Nilsine Shatter-Shield is a young Nord woman from one of the most influential families in Windhelm. She is the daughter of Tova and Torbjorn Shatter-Shield, and she sells flowers around the city. Her life is shadowed by grief: her twin sister was murdered by the Butcher, and Nilsine has not moved past it.
Where to find them
Every morning she heads to the market to chat with Niranye, then wanders the streets with her basket of flowers. She can also be found in the Hall of the Dead, near her sister’s resting place.
Quests
Blood on the Ice: she is one of the people who can become the Butcher’s final victim at the end of the investigation.
Mourning Never Comes: in this Dark Brotherhood contract, Muiri asks you to kill Nilsine as an optional extra. The Shatter-Shields threw Muiri out, believing she helped Alain Dufont rob them. Killing Nilsine earns Muiri’s Ring and opens up marriage with Muiri. It also has a grim cost: Tova takes her own life afterwards, as you’ll discover in Shatter-Shield Manor.
Personality & relationships
Nilsine is quiet and sad, often asking strangers whether they’ve ever lost someone close. Mention Muiri, though, and the sadness turns to fury – as far as she is concerned, Muiri is dead to the family. On lighter days she haggles over tomatoes with Hillevi Cruel-Sea and insists on first pick of every new batch.
Good to know
Avoid killing her before Blood on the Ice has started: Tova’s resulting death can break the quest, which in turn locks you out of buying Hjerim and becoming Thane of Windhelm.
Quick facts
- Race: Nord
- Gender: Female
- Level: 4
- Class: Citizen
- Status: Killable
- Found in: Windhelm
- Base ID: 0001412C
Also in Windhelm
Niranye, Nurelion, Oengul War-Anvil, Orthus Endario, Quintus Navale, Revyn Sadri, Rolff Stone-Fist, Scouts-Many-Marshes, Shahvee, Sifnar Ironkettle, Silda the Unseen, Stands-In-Shallows.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.