Maul is a Nord and the right-hand man of Maven Black-Briar, matriarch of the most powerful family in Riften. He is usually the first person to size you up when you walk through the city gates, making it very clear that the Black-Briars don’t want strangers poking around their business. He used to run with the Thieves Guild, and his brother Dirge still works for them.
Where to find them
He meets you inside Riften on your first visit. After that chat he heads out of town and hangs around the docks. If Maven becomes Jarl, he moves into Mistveil Keep as her housecarl.
Quests
Maul watches the streets for the Black-Briars and trades in information. Win him over with a persuasion, bribe or intimidation check and he’ll tell you about Maven, the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood. He also points you to Brynjolf in the marketplace if you want to join the Guild.
His Dark Brotherhood rumour – that a boy named Aventus Aretino in Windhelm is trying to contact the assassins – starts a short task to go and speak with him. Show Maul an Unusual Gem and he’ll want you to join the Guild first, then send you to Vex for an appraisal.
Personality & relationships
Maul is gruff, mercenary and refreshingly honest about it. He doesn’t care who wins the war; he cares about guarding Maven and counting the gold she pays him. He left the Guild when it hit hard times and never looked back. Behind the scenes he keeps Maven’s affairs running, from passing messages to Brynjolf about trouble in the Ratway to arranging for a caravan from Hammerfell to be “appropriated”. When Wylandriah asks him to keep Hemming Black-Briar away from her, he agrees to try, though he warns that Hemming is as stubborn as his mother.
Good to know
Maul sometimes sides with you against the guards, for example if only one guard witnesses a killing. His steel armour is randomised, so he may or may not be wearing pauldrons when you meet him.
Quick facts
- Race: Nord
- Gender: Male
- Level: 15
- Class: Thief
- Status: Essential
- Found in: Riften
- Factions: Thieves Guild
- Base ID: 000371D6
Also in Riften
Molgrom Twice-Killed, Niluva Hlaalu, Niruin, Nivenor, Nura Snow-Shod, Romlyn Dreth, Runa Fair-Shield, Rune, Saerlund, Salvianus, Samuel, Sapphire.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.