Can You Rid Riften of the Thieves Guild? The Definitive Skyrim Answer
The short answer, frustratingly for some players, is no, you cannot rid Riften of the Thieves Guild in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim through any officially sanctioned questline or method built into the game. Riften’s fate is intertwined with the Guild, and Bethesda designed it to be a permanent fixture, for better or worse. While you can certainly wreak havoc and face the consequences, you cannot eliminate them from the game world in a way that alters the city’s fundamental structure or the narrative.
However, that’s not the whole story. There are nuances to consider, and various player actions can impact your interactions with the Guild and the city. Let’s delve deeper into the reasons why you can’t truly eradicate the Thieves Guild, what options you do have, and the consequences of your choices.
Why the Thieves Guild is Here to Stay
The Thieves Guild in Riften isn’t just a minor faction; it’s woven into the very fabric of the city’s identity and storyline. Their presence is deeply tied to the Jarl, the economy (both legitimate and illicit), and the overall atmosphere of intrigue and corruption that defines Riften.
- Narrative Importance: The Thieves Guild questline is a significant part of the Skyrim experience, offering a complex and engaging story about restoring the Guild to its former glory. Removing them entirely would require a substantial rewrite of the game’s narrative.
- City Design: Riften is designed with the Thieves Guild in mind. The Ratway, the hidden entrances, and the overall layout of the city all contribute to the Guild’s presence. Eliminating them would leave a noticeable void.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The Thieves Guild provides valuable services, including fences for stolen goods, training in thieving skills, and unique quests. Removing them would eliminate these gameplay options.
Essentially, Bethesda made a deliberate choice to make the Thieves Guild a permanent fixture, even if some players desire a “good” ending where they vanquish the criminal element. This decision highlights the game’s focus on player choice within certain boundaries, rather than offering absolute freedom.
What You Can Do: Alternatives and Consequences
While you can’t eliminate the Thieves Guild, you have several options that impact your relationship with them and your experience in Riften:
- Join the Thieves Guild: Embark on their questline, restore their influence, and become the Guildmaster. This path embraces the criminal underworld and offers unique rewards and gameplay opportunities.
- Ignore the Thieves Guild: You can simply avoid them altogether. While they’ll still exist in Riften, you won’t be forced to interact with them unless you choose to.
- Cause Trouble: You can attack and kill members of the Thieves Guild. However, this will have consequences. You’ll become hostile to the entire faction, making it difficult to complete quests or access their services. If you go too far, you might be exiled from Riften entirely. You’ll also have to pay Vex 1000 gold if you are kicked out of the Thieves Guild.
- Focus on Other Quests: Skyrim is vast, and Riften is just one city. You can dedicate your time to other factions, quests, and regions, minimizing your involvement with the Thieves Guild.
- Modding: On PC, modding is a viable option. There might be mods that allow you to eliminate or significantly weaken the Thieves Guild, though these are often complex and may impact other aspects of the game.
The Illusion of Choice: The Gray Morality of Skyrim
The inability to eliminate the Thieves Guild highlights a key aspect of Skyrim’s moral landscape: it’s often ambiguous. The game rarely presents clear-cut choices between good and evil. Instead, it offers shades of gray, forcing players to consider the consequences of their actions within a morally complex world.
The Thieves Guild, despite their criminal activities, are often portrayed with a degree of sympathy and even camaraderie. Many of their members are simply trying to survive, and their actions are often driven by poverty and desperation. This nuanced portrayal makes it difficult to simply label them as “evil” and justifies their existence within the game’s narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Thieves Guild and Riften, providing further clarification and insights:
1. Is there a questline to destroy the Thieves Guild?
No, there is no official questline in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that allows you to destroy the Thieves Guild. You can attack individual members, but this will simply make you an enemy of the faction.
2. Can I become Thane of Riften without helping the Thieves Guild?
Yes, you can become Thane of Riften without directly helping the Thieves Guild. Becoming Thane requires helping five citizens of the Rift and completing a certain amount of quests, and these do not necessarily have to involve the Thieves Guild.
3. What happens if I kill a member of the Thieves Guild?
Killing a member of the Thieves Guild will make you an enemy of the faction. They will attack you on sight, and you will be unable to complete their quests or access their services. This can be reversed by paying a fine to Vex (1000 gold).
4. Can I clean up Riften from corruption?
While you can influence certain aspects of Riften’s politics and economy through quests, you cannot completely eliminate corruption. The Thieves Guild and the Black-Briar family are permanent fixtures in the city’s landscape.
5. Is there a penalty for quitting the Thieves Guild questline?
There’s no real “penalty” for quitting. Delvin and Vex will express their disappointment, but it won’t have any lasting impact on your ability to interact with other factions or complete other quests.
6. What gets you kicked out of the Thieves Guild?
Offending the Thieves Guild, usually by attacking or stealing from its members, will result in expulsion. The guild will likely attack you on sight. You can pay Vex a sum of 1,000 gold to rejoin.
7. Can I make the Thieves Guild rich again?
Yes, by completing the Thieves Guild questline and restoring their influence in various cities, you can help them regain their former glory and accumulate wealth. After doing 5 jobs in each major city, there should be a heist quest. Save before asking for a job and reload it if you get riften as it will not count toward anything.
8. Can I restore the Thieves Guild and keep the Skeleton Key?
Yes and no. You can keep the Skeleton Key by not completing the “Darkness Returns” quest. However, this prevents you from becoming the Guildmaster and unlocking the associated rewards.
9. How many quests does it take to restore the Thieves Guild?
You need to complete five small jobs in each of the four major holds (Whiterun, Markarth, Windhelm, and Solitude) and then complete a special quest in each hold.
10. What reward do I get for wiping out the Thieves Guild (if I could)?
While the game doesn’t provide a reward for wiping out the Thieves Guild, one might imagine you would instantly become Thane, get max disposition with every vendor in Riften, a big cash reward, or even Honeyside as a gift.
11. What happens if I give Riften to the Imperials during the Civil War?
Giving Riften to the Imperials during the Civil War will please the Imperial faction, but it won’t significantly alter the presence or influence of the Thieves Guild.
12. Why can’t I become Thane in Riften easily?
Becoming Thane in Riften requires helping five citizens and completing a questline, making it more challenging than becoming Thane in other holds.
13. How do I steal the ring in Riften without getting caught during the quest “Taking Care of Business”?
Distract the crowd so that they are paying attention to Brynjolf. After that, crouch and quickly pick the lock of the stand door.
14. Can I become the leader of the Thieves Guild in Skyrim?
Yes, after completing the main Thieves Guild questline, you will become the Guildmaster and leader of the Thieves Guild.
15. What happens if I restore the Thieves Guild to its former glory?
Restoring the Thieves Guild improves their headquarters with nicer furnishings, rugs, and a statue of Nocturnal. You also gain access to fences in each major hold, each with extra gold. Thieves Guild quests from Delvin pay 500 gold.
Conclusion: Embracing the World’s Imperfections
Ultimately, the inability to rid Riften of the Thieves Guild is a design choice that reflects the game’s complex moral landscape and narrative focus. While it might be frustrating for players seeking a purely “good” ending, it adds depth and realism to the world of Skyrim. Embrace the challenge, navigate the moral ambiguities, and carve your own path within the intricate web of Riften’s criminal underworld. Whether you join them, ignore them, or simply try to make a difference where you can, the Thieves Guild will remain a permanent fixture in the city’s story. For more on game design and the player experience, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.