Riften Rumble: Why Are the Guards Attacking Me?!

The bustling, often shady city of Riften in Skyrim can be a surprisingly hostile place, even for seasoned adventurers. Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law there is a common occurrence, but why are those guards suddenly so eager to relieve you of your possessions… or your life? Simply put, the Riften guards are attacking you because you have a bounty in the Rift, the hold in which Riften is located, or you’ve committed a crime in their presence that they’re actively responding to. This can range from petty theft to outright murder, and the consequences will vary depending on the severity of your actions.

Understanding Bounties and Crimes in Riften

The key to understanding why the guards are attacking you lies in the Skyrim’s Justice System. Each hold, like the Rift, maintains its own record of crimes and assigns bounties accordingly. A bounty represents a debt you owe to the hold, payable in gold, for crimes you’ve committed. The higher the bounty, the more aggressively the guards will pursue you.

Common Crimes Leading to a Riften Bounty

• Theft: Taking items that don’t belong to you, even seemingly insignificant ones, can quickly add up to a hefty bounty. Riften, being a hub for the Thieves Guild, ironically, takes a dim view of unauthorized acquisition of goods.
• Assault: Attacking a citizen of Riften, even if you don’t kill them, will result in a bounty. Provocation might mitigate the severity, but it won’t eliminate the consequences entirely.
• Murder: Killing a citizen of Riften is the most serious crime and carries the highest bounty. Guards will be relentless in their pursuit, and the locals won’t be happy to see you around.
• Trespassing: Entering a building or area that is marked as private, especially at night, can lead to a bounty. Riften has several areas off-limits to the public, particularly within Mistveil Keep.
• Resisting Arrest: If a guard attempts to arrest you for a crime, resisting their efforts will only increase your bounty and make them more aggressive.

Why Are They Still Attacking Me?

Even if you’re sure you haven’t committed a crime recently, there are several reasons why the guards might still be hostile:

• Unpaid Bounty: You may have accrued a bounty in the past and forgotten about it. Check your character’s stats page to see if you have an active bounty in the Rift.
• Witnessed Crime: Even if you weren’t caught in the act, a witness might have reported your crime to the guards. This is especially common with stealth-based crimes like pickpocketing.
• Faction Aggression: If you’re hostile towards a faction that the Riften guards are aligned with, they may attack you on sight.
• Accidental Aggression: Sometimes, hitting a guard by accident during a fight with someone else can trigger their aggression. Sheathing your weapon can sometimes resolve this, but it’s not guaranteed.
• Bugs: While rare, glitches can sometimes cause guards to become permanently hostile. Reloading a previous save or using console commands (on PC) may be necessary to fix this.
• Vampirism: Stage 4 Vampires will be attacked on sight in most towns.
• Werewolf Transformation: If witnessed shifting to a werewolf, you are going to be attacked.

Resolving the Conflict

Once you understand why the guards are attacking, you can take steps to resolve the situation:

1. Surrender: The easiest way to deal with aggressive guards is to sheath your weapon and yield. This will usually give you the option to pay your bounty or go to jail.
2. Pay the Bounty: If you have the gold, paying the bounty will clear your record and allow you to move freely through Riften.
3. Go to Jail: Serving your time in jail will also clear your bounty, but you’ll lose some progress towards leveling up your skills.
4. Bribe a Guard (Thieves Guild): If you’re a member of the Thieves Guild and have completed Special Jobs in Riften, you can bribe guards to ignore your crimes.
5. Escape: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try to escape from jail. This will clear your bounty, but the guards will be even more hostile towards you in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will changing my appearance get rid of my bounty in Riften?

No. Changing your appearance through the Face Sculptor in Riften or using console commands will not remove your bounty. The game tracks your bounty separately from your character’s physical features.

2. Can I get rid of a bounty in Riften without paying or going to jail?

Yes, if you are a member of the Thieves Guild, and you have completed special jobs in Riften, you can bribe the guards. If you are the Thane of Riften and the crime was minor, you can use that position to get away with the crime. GamesLearningSociety.org is a great resource if you want to learn more about the systems involved with gaming.

3. What happens if I resist arrest in Riften?

Resisting arrest will increase your bounty and cause the guards to become more aggressive. They will likely attack you on sight until you are either killed or apprehended.

4. Do guards level with me in Skyrim?

Yes, guards in Skyrim do scale to your level. This means they will become tougher as you level up, but their gear stays the same.

5. Why are villagers attacking me in Riften?

Villagers might attack you if they witnessed you committing a crime, if you have a high bounty, or if you are a Stage 4 Vampire. Also, certain quest lines can impact NPC disposition towards you.

6. Can I turn off the option to attack innocents in Skyrim?

Yes, in the gameplay settings, you can check the box to “Prevent Attacking Innocents”. This will prevent you from accidentally attacking neutral NPCs.

7. Is it better to pay my bounty or go to jail in Riften?

The best option depends on your circumstances. Paying the bounty is the quickest and easiest solution if you have the gold. However, going to jail avoids paying and losing gold but results in skill progress reduction.

8. What should I avoid doing in Riften?

Avoid stealing, attacking citizens, trespassing in restricted areas, and resisting arrest. Riften, with its Thieves Guild presence, is particularly sensitive to theft and other illicit activities.

9. Why are the guards attacking me even though I’m the Thane of Riften?

Being the Thane of Riften can provide some leniency, especially for minor crimes. However, it doesn’t grant immunity to all offenses. If you commit a serious crime, even as Thane, the guards will still come after you.

10. How do I become Thane of Riften?

To become Thane of Riften, you need to complete quests for the Jarl Laila Law-Giver and assist the citizens of Riften by completing various tasks. You also need to purchase a house.

11. Can I permanently get rid of my bounty in Riften?

Once a bounty is paid or served, it’s permanently cleared from your record unless you commit another crime.

12. Do stolen items increase my bounty if I’m caught with them?

Yes, being caught with stolen items will contribute to your bounty. The value of the stolen items will influence the amount added to your bounty.

13. Why are the guards attacking me after I completed a quest for them?

This is likely a bug. Try reloading an earlier save, or using console commands (on PC) to reset their disposition towards you.

14. What happens to my stolen items when I go to jail in Riften?

All your items, including stolen goods, are confiscated when you go to jail. They are stored in a chest within the jail, and you can retrieve them after serving your sentence… if you can find them, or pick the lock.

15. Are there infinite guards in Riften?

No, there aren’t infinite guards, but they do respawn. If you kill all the guards in Riften, new ones will eventually appear to replace them. Be aware that continually killing guards can have consequences for your reputation and the overall stability of the city.

Navigating the law in Skyrim can be tricky. Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand why those Riften guards are on your tail and how to resolve the situation! Remember to always be mindful of your actions in Tamriel, or face the consequences.