Shadowmarks

Deathly hallows — This Shadowmark tells the thief that Danger is inside

Shadowmarks are symbols used by the Thieves Guild, so that buildings throughout Skyrim can quickly be identified by Guild members as to their potential usage. The symbols are usually carved next to the building's doorway. This information is presented in-game in the book Shadowmarks.

Symbols[]

Cache	Danger	Empty	Escape Route	Fence
The Guild	Loot	Protected	Safe

Cities[]

Markarth[]

Silver-Blood Inn has a "Danger" sign on the upper right side of the doorway.
Arnleif and Sons Trading Company has a "Loot" symbol high up on the doorway.
The Treasury House has the symbol for "Loot" to the left of the doorway.
Nepos' House bears the "Loot" symbol.
Halfway between Nepos' House and Understone Keep, behind a pillar, there is a barrel labeled "Thieves' Cache."
The Hag's Cure has the "Loot" mark to the left of the door.
Ogmund's House has the "Loot" symbol on to the left of the door.
Endon's House bears the "Fence" symbol and the "Protected" symbol.
Smelter Overseer's House has the symbol "Loot" left of the door.
Abandoned House has the "Empty" mark to the left of the door.
Vlindrel Hall has a barrel labeled "Thieves' Cache" outside the front door, once the Dragonborn has completed the special job for Delvin for the city.
The Warrens has an "Empty" mark to the left of the frame.
In Understone Keep, on the base of the pillar to the right of the Dwemer Museum entrance, there is a "Danger" mark.

Riften[]

The button to get into The Ratway is a "Guild" sign, and there are guild signs decorating the walls.
In front of the Black-Briar Manor is the "Protected" sign.
In the door frame of the Bee and Barb is the "Loot" sign.
In the garden of Honeyside, there is a barrel with the "Thieves' Cache" mark on it.
The Riftweald Manor has the "Guild" symbol to the left of the door.
Snow-Shod Manor has the symbol for "Loot" to the right of the door.
Bolli's House has the symbol for "Loot" on the wall.
The Scorched Hammer has the "Loot" sign to the right of the door.
A "Thieves' Cache" is located on the Riften docks in the lower canal section with a "Loot" symbol on it.
On the stone step in front of Beggar's Row is the "Empty" sign.
Left of the door to Elgrim's Elixirs is the "Loot" sign.
Stone Steps in front of Marise Aravel's House and Valindor's House have "Loot" signs.
On the wooden support beam to the right of Romlyn Dreth's House is a "Loot" sign.
Next to Grelka at the marketplace there is the "Danger" sign.
On the left sign of Madesi 's stand, there is a "Loot" sign.
On the left side of Aerin's House there is a "Danger" sign.
On the stone step to the left, right outside the archway leading to the Ratway is the "Guild" sign.
On the door frame of The Pawned Prawn is the "Loot" sign.
In Riften Jail, on the back wall of the cell the Dragonborn is placed in, there is an "Escape Route" sign next to a broken shackle button. (This button may be bugged and only cause guards to run in and attack the Dragonborn)
In Riften Ratway Vaults, on the 2nd floor, there is a "Loot" sign on the wall above a big box.
On Brand-Shei's stand in the marketplace is the "Loot" sign.
After going through Mercer Frey's home and underground there is a hole which one must drop down. On the wall on the far side of the hole is a "Danger" sign.
In the center of town on the barrel next to Brynjolf's stand there is a "Guild" symbol.

Solitude[]

At the East Empire Company Warehouse, to the right of the entrance is the "Danger" sign.
At Erikur's House by the Blue Palace at the left of his side door is a barrel with the "Protected" sign. The other two doors to his house also bear "Protected" signs.
The above-mentioned house also has a "Cache" mark on a barrel to the right of the door.
Jala's House has an "Empty" mark on a barrel to the right of the door.
Addvar's House bears the "Loot" mark on the left-hand side of his door.
Evette San's House has a "Loot" mark to the right of the door.
Vittoria Vici's House bears a "Loot" mark on the door opposite Proudspire Manor but no marks near the other two doors.
Behind the above-mentioned house is also a "Thieves' Cache" barrel.
The Winking Skeever bears the "Loot" sign to the left of the door.
Bits and Pieces has the "Loot" mark to the left of its door.
Radiant Raiment bears the symbol for "Loot."
There is a "Loot" mark on the column at the top of the staircase facing the Solitude Blacksmith.
There is a "Fence" mark to the left of Gulum-Ei in The Winking Skeever.
Bryling's House has the "Loot" symbol on an armrail near the door.
Bug: In the Solitude Jail there is supposed to be a shadowmark in the left back corner (when viewing the door as the front). This marks a one time use hidden exit.

Whiterun[]

At Belethor's General Goods, to the right of the shop door is the "Loot" mark.
Arcadia's Cauldron has the "Loot" mark on the right side of the shop door frame.
The Bannered Mare has a "Loot" mark low down to the right of the front door.
The Guard Barracks has a "Danger" sign, this may be partially obscured by a lavender bush.
Amren's House displays the "Danger" sign to the left of his door.
Heimskr's house has an "Empty" sign to the right of his door.
Uthgerd the Unbroken's house has the "Empty" sign to the left of the door.
Ysolda's House, right side, there is a chest hidden behind some barrels with the "Thieves' Cache" sign.
House Gray-Mane has a "Loot" mark on the door facing Jorrvaskr below the left hand dragon head door post.
In corner by the water trough in the cow's pen near House Gray-Mane lies a barrels with the "Thieves' Cache" sign.
The House of Clan Battle-Born has a "Protected" Shadowmark at the bottom left of the main door and a "Protected" mark to the right of the rear entrance.
Carlotta Valentia's house bears the "Loot" symbol to the right of her door.
Carlotta Valentia's market stall also bears the "Loot" symbol, next to where she typically stands.
Jorrvaskr has the "Danger" symbol on a pillar to the right of the front entrance.
Under the bridge just through the main gate is the "Safe" symbol (however, being in this location will not stop guards from pursuing anyone nor keep them from attacking).
Severio Pelagia's House has the "Loot" mark to the right of the door.
Hall of the Dead has the "Danger" mark on a pillar to the left of the stairs.
The Drunken Huntsman has the "Loot" mark to the right of the front entrance. This mark is hidden behind the barrels.
Dragonsreach Dungeon has an "Escape Route" mark by each grate within the cells.
Olava the Feeble's house has an "Empty" symbol above the bench where she sits.
There is an "Empty" marking above a pile of wood on the left side of the front door on Ysolda's house.
Behind The Bannered Mare there is a barrel labeled "Thieves' Cache"

Windhelm[]

Brunwulf Free-Winter's house bears the "Loot" mark.
Belyn Hlaalu's house in the Grey Quarter is marked with the "Loot" symbol.
Atheron Residence has the "Loot" mark.
House of Clan Cruel-Sea has a "Protected" mark on the upper left of the side doorway.
Viola Giordano's House bears the "Loot" mark.
House of Clan Shatter-Shield has the mark "Loot" above the door to the right.
There is a "Danger" mark located outside the Aretino Residence.
On the Blacksmith Quarters, there is a "Loot" mark.
Argonian Assemblage bears an "Empty" mark.
Hjerim to the left has a barrel labeled "Cache."

Dungeons and Holds[]

Falkreath Hold[]

Pinewatch – There is a Thieves Guild danger symbol near the entrance to the Pinewatch farmhouse, directly behind a barrel with a lantern.

The Pale[]

Irkngthand – In the Slave Pens, there is a "Thieves' Cache" mark high up on some pipework near the Falmer "village."
Irkngthand – There is a "The Guild" mark in the room directly behind where one meets Karliah and Brynjolf. It is located through the doors on the right on top of the table with some lockpicks and a bottle of Black-Briar Reserve.
Irkngthand – On a treasure chest in a side room near the end of the Grand Cavern, there is an "Empty" mark. The wall also has a backwards message from Mercer Frey, taunting "one step ahead."

Solstheim[]

Raven Rock – Glover Mallory's House has the "Guild" symbol to the left of the door and a "Thieves' Cache" barrel in the basement.

Winterhold Hold[]

There is a "Empty" sign on the guard barracks.
There is a "Danger" sign on the back of the Jarl's Throne (the console command tcl is required to view).

Whiterun Hold[]

Before completing the quest "Dampened Spirits", Honningbrew Meadery has the "Loot" mark to the left of the door, but after the quest is completed, it will change to the "Fence" mark.

Trivia[]

The "Protected" Shadow mark does not apply when assigned a Thieves Guild job in that location (e.g. a Burglary Job assigned by Vex).
Before completing the quest "Under New Management," the Cache in Solitude near Proudspire Manor cannot be found.
In Fallout 4, the Railroad uses a similar system, which uses what is called Railsigns.