The Blade of the Rift is a Thane weapon – the badge of office you receive when the jarl of the Rift names you Thane. Only the name is fixed; the weapon itself is generated at random.
How to get it
Awarded by the Jarl of Riften – Laila Law-Giver, or Maven Black-Briar if she takes the throne.
Laila: complete “Skooma Trade”, buy Honeyside and help the people of the Rift.
Maven: buy Honeyside and help the people of the Rift.
Random properties
- Type: a sword, greatsword, war axe or battleaxe (and, due to a bug, sometimes a mace or warhammer).
- Material: anything from iron up to Daedric – and iron turns up surprisingly often, even at high level.
- Enchantment: a random weapon enchantment, with the matching glow.
Damage, weight, value and upgrade material all follow from the material and type you get.
Rerolling it
Reloading a save made inside Riften gives you the exact same weapon. Save outside the city instead, then fast travel in and talk to the jarl – then the weapon is generated anew.
A bug sometimes gives the weapon a different name too.
Smithing
It can’t be crafted, but you can build an identical weapon from the same material, add the same enchantment and give it the same name while enchanting.
See also the other Thane weapons, like the Axe of Whiterun.
