Complete Guide to Skyrim’s "Speaking With Silence" Quest

Introduction

"Speaking With Silence" is a quest in Skyrim that involves the Thieves Guild and a mission to retrieve an important item. It's a quest filled with stealth, strategy, and the opportunity to showcase your skills in sneaking and thievery. This guide will provide a comprehensive step-by-step walkthrough to help you navigate through the challenges that lie ahead.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

• Starting the Quest

  • To begin "Speaking With Silence," ensure you have progressed far enough in the Thieves Guild questline, particularly having completed "Dampened Spirits."
  • Speak with Mercer Frey at the Thieves Guild in Riften. He will inform you about the current situation concerning the Silver-Blood family in Markarth.

• Travel to Markarth

  • Fast travel to Markarth or make your way there on foot.
  • Once you arrive, enter the Silver-Blood Inn and speak to the innkeeper, or if you prefer, head to the adjacent mine where the target, a man named Gulum-Ei, can be found.

• Gather Information

  • Upon arrival, locate Gulum-Ei inside the mine. He will inform you about the circumstances surrounding your quest objective.
  • Speak to various NPCs in the area to gather additional information and context about Gulum-Ei and his predicament.

• Locate Gulum-Ei's Hideout

  • After gathering the necessary information, follow the marker to find Gulum-Ei’s hideout.
    • Be cautious, as the area is heavily guarded.
    • Utilize stealth to avoid direct confrontations with the guards and ensure you remain undetected.

• Retrieve the items

  • Inside the hideout, locate the two items you must retrieve:
    • Marker Object: Look for the item marked on your compass.
      • *
        • Use your lockpicking skills to gain access to locked doors or containers.
        • Keep an eye out for traps and avoid them where possible.
    • Secondary Item: Once you have the primary item, look for any secondary objectives in the hiding place.
      • *
        • Search thoroughly.
        • Highlight all items to ensure you miss none.

• Confront the Silver-Blood Family

  • After retrieving the objects, backtrack towards the Silverblood estate.
  • An encounter with members of the Silver-Blood family is inevitable; be prepared for a fight.
  • Use any potions you may have to ensure you’re at full health during this confrontation.

• Returning to Mercer Frey

  • Once you have completed your objectives, return to the Thieves Guild in Riften to report back to Mercer Frey.
  • Conclude any dialogue options with him as necessary.

• Complete the Quest

  • Upon delivering the items and discussing the events that transpired, the quest "Speaking With Silence" will be marked as complete in your journal.

Conclusion

Completing "Speaking With Silence" not only advances the main Thieves Guild questline but also tests your sneaking and combat skills in Skyrim. By following this detailed walkthrough, you can successfully navigate the challenges presented by the quest and further immerse yourself in the rich world of Tamriel.