Should You Tell Maven Black-Briar About the Plan to Steal Frost in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide

The answer to whether you should tell Maven Black-Briar about the plan to steal Frost is: it depends on your roleplaying preferences. Informing her allows you to proceed with the quest as if you hadn’t spoken to her, offering no significant advantage or disadvantage in terms of gameplay outcomes, loot, or quest progression. The decision boils down to whether you want to engage with Maven’s manipulative character and see how she uses the information, or if you prefer a more straightforward approach to obtaining the horse.

The Frost Quest: A Deep Dive

The quest involving Frost, the beautiful dapple grey horse, is a side quest that can be initiated in Riften. It’s interwoven with the city’s criminal underbelly and presents you with some intriguing choices. The central figure in this quest is Louis Letrush, who hires you to steal Frost from the Black-Briar family. How you proceed from this point has several branching paths, each with its own minor consequences.

The Key Players

• Louis Letrush: The client who hires you to steal Frost. His intentions and ultimate fate depend on your choices during the quest.

• Maven Black-Briar: A powerful and influential figure in Riften, deeply involved in the city’s criminal activities and the matriarch of the Black-Briar family.

• Sibbi Black-Briar: Maven’s son, currently imprisoned in Riften Jail. He provides crucial information about the location of Frost’s Identity Papers.

• Frost: The horse itself. While statistically similar to other horses in the game, Frost’s unique name and the quest surrounding him make him a desirable acquisition for many players.

The Quest Steps

1. Initiation: Speak with Louis Letrush in Riften. He will task you with stealing Frost from the Black-Briar family.

2. Gathering Intel: You can choose to delve deeper into the Black-Briar family’s affairs by talking to Sibbi Black-Briar in Riften Jail. Persuading him reveals the location of Frost’s Identity Papers within the Black-Briar Lodge.

3. The Choice: This is where the decision to inform Maven Black-Briar comes into play. You have the option to tell her about Louis Letrush’s plan.

4. Acquiring Frost: Regardless of whether you tell Maven, you must infiltrate the Black-Briar Lodge, steal Frost’s Identity Papers, and then claim the horse from the stables outside.

5. Delivery (or Not): You can deliver Frost to Louis Letrush as planned, or choose to keep him for yourself.

Telling Maven: What Happens?

Informing Maven Black-Briar about the plan to steal Frost offers no tangible benefits. She acknowledges the information and lets you proceed to steal Frost anyway. This option serves primarily to give you a glimpse into her character. It highlights her ruthlessness and willingness to manipulate any situation to her advantage. The quest continues as normal whether you tell her or not.

Not Telling Maven: A Straightforward Approach

Choosing not to inform Maven Black-Briar about the plot simplifies the quest. You avoid interacting with her scheming nature and focus on the objective of stealing Frost. This option is preferred by players who wish to minimize their involvement with the Black-Briar family.

Delivering Frost to Louis: The Consequences

Whether you informed Maven or not, delivering Frost to Louis Letrush can lead to some interesting encounters.

• The Ambush: Upon delivering Frost to Louis, you may encounter a thug sent by the Black-Briars. The thug will attempt to kill Louis, and you must intervene.

• Your Choice: After dealing with the thug, you can choose to kill Louis yourself or let him go.

• Keeping Frost: Alternatively, you can choose to keep Frost for yourself by killing Louis after the delivery.

Keeping Frost: Is He Worth It?

Whether Frost is “worth it” depends on your playstyle and priorities. While his stats are not significantly superior to other horses, there are reasons why you might want to acquire him.

• A Unique Steed: Frost’s unique name sets him apart from generic horses.

• Roleplaying Value: Owning Frost can add depth to your character’s story, particularly if you are playing a character who appreciates fine steeds.

• Combat Prowess: Some players believe that Frost attacks enemies more often than other horses, making him a valuable companion in combat.

Exploring the World of Skyrim and GamesLearningSociety.org

Acquiring Frost is just one small part of the vast world of Skyrim. The game offers countless opportunities for exploration, adventure, and roleplaying. As you explore, remember that the skills you use in gaming can often be applied to real-world learning. The Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org explores the intersection of games and education, revealing how game-based learning can enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

FAQs About Frost and the Black-Briars

1. Is Frost the best horse in Skyrim?

Statistically, Shadowmere is arguably the best horse in Skyrim. Arvak, Frost and Shadowmeres speed stat are all 100, but Shadowmere and Frost have more Stamina to run for longer because of their higher level. Many players consider Frost a valuable acquisition due to his unique name and questline, and some find him more aggressive in combat than other horses.

2. What happens if I kill Louis Letrush?

If you kill Louis Letrush after acquiring Frost, you can keep the horse for yourself without delivering him. This is a common choice for players who want to avoid further involvement with the Black-Briars.

3. Where does Frost go if I dismiss him?

If you simply ride off without completing the quest, Frost will return to the stables outside Black-Briar Lodge. To truly claim him, you must either deliver him to Louis Letrush or kill Louis and keep Frost for yourself.

4. Can Frost die permanently?

Yes, Frost can die permanently. Unlike Shadowmere, Frost is not an essential character and is susceptible to damage. If he dies, he is gone for good, unless you use console commands to revive him.

5. How do I revive Frost using console commands?

To revive Frost after he is dead, open the console, click on Frost’s dead body, then type resurrect and press enter. Alternatively, you can type prid 97E1F then resurrect.

6. Does telling Maven Black-Briar change the outcome of the quest?

No, informing Maven Black-Briar about the plan to steal Frost does not significantly alter the quest’s outcome. She will acknowledge the information, but the quest will proceed as if you hadn’t spoken to her.

7. Why is Sibbi Black-Briar in jail?

Sibbi Black-Briar is imprisoned for killing the brother of Svidi, his former fiancee. This information can be learned by speaking to him in Riften Jail.

8. Can Maven Black-Briar be overthrown as Jarl?

You can try to knock her down a few pegs, but she’s simply too powerful to be completely dethroned from her empire. Maven becomes Jarl if the Imperial Legion gains control of Riften.

9. What happens to Shadowmere if I start riding Frost?

Shadowmere will remain at the location where you last left him. He will not disappear or be replaced by Frost.

10. Is Frost faster than other horses?

Frost’s speed is the same as most other horses in Skyrim. However, some players have reported that Frost appears to be more aggressive in combat, attacking enemies more frequently. Shadowmere is considered by many to be the fastest horse.

11. Can I own both Frost and Shadowmere?

Yes, you can own both Frost and Shadowmere. Frost is acquired through a quest, while Shadowmere is obtained through the Dark Brotherhood questline.

12. Why does Louis Letrush sometimes attack me?

Louis Letrush may glitch and become hostile if he encounters enemies such as wolves or spiders before you deliver Frost to him. Reloading an earlier save or waiting 24 hours in Riften can sometimes resolve this issue.

13. Where do I find Frost if I lose him?

If you lose Frost, he will typically return to the stables outside Black-Briar Lodge, the location where you initially stole him.

14. How do I get Frost to stop following me?

Fast travel to a random stable and buy a horse. The horse you last ride will be the one that fast travels with you. Ride around for a second, get off and kill that horse. Frost will now no longer fast travel with you and will remain at the stable in which you had purchased the other horse.

15. What is the rarest horse in Skyrim?

Arvak is the rarest horse in Skyrim. He is a skeletal horse that can be summoned using a spell learned in the Soul Cairn.