Haelga is a Nord who runs Haelga’s Bunkhouse in Riften, a no-frills place meant for working folk rather than travellers. She shares the chores with her niece Svana Far-Shield, who has lived with her since bandits killed Svana’s parents. Haelga is also a fervent worshipper of Dibella, in ways the rest of Riften finds very entertaining to whisper about.
Where to find them
At the Bunkhouse, where her bedroom has its own shrine to Dibella and a collection of objects that leave little to the imagination. Some nights she isn’t home at all; check Bolli‘s house. She’s essential, so she can’t be killed.
Quests
Taking Care of Business – Brynjolf sends you to collect money she owes the Thieves Guild. She flatly refuses. Either take the Dibella statue from her shrine and threaten to throw it down a well, or beat her in a brawl. If you visit her last of the three debtors, she pays up without a fuss.
Caught Red Handed – Svana asks you to collect the Marks of Dibella that Haelga handed out to her lovers, one of whom is Hofgrir Horse-Crusher. Show them to Haelga and she’ll pay you to keep it all quiet, especially from Svana.
Personality & relationships
She calls it practising the Dibellan arts. Svana claims she has had three men in a single month, and Haelga carries on an affair with the married Bolli, flirts hopelessly with Tythis Ulen (who suggests they swap beds), and gets a cold warning from Maven Black-Briar to keep away from Hemming. Madesi makes her Marks of Dibella, and when Grelka asks why she ordered a leather harness, Haelga insists it’s religious.
She’s tough on her tenants, complaining about the rent from Niluva Hlaalu and her skooma habit, and she has no patience for Svana’s romance with Sibbi Black-Briar.
Good to know
- Kill Svana and Haelga flees the Bunkhouse. When she comes back, she’s too upset to talk.
- Hand her a Warmth of Mara pamphlet and she’ll shrug that she prefers Dibella.
Quick facts
- Race: Nord
- Gender: Female
- Level: 8
- Class: Citizen
- Status: Essential
- Found in: Riften
- Base ID: 0001335F
Also in Riften
Hafjorg, Harrald, Hefid the Deaf, Hemming Black-Briar, Herluin Lothaire, Hewnon Black-Skeever, Hofgrir Horse-Crusher, Hroar, Indaryn, Ingun Black-Briar, Iona, Keerava.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.