For the observant player, Bethesda Game Studios has littered The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim with a series of codes - rune symbols sprinkled throughout the cities and wilderness that have a hidden meaning. After witnessing clumsy thieves getting brought down by Riften’s guards, it might at first seem like the guild is deserving of all the bad luck its members keep complaining about. Though these novice cat burglars might bring more shame than pride to the Thieves Guild, more talented thieves can learn to read these symbols to navigate the nooks and shadows of Skyrim with more awareness and scrutiny.
One of the main benefits of joining Skyrim’s Thieves Guild is that the game world starts gradually filling with subtleties and hidden advantages. NPCs who will fence stolen goods become available in the major holds, alternate pathways are a few lockpicks away, and entire dungeons can be cleared of their loot without ever being detected. Runic markings etched over doorways, carved on innocuous barrels, or discreetly marking a hidden passage are one more way the game world as a whole begins to reveal more than first meets the eye. These simple scribbles may not mean much to the average person, but to the trained eye, they can present unexpected opportunities.
While they both operate from the shadows, Skyrim’s Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild have very different objectives and philosophies. The Dark Brotherhood’s goal is to complete assassination contracts, spilling blood in the name of Sithis and the Night Mother. The Thieves Guild, by contrast, endeavors to avoid killing whenever possible. After all, without people being alive to go about their business, there’s no business around to rob. The cities of Skyrim are brimming with gold and valuables, and knowing how to work them to their maximum profit ensures safe and stable income. This is where these runes, or Shadowmarks, come into play.
Honor among members is a venerated tradition dating back to The Gray Fox, Cyrodiil’s Thieves Guild, and beyond. This is why Mercer Frey’s betrayal hits as hard as it does, and forms the backbone of the Thieves Guild questline in Skyrim. More than just a rabble of bandits, Skyrim’s Thieves Guild takes care of its own, helping its fellow members in subtle ways wherever possible. Delvin Mallory describes the purpose of Shadowmarks in his in-game book by the same name. They are the guild’s way of “talking to each other without talking.”
This book can be found in a number of places, including The Ragged Flagon Cistern, the Riften Jail, and even the College of Winterhold’s Arcaneum. The book goes over the meaning behind the various symbols. Besides adding a cool lore element to Skyrim, discerning Shadowmarks can also be an asset to gameplay. The symbols point the way to hidden escape routes, dangerous areas to avoid, inconspicuous loot caches, and even hint toward NPCs nearby who will fence stolen items. Shadowmarks can also adorn homes in some cities. In these cases, their meaning applies to what (or who) can be found inside.
Romlyn Dreth’s house in Riften, for example, bears the "loot" symbol and is ripe for pillaging. Endon’s house in Markarth, however, is designated with the "fence" and "protected" symbols. This is because, upon completing the Silver Linings quest in Skyrim, Endon is the local guild fence for Markarth, and is therefore provided sanctuary by the Thieves Guild. Though often overlooked, a knowledge of Shadowmarks can make The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim a more immersive and interesting experience for any would-be rogue.
One of the main benefits of joining Skyrim’s Thieves Guild is that the game world starts gradually filling with subtleties and hidden advantages. NPCs who will fence stolen goods become available in the major holds, alternate pathways are a few lockpicks away, and entire dungeons can be cleared of their loot without ever being detected. Runic markings etched over doorways, carved on innocuous barrels, or discreetly marking a hidden passage are one more way the game world as a whole begins to reveal more than first meets the eye. These simple scribbles may not mean much to the average person, but to the trained eye, they can present unexpected opportunities.
While they both operate from the shadows, Skyrim’s Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild have very different objectives and philosophies. The Dark Brotherhood’s goal is to complete assassination contracts, spilling blood in the name of Sithis and the Night Mother. The Thieves Guild, by contrast, endeavors to avoid killing whenever possible. After all, without people being alive to go about their business, there’s no business around to rob. The cities of Skyrim are brimming with gold and valuables, and knowing how to work them to their maximum profit ensures safe and stable income. This is where these runes, or Shadowmarks, come into play.
Honor among members is a venerated tradition dating back to The Gray Fox, Cyrodiil’s Thieves Guild, and beyond. This is why Mercer Frey’s betrayal hits as hard as it does, and forms the backbone of the Thieves Guild questline in Skyrim. More than just a rabble of bandits, Skyrim’s Thieves Guild takes care of its own, helping its fellow members in subtle ways wherever possible. Delvin Mallory describes the purpose of Shadowmarks in his in-game book by the same name. They are the guild’s way of “talking to each other without talking.”
This book can be found in a number of places, including The Ragged Flagon Cistern, the Riften Jail, and even the College of Winterhold’s Arcaneum. The book goes over the meaning behind the various symbols. Besides adding a cool lore element to Skyrim, discerning Shadowmarks can also be an asset to gameplay. The symbols point the way to hidden escape routes, dangerous areas to avoid, inconspicuous loot caches, and even hint toward NPCs nearby who will fence stolen items. Shadowmarks can also adorn homes in some cities. In these cases, their meaning applies to what (or who) can be found inside.
Romlyn Dreth’s house in Riften, for example, bears the "loot" symbol and is ripe for pillaging. Endon’s house in Markarth, however, is designated with the "fence" and "protected" symbols. This is because, upon completing the Silver Linings quest in Skyrim, Endon is the local guild fence for Markarth, and is therefore provided sanctuary by the Thieves Guild. Though often overlooked, a knowledge of Shadowmarks can make The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim a more immersive and interesting experience for any would-be rogue.