- For this faction in other games, see Thieves Guild.
The Thieves Guild is an organization of pickpockets, burglars, robbers, and thieves. Founded by the Gray Fox over 300 years before the Oblivion Crisis, the guild is essentially a network of communication between the thieves of Cyrodiil, tips on loot and jobs from important people are passed along through the Doyen to the thieves, and Fences will buy their stolen goods, unlike most merchants.
Organization[]
| Guild Ranks (Cyrodiil) |
|---|
| Pickpocket |
| Footpad |
| Bandit |
| Prowler |
| Cat Burglar |
| Shadowfoot |
| Master Thief |
| Gray Fox |
In Cyrodiil, the Thieves Guild works more secretly than in other parts of Tamriel, due to extensive pressure from the Imperial Watch, whose increased scrutiny had many secret organizations under pressure after the assassination of Emperor Uriel Septim VII. Its existence is officially denied by Imperial officials, although Hieronymus Lex of the Imperial Watch set out to destroy the Guild in the Imperial City by capturing its leader, known as the Gray Fox, who has supposedly existed for over 300 years.
In Oblivion, there are five different ways to locate the Guild. One of them, likely the most risky, is to be arrested and imprisoned for whatever reason. It is possible that during incarceration the thief will be able to contact fellow thieves imprisoned with him. If not, eventually one will contact them, handing the person a note directing them to the location of the guild test.
An easier and less risky way of locating the guild is done by extensive questioning of beggars, who reveal that in the Imperial City Waterfront there is a small garden where one of the Guild's two Doyen may be interested in taking on new members if they are able to pass a small test. Tests are almost always done solo although there have been instances when they were competitive. Once the test is complete the Thief is declared a member although they are not permitted to engage in official Guild activities until a certain amount of money has been donated to the Guild's coffers. This is done through selling stolen property to one of the Guild's five Fences who are scattered across Cyrodiil but only revealed when a thief reaches a certain standing within the Guild. After a set amount is sold to a fence then the Thief will begin being invited to perform organized Guild thefts.
The Thieves Guild is a joinable guild where those practicing stealth arts may collaborate with each other. There are only three rules of the guild:
- Never steal from another member of the guild.
- Never kill anyone on the job. This is not the Dark Brotherhood. Animals and monsters can be slain if necessary.
- Don't steal from the poor. The peasants and beggars are under the personal protection of the Gray Fox, particularly on the Waterfront.
Finding the guild[]
- Main article: Finding the Thieves Guild
There are five methods of joining the guild:
- One method is being thrown in jail for a nonviolent crime (pickpocketing, stealing, etc. Committing violent crimes may work as well). Once the player has done so, a Dunmer named Myvryna Arano will approach them the next time they rest with a message from the Gray Fox, grandmaster of the guild. Upon reading this message, they will be given the "Finding the Thieves Guild" quest.
- The second method is by reading a Wanted poster of the Gray Fox within the Imperial City. One poster is located in the Waterfront District on the pillar of an arch right behind the fast travel point. Once the player does this, they can ask beggar when their disposition is high enough. Puny Ancus is conveniently also in the Waterfront District. They will tell the player to go the Garden of Dareloth at midnight.
- Or one can simply wait around the Waterfront where Armand Christophe waits with his torch around midnight and simply talk to Amusei, Methredhel, and Armand until they trigger the challenge.
- The Hero can also raise their disposition with Armand, and the Join Thieves Guild option will show up in the dialogue.
- Befriend City-Swimmer, in Bravil, who tells you to go to the garden in the Waterfront District at midnight for answers.
Ranks, requirements and guild perks[]
 Pickpocket |
 Footpad |
 Bandit |
 Prowler |
 Cat Burglar |
 Shadowfoot |
 Master Thief |
 Guildmaster |
- Pickpocket – Allows use of Ongar the World-Weary in Bruma as a fence, requires May the Best Thief Win completed.
- Footpad – Requires 50
fenced, and Untaxing the Poor completed. - Bandit – Requires 100 fenced, and The Elven Maiden completed. Allows use of Dar Jee in Leyawiin as a fence.
- Prowler – Requires 200 fenced, and Ahdarji's Heirloom completed.
- Cat Burglar – Requires 300 fenced, and Misdirection completed. Allows use of Luciana Galena in Bravil as a fence.
- Shadowfoot – Requires 500 fenced, and Taking Care of Lex completed. Allows use of Orrin in Castle Anvil as a fence.
- Master Thief – Requires 700 fenced, and Arrow of Extrication completed. Allows use of Fathis Ules in Elven Gardens District as a fence.
- Guildmaster – Requires 1000 fenced, and The Ultimate Heist completed. Receive the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal. Allows access to the Dareloth's Basement, effectively gaining a resting place/house.
Quests[]
- Finding the Thieves Guild
- Independent Thievery – Essentially a tracker for the gold a player has fenced, a certain amount of gold must be fenced before the main quests can be accessed.
From Armand Christophe[]
From S'Krivva in Bravil[]
From the Gray Fox[]
Via his messengers, Methredhel and Amusei, or from any Guild leader.
Key people[]
Doyen[]
The Doyen are the hands and eyes of the guildmaster, the Gray Fox, and essentially act as his lieutenants.
Beggars[]
When a thief needs information for a Thieves Guild quest then most beggars in every city are willing to help a friend. They are under the protection of the Gray Fox, and attacking or stealing from them will be treated as if it were against a guild member.
Fences[]
- Main article: Fence (Oblivion)
Fences are the people to who are willing to buy stolen property. Stolen property has a red hand marker over the item, and cannot be sold to normal merchants.
The fences are in order of availability as a Thief progresses through the Guild:
| Fence | City | Barter Gold |
Mercantile Skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongar the World-Weary | Bruma | 600 | 60 |
| Dar Jee | Leyawiin | 800 | 70 |
| Luciana Galena | Bravil | 1,000 | 80 |
| Orrin | Castle Anvil | 1,200 | 90 |
| Fathis Ules (see "Sins of the Father" quest) | 1,500 | 100 |
- For a full list of members, see Category:Oblivion: Thieves Guild Members.
- Beggars are not full Thieves Guild members, but they are under the protection of the Gray Fox and often offer information for quests for a little gold. If famous enough, they will give you the information for free.