ragged Flagon - Cistern
  20. Black-Briar Manor
  21. Romlyn Dreth's House
  22. Honorhall Orphanage
  23. Mistveil Keep
  24. Riften Jail
  25. Mistveil Keep Jarl's Chambers
  26. Mistveil Keep Barracks
  27. Shadowfoot SanctumCC
  • Each white dot corresponds directly to a door. All doors are numbered and relate to a Key on the side of the map.

Notes[edit]

  • With the Shadowfoot Sanctum Creation installed, Riften Docks will get a map marker for ease of access to the sanctum.
  • If the Rift is transferred to Imperial control during Season Unending, you may find Imperial soldiers fighting with one or more Riften guards.
  • Entering the city via the Meadery during the day for the first time and using the forge next to the market before Brynjolf approaches will cause him to ask his opening question a few times while you are in the smithing animation and then walk away, after which he will not approach you again. This can be used to prevent A Chance Arrangement from being added to your journal.
  • After completing A Chance Arrangement, there is a 20% chance of encountering a thief inside one of the stores or houses.
  • There are many barrels in Riften containing raw meat or fish, in addition to numerous salt piles.
  • Riften also appears in Arena and ESO.

Bugs[edit]

  • Attempting to persuade the guard to enter Riften always succeeds.
  • If the Empire takes Riften, you will routinely see the new Imperial guards fighting with Stormcloak guards who weren't disabled properly, similar to Sarethi Farm. You will receive a bounty if you try to intervene. ?