What To Do With Sven’s Letter in Skyrim: A Definitive Guide
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The love triangle in Riverwood is a classic Skyrim dilemma. You’re presented with two potential friends, Sven and Faendal, both vying for the affection of the fair Camilla Valerius. The opening gambit? Delivering a forged letter to Camilla, ostensibly written by the rival suitor. So, what should you do with Sven’s letter?
The optimal approach is largely dependent on your playstyle and long-term goals. However, a generally recommended path is to deliver Sven’s fake letter to Camilla, then align yourself with Faendal. He makes a better early-game follower due to his archery skill, which can be exploited for free training, and his generally agreeable disposition. But let’s break down the decision-making process and explore all the ramifications.
Understanding the Consequences
The initial choice seems simple, but it ripples outward:
- Relationship with Sven/Faendal: Choosing to deliver one’s letter improves your relationship with them, potentially leading to them becoming a follower.
- Camilla’s Affection: Camilla’s opinion of Sven and Faendal will be swayed depending on which letter(s) she receives.
- Follower Benefits: Each follower offers unique advantages, like skill training or combat assistance.
- Quest Rewards: Completing the quest rewards you with some gold and access to a new follower.
Why Choose Faendal Over Sven?
The general consensus within the Skyrim community is that Faendal is the better choice, primarily because:
- Archery Training: Faendal offers archery training up to level 50. A trick allows you to train with him, then take your gold back in a transaction, making the training essentially free.
- Early Game Utility: Archery is incredibly powerful early in the game, and having a companion who can effectively use a bow is invaluable.
- Availability: He’s generally more easily accessible and agreeable to becoming a follower.
Sven, on the other hand, offers training in combat skills, but his level cap and general utility aren’t as appealing, especially to a new player. While both can be recruited into the Blades if you have the Dragonborn DLC, the early game advantages of Faendal typically outweigh those of Sven.
Maximizing Your Gains: The Pickpocket Method
A sneaky (but effective) technique involves playing both sides:
- Take Sven’s fake letter to Camilla. This damages Faendal’s reputation.
- Return to Sven for your reward and proceed to Faendal.
- Take Faendal’s fake letter intended for Sven and pickpocket it back.
- Deliver both letters to Camilla.
While morally dubious, this method allows you to see both letters’ effects on Camilla and gather some additional insight into the situation. However, it doesn’t necessarily provide a significant advantage over simply aligning with Faendal from the start.
Should You Kill Sven or Faendal?
The opening excerpt mentioned killing Faendal. This is generally not recommended. Killing NPCs in Skyrim has consequences. First, killing any NPC with a storyline might lock you out of some storylines. Second, you will lose access to his skills. However, it is not an entirely uncommon choice.
- Moral Implications: Committing murder can impact your roleplaying experience. While Skyrim allows you to be a villain, many players prefer to play as a hero or neutral character.
- Lost Opportunities: Killing either Sven or Faendal means losing out on their potential benefits as a follower or trainer.
- Unnecessary Aggression: There’s rarely a good reason to kill either character, as they offer more value alive.
Making the Final Decision
Ultimately, the choice of what to do with Sven’s letter comes down to your personal preferences and the type of character you want to play. But, by taking a measured and informed approach, you’ll make the most of your time in Skyrim.
The Games Learning Society offers valuable insights into how video games, like Skyrim, can be used for learning and development. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I romance Camilla Valerius?
Yes, Camilla Valerius is a potential marriage candidate in Skyrim. After completing the quest “The Golden Claw” for Lucan Valerius at the Riverwood Trader, she becomes available for marriage. You’ll need to wear the Amulet of Mara and speak to her.
2. What happens if I deliver both fake letters to Camilla?
Delivering both fake letters to Camilla will make her dislike both Sven and Faendal. While not a game-breaking decision, it will likely lead to her rejecting both of them. This might affect the Riverwood dynamic but doesn’t significantly alter the game’s progression.
3. What is Faendal’s level cap?
Faendal’s level cap is level 30. This means he won’t level up beyond this point, so he won’t stay effective as a follower deep into the game. It’s important to give Faendal the best armor and weapon you can, so that he remains alive.
4. Can I make Faendal a steward for my house?
Yes, Faendal can become a steward for one of your homesteads (from the Hearthfire DLC). This allows him to manage your property and defend it from threats.
5. Is Faendal’s house safe for storage?
Some containers in Faendal’s house are safe for storage, specifically the chest under the table, the cupboards, and the end table. However, the chest next to his bed does respawn, so avoid storing valuable items there.
6. What happens if Sven dies?
If you aided Sven against Faendal and he later dies, a courier may deliver some gold from Sven’s estate.
7. Can Sven become a follower?
Yes, Sven can become a follower if you side with him during the love triangle quest.
8. Can Sven train me in archery?
No, Sven does not teach archery. He trains in Alchemy, Enchanting, and Smithing.
9. Can I marry Sven in Skyrim?
No, you cannot marry Sven in Skyrim. He is not an eligible marriage candidate.
10. How many times can Faendal train me?
Faendal can train you 5 times per level in archery. You can exploit this by taking the gold back after each training session.
11. What are Sven’s skills?
Sven’s primary skills are Alchemy, Enchanting, and Smithing. His secondary skills are Archery, One-Handed, and Two-Handed.
12. How do I resurrect Faendal if he dies?
To resurrect Faendal, you would need to use console commands (PC only). Open the console, type “prid 1348c” to target him, then type “resurrect”, followed by “moveto player”.
13. Can Sven join the Blades?
Yes, Sven can be recruited into the Blades if you complete the love triangle quest in his favor and have the Dragonborn DLC.
14. What are the benefits of marrying Camilla?
Marrying Camilla allows her to open a store, providing you with access to her merchandise and a small income. She will typically have around 700-750 gold available.
15. What happens if I give Sapphire the letter instead?
Giving Sapphire Glover Mallory’s letter will reward you with an exquisite sapphire. This is unrelated to the Riverwood love triangle quest.