City Guard (Oblivion)

Every major city in Cyrodiil and Skyrim has its own guard force, although the Imperial City has the Imperial Legion instead. Each city's guard wears a chainmail hauberk and tabard with their city's insignia on the tabard. In addition they wear chainmail leggings, boots, gauntlets, and a unique light helmet called the guard's helmet. The only exception to this is Skingrad, whose guards use steel, rather than chainmail. In addition they wield either a silver or steel long sword, carry a bow, and fine silver arrows. They also carry light shields. To obtain this gear, there are several options. If you can pickpocket a sleeping guard in the barracks, you can take his armor piece by piece. The second option is to kill the guard, but unless you have a very high combat skill, there is little chance of killing them without gaining a bounty. Finally, during the Kvatch missions, as well as the Bruma missions in the Main Quest you fight along side the guards, and can loot their corpses should they die.

Base ID - Riften Guard - F62EF

Base ID - Whiterun Guard - 46EFC

The guards ceaselessly patrol the city, as well as standing guard near the gates. There are also many more guards at the castle, where the local jail and barracks are located. At certain times, guards will relieve each other with a short dialogue. The guards all have a captain who reports the local Count or Countess, and these Captains are all tougher than your average City Guard, and may also carry different weaponry and armor. The guards are not of only one race, in fact, the only races not present amongst the guards are the Khajiits and Argonians.

While inside a city, any crime you commit will gain the attention of the City Guards. They will immediately come running when you commit a crime, and offer you three choices, pay gold, resist arrest, and go to jail. If you do not have the money to pay for your fine, or if your fine is particularly high, the option to pay will not appear. If you select to pay gold, the guards will take you to the nearest castle and take the payment as well as all stolen items in your possession. If you opt to go to jail you will be sent to jail for a time based upon your offence. If you choose to resist arrest, the guards will immediately begin to attack until you yield or you are dead. If the guard likes you enough (charm or not) he will instead look the other way and take care of the fine for you. This is only with small fines, however.

In battle, the guards will never run away, and are all ten levels higher than you. They will quickly begin to outnumber you, as they begin to swarm upon you as soon as you commit a crime. Some guards will pull out their bows and shoot you from afar, however if you choose to melee with them, they will usually put away the bow and switch to their swords.

There is some advantage to picking a fight with guards while at lower levels, as it yields fine steel or silver weapons along with a set of light armor (if in Skingrad, it is mixed with heavy), including the city's unique Guard curiass and shield, and the Guard Helmet, which can only be obtained through guards. Likewise, the Legion Horseman's helm, despite it's name, can only be obtained through an Imperial City Watchman. In Skyrim guards are not as powerful as the ones in Oblivion. Guards generally have poorer weapons and armour then the ones seen in Oblivion. But in groups they can still pose as a challenge.

The bounties in Skyrim are all separate. For example, you can obtain a bounty in Whiterun, and Riften will not recognize it.

It is possible to kill guards without gaining a bounty, as long as you are sneaking, the murder is not witnessed by anyone else, and it is an instant (one-hit) kill. The entire guard force of a city may be wiped out one by one using this tactic. However, slain guards will respawn three days after their death.


 * Note*

Normally all guards can be bribed if you are in the Thieves Guild. Without the exception of Markarth after the completion of The Forsworn Conspiracy And No One Escapes Chidna Mine. Guards will not accept your bribes and you have No choice but to fight. You can select go to jail and after selecting that option the guard will have dialogue but push B, Circle to cancel out the conversation and the guard you talked to will ignore you.

Types of Guards
Whiterun Guard

Windhelm Guards(Stormcloaks)

Markarth Guard

Solitude Guard

Riften Guard

Dawnstar Guard

Falkreath Guard

Morthal Guard

Winterhold Guard

Guard Talk (Skyrim)

 * 1) "I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.' (Casual.)" 
 * 2) "I wonder how the Thalmor are feeling now that they've been taken down a notch." (After saving the Gray-Mane brother from the Thalmor)
 * 3) "The guards have been talking about you. (Casual.)"
 * 4) "By the gods, I dont know what to say." (After defeating a dragon.)
 * 5) "Let me guess, someone stole your sweetroll." (Casual.)
 * 6) "So you know alchemy? Maybe you could make me some mead." (With decent Alchemy. Doesn't start quest.)
 * 7) "My cousin is out fighting dragons, and what do I get? Guard duty."
 * 8) "I can handle the occasional drunk or bandit. I don't know about dragons."
 * 9) "Hail summoner, why don't you go and conjure me up a warm bed?" (with high skill in Conjuration, unconfirmed value)
 * 10) "So you can cast a few spells, am I supposed to be impressed? (with decent skill in Destruction)
 * 11) "Disrespect the law, and you disrespect me." (Casual)
 * 12) "Watch the skies, traveller." (Casual)
 * 13) "Don't think you can barter with me like I'm one of those damned shopkeepers." (With decent Speech)
 * 14) "No lollygaggin'." (Casual)
 * 15) "You couldn't possibly be the Dragonborn of legend, could you?" (After first dragon kill)
 * 16) "They say Ulfric Stormcloak murdered the High King... With his voice! Shouted him apart!" (Casual)
 * 17) "Keep your arrows in their quiver, archer." (With decent Archery skill)
 * 18) "Heard about you and your honeyed words." (With high Speech skill)
 * 19) "Go fiddling with any locks around here, and we're going to have a real problem. (With high lockpicking)
 * 20) "Hands to yourself, sneak thief." (with high sneak skill)
 * 21) "I'd be alot happier and a lot warmer with a bellyful of mead." (Casual)
 * 22) "Go cast your fancy magic somewhere else." (when using magic near a guard)
 * 23) "If I find your hand in my pocket, I'm going to cut it off." (With high pickpocketing)
 * 24) By Shor, is that... is that Azura's Star? How did you come to possess such a rare treasure? (Upon completing the Black Star)
 * 25) You wield... Azura's Star? How... how can such a thing be possible? (Upon completing the Black Star)
 * 26) "That's a fine shield you have there. Dwarven isn't it?" (if wielding Spellbreaker)
 * 27) I find your wolfish grin... unsettling. (If you're a Werewolf) 
 * 28) "Is that...fur? Coming out of your ears?" (if you're a Werewolf)
 * 29) Ugh, you smell like wet fur, have you been tending to your hounds? (if you're a Werewolf)
 * 30) I'm telling you I heard it, howling. Those werewolf tales are true. (If you're a Werewolf)
 * 31) Lightly armoured means light in your feet. Smart. (With high light armour skill)
 * 32) A guard could get nervous, someone approaching with their weapon drawn. (Upon closing up with weapon drawn)
 * 33) You are like me then. You don't fancy those big clunky two-handed weapons (If you are with a one-handed weapon)
 * 34) "The gods gave you two hands, and you use them both for your weapon. I can respect that." (with decent two-handed skill)
 * 35) You can trade in that junk at *city's local general store* (If in a Hold City)
 * 36) Iron armor, heh... now that's true nordish armor. (If iron armor is equipped)
 * 37) "Psst...I know who you are. Hail Sithis." (If you're a member of the Dark Brotherhood)
 * 38) "You know, I could have gone into that Sanctuary, wiped out all those Dark Brotherhood types... But I was... Sick, that day."(Casual, after ending of the quest Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!)
 * 39) "That mace... get it away from me!" (Mace of Molag Bal in possession)
 * 40) "Get that acursed mace away from me!" (Mace of Molag Bal in possession)
 * 41) "You have commited crimes against Skyrim and her people, what say you in your defence?" (Committing a crime witnessed by someone else)
 * 42) "Then pay with your blood!" (Guards after you resist arrest)
 * 43) "You come to me wearing Imperial armor?! Do you have steel for brains?"
 * 44) "Now that's a fine sword you have there, like a sliver of midnight." (Having an Ebony Sword equipped.)
 * 45) "You're the one who kill all those Thalmor? You sure know how to pick your enemies." (After saving the Gray-mane brother from the Thalmor)
 * 46) Smart man/woman. Now come along with me. We'll take any stolen goods you have and you'll be free to go. After you pay the fine, of course. (Skyrim guard after choosing pay fine option)
 * 47) You're going to rot in (whichever jail is nearest). (After choosing the "go to jail" option)
 * 48) Wait... I know you. (If you have bounty)
 * 49) I have a lot of respect for the Restoration School. Skyrim could use more healers. (With a high Restoration skill)
 * 50) (Whistles) Who did you have to kill to get that blade? (Possessing Mehrunes' Razor.)
 * 51) (Whistles) Is your armor...made of dragon bones? By the gods what I would do for a set of that. (If Dragonbone armor is equipped)
 * 52) (Whistles) Is your armor...made of dragon scales? By the gods what I would do for a set of that. (If Dragonscale armor is equipped)
 * 53) Thats some fine armor you have there. Dwarven make am I right? (If possessing Dwarven Armor.)
 * 54) Good old fashion steel, had me a set of that once.(If wearing steel.)
 * 55) You wear the garb of a true nord hero, I salute you. (If wearing wolf armor.)
 * 56) Hail, Companion. (If a Companion.)
 * 57) Well if it isn't the slayer of Glenmoril Witches. How can I assist you Companion? (Finished Blood's Honor)
 * 58) Woah, woah, woah, watch the magic! (If casting magic near a gaurd.)
 * 59) Ebony armor, by Ysmir thats a sight to see. (If wearing ebony.)
 * Yes, Dovahkiin? (After defeating Alduin)
 * 1) Whatever you need Dragonborn, just say the word.(If Alduin dead)
 * 2) You have vanquished a great evil from skyrim,You saved us all and our very souls.(If you have defeated Alduin)
 * 3) Now I remember... you're that new memeber of the companions. So you what... fetch the mead? (If joined The Companions )
 * 4) Imperials think us all lawless beasts. I'm proof of their ignorance (Guards in Stormcloak territory)
 * 5) The Imperials think we need their laws. Pfft. (Guards in Stormcloak territory)
 * 6) What the Stormcloaks like to forget is that the Empire is what's keeping the Dominion out of Skyrim (Guards in Imperial Territory)
 * 7) If those Whiterun guards can take down a dragon, so can we. (Said in any hold other than Whiterun after completing Dragon Rising )
 * 8) You're that one from the college. Heard about you. (If joined The College of Winterhold )
 * 9) What business do college mages have in Saarthal anyway? It's a place for Nord dead... not your weird experiments (After completing Under Saarthal )
 * 10) Imagine... blowing up an entire town. Damn college. Winterhold will never be the same (Completion of Containment)
 * 11) Thanks again for re-opening the East Empire Company. Gonna have them import me some of that aged Breton cheese. (After completing Rise in the East )
 * 12) We got a nickname for anyone who trifles with us guards here in Windhelm - Suicide. (Guards in Windhelm)
 * 13) Releasing a captured dragon? I think I will never get that one (After completing The Fallen)
 * 14) "I know you had something to do with Sinding's escape, don't deny it" (After siding with Sinding in Ill Met with Moonlight)
 * 15) You come to me with your fists raised? You looking for a beating?(If approching a guard fists raised)
 * 16) I know Thieves' Guild armor when I see it. You're not fooling anyone. (if wearing Thieves' Guild armor)
 * 17) If you ask me I think that those orphans are better off now that Grelod is dead.
 * 18) Try to hide it all you want. I know you're in the Thieves' Guild... and so do the other guards. (if wearing Thieves' Guild armor)
 * 19) (Whistles) That is one big hammer. (Having Volendrung equipped)
 * 20) What do you want... Cat? (if player is a Khajiit)
 * 21) Someone murdered the old lady who ran the orphanage. Hey did I see you walk out of there? (In Riften after killing Grelod the Kind)
 * 22) Favor the bow eh? I'm a sword man myself. (Having a bow equipped)
 * 23) Orcish armor. Strong and ugly just like those who crafted it.

Trivia

 * Guards saying "Let me guess, someone stole your sweetroll " is a reference. It is a staple in many bethesda gamers where it is treated as an ongoing joke. 


 * :: The sweet roll is believed to have originated in The Elder Scrolls: Arena where, at the beginning of the game, one of the class-determining questions is:
 * "While in town the baker gives you a sweetroll. Delighted you take it into an ally to enjoy, only to be intercepted by a gang of three kids your age. The leader demands the sweetroll, or else he and his friends will beat you and take it. Do you...


 * It is also in Fallout 3, where Old Lady Palmer gives The Wanderer a sweetroll for his 10th birthday.


 * Another Easter Egg is the "Arrow to the knee" comment, which is a reference to the lack of Greaves in Skyrim.