- "They're well-funded and they've been able to avoid identification for years. I'm impressed it reached this point. Just don't mistake my admiration for complacency; our nemesis is going to pay dearly."
- ―Mercer Frey[src]
Scoundrel's Folly is a quest available in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This is the fifth quest in the Thieves Guild questline. There may be a line on the person or persons who have been working against the Guild. An old Guild collaborator in Solitude may have some information.
Background[]
After the revelations at Honningbrew Meadery and Goldenglow Farm, it's time to put the pieces together and shed some light on the Thieves Guild's anonymous adversary.
Objectives[]
- Speak to Mercer Frey
- Speak to Brynjolf (optional)
- Speak to Gulum-Ei
- Shadow Gulum-Ei
- Confront Gulum-Ei
- Return to Mercer Frey
Walkthrough[]
The quest begins by speaking to Mercer Frey. He thinks he may have finally caught the Guild's anonymous adversary slipping up. From the note provided by the Dragonborn, he deduces that they are likely using an old Guild contact at the East Empire Company in Solitude as a go-between. He figures it is Gulum-Ei and wants him shaken down for information.
If the Dragonborn chooses to speak to Brynjolf before leaving, he will give more details of who Gulum-Ei is and his involvement with the Guild. He says that Gulum-Ei has no honor and in order to gain any useful information from him, he will need to either be bought off or followed in order to gain information that could be used as leverage against him. If Gulum-Ei is killed, there will be no reward from Mercer Frey.
Gulum-Ei[]
Gulum-Ei will most likely be in the Winking Skeever in Solitude. It is possible to persuade him with a high enough Speech skill. Otherwise, he plays stupid at first, in which case bribing him is the only way to get information. If the bribe option is selected, he will say that he has a client that wants a case of firebrand wine, which can be stolen from the Blue Palace.
Getting the wine is easy enough—it can just be picked up at the Blue Palace. It is relatively close to the entrance, so the Dragonborn should be able to follow the quest marker.
After getting him the wine, he claims not to know anything except that the woman in question has a grudge against Mercer Frey.
At this point, he heads out of Solitude down towards the docks and into the East Empire Company Warehouse. He can be pickpocketed for the key to the warehouse.
East Empire Company Warehouse[]
Following him into the warehouse requires stealth. It may be easiest to stay on top of the shelves to follow him since the guards are always patrolling, and there is a ramp just behind the small hut near the entrance. An alternative is to remain in the water below the docks. If the guards or Gulum-Ei catch the Dragonborn, they will attack, but they can be killed for no bounty. However, should the Dragonborn be detected by one of the East Empire Wardens, they will tell them to leave and give them several seconds to do so, with a second warning. If no action is taken to do as ordered by the warden, they will raise the alarm, triggering a 5 bounty for trespassing in a restricted area, hence the "Danger" Shadowmark that was seen next to the door before entering.
Upon reaching the end of the shelves, up the stairs and straight on is a small ledge. It is possible to walk across then drop down onto the walkway. At this stage the easiest way to follow him is just to drop into the water and move as slowly and quietly as possible. He can then be followed out of the water, up a ramp through a hidden door.
At the farthest northern point is an elevated building. To get to the building there is another ramp leading up to the left of the one to the hidden door. Inside the building on a table is the East Empire Shipping Map, which can be sold to Delvin. Alternatively, the Dragonborn can swim directly across the bay and wait for him under the docks, then follow him into Brinewater Grotto.
Brinewater Grotto[]
Inside the grotto are several hostile bandits. There is a bandit swimming in the water, so sneaking can be tricky, but it is possible to sneak past him underwater. There is a chest underwater where he is. A way to get by the bandit in the water and the one on top is, after seeing the two bandits on the dock talking to each other and right before going up those stairs, to the right is a spider web which can be cut down with a weapon. Beyond are three frostbite spiders.
When confronted at the end of the line, Gulum-Ei identifies the real target, Karliah. She murdered the former Guild Master and is now after Mercer. Gulum-Ei pleads innocent. He can be killed, but if spared, he becomes available as a fence. Killing him will also forfeit the reward from Mercer, so sparing him is the better option.
Return to Mercer Frey[]
Returning to Mercer with the location Gulum-Ei said Karliah was headed ("Where the End Began") completes this quest and begins the next, "Speaking With Silence."
Rewards[]
- Three soul gems (randomly generated)
- Gulum-Ei as a fence.
- Deed to Goldenglow Estate
- Able to upgrade one piece of Thieves Guild Armor (after completing the quest, speak with Tonilia):
- Hood – Prices are 15% better (up from 10%).
- Cuirass – Carrying capacity increased to 35 points (up from 20 points).
- Gloves – Lockpicking is 25% easier (up from 15%).
- Boots – Pickpocket success is 25% better (up from 15%).
Journal[]
Scoundrel's Folly – TG04 | |
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ID | Journal Entry |
10 | After the revelations at Honningbrew Meadery and Goldenglow Farm, it's time to put the pieces together and shed some light on the Thieves Guild's anonymous adversary.
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20 | Mercer Frey has pointed to Solitude as my next destination. I'm to meet up with an old Argonian contact for the Guild named Gulum-Ei. It's hoped he'll be able to identify the Thieves Guild's anonymous adversary.
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35 |
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36 |
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37 |
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40 | As predicted by Mercer Frey, Gulum-Ei proved to be quite stubborn and refused to reveal any useful information. I have no choice but to shadow him during his daily routine and discover if he's up to anything that could be used as influence to make him divulge the truth.
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50 |
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55 |
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60 |
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200 | Thanks to Gulum-Ei's confession, a former member of the Thieves Guild named Karliah has been identified as its anonymous adversary. Worse still, I've discovered that she was the same Dunmer who murdered Gallus, the Guild's previous Guild Master and who's apparently resurfaced after all these years to do the same to Mercer Frey.
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Trivia[]
- With a high enough Sneak skill it is possible to reach Gulum-Ei without being detected by any of the bandits.
- The Dragonborn will only be detected when speaking to him, which leads to the comical scenario of several bandits engaging in combat whilst calmly holding a conversation with him. This can be deadly, as the health bar will not be displayed whilst in conversation.
- With the Quiet Casting perk, it is possible to conjure something and stay unseen. The bandits will attack it, but Gulum-Ei will run off in another direction. This way it might be possible to speak with him without the bandits attacking.
- If the Dragonborn stays in the shadows by the gate, Gulum-Ei will notice them first and walk over to them. Fighting can be avoided during the conversation.
- If Brinewater Grotto is cleared and the Dragonborn has both Whirlwind Sprint and a bucket, they can phase through the exit and activate Scoundrel's Folly (without even needing to start the Thieves Guild questline) by using the door to the East Empire Warehouse.
- If Gulum-El is killed, an alternative route is unlocked where you must find his confession as well as the deed to Goldenglow inside a chest at the end of Brinewater Grotto, starting at the East Empire Company Warehouse. If you complete the quest using this path however, the dialogue with Mercer Frey will continue as normal.
Bugs[]
This section contains bugs related to Scoundrel's Folly. Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:
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Appearances[]
Thieves Guild Quests (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim) | |
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Main Quest | |
Delvin's Small Jobs | |
Vex's Small Jobs | |
City Influence Jobs | |
Other |