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Navigating the Shadows: Your Guide After “Speaking With Silence” in Skyrim

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So, you’ve completed the “Speaking With Silence” quest in Skyrim. Mercer Frey is dead, or about to be, and you’re likely wondering, “What’s next?”. The immediate aftermath involves escaping the flooded ruins of Irkngthand, but the ripple effects of your actions within the Thieves Guild are far-reaching. This guide will illuminate your path forward, detailing the immediate steps and the broader consequences of your choices.

Escaping Irkngthand and Meeting Karliah

After dealing with Mercer Frey, your primary objective is survival. Irkngthand is rapidly filling with water. Look for a hole that appears in the ceiling just behind the statue’s head as the water rises. This is your escape route. Swim through this passage to safety.

Once you escape, you’ll find yourself in a small camp near Snow Veil Sanctum. Here, you’ll have a crucial conversation with Karliah. This conversation marks the true beginning of your next steps. Karliah will task you with retrieving Mercer’s Plans and meeting Enthir in Winterhold. Retrieving Mercer’s Plans is critical because they contain information about Mercer Frey’s betrayal and his plot to blind the Nightingales. Enthir will help translate the plans and point you towards your next course of action.

Delving into “Hard Answers”

The quest “Hard Answers” begins immediately after your conversation with Karliah. It involves several stages:

Speak with Enthir in Winterhold: Enthir is your contact for deciphering the information found in Mercer’s plans.
Speak with Calcelmo in Markarth: To understand the plans fully, you’ll need to access Calcelmo’s Falmer research.
Gain entry to Calcelmo’s Museum: This might involve persuasion, bribery, or outright theft.
Obtain Calcelmo’s Falmer Translating Guide: This crucial document holds the key to understanding Mercer’s plans.
Create a duplicate of the Falmer Translating Guide: You’ll need to provide a copy of the guide for Enthir.
Return to Enthir: Give Enthir the copy, and he’ll translate the relevant portions of Mercer’s Plans.
Speak to Enthir (again): This triggers the final part of the quest.
Speak to Karliah: Discuss Enthir’s findings with Karliah. She will then tell you to meet her in the Ragged Flagon.

Completing “Hard Answers” is essential because it provides the information needed to understand Mercer Frey’s motivations and the true threat he poses to the Thieves Guild and the Nightingales.

Rejoining the Thieves Guild and the Nightingale Conspiracy

After “Hard Answers,” you’ll continue along the Thieves Guild questline. The following are pivotal actions:

Meet Karliah in the Ragged Flagon: Report what you learned from Enthir.
Initiate “Darkness Returns”: This quest involves restoring Nocturnal’s shrine and upholding the Nightingale Oath.
Become a Nightingale: Accepting the Nightingale Oath solidifies your allegiance and grants access to powerful abilities.
Restore the Ebonmere: By restoring the Ebonmere, you are helping to bring balance to the Nightingales and their connection to Nocturnal.

Consequences and Choices

Your actions after “Speaking With Silence” have significant consequences:

The Thieves Guild’s Future: You play a pivotal role in restoring the Thieves Guild to its former glory.
Your Role as a Nightingale: Your commitment to Nocturnal dictates your responsibilities and powers.
The Skeleton Key: You’ll eventually be tasked with returning the Skeleton Key to Nocturnal. Deciding whether to return it or keep it impacts your future in the game. Keeping it means never becoming Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild and locking yourself out of the end of the Thieves Guild questline; turning it in means fulfilling your duty. The choice is yours.

Exploring Further

The world of Skyrim is vast. While focused on the Thieves Guild questline, remember to explore side quests, improve your skills, and forge your own path. Consider joining other factions, such as the Companions, the College of Winterhold, or the Dark Brotherhood. Your choices shape your destiny in Skyrim.

Remember to engage with the community, share your experiences, and learn from other players. The Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org provides a platform for discussing games and their impact on learning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions related to the aftermath of “Speaking With Silence”:

Where is Karliah after “Hard Answers”?
- After completing “Hard Answers” with Mercer’s Plans in your inventory, Karliah should tell you to meet her in the Ragged Flagon. However, sometimes she might enter the rear of Snow Veil Sanctum, near where you were taken after she poisoned.
Why won’t Karliah do the mission?
- Karliah might get stuck at the Winterhold Inn instead of being in the Ragged Flagon at the beginning of the quest. This can happen if you leave the cellar before Karliah does or complete other quests before continuing.
How do I start the quest “Darkness Returns”?
- After completing “Hard Answers” and speaking with Karliah in the Ragged Flagon, “Darkness Returns” should automatically begin.
Can I keep the Skeleton Key in Skyrim?
- Yes, but keeping the Skeleton Key means you won’t be able to complete the Thieves Guild questline fully. You must return it to complete “Darkness Returns” and become the Guildmaster.
How do you become a Nightingale?
- During the “Darkness Returns” quest, you’ll be given the opportunity to take the Nightingale Oath at the Nightingale Hall.
What level should I be to get the best Nightingale Armor?
- The highest-level version of the Nightingale Armor spawns after you reach Level 32.
Where does Karliah go after the Thieves Guild questline?
- After completing the main Thieves Guild questline, Karliah usually stays in the Nightingale Hall.
Can Karliah become a follower?
- Yes, but only after installing a mod, such as the one that upgrades the Nightingale Hall to a more liveable and functional space.
How do I marry Karliah?
- To marry Karliah, wear an Amulet of Mara and speak to her. You may need a mod to enable marriage dialogue.
What are the benefits of being a Nightingale?
- As a Nightingale, you gain access to unique abilities and gear tied to Nocturnal, the Daedric Prince of Night and Darkness.
What happens if I choose to destroy the Thieves Guild?
- You cannot destroy the Thieves Guild.
What happens if I fail the Thieves Guild questline?
- You cannot necessarily “fail” the Thieves Guild questline, though some tasks and quests may need to be reattempted.
Why won’t Hulda give me “The Whispering Door” quest?
- You need to be at least level 20 and have completed the “Dragon Rising” quest. If Hulda is dead and Ysolda is the innkeeper, a bug might prevent the quest from triggering.
Is the Ebony Blade any good?
- The Ebony Blade is a unique two-handed weapon that absorbs health.
How do you force start “The Whispering Door” quest?
- The quest requires you to be level 20 or higher and to have completed “Dragon Rising.” You can gather rumors from the barkeep at the Bannered Mare in Whiterun and then ask the Jarl about his children.

This information should help guide you after completing “Speaking With Silence.” Good luck on your adventures in Skyrim!