Riftweald Manor is a large, gloomy mansion in Riften owned by Mercer Frey, guildmaster of the Thieves Guild. From the outside it looks like a rich man’s empty house; inside, a wardrobe hides a false back leading to a booby-trapped basement and Mercer’s private office. You’ll break in during The Pursuit, and you’ll want to – the treasure inside is excellent.
What you’ll find
- Vald, the bodyguard posted at the back gate, plus bandits inside.
- A suspicious wardrobe in a small room beside a barred door – its false back opens into a secret basement.
- Trapped tunnels including swinging traps (they can’t be disabled) and a flame-plate room.
- Mercer’s office at the end, with his plans on the table and a locked display case.
Quests
- The Pursuit – get Vald’s key by persuading him, pickpocketing it when he walks past the gate, clearing his debt, or the old-fashioned way. The key opens the back gate and the upstairs door (both expert locks). Then shoot the gearbox under the balcony with an arrow or ranged spell to drop the ramp.
- The Litany of Larceny – the Bust of the Gray Fox sits on Mercer’s desk; bring it back to Delvin Mallory.
Notable items
- Chillrend, a unique sword in an expert-locked display case in the office.
- Bust of the Gray Fox and Mercer’s Plans (quest items).
- The Red Kitchen Reader (Sneak) next to the plans.
- The Arcturian Heresy and volume 1 of The Lusty Argonian Maid on the shelves.
Tips
In the flame-plate room, look before you leap: trapped plates have an X-shaped scorch mark, safe ones are clean. Alternatively, sprint across and hope for the best. You can get in before the quest by jumping from the Temple of Mara roof onto the manor and picking the balcony lock, or by knocking the ramp mechanism down with an arrow, a spell or Unrelenting Force – but if you grab Mercer’s Plans early you won’t be able to hand them in to Brynjolf.
Good to know
Loot and enemies here reportedly reset almost immediately, even after Mercer is dead, so patient burglars can clean the place out again and again. You also can’t wait inside, and the barred doors are firmly, permanently barred – the game will tell you so if you try.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.