Skyrim:Riften

Riften

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 People[edit]

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 Pinch^CC

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

Related Quests[edit]

Quests Starting Here[edit]

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

Side Quests[edit]

Promises to Keep: Help Louis Letrush get Frost from Sibbi Black-Briar.
The Book of Love: Help the Temple of Mara spread the cause of love throughout Skyrim.
Unfathomable Depths: Uncover the memories of the Dwemer.

Creation Club[edit]

A Soul Divided^CC: Seek out a cursed Tsaesci blade in the Ratway.
Blue in the Face^CC: Investigate rumors of the Blue God's return.
Gambler's Edge^CC: Search for an ill-fated gambler at the pit fights in Cragslane Cavern.
Shadowfoot Sanctum^CC: Purchase a cozy sewer home ideal for a thief.
The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal^CC: Investigate the legend of the Gray Fox.

Miscellaneous Quests[edit]

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	Surgery^DG: 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
Laila Law-Giver	Mistveil Keep	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
Maven Black-Briar	Mistveil Keep	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
Wujeeta	Haelga's Bunkhouse	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

Gather Wheat: Get paid to gather crops. (radiant)
Quest all Beggars Have: Take pity on a beggar. (radiant)

Notes[edit]

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.

Bugs[edit]

Attempting to persuade the guard to enter Riften always succeeds.
- The Unofficial Skyrim Patch, version 1.3.0, fixes this bug.
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. ^?