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Riften
SR-symbol-Riften.png
Riften, in The Rift
(view on map) (lore page)
RiftenOrigin
Government
Inns
Shops and Services
Guilds and Temples
Houses
Other
Riften

Riften is a major city in the southeast of Skyrim near the borders of Morrowind and Cyrodiil, and the capital of the Rift. It is home to the Thieves Guild, who inhabit the sewers beneath Riften known as the Ratway, as well as Honorhall Orphanage. Riften is also the seat of a powerful noble family, the Black-Briars. Maven, the head of the family, owns the Black-Briar Meadery and has ties to the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood. Jarl Laila Law-Giver is the initial ruler of the Rift; if the Imperials take over the hold, Maven replaces Laila as jarl. Maven is widely feared, as Maul notes: "If she tells you to do something, you damn well better do exactly what she says."

The market at Riften Grand Plaza is made up of stalls run by a few of Riften's citizens: Madesi, an Argonian jeweler whom you can assist in finding materials for his jewelry; Grelka, a cranky armor merchant who offers expert Light Armor training; Brand-Shei, an Argonian-raised Dunmer who sells a little bit of everything, and Marise Aravel, who sells fresh meat and produce. Brynjolf, a merchant of ill repute, can also be found here. Down on the lower decks near the canal is Elgrim's Elixirs, run by Elgrim and his wife Hafjorg. The forge is operated by Balimund, who seems quite proud of his work, along with his apprentice Asbjorn Fire-Tamer. The Pawned Prawn is run by Bersi Honey-Hand and his wife, Drifa. Finally, there's the Black-Briar Meadery and the town inn, The Bee and Barb, operated by Keerava and Talen-Jei.

When you approach Riften for the first time, the guards will tell you to head to the northern gate, where you need to pay a tax to enter the city. You can either pay the tax (the amount depends on your level) or try to convince the guards to open the door for free. Another option is to commit a crime and be arrested, causing you to be taken to the city's jail inside the walls. Alternatively, you can enter the city through the Black-Briar Meadery's back door near the western gate, or through the sewer grate next to the docks that leads into the jail. Finally, with enough Pickpocket skill, you can steal the key off the guard demanding the tax.

For more information on Riften, see the lore article.

Riften PeopleEdit

Aerin's House
Aerin
Mjoll the Lioness  
The Bee and Barb
Keerava    
Louis Letrush
Marcurio  
Talen-Jei  
Beggar's Row
Edda
Madesi   [a]
Snilf
Black-Briar Manor
Hemming Black-Briar
Ingun Black-Briar
Maul
Maven Black-Briar
Black-Briar Meadery
Indaryn
Bolli's House
Bolli
Nivenor
Elgrim's Elixirs
Elgrim  
Hafjorg  
Haelga's Bunkhouse
Brand-Shei   [a]
From-Deepest-Fathoms
Grelka      [a]
Haelga
Niluva Hlaalu
Svana Far-Shield
Tythis Ulen
Ungrien  
Wujeeta
Hall of the Dead
Alessandra
Honeyside
Iona  
Honorhall Orphanage
Constance Michel
Francois Beaufort
Grelod the Kind
Hroar
Runa Fair-Shield
Samuel
Marise Aravel's House
Marise Aravel   [a]
Merryfair Farm
Dravin Llanith
Synda Llanith
Mistveil Keep
Anuriel  
Harrald
Jarl Laila Law-Giver
Saerlund
Unmid Snow-Shod
Wylandriah  
Other
Shavari [b]
Pawned Prawn
Bersi Honey-Hand  
Drifa  
The Ragged Flagon
Brynjolf
Delvin Mallory  
Dirge 
Galathil DG
Sapphire
Tonilia 
Vekel the Man 
Vex  
The Ratway
Drahff
Esbern [c]
Gian the Fist
Hefid the Deaf
Hewnon Black-Skeever
Knjakr
Salvianus
Riften Fishery
Snippy CC [d]
Swims-In-Deep-Water CC
Viriya CC
Riften Jail
Molgrom Twice-Killed
Sibbi Black-Briar
Threki the Innocent
Riften Stables
Hofgrir Horse-Crusher  
Shadr  
Sigaar  
Riften Warehouse
Orini Dral
Sarthis Idren
Romlyn Dreth's House
Romlyn Dreth
The Scorched Hammer
Asbjorn Fire-Tamer   *
Balimund     
Snow-Shod Farm
Addvild
Leonara Arius
Snow-Shod Manor
Asgeir Snow-Shod
Nura Snow-Shod
Vulwulf Snow-Shod
Temple of Mara
Briehl
Dinya Balu
Maramal
Thieves Guild Headquarters
Arnskar Ember-Master 
Cynric Endell
Etienne Rarnis
Garthar
Herluin Lothaire 
Mercer Frey
Niruin  
Ravyn Imyan
Rune
Syndus 
Thrynn
Vanryth Gatharian 
Vipir the Fleet  
Valindor's House
Valindor
^aRiften Grand Plaza street vendor
^bAppears only during A Cornered Rat
^cLeaves after A Cornered Rat
^dAppears after In A PinchCC

* Only becomes a merchant if Balimund is killed
Thieves Guild ally
Thieves Guild member

Related QuestsEdit

Quests Starting HereEdit

Most of the Thieves Guild quests start here. For details, see its page.

Side QuestsEdit

Creation ClubEdit

Miscellaneous QuestsEdit

Quest Giver Giver Location Quest Objective(s) Requirement
Alessandra Hall of the Dead Pilgrimage: Help Alessandra make peace with her dead father.
  • Bring Alessandra's Dagger to Andurs in Whiterun
  • Return to Alessandra
Balimund The Scorched Hammer Stoking the Flames: Find 10 fire salts to restore Balimund's forge.
  • Bring 10 fire salts to Balimund
  • Return to Balimund
Bolli Riften Fishery Special Delivery: Deliver a purchase agreement to Kleppr in Markarth.
  • Deliver the purchase agreement to Kleppr in Markarth
Brand-Shei Haelga's Bunkhouse Distant Memories: Help Brand-Shei uncover his past.
  • Locate a clue about Brand-Shei's past
  • Return to Brand-Shei
Constance Michel Honorhall Orphanage Consider Adoption: Speak with Constance Michel about Adoption (HF)
  • Speak with Constance Michel about Adoption
Innocence Lost
Dinya Balu Temple of Mara Spread the Love: Distribute religious literature to the citizens of Riften.
  • Distribute the Warmth of Mara within Riften
  • Return to Dinya
The Book of Love
Galathil (DG) The Ragged Flagon SurgeryDG: Change your appearance. (DG)
  • Locate the face sculptor in Riften
  • Talk to the face sculptor in the Ragged Flagon
Dawnguard installed
Hafjorg Elgrim's Elixirs Truth Ore Consequences: Retrieve an ore sample from Filnjar.
  • Obtain Ore Sample from Filnjar
  • Return Ore Sample to Hafjorg
Harrald Mistveil Keep Bring It!: Deliver Harrald's sword.
  • Pick up Harrald's Sword from Balimund
  • Deliver Harrald's Sword
Hofgrir Horse-Crusher Riften Stables Bloody Nose: Defeat Hofgrir Horse-Crusher in a brawl.
  • Defeat Hofgrir in an unarmed brawl
Ingun Black-Briar Elgrim's Elixirs Few and Far Between: Help Ingun restock Elgrim's rare ingredients.
  • Find 20 nirnroot for Ingun Black-Briar
  • Find 20 nightshade for Ingun Black-Briar
  • Find 20 deathbell for Ingun Black-Briar
Laila Law-Giver Mistveil Keep Supply and Demand: Clear Cragslane Cavern for the Jarl of Riften.
  • Report skooma source to Jarl of Riften
  • Find the skooma dealers in Cragslane Cavern
  • Disrupt the skooma operation
  • Report to the Jarl of Riften
The Raid
I Done Got Thaned!: Help out the Jarl and citizens of the Rift, and be named Thane for your service. (radiant)
  • Speak to the Jarl of Riften
  • Return to the Jarl of Riften
  • Purchase Honeyside from Riften's Steward
Supply and Demand
Madesi Riften Ringmaker: Help Madesi make jewelry.
  • Find 2 flawless sapphires for Madesi
  • Find a mammoth tusk for Madesi
  • Find gold ore for Madesi
Maramal Temple of Mara The Bonds of Matrimony: Find someone in Skyrim to marry.
  • Speak to Maramal about arranging your wedding
  • Attend your wedding ceremony
Marise Aravel Marise Aravel's House Ice Cold: Find five ice wraith teeth for Marise Aravel.
  • Find 5 Ice Wraith Teeth for Marise
  • Return to Marise
Maven Black-Briar Mistveil Keep Supply and Demand: Clear Cragslane Cavern for the Jarl of Riften.
  • Report skooma source to Jarl of Riften
  • Find the skooma dealers in Cragslane Cavern
  • Disrupt the skooma operation
  • Report to the Jarl of Riften
The Raid
I Done Got Thaned!: Help out the Jarl and citizens of the Rift, and be named Thane for your service. (radiant)
  • Speak to the Jarl of Riften
  • Return to the Jarl of Riften
  • Purchase Honeyside from Riften's Steward
Supply and Demand
Mjoll the Lioness Aerin's House Grimsever's Return: Recover Mjoll's beloved sword, Grimsever, from Mzinchaleft.
  • Locate Grimsever
  • Return to Mjoll
Romlyn Dreth Black-Briar Meadery Under the Table: Deliver a smuggled Black-Briar Mead keg to the inn at Ivarstead.
  • Deliver Mead to Wilhelm
  • Show Mead to Indaryn
Shadr Riften Stabilized: Help Shadr clear his debt with Sapphire.
  • Speak to Sapphire about Shadr's debt
  • Return to Shadr
Sibbi Black-Briar Riften Jail The Lover's Requital: Help Sibbi Black-Briar locate his former fiancee, so he can kill her.
  • Discover Svidi's whereabouts
  • Tell Sibbi Black-Briar about Lynly
  • Lie to Sibbi Black-Briar about Lynly
Svana Far-Shield Haelga's Bunkhouse Caught Red Handed: Gather three marks of Dibella to help Svana Far-Shield against Haelga.
  • Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Bolli
  • Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Hofgrir
  • Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Indaryn
  • Confront Haelga with the Marks of Dibella
  • Speak to Svana
Talen-Jei The Bee and Barb Sealing the Deal: Find three flawless amethysts for Talen-Jei's engagement ring.
  • Get 3 flawless amethysts for Talen-Jei
  • Return to Talen-Jei
Wujeeta Haelga's Bunkhouse Helping Hand: Help Wujeeta cure her skooma addiction.
  • Give Wujeeta a healing potion
The Raid: Help the Jarl of Riften to uncover and stop the illegal skooma trade in town.
  • Identify Riften's skooma dealer
  • Report Sarthis Idren to the Jarl of Riften
  • Enter Riften Warehouse
  • Eliminate Sarthis Idren
  • Recover skooma source information
Helping Hand
Wylandriah Mistveil Keep Hunt and Gather: Retrieve Wylandriah's spoon, ingot, and soul gem.
  • Retrieve Wylandriah's Spoon
  • Retrieve Wylandriah's Ingot
  • Retrieve Wylandriah's Soul Gem
  • Return to Wylandriah

NotesEdit

  • Honeyside is a house available for purchase after completion of certain quests for the jarl. It may be purchased from the steward for 5,000 to 8,000 gold.
  • With the Shadowfoot Sanctum Creation installed, Riften Docks will get a map marker for ease of access to the sanctum.
  • If the Rift is transferred to Imperial control during Season Unending, you may find Imperial soldiers fighting with one or more Riften guards.
  • Entering the city via the Meadery during the day for the first time and using the forge next to the market before Brynjolf approaches will cause him to ask his opening question a few times while you are in the smithing animation and then walk away, after which he will not approach you again. This can be used to prevent A Chance Arrangement from being added to your journal.
  • After completing A Chance Arrangement, there is a 20% chance of encountering a thief inside one of the stores or houses.
  • There are many barrels in Riften containing raw meat or fish, in addition to numerous salt piles.
  • According to the Official Prima Guide, the unusable city gate in Riften's southeast corner is called the Dead Gate, so named due to the many people who died there during repeated bandit raids on the city.
  • Riften also appears in Arena and ESO.

BugsEdit

  • Attempting to persuade the guard to enter Riften always succeeds.
  • If the Empire takes Riften, you will routinely see the new Imperial guards fighting with Stormcloak guards who weren't disabled properly, similar to Sarethi Farm. You will receive a bounty if you try to intervene. ?

MapsEdit