- Act 2: Quest 9 - Locate Esbern before the Thalmor
Prerequisites: Completion of the quest "Diplomatic Immunity". Quest Giver: Delphine Region: Riverwood, Riften Reward: (none)
Summary: You must attempt to find Esbern before the Thalmor do. Delphine suspects his hiding place is in the Ratway in Riften. Once there, you must ask around, fight, or sneak your way through to finally reach him.
Quest Description
Speak with Brynjolf
When you mention to Delphine that the Thalmor are looking for Esbern in Riften, she immediately suggests looking around the Ratway. For that is where she would go. You are to turn to Brynjolf, as he has certain connections and will surely be able to help. Should you find Esbern, it will not be easy to gain his trust. In that case, she advises asking Esbern where he was on the 30th of Frostfall. He will know the meaning.
If you took the long way to Ivarstead during the quest "The Way of the Voice", you can now shorten the trip to Riften by fast-traveling to Fort Amol or Sarethi Farm. The safest option is to stay on the paved main road and always look out for the signposts. The paths to Ivarstead and Riften split after the bridge over the Treva River. The route goes southeast first, then past Heartwood Mill, and just before Riften, past Snow-Shod Farm. At the city gates, you will likely be instructed to use the north entrance. If it is your first time in Riften, you will have to pay a visitor's tax. You can try to persuade the guard or intimidate them. If it works, the gate will be opened. Otherwise, you must pay the tax, the amount of which depends on your wealth.
Marketplace in Riften.
Once you are in the city, you can find Brynjolf at the marketplace, where he pitches his Falmer Blood Elixir at a stall. If you have never spoken to him before and passed the city gates without bloodshed, he will approach the player on his own. The ensuing conversation will usually result in having to complete a small task for him before he is willing to provide clues. This task is the first quest of the Thieves Guild: "A Chance Arrangement". Only if you are truly eloquent or are already a member of the guild will Brynjolf reveal Esbern's whereabouts without any prior service.
If you only want to focus on the main quest for now, you can take a different approach. Contrary to the advice of Delphine and your journal, you do not go to Brynjolf, but instead visit the first tavern in town - the "Bee and Barb". The innkeeper there, Keerava, does not know anyone named Esbern, but she mentions that the Ratway would be a good place to hide. She notes that the "Ragged Flagon", a tavern and gathering spot for the scum of Riften, is located there, where you might find further clues ★.
The entrance to the Ratway beneath the marketplace.
Search the Ratway for Esbern's hiding place
The entrance to the Ratway is located below the marketplace. You enter a complex of interconnected sewers, damp chambers, and corridors infested with criminals and vermin across multiple levels beneath all of Riften. Right after the first bend, you are attacked by two thugs: Hewnon Black-Skeever and Drahff. You should clear them out of the way. After you are forced to drop down a level, you have to deal with a skeever and Gian the Fist, from whom you can at least loot his enchanted gloves. A few corridors further, you stand at the entrance to the "Ragged Flagon".
"The Ragged Flagon" – a sort of underground tavern where the scum of Riften gets drunk and stabs each other.
This gathering spot is built halfway onto a suspended walkway over a sewage tank. If you are not a member of the Thieves Guild, you will be treated coldly by everyone. Only the bartender, Vekel the Manful, might be willing to speak under certain circumstances. You can try to persuade him or refresh his memory with gold. A fair brawl could also help. If you succeed by any means, he tells you that Esbern is hiding in The Ratway Warrens. To get there, you must traverse The Ratway Vaults.
Find Esbern in the Ratway Warrens
The vaults consist of further tunnels. Here and there you can find pieces of armor, a workbench, and chests. You also have to deal with two wandering Thalmor soldiers. Eventually, you enter the area of the Ratway Warrens, which contains prison cells as well as Esbern's hiding place.
Esbern's living quarters behind a locked door.
When you knock on his door, he does not open it, but initially conducts the conversation only through a peephole. He claims he is not Esbern and doesn't know what you are talking about. He tells you to go away. You now have several options to persuade and convince him. One of them will succeed, and he will open the door.
Talk to Esbern
You tell him that Delphine needs his help regarding the dragons. He is surprised that she has finally realized the truth. He explains that he told her years ago that the situation was hopeless. The prophesied Alduin has returned, the dragon from the dawn of time who devours the souls of the dead. Nothing can stop him. Esbern tried to tell everyone, but the fools would not listen. Now everything has come to pass, and he can only watch as doom approaches. Only a Dragonborn could stop him, but no Dragonborn has shown themselves for centuries.
Esbern realizes that with the appearance of the Dragonborn, the grim future might still be averted after all.
Now at the latest, you should tell him that you are a Dragonborn. Esbern appears surprised and relieved, speaking of hope and gods who have not abandoned us. He wants you to lead him to Delphine - there is a lot to discuss. While he packs up a few things that must not fall into the hands of the Thalmor, the quest ends. At the same time, the next one is activated.
Tips & Notes
Strictly speaking, you do not have to ask anyone in the city about Esbern. The entrance to the Ratway, which Delphine already mentioned, can easily be found on your own.
In the sewers, you should not only watch out for thugs but also for oil puddles, bear traps, pressure plates, tripwires, and other mechanisms.
The area where Esbern is hiding is called the Ratway Warrens in dialogue. On the in-game map, it is displayed as the Ratway Vaults.
You do not have to convince Esbern using the "30th of Frostfall". Depending on your Speech level, other options will work as well.
If you spared the spy Gissur in the Thalmor Embassy, you will encounter him here along with the Thalmor soldiers.
If you have a follower with you while escorting Esbern (in the subsequent quest), the two could easily become hostile to each other during a fight. It is best to do without a follower here, as Esbern is a skilled wizard, a good fighter, and essential to boot.
At this point, the quest objective 'Speak with Brynjolf' is
marked as completed, even though you never even
saw him. However, this shows that you would
have received similar information from him.
at the marketplace, where he pitches
his Falmer Blood Elixir at a stall. If you have never spoken to him before and passed the city gates without bloodshed, he will approach the player on his own. The ensuing conversation will usually result in having to complete a small task for him before he is willing to provide clues. This task is the first quest of the Thieves Guild: "A Chance Arrangement". Only if you are truly eloquent or are already a member of the guild will Brynjolf reveal Esbern's whereabouts without any prior service.
, does not know anyone named Esbern, but she mentions that the Ratway would be a good place to hide. She notes that the "Ragged Flagon", a tavern and gathering spot for the scum of Riften, is located there, where you might find further clues ★.
, might be willing to speak under certain circumstances. You can try to persuade him or refresh his memory with gold. A fair brawl could also help. If you succeed by any means, he tells you that Esbern is hiding in The Ratway Warrens. To get there, you must traverse The Ratway Vaults.
. He claims he is not Esbern and doesn't know what you are talking about. He tells you to go away. You now have several options to persuade and convince him. One of them will succeed, and he will open the door.
tried to tell everyone, but the fools would not listen. Now everything has come to pass, and he can only watch as doom approaches. Only a Dragonborn could stop him, but no Dragonborn has shown themselves for centuries.
at the marketplace, where he pitches
his Falmer Blood Elixir at a stall. If you have never spoken to him before and passed the city gates without bloodshed, he will approach the player on his own. The ensuing conversation will usually result in having to complete a small task for him before he is willing to provide clues. This task is the first quest of the Thieves Guild: "A Chance Arrangement". Only if you are truly eloquent or are already a member of the guild will Brynjolf reveal Esbern's whereabouts without any prior service.
, does not know anyone named Esbern, but she mentions that the Ratway would be a good place to hide. She notes that the "Ragged Flagon", a tavern and gathering spot for the scum of Riften, is located there, where you might find further clues ★.
, might be willing to speak under certain circumstances. You can try to persuade him or refresh his memory with gold. A fair brawl could also help. If you succeed by any means, he tells you that Esbern is hiding in The Ratway Warrens. To get there, you must traverse The Ratway Vaults.
. He claims he is not Esbern and doesn't know what you are talking about. He tells you to go away. You now have several options to persuade and convince him. One of them will succeed, and he will open the door.
tried to tell everyone, but the fools would not listen. Now everything has come to pass, and he can only watch as doom approaches. Only a Dragonborn could stop him, but no Dragonborn has shown themselves for centuries.