Since this video kind of blew up, some info: 1. The end of the video has some audio distortions because RUclips had some copyright issues. It was the only option to keep it online. 2. Normally I do Elder Scrolls lore videos, this is not my regular content. Usually I dive into a topic in the Universe, and then explore that topic. I tend to do really random and obscure things, I try to mostly talk about stuff others have not talked about. So if that sounds like your thing, consider checking it out. 3. This is a theory I am personally convinced by, but it is still a theory. Some disagree with my interpretations. Which is very valid, I am just convinced by it myself. For example, I listed my full opinion in this video, but some argued that the Weapons on her stand may of course just be a result of that being the most profitable thing to sell. And thus it is a business opportunity. I can see that argument, but when viewed in the larger scope of the many aspects of this theory I think that when viewed as part of all the clues, it still holds up. But that is just my personal interpretation. Happy Skyrimversary
I rather like the more investigative videos. Camelworks is really the only one who does them much currently, and if more people did that kind of thing, it would lead to a better understanding of what might actually be happening in the less obvious parts of the series.
@@justsomeonepassingby3838 Their garments would get dirty in no time. Furthermore, mudcrab and slaughterfish diet isn't good for your skin, or so I heard. Oh, and there is also a matter of fine vine.. No, they would rather send their lackeys to collect moisture and diseases in some frozen nordic sewers.
My Altmer Stormcloak Archmage who is married to a fine Dunmer lady who recognizes that the Stormcloaks aren't racist as a faction, and that it's only a few problematic individuals: "SKYRIM (culturally) BELONGS TO THE NORDS!!"
Her relationship to Grelka had me wondering if Grelka is her lower contact. Grelka then has a person or drop spot at Shors Stone that she relays information to. Grelka’s overall lack of personal appeal is a problem for a merchant. She doesn’t like what she is doing but scared about it at the same time.
had to look up what you meant by Grelka being a lower contact for Niranye, but the radiant dialogue implying that Grelka had a supplier for weapons is there
I like this theory, but what I will say is she doesn’t seem overly keen on it, I get the feeling she’s more being coerced/forced into being a spy. That might be why she’s happy to burn the Summerset Shadows and join up with the Thieves Guild, she gets protection from a powerful guild with Daedric guardians on their side!
not really a spy but a weapons supplier pretending to be politically "independent" or sympathizing with the Stormcloaks, and she doesn't need to be in contact with the Thalmor to sell weapons cheaply, or rat out more Talos worshippers
Or maybe that was another ploy. It would show that she's not connected to the High Elves anymore. They don't know that they just got rid of people that were busy blowing their cover. Now she's in with a Skyrim based guild and knows who's the leader and other members. Who they worship, and what they're stealing and who from. It would be a even better option.
Plus that really does comport more to someone who becomes an "asset" - often assets are acquired thru blackmail. That's why you can end up with a witness under oath saying he didn't pursue Jeffrey Epstein as a prosecutor because he was told he "belongs to intelligence". Preceding Epstein, there's a history of intelligence agencies using blackmail factories, such as sex trafficking rings, to generate assets, particularly targeting people in high places. I'd wager she's blackmailed in some way; given her skillset she probably gained notoriety for some illegal activity, and was forcefully employed as an asset rather than prosecuted
@@babygurleatsshickennuggits4201 well in that case her boss, you, are a semi-god who should not be offended... like you know betraying the person than can yet your whole army into oblivion, quite literally! xD
Thank you for all the years of actually using your imagination along with clues to present possible theories, instead of just saying "lazy Bethesda" every time something looks out of the ordinary.
@@AHJ0876 at lest the fans making these theories are better then people like you that just complain about a company being lazy, yeah yeah, doesn't mean you won't buy their next game, so why complain? it isn't going to change
@@samuelhaverghast2442 exactly. The only people who complain about Bethesda releasing Skyrim over and over are the ones who bought the re-releases every time.
The quest involving Niranye, given by Torsten, is to retrieve the locket of Fjotli, who was killed by the Butcher. That had nothing to do with a battlefield?
@@driftingdruid Why a trap, why smuggle them out? If the city is about to fall then they can just be arrested by the Imperials and then handed over to the Thalmor.
@@Raycloud Imperials imprison without handing them over to the Thalmor, Imperials have been known to be silently subversively resisting Thalmor influence. And this Thalmor priestess was priestess of the capitol that still worshipped Talos against treaty doctrine. The Thalmor would want to make a show of what banning Thalmor worship should look like. (don't think rationally, think like the Thalmor are bullies, drunk on the idea of supremacy and paranoid of all resistance movements)
@@driftingdruid Sometimes they imprison people without handing them over to the Thalmor, and sometimes they do. My point is, the theory that Niranye is trying to trick people into asking her to help them smuggle themselves out of town if it falls to the Imperials is convoluted and not really very logical.
Yes, a High Elf Legion Captain located near RIften (IIRC) talked about how the Thalmor wiped out a village of High Elves that didn't like them. I forgot about the finer details but I know for a fact that this captain exists and talked about it, it was part of his special dialog as he was most definitely unique among the High Elves we met in the game
Niranye switching to work for the Thieves Guild was probably one of the best things for the Thalmor. Niranye is involved with a guild that provides her an even better living situation, which thus makes her work easier, which also makes it easier for her to pass on good news to her Thalmor handlers about her weapons supplying. If she is being subjugated and forced to be a spy, which I think is pretty certain, I'd say she wakes up every day grateful to be involved with the Thieves Guild for inadvertantly helping keep the Thalmor off her back
Not necessarily. The Thieves Guild has probably lost the Imperial City's turf, so a kick in the teeth of the Summerset Shadows will go a long way in helping the Guild reclaim that turf. The Guild's also smarter than that. Their biggest client is Maven Blackbriar, who thinks ahead and flows with the war's outcome. And so like her, the Guild stays out of said war. They're not the Shadows who are working from afar and are comfortably distant from the Stormcloaks. In one radiant conversation between roaming Khajiit merchants, one cautions against supplying both Imperials and Stormcloaks. If they did, then both sides would have a stake in seizing those wares and eliminating them as a supplier to their enemies. Switching Niranye back to the Thieves Guild is a good move; through her, the civilians will have a better chance of getting provisions in the city when it grows more prosperous by other means.
a high elf came directly from the somerset isles to the _marketplace of the center of the rebel faction of a civil war,_ I made this assumption as well
Yeah, especially a recent arrival to the city, like her. If she lived in the city before the Civil War or even Great War happened (she is an elf) then she’d be more likely tolerated. Think of the US’s wariness of anyone of Japanese descent during WWII, taking no chances.
Hear me out: because she wanted to be there? Cities in Skyrim are incredibly diverse, including in Stormcloak-controlled areas; _especially_ Stormcloak controlled areas, actually. Riften is populated by Argonians, Dunmer, Bretons, Imperials, Nords, Altmer (IIRC), and even a Khajiit, the most races living in a single city.
Also, the chances of a high elf fleeing Summerset (or migrating in general) to skyrim rather than Higher Rock or Cyrodil is pretty low, suspiciously so. Since, unless they had personal history with it (like the priest of arkay in falkreath) then they'd be aware of how much of skyrim is intolerant to elves, and how in comparison to other parts of the empire, skyrim is probably not a pleasant place to live in. Especially under Stormcloak rule
Actually, it would be the safest place *from* Thalmor for that reason. Like the refugee who wrote Rising Threat would have been a lot safer in Skyrim than he was in Cyrodiil. And the Thalmor only got access to the empire's areas. Rubbing elbows with the Stormcloaks to defend against an enemy both of you hate with a passion seems to generally fit with how the Nords roll. See also: The Nords giving a whole section of Windhelm to their Snow Elven allies against the other snow elves (the grey quarter was the snow quarter way way back), Voryn Dagoth convincing them to ally with House Dagoth against Nerevar (even if it was a trick to throw them at the Dwemer), and the Ebonheart Pact happening out of a mostly spontaneous decision to team up against the Kamal.
@@neoqwerty Interesting. But I (pointlessly) wonder how many High Elves would know this, understand it, and act upon that. A rural county in the middle of nowhere Cyrodil, where the climate is favorable, still seems preferable than Skyrim in a few ways. I guess most importantly is the fact whether it is legal for high elves to casually leave sommerset if they would, since you may not express any direct dislike of thalmor and just settle elsewhere. For them it might be more convenient to thin out the opposition at home. Anyways, I don't know if there is lore about that.
If I may offer an alternate theory. Niranye fenced in Skyrim for the thieves guild a long time ago (100 years let’s say) this would make her dialogue when she says she was once one of the best fences in Skyrim make sense. For reasons unknown (maybe she hates the cold) she returned to Summerset. Fast forward years later, the thalmor are doing some casual cleansing throughout the dominion and she decides that it’s probably best to get out while the gettings good. Deciding to return to her roots, she sets up in Windhelm only to find that the thieves guild is basically non existent at that point. So she procures items to sell at the lowest price to make a profit, and while she doesn’t sell jewelry or other things like that, the first rule of the merchant is sell what is valuable. And what the stormcloaks need more than anything is armor and weapons. Can we really fault her for doing the profitable thing? Lastly, if she is a thalmor spy, why the heck would she say she came from Summerset?
11 years since 11-11-11. Happy anniversary! Btw: I discovered @TheBigE15 channel too late. His "Lost Cities" series were right up my alley, but he obviously won't continue it. RIP :( Can someone like you pick up that mantle?
Bits of nitpicking : - Niranye' claims that Summerset Shadows ''kills'' their marks, not just robbing the graves. That fact is the reason Niranye doesn't want to deal with them. - Niranye's wares are mostly weapons because Windhelm is capital of rebellions. Go talk to Khajiit Merchant Madran who travels between Windhelm ''AND'' Solitude who sold weapons for the exact same reasons. - Sources of Niranye's wares could be stolen by some employee of blacksmith, fletchers, and bowmakers. Thieves guild themself could attract blacksmith like Arnskar Ember-master
I don't want to. I don't want to... *New video about Skyrim uploaded* I NEED TO REPLAY SKYRIM!!! *In the speakers you can hear: "Hey, You. You're finally awake..."
Not in any official capacity, but in one of my playthroughs I was an Altmer deepcover agent of the Thalmor and saw Niranye as such as well. Great way to involve yourself in all the shady organisations in Skyrim. Great fun to play, too. Treat everything as a means to further the greater good and coming of the Dominion. Even killing other Thalmor.
It's one of the rebuilding theives guild quests that you can only get after doing 5 radiant quest for the guild in in Windhelm. Unless you played as a thief you probably missed it. Even playing as a thief the quest is hidden behind 5 optional quests in the same city being completed. While there are 9 Citys that can be picked and you can only uave two missions at a time from delvin and Vex.
"The shadows never murder" is written in the second letter, despite her saying they might kill her. Not arguing that the letters sounded vaguely threatening, but if they're not targeting her life then what do they have hanging over her?
I mean 50% of the Thief Guild repeating quests is to ruin a private person or company. Killing doesn't need to mean murdering when they just reveal their Identity to the authorithies of Windhelm. That being said Stormcloacks are after her, Thalmor probably would try to get rid of her. She will either become a potatoe farmer in Rorikstead or die.
This reminds me of your previous video about how grandmaster discovered a letter from a fort in falkreath. You're channel is great because it's like within the soul of the channel we can feel mundus echoing. Or something like that. Basically, your videos have unique vibes.
In Oblivion, the place I could get the most cash for all the most powerful items was the Mystic Emporium. In my head canon, the two Altmer running the shop were buying up weapons for the Altmeri Dominion and the Hero of Kvatch inadvertently sent a crap ton of the deadliest weapons in Tamriel to the Summurset Isles, making them at least partially responsible for the Empire's defeat preceding ES5.
Your theory will make a fine addition to my head-cannon. Also, yes, it seems so obvious in hind-sight. Perhaps we all found her sus but were satisfied by her connections to the Altmer bandits & Riften Thieves Guild.
I like your theory, your reasoning is sound. Thank you for your research into this topic, which is of an interest. Nobody likes the Thalmor... unless their evil.
To be honest, I had suspected this before due to the excisting connections between the Thalmor and Ulfric making me suspicious, though I had forgotten for quite a few years. Glad to see I'm not the only one who considered this...
there is one of the khajitcaravan members who has a letter in their inventory sayimg he is a thalmor agent, i just can't remember wich but i saw it in my game, great video, watching from Brazil!
@@ImperialKnowledge cant remember, but ill try to find him, in my game he was on the khajit caravan in windhelm and he had a letter on his inventory, he wasnt the vendor of the caravan abd it was anniversary edition without mods
@@carlosrodrigues2491 after a while a khajit shows up at windhelm near the actual caravan and is part of a quest. He is a confirmed thalmor agent and isn’t actually a part of the real caravans
Just discovered your channel, heres a theory for you: Kyne, the godess of war and storms (and sometimes farming) is displeased with Whiterun and its neutrality. The Gildergreen was a sacred tree and holy site visited by pilgrims from far away (see the radiant encounter high elf traveling with her dog). it was struck by lightning and badly burnt. According to the priestess, pilgrims have stopped coming because "who wants to see a big dead tree its not inspiring." Whiterun is a trading city, less travelers less prosperity. Where in the hold has unnatural farm based prosperity? Rorikstead; founded and run by great war veterans. Maybe that last point is a reach but just something interesting to think about
Rorikstead is Daedric influenced, not Aedric, and also, Kyne isn't displeased with Whiterun, if she was, she would never let the Eldergleam give a sapling to replace the old tree, Joune I think is from the Reach originally, so thats why Rorikstead has Daedric magic influencing their crops
@@samuelhaverghast2442 the citizens only comment on how their fortune seems to be a blessing from the gods not which gods. while it is a technicality in base game skyrim planting the eldergleem sapling doesnt work, it does not regrow it is bugged. Jouane Manette is a very french / breton name not a celtic name like reachmen have. reachmen also tend to have facepaint. to be fair rorik says most of his men were from around whiterun though.
I've always suspected Niranye as well. When you first get to town two Nords hem up a Dark Elf accusing her of being a spy Niranye had money and greased the wheels with the local rich and deals with the thieves guild
11:46 I own The Communist Manifesto and I'm not a Communist, I own a Bible and I'm not a Christian, I own The Prince and I'm not the head of an Italian Principality.
Ah yes, an Aldmer lady who left the Summerset Isles to sell weapons right in the middle of a civil war and somehow is allowed to live in Windhelm without immediately being lynched from the nearest tree-branch, certainly nothing suspicious about this character at all.
I find one small flaw. When she mentions being a fence a long time ago, she’s an Altmer. She could mean anything from 20 years ago to 200 years ago. She could have been there before the Great War and fled when it started
And she doesn’t necessarily have to have been a fence in Skyrim. I’m confused as why he’s pushing it like this when we know the Thieves Guild exists in other parts of Tamriel.
For future imperial knowledge: "Its release", not "It's release". It's is short for "It is". Just like we don't write "he's release" or "hi's release", we don't write "it's release".
I tend to agree with your interpretation, although I don't think she's anything more than a low level cutout obeying orders from the Thalmor who jumps to the protection of the Dragonborn as soon as she's able.
Could also be that the other goods from the graves are sold elsewhere, in a more profitable place to make up for the losses from the weapons and not raising suspicions as much.
I found out about your channel from one of your subscribers on Facebook 😁 glad he mentioned it. I always thought Niranye was kind of suspicious. Your theory makes sense. Great content 👍🏻
Im on 0:59 and my friend I KNOW you are right, without watching anything else, if you carefully read the documentation in the thalmor embasy you'll know that Ulfric is a thalmor agent, that why you have a High elf in the markets, while dark elves are rotting in the grey slum. edit: My dude you have opened my f eyes. I just hope the cannon gives us a imperial victory in the civil war...
Ulfric is not a Thalmor agent. If you read that document you'd know that since that same document talks about how they captured, tortured, and manipulated him during the Great War. He is an "asset" because his motives and actions happen to benefit the Thalmor's strategic interests to a DEGREE. They don't want him to win his rebellion but Ulfric DOES want to win. He DOES worship Talos and DOES want independence, but at the same time his rebellion against the Empire does weaken the Empire. Hence, he is an asset. What the Thalmor want is for his rebellion to be long, bloody, and indecisive. They do not want the Imperials OR Stormcloaks to win and especially not decisively. As for Niranye, it's a plausible theory but relies on a lot of speculation and filling in the gaps. I personally doubt the writers were that subtle.
Personally I don't think this theory has much weight. The main reason she sells mostly weapons is most likely because the Stormcloaks who are based in Windhelm are in the middle of a civil war, and weapons would be in demand more than ever. As she said (Just got here from the Summerset Isles, Lots of opportunity in Skyrim) She saw a business opportunity there. Plus the reason for her prices being so low is mostly to do with the fact most of her stock is knockoff gear. There are however spy's in Windhelm (The New Gnisis Cornerclub Dark Elves are Imperial spy's, see my video for conformation)
How is it knock off gear if it's the same thing as any iron or steel or glass weapon? They don't do less damage. they don't say "knock off iron mace". Also, those reasons you listed are all plausible lies. Like no seriously, think for one moment what it means to be a high elf in skyrim. Do you tell everyone who asks you the whole truth of your thoughts in a city that is currently having murders at night and hosts proud and loud racists that just accost ANY NON NORD? OR Do you have a set script to go by when asked that way you can be as safe from reprisal as you could be?
I think you are right about her. She is the asset. The Shadows were likely offered clemency in exchange for plying their trade in Skyrim. She likely is just self serving enough to work with anyone and the Thalmor just offered her a good deal in exchange for her services in arming the populace. And by the fact she is connected to them she has to offer any Intel she gathers. Her manner of speech is likely just an artifact of the fact she is a Summerset Isles native. It does reveal though she is not some common bumpkin. Can't have been if she came to the attention of the Thalmor.
This is very good and I never considered this before. A little bit about "The Talos Mistake", how come you find it at the Talos statue outside Windhelm?
If you have trhe CRF mod, then there's a invisible Thlamor waiting to ambush you there. Probably while you're pondering the reason some Thalmor left their propoganda right next to a statue of the very person it denigrates.
It could possibly be that they’re arming anti thalmor factions, summerser thieves may be societal outcast, those who don’t side with the thalmors radical beliefs. So arming those who will fight them may be a logical move?
I don't really buy into this theory. The Summerset Shadows raided battlefields, not graves. These weapons raided from here would have been recovered either way so it is of no benefit to the Thalmor to invest in reselling them. On top of that, Nords respect high-quality weapons and their local blacksmiths. Niranye sells leftover weapons that were likely exposed to the elements for quite some time. The weapons are 100% a front for the Summerset Shadows greater operations. Niranye also has a certain level of respect for the nords. She recognizes that they will respect anyone that earns their keep, which Niranye is doing, and she even shares in the nords' disdain for the Dunmer being lazy. It seems much more likely to me that Niranye came to Skyrim with the Summerset Shadows and was their fence. She realizes that this deal isn't for her anymore and she decides to throw in with the Thieves Guild instead. The book is also found in many other places. It's a common piece of literature
She could have worked with a different guild chapter to the “lying about being a fence” bit. Assuming they still have or had other groups outside Skyrim.
I've been telling people this for ages! I first brought it up in a reddit argument about racism in windhelm. Some guy pointed out that They aren't racist since Niranye is successful and I told him that was because she is selling weapons to the stormcloak army on behalf of the Thalmor as a way of intervening indirectly.
I can totally buy it that Naranye is the Thalmor's Ollie North. I also suspect that the Summerset Shadows are an actual criminal gang and they've become a problem for Naranye, and that's why why has you solve them. Then she starts working for the Thieves' Guild, all while still working for the Thalmor.
Hey when you're talking to her being sent back to windhelm you made a logic leap You assume she moved Back-and-forth from Somerset to skyrim Every province has its own thief s guild as well as local thieves she could have been a fence in any province
There are theories, but nothing solid. A lot of people say Delphine, but I've also heard a theory about the psijic order from the college of winterhold questline. I think Delphine is the more likely of the two, but I'm not entirely convinced
On the thieves' guild yet having returned from Summerset. The thieves' guild is not exclussive to Skyrim. She was probably a member of the thieves' guild in Summerset, or somewhere like Valenwood. And she's an Altmer, that may have happened centuries ago.
5:10 they would likely be turning up weapons since realistically, they are iron or at best steel make. The clothes a lot of the dead there, likely soldiers, would be nothing worth taking. As far as jewelry goes, again, the vaster majority of the dead likely being soldiers would mean that they might have amulets of talos, but usual jewelry would be scarce. Likely kept by the surviving family members but even then. Weapons would be more likely to be in a state that they could be recovered but even then. Think about that quest in oblivion where that merchant was unknowingly selling off goods from robbed graves. Those were citizens, ones wealthy enough to be buried in the town itself. They would have stuff worth taking. Her lousy stock is therefore hardly a surprise.
I knew about her for ages, but my theory was: she is a member of the thieves' guild selling weapons they can't sell well in their own homecountry for cheap, basically getting rid of them because nobody there would want old nord weapons, they look down on the nord far too much. They have other uses for the jewelry that's lightweight and can be shipped well. So she is simply a fence selling unwanted stuff they got from grave robbing to people who need weapons badly enough to not ask any questions, like where she got those weapons from. The 'heathens' I suspect have to pay her a lot for her help to disappear - and then she'll double cross them. So I didn't think she was a spy, just a fence.
I've actually got one fly to throw into the theory that being very simple if the player is on good terms with Niranye and a Thalmor Justiciar attacks you (I have tested this) she will come to the Dovahkiin's defense though I think that may have to do with the fact that anyone the player has positive relations with will attack Thalmor attacking the player so I'm not sure. But I have tested it, I spawned in a hostile justiciar and Niranye along with everyone else in Windhelm's market square dogpiled and killed the guy Thalmor are really not welcome anywhere Stormcloak territory I haven't tested it when Windhelm is Imperial controlled as I've not completed the Civil War chain BUT I'm willing to be the same thing would happen, general rule don't be a Thalmor and attack the Dovahkiin in a hold that is full of their friends, it causes everyone even the guards to go after you. In fact the random Thalmor kill teams that come after you in general are idiots with a death wish, they are sent after the freaking Dragonborn which is always a losing fight if the player is smart or high level, I've had a random Thalmor kill squad attack me while I was clad in full Dragonbone armor and wielding Volendrung and it was right outside the gates of Whiterun where I was Thane, the guards immediately came to my aid and we killed them. I'm not sure why they came after me, most likely because I kill Thalmor Justiciars whenever I encounter them out of habit.
11:54 - It could be that she is being an informed individual who understands that the best way to defeat your enemy is to know your enemy. I think you're correct, but to answer your theoretical question, it would be to know what your enemy thinks so that you know how to combat it better.
Since this video kind of blew up, some info:
1. The end of the video has some audio distortions because RUclips had some copyright issues. It was the only option to keep it online.
2. Normally I do Elder Scrolls lore videos, this is not my regular content. Usually I dive into a topic in the Universe, and then explore that topic. I tend to do really random and obscure things, I try to mostly talk about stuff others have not talked about. So if that sounds like your thing, consider checking it out.
3. This is a theory I am personally convinced by, but it is still a theory. Some disagree with my interpretations. Which is very valid, I am just convinced by it myself. For example, I listed my full opinion in this video, but some argued that the Weapons on her stand may of course just be a result of that being the most profitable thing to sell. And thus it is a business opportunity. I can see that argument, but when viewed in the larger scope of the many aspects of this theory I think that when viewed as part of all the clues, it still holds up. But that is just my personal interpretation.
Happy Skyrimversary
And happy independence day for me
Fantastic video! Kept me hooked start to end, keep it up! :)
I rather like the more investigative videos. Camelworks is really the only one who does them much currently, and if more people did that kind of thing, it would lead to a better understanding of what might actually be happening in the less obvious parts of the series.
I agree with your theory. Great video. Thanks!
Love how you have assassins creed:revelutions music playing in background! I always found it soothing.
I love the implication if Niranye isint a spy then Altmeri gangsters are remarkably friendly and polite
They're probably highly professional, like Yakuza.
@@marcusbergman6116 Altmer having a Yakuza is an idea I enjoy
@@marcusbergman6116 I'm stealing this idea thank you very much stranger
@@marcusbergman6116 Marcus, Payment is due. You know.
@@marcusbergman6116
Altmer, even in crime, are truly professional as they should always be
The creator of Skyrim Sewers may have had an idea about this, as they have added a small Thalmor outpost right underneath Niranye's home.
This kinda breaks immersion for me. The're too easy to locate.
@@rethomore for someone who lives in the sewers, sure. If a vampire can hide in the sewers, why not the thalmor ?
@@justsomeonepassingby3838 Their garments would get dirty in no time. Furthermore, mudcrab and slaughterfish diet isn't good for your skin, or so I heard. Oh, and there is also a matter of fine vine..
No, they would rather send their lackeys to collect moisture and diseases in some frozen nordic sewers.
@@rethomore they're in an infiltration mission. Even the thalmor ambassy is not a great place to be a watchguard.
Also, Magic.
@@justsomeonepassingby3838 It's not about the art of Magick, you see. It's about STYLE!
The Ambassy is in the back end of nowhere though, that's true.
You had me at "She sells weapons to the Nord for cheap". Just what the Thalmor needs: a divided Empire.
Damn stormcloacks, dividing our empire!
@@acolyte1951 Damned empire dividing our empire!
My Altmer Stormcloak Archmage who is married to a fine Dunmer lady who recognizes that the Stormcloaks aren't racist as a faction, and that it's only a few problematic individuals: "SKYRIM (culturally) BELONGS TO THE NORDS!!"
@@nathanfivecoate5848 Tell that to the snow elves!
Or maybe stolen weapons are cheaper because merchants wants to get rid of stolen cargo quickly?
Her relationship to Grelka had me wondering if Grelka is her lower contact. Grelka then has a person or drop spot at Shors Stone that she relays information to. Grelka’s overall lack of personal appeal is a problem for a merchant. She doesn’t like what she is doing but scared about it at the same time.
had to look up what you meant by Grelka being a lower contact for Niranye, but the radiant dialogue implying that Grelka had a supplier for weapons is there
I like this theory, but what I will say is she doesn’t seem overly keen on it, I get the feeling she’s more being coerced/forced into being a spy.
That might be why she’s happy to burn the Summerset Shadows and join up with the Thieves Guild, she gets protection from a powerful guild with Daedric guardians on their side!
not really a spy but a weapons supplier pretending to be politically "independent" or sympathizing with the Stormcloaks, and she doesn't need to be in contact with the Thalmor to sell weapons cheaply, or rat out more Talos worshippers
Or maybe that was another ploy. It would show that she's not connected to the High Elves anymore. They don't know that they just got rid of people that were busy blowing their cover. Now she's in with a Skyrim based guild and knows who's the leader and other members. Who they worship, and what they're stealing and who from. It would be a even better option.
Plus that really does comport more to someone who becomes an "asset" - often assets are acquired thru blackmail. That's why you can end up with a witness under oath saying he didn't pursue Jeffrey Epstein as a prosecutor because he was told he "belongs to intelligence". Preceding Epstein, there's a history of intelligence agencies using blackmail factories, such as sex trafficking rings, to generate assets, particularly targeting people in high places. I'd wager she's blackmailed in some way; given her skillset she probably gained notoriety for some illegal activity, and was forcefully employed as an asset rather than prosecuted
@@babygurleatsshickennuggits4201 well in that case her boss, you, are a semi-god who should not be offended... like you know betraying the person than can yet your whole army into oblivion, quite literally! xD
Thank you for all the years of actually using your imagination along with clues to present possible theories, instead of just saying "lazy Bethesda" every time something looks out of the ordinary.
as magical a place as tamriel is, I just put bugs and glitches under the "because of magic" head cannon lol
Bethesda is lazy though and almost every fan theory in the last three years had been stretching Skyrim for content
@@AHJ0876 at lest the fans making these theories are better then people like you that just complain about a company being lazy, yeah yeah, doesn't mean you won't buy their next game, so why complain? it isn't going to change
@@samuelhaverghast2442 because complaining is fun and I like making obvious observations
@@samuelhaverghast2442 exactly. The only people who complain about Bethesda releasing Skyrim over and over are the ones who bought the re-releases every time.
They were not selling Grave robbing [ in Skyrim ] . They were looting battlefields . That would explain all the weapons/armors .
The quest involving Niranye, given by Torsten, is to retrieve the locket of Fjotli, who was killed by the Butcher. That had nothing to do with a battlefield?
I think that she’s primarily an opportunist. If there was another Great War she’d sell weapons and armor to both sides.
However, in cut content she offers to smuggle the Talos priest and priestess out of Skyrim to a safe place if the rebellion fails
or is it a ruse to lead them into a Thalmor trap?? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Maybe because the Thalmor needed to keep the rebellion live and well for their agenda?
@@driftingdruid Why a trap, why smuggle them out? If the city is about to fall then they can just be arrested by the Imperials and then handed over to the Thalmor.
@@Raycloud Imperials imprison without handing them over to the Thalmor, Imperials have been known to be silently subversively resisting Thalmor influence. And this Thalmor priestess was priestess of the capitol that still worshipped Talos against treaty doctrine. The Thalmor would want to make a show of what banning Thalmor worship should look like. (don't think rationally, think like the Thalmor are bullies, drunk on the idea of supremacy and paranoid of all resistance movements)
@@driftingdruid Sometimes they imprison people without handing them over to the Thalmor, and sometimes they do. My point is, the theory that Niranye is trying to trick people into asking her to help them smuggle themselves out of town if it falls to the Imperials is convoluted and not really very logical.
she might very well be a spy, she might be an unwilling spy too. Thalmor ended their own kind that opposed them iirc
Yes, a High Elf Legion Captain located near RIften (IIRC) talked about how the Thalmor wiped out a village of High Elves that didn't like them. I forgot about the finer details but I know for a fact that this captain exists and talked about it, it was part of his special dialog as he was most definitely unique among the High Elves we met in the game
Niranye switching to work for the Thieves Guild was probably one of the best things for the Thalmor. Niranye is involved with a guild that provides her an even better living situation, which thus makes her work easier, which also makes it easier for her to pass on good news to her Thalmor handlers about her weapons supplying. If she is being subjugated and forced to be a spy, which I think is pretty certain, I'd say she wakes up every day grateful to be involved with the Thieves Guild for inadvertantly helping keep the Thalmor off her back
Not necessarily. The Thieves Guild has probably lost the Imperial City's turf, so a kick in the teeth of the Summerset Shadows will go a long way in helping the Guild reclaim that turf.
The Guild's also smarter than that. Their biggest client is Maven Blackbriar, who thinks ahead and flows with the war's outcome. And so like her, the Guild stays out of said war. They're not the Shadows who are working from afar and are comfortably distant from the Stormcloaks. In one radiant conversation between roaming Khajiit merchants, one cautions against supplying both Imperials and Stormcloaks. If they did, then both sides would have a stake in seizing those wares and eliminating them as a supplier to their enemies.
Switching Niranye back to the Thieves Guild is a good move; through her, the civilians will have a better chance of getting provisions in the city when it grows more prosperous by other means.
a high elf came directly from the somerset isles to the _marketplace of the center of the rebel faction of a civil war,_ I made this assumption as well
With that background music
I imagine Ezio investigating the Thalmor
Great theory!
Also, as a dragonborn, I too steal weapons from nord graves.
Lol let's face it we all do
" lets robb the deads " 🤣
Most of us, if not everyone, are not only a dragonborn but a nightingale too. We are supposed to rob those weapons... 😆
I was always perplexed why the officials in Windhelm would allow Niranye to even be in the city, everything considering.
Yeah, especially a recent arrival to the city, like her. If she lived in the city before the Civil War or even Great War happened (she is an elf) then she’d be more likely tolerated. Think of the US’s wariness of anyone of Japanese descent during WWII, taking no chances.
Not to mention the person training and houses all the horses is a high elf
Because she sells cheap weapons. They’re willing to keep her if they believe she’s helping them win
The Alchemist is also an Altmer, But he dies during the White Vial quest
Hear me out: because she wanted to be there? Cities in Skyrim are incredibly diverse, including in Stormcloak-controlled areas; _especially_ Stormcloak controlled areas, actually. Riften is populated by Argonians, Dunmer, Bretons, Imperials, Nords, Altmer (IIRC), and even a Khajiit, the most races living in a single city.
she is my favorite High Elf funny enough lol. love doing the Thieves' Guild quest involving her.
I made niranye a follower once. Shes not that strong though, lol.
Now I use The Caller :)
Also, the chances of a high elf fleeing Summerset (or migrating in general) to skyrim rather than Higher Rock or Cyrodil is pretty low, suspiciously so. Since, unless they had personal history with it (like the priest of arkay in falkreath) then they'd be aware of how much of skyrim is intolerant to elves, and how in comparison to other parts of the empire, skyrim is probably not a pleasant place to live in. Especially under Stormcloak rule
Actually, it would be the safest place *from* Thalmor for that reason. Like the refugee who wrote Rising Threat would have been a lot safer in Skyrim than he was in Cyrodiil. And the Thalmor only got access to the empire's areas.
Rubbing elbows with the Stormcloaks to defend against an enemy both of you hate with a passion seems to generally fit with how the Nords roll. See also: The Nords giving a whole section of Windhelm to their Snow Elven allies against the other snow elves (the grey quarter was the snow quarter way way back), Voryn Dagoth convincing them to ally with House Dagoth against Nerevar (even if it was a trick to throw them at the Dwemer), and the Ebonheart Pact happening out of a mostly spontaneous decision to team up against the Kamal.
@@neoqwerty Interesting. But I (pointlessly) wonder how many High Elves would know this, understand it, and act upon that. A rural county in the middle of nowhere Cyrodil, where the climate is favorable, still seems preferable than Skyrim in a few ways. I guess most importantly is the fact whether it is legal for high elves to casually leave sommerset if they would, since you may not express any direct dislike of thalmor and just settle elsewhere. For them it might be more convenient to thin out the opposition at home. Anyways, I don't know if there is lore about that.
Places to stay away cause racisn- Windhelm and Dawnstar. For the most part Nords are pretty 'meh' about the Dragonborn being an Elf, Angorian, or Cat.
HAIL TALOS AND THE STORMCLOAKS!!!
@@chadharger9323 I could see that
The Stormcloak might be paranoid, but it stop being paranoia when they ARE out to get you.
If I may offer an alternate theory. Niranye fenced in Skyrim for the thieves guild a long time ago (100 years let’s say) this would make her dialogue when she says she was once one of the best fences in Skyrim make sense. For reasons unknown (maybe she hates the cold) she returned to Summerset.
Fast forward years later, the thalmor are doing some casual cleansing throughout the dominion and she decides that it’s probably best to get out while the gettings good. Deciding to return to her roots, she sets up in Windhelm only to find that the thieves guild is basically non existent at that point.
So she procures items to sell at the lowest price to make a profit, and while she doesn’t sell jewelry or other things like that, the first rule of the merchant is sell what is valuable. And what the stormcloaks need more than anything is armor and weapons. Can we really fault her for doing the profitable thing?
Lastly, if she is a thalmor spy, why the heck would she say she came from Summerset?
" Mr. Stormcloak knowledge "
lmao
He is real
I do appreciate the assassin’s creed revelations music in the background.
wats the name?
Name of the music track?
@@JohnnySlamFire YES
Investigation
11 years since 11-11-11. Happy anniversary!
Btw: I discovered @TheBigE15 channel too late. His "Lost Cities" series were right up my alley, but he obviously won't continue it. RIP :(
Can someone like you pick up that mantle?
Idk that feels kind of wrong to me as it was his idea… but I might, if I find something interesting
I apologize if it feels wrong. You do what you feel is the best. Thank you!
It's the big 11s! I think that's more symbolically important than the 10 year anniv.
Bits of nitpicking :
- Niranye' claims that Summerset Shadows ''kills'' their marks, not just robbing the graves. That fact is the reason Niranye doesn't want to deal with them.
- Niranye's wares are mostly weapons because Windhelm is capital of rebellions. Go talk to Khajiit Merchant Madran who travels between Windhelm ''AND'' Solitude who sold weapons for the exact same reasons.
- Sources of Niranye's wares could be stolen by some employee of blacksmith, fletchers, and bowmakers. Thieves guild themself could attract blacksmith like Arnskar Ember-master
I don't want to. I don't want to...
*New video about Skyrim uploaded*
I NEED TO REPLAY SKYRIM!!!
*In the speakers you can hear: "Hey, You. You're finally awake..."
And those of us who know the lure just heard Ralof say that.
This makes so much sense i 100% agree
Not in any official capacity, but in one of my playthroughs I was an Altmer deepcover agent of the Thalmor and saw Niranye as such as well.
Great way to involve yourself in all the shady organisations in Skyrim. Great fun to play, too. Treat everything as a means to further the greater good and coming of the Dominion. Even killing other Thalmor.
Brilliant counter-intelligence analysis. Almost like you've had training. Great intel. Thanks! Blood will always be thicker than water. Brother.
I don't think I remember even doing her quest or knowing she even had one. Lol this is a really interesting theory. I like it
It's one of the rebuilding theives guild quests that you can only get after doing 5 radiant quest for the guild in in Windhelm. Unless you played as a thief you probably missed it. Even playing as a thief the quest is hidden behind 5 optional quests in the same city being completed. While there are 9 Citys that can be picked and you can only uave two missions at a time from delvin and Vex.
POV: you're a drunken nord at the local inn overhearing the conspiracy theorist veterans there
I’d be the drunken Nord trying to woo her instead. High elves might be narcissistic, but they are attractive. Especially Niranye
"The shadows never murder" is written in the second letter, despite her saying they might kill her.
Not arguing that the letters sounded vaguely threatening, but if they're not targeting her life then what do they have hanging over her?
I mean 50% of the Thief Guild repeating quests is to ruin a private person or company.
Killing doesn't need to mean murdering when they just reveal their Identity to the authorithies of Windhelm.
That being said Stormcloacks are after her, Thalmor probably would try to get rid of her. She will either become a potatoe farmer in Rorikstead or die.
This reminds me of your previous video about how grandmaster discovered a letter from a fort in falkreath. You're channel is great because it's like within the soul of the channel we can feel mundus echoing. Or something like that. Basically, your videos have unique vibes.
In Oblivion, the place I could get the most cash for all the most powerful items was the Mystic Emporium. In my head canon, the two Altmer running the shop were buying up weapons for the Altmeri Dominion and the Hero of Kvatch inadvertently sent a crap ton of the deadliest weapons in Tamriel to the Summurset Isles, making them at least partially responsible for the Empire's defeat preceding ES5.
I think I've just been convinced to finally play Skyrim
...again 😮💨
just so you could assassinate her? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
you can't stop
Heavy-modded Skyrim is as addictive as LoL after gaining Diamond rank
Windhelm did have a spy. They just didn’t think that the Thalmor spy was helping them.
Your theory will make a fine addition to my head-cannon.
Also, yes, it seems so obvious in hind-sight. Perhaps we all found her sus but were satisfied by her connections to the Altmer bandits & Riften Thieves Guild.
I like your theory, your reasoning is sound. Thank you for your research into this topic, which is of an interest. Nobody likes the Thalmor... unless their evil.
To be honest, I had suspected this before due to the excisting connections between the Thalmor and Ulfric making me suspicious, though I had forgotten for quite a few years. Glad to see I'm not the only one who considered this...
there is one of the khajitcaravan members who has a letter in their inventory sayimg he is a thalmor agent, i just can't remember wich but i saw it in my game, great video, watching from Brazil!
Wait really? I wasnt aware of that. Isnt it the fake merchant from the malborn quest?
@@ImperialKnowledge cant remember, but ill try to find him, in my game he was on the khajit caravan in windhelm and he had a letter on his inventory, he wasnt the vendor of the caravan abd it was anniversary edition without mods
@@carlosrodrigues2491 after a while a khajit shows up at windhelm near the actual caravan and is part of a quest. He is a confirmed thalmor agent and isn’t actually a part of the real caravans
@@raerae6176 its j'datharr, found him but i didn't know of the quest
Just discovered your channel, heres a theory for you: Kyne, the godess of war and storms (and sometimes farming) is displeased with Whiterun and its neutrality. The Gildergreen was a sacred tree and holy site visited by pilgrims from far away (see the radiant encounter high elf traveling with her dog). it was struck by lightning and badly burnt. According to the priestess, pilgrims have stopped coming because "who wants to see a big dead tree its not inspiring." Whiterun is a trading city, less travelers less prosperity. Where in the hold has unnatural farm based prosperity? Rorikstead; founded and run by great war veterans.
Maybe that last point is a reach but just something interesting to think about
Rorikstead's got Daedric influences for its agricultural fertility, if ya know what I mean
Rorikstead is Daedric influenced, not Aedric, and also, Kyne isn't displeased with Whiterun, if she was, she would never let the Eldergleam give a sapling to replace the old tree, Joune I think is from the Reach originally, so thats why Rorikstead has Daedric magic influencing their crops
If Kyne is upset with Whiterun, she'd be upset with any Hold not worshipping the OG Nordic (Atmoran) Pantheon
@@thalmoragent9344 she's a godess of war, and whiterun is a neutral province in the civil war
@@samuelhaverghast2442 the citizens only comment on how their fortune seems to be a blessing from the gods not which gods. while it is a technicality in base game skyrim planting the eldergleem sapling doesnt work, it does not regrow it is bugged. Jouane Manette is a very french / breton name not a celtic name like reachmen have. reachmen also tend to have facepaint. to be fair rorik says most of his men were from around whiterun though.
I've always suspected Niranye as well. When you first get to town two Nords hem up a Dark Elf accusing her of being a spy Niranye had money and greased the wheels with the local rich and deals with the thieves guild
Wait hold up a moment I don't remember ever being a misión in the thieves guild quest line were you interact with her or the summerset shadows.
11:46 I own The Communist Manifesto and I'm not a Communist, I own a Bible and I'm not a Christian, I own The Prince and I'm not the head of an Italian Principality.
Ye I own miencaumph and I'm Jewish unironicly. It's just when in media like story's if it's referenced it has merrit lol
The best place to hide is in plain sight…. Like seriously this was so obvious and I never noticed despite all my suspicions of a spy in windhelm
Ah yes, an Aldmer lady who left the Summerset Isles to sell weapons right in the middle of a civil war and somehow is allowed to live in Windhelm without immediately being lynched from the nearest tree-branch, certainly nothing suspicious about this character at all.
Cease your investigation!
You’re incredibly stupid if you think Stormcloaks are just blindly racist. She’s not the only High Elf in Windhelm
take a shot each time he says rock bottom prices
I find one small flaw. When she mentions being a fence a long time ago, she’s an Altmer. She could mean anything from 20 years ago to 200 years ago. She could have been there before the Great War and fled when it started
And she doesn’t necessarily have to have been a fence in Skyrim. I’m confused as why he’s pushing it like this when we know the Thieves Guild exists in other parts of Tamriel.
@@BC-dn6oq I thought that at first but no she says she fenced for Skyrim’s Thieves Guild specifically.
Over the years I've always been suspicious of Nyranye without knowing why exactly, just had a feeling.
For future imperial knowledge: "Its release", not "It's release".
It's is short for "It is". Just like we don't write "he's release" or "hi's release", we don't write "it's release".
Damn, that makes a lot of sense. I really need to get into the habit of questioning every little piece of information I come across in the games lol.
Look at her face, that's a Thalmor!
Always thought she was sus, now I know
What a great hypothesis! Fun to surmise what could be going on here, even if there's no true irrefutable evidence...yet.
I tend to agree with your interpretation, although I don't think she's anything more than a low level cutout obeying orders from the Thalmor who jumps to the protection of the Dragonborn as soon as she's able.
Could also be that the other goods from the graves are sold elsewhere, in a more profitable place to make up for the losses from the weapons and not raising suspicions as much.
I found out about your channel from one of your subscribers on Facebook 😁 glad he mentioned it. I always thought Niranye was kind of suspicious. Your theory makes sense. Great content 👍🏻
Im on 0:59 and my friend I KNOW you are right, without watching anything else, if you carefully read the documentation in the thalmor embasy you'll know that Ulfric is a thalmor agent, that why you have a High elf in the markets, while dark elves are rotting in the grey slum.
edit: My dude you have opened my f eyes. I just hope the cannon gives us a imperial victory in the civil war...
Ulfric is not a Thalmor agent. If you read that document you'd know that since that same document talks about how they captured, tortured, and manipulated him during the Great War. He is an "asset" because his motives and actions happen to benefit the Thalmor's strategic interests to a DEGREE. They don't want him to win his rebellion but Ulfric DOES want to win. He DOES worship Talos and DOES want independence, but at the same time his rebellion against the Empire does weaken the Empire. Hence, he is an asset. What the Thalmor want is for his rebellion to be long, bloody, and indecisive. They do not want the Imperials OR Stormcloaks to win and especially not decisively.
As for Niranye, it's a plausible theory but relies on a lot of speculation and filling in the gaps. I personally doubt the writers were that subtle.
The AC Revelations music track he plays at around 2:36 is literally called ‘Investigation’. I see what you did there IK.
I kinda always assumed her to be a thalmor spy... Didn't know this was a rare thought.
Stop lying
@@Hero_Of_Old I know it's wild but the dude making the video is not the first person to ever have this thought lmao
Personally I don't think this theory has much weight. The main reason she sells mostly weapons is most likely because the Stormcloaks who are based in Windhelm are in the middle of a civil war, and weapons would be in demand more than ever. As she said (Just got here from the Summerset Isles, Lots of opportunity in Skyrim) She saw a business opportunity there. Plus the reason for her prices being so low is mostly to do with the fact most of her stock is knockoff gear. There are however spy's in Windhelm (The New Gnisis Cornerclub Dark Elves are Imperial spy's, see my video for conformation)
Especially since the castle blacksmith(forgot his name) said he was overwhelmed with making weapons for the Stormcloaks
@@kevinnk5584 Yep. He can't supply the whole army and the whole city.
Exactly, HAIL TALOS & THE STORMCLOAKS!
She wants to escape the oppression of the Thalmor and help oppose them.
@@kevinnk5584 that's just a convenient excuse!!!!
How is it knock off gear if it's the same thing as any iron or steel or glass weapon? They don't do less damage. they don't say "knock off iron mace".
Also, those reasons you listed are all plausible lies. Like no seriously, think for one moment what it means to be a high elf in skyrim.
Do you tell everyone who asks you the whole truth of your thoughts in a city that is currently having murders at night and hosts proud and loud racists that just accost ANY NON NORD?
OR
Do you have a set script to go by when asked that way you can be as safe from reprisal as you could be?
I think you are right about her. She is the asset. The Shadows were likely offered clemency in exchange for plying their trade in Skyrim. She likely is just self serving enough to work with anyone and the Thalmor just offered her a good deal in exchange for her services in arming the populace. And by the fact she is connected to them she has to offer any Intel she gathers. Her manner of speech is likely just an artifact of the fact she is a Summerset Isles native. It does reveal though she is not some common bumpkin. Can't have been if she came to the attention of the Thalmor.
This was the weirdest commercial for Niranye's shop
This is very good and I never considered this before. A little bit about "The Talos Mistake", how come you find it at the Talos statue outside Windhelm?
If you have trhe CRF mod, then there's a invisible Thlamor waiting to ambush you there. Probably while you're pondering the reason some Thalmor left their propoganda right next to a statue of the very person it denigrates.
@@TheRevDel makes sense, thanks
Sounds like she was specifically chosen by the Thalmor because of her fence experience and connections in skyrim.
The sudden drop in mic quality at 12:13 😅. Anyway, one year late but great video.
Take a drink everytime we hear about rock-bottom prices.
Always entertaining!!
I just discovered your channel cant believe what i was missing out on amazing work
It could possibly be that they’re arming anti thalmor factions, summerser thieves may be societal outcast, those who don’t side with the thalmors radical beliefs. So arming those who will fight them may be a logical move?
"Just another target"
You've got me interested with this Title and Thumbnail
Great theory as always!
I don't really buy into this theory. The Summerset Shadows raided battlefields, not graves. These weapons raided from here would have been recovered either way so it is of no benefit to the Thalmor to invest in reselling them.
On top of that, Nords respect high-quality weapons and their local blacksmiths. Niranye sells leftover weapons that were likely exposed to the elements for quite some time. The weapons are 100% a front for the Summerset Shadows greater operations.
Niranye also has a certain level of respect for the nords. She recognizes that they will respect anyone that earns their keep, which Niranye is doing, and she even shares in the nords' disdain for the Dunmer being lazy.
It seems much more likely to me that Niranye came to Skyrim with the Summerset Shadows and was their fence. She realizes that this deal isn't for her anymore and she decides to throw in with the Thieves Guild instead.
The book is also found in many other places. It's a common piece of literature
Using AC revelations music to reveal, revelations is brilliant.
She could have worked with a different guild chapter to the “lying about being a fence” bit. Assuming they still have or had other groups outside Skyrim.
I've been telling people this for ages! I first brought it up in a reddit argument about racism in windhelm. Some guy pointed out that They aren't racist since Niranye is successful and I told him that was because she is selling weapons to the stormcloak army on behalf of the Thalmor as a way of intervening indirectly.
Amazing video!
Thanks for the help!
Earned yourself a subscriber! Very good theory crafting
I can totally buy it that Naranye is the Thalmor's Ollie North. I also suspect that the Summerset Shadows are an actual criminal gang and they've become a problem for Naranye, and that's why why has you solve them. Then she starts working for the Thieves' Guild, all while still working for the Thalmor.
So basically the Skyrim Civil War, to the Thalmor, is effectively the Iran-Contra affair.
Hey when you're talking to her being sent back to windhelm you made a logic leap
You assume she moved Back-and-forth from Somerset to skyrim
Every province has its own thief s guild as well as local thieves she could have been a fence in any province
Has anyone ID-ed the "friend" who has the carrier deliver notes of potential walls to learn shouts from?
There are theories, but nothing solid. A lot of people say Delphine, but I've also heard a theory about the psijic order from the college of winterhold questline. I think Delphine is the more likely of the two, but I'm not entirely convinced
On the thieves' guild yet having returned from Summerset. The thieves' guild is not exclussive to Skyrim. She was probably a member of the thieves' guild in Summerset, or somewhere like Valenwood. And she's an Altmer, that may have happened centuries ago.
Lol love the clarification for it not being a meme
I honestly believed her cover story lol. Happy Skyrimversary!
I mean you stated it and I went "yeah that makes sense"
Let me help a bit in a nice way hopefully.
"Dos-e-air" not "doe-shey".
Great video btw
5:10 they would likely be turning up weapons since realistically, they are iron or at best steel make. The clothes a lot of the dead there, likely soldiers, would be nothing worth taking. As far as jewelry goes, again, the vaster majority of the dead likely being soldiers would mean that they might have amulets of talos, but usual jewelry would be scarce. Likely kept by the surviving family members but even then. Weapons would be more likely to be in a state that they could be recovered but even then. Think about that quest in oblivion where that merchant was unknowingly selling off goods from robbed graves. Those were citizens, ones wealthy enough to be buried in the town itself. They would have stuff worth taking. Her lousy stock is therefore hardly a surprise.
Never even heard of the Summerset Shadows until this video
I knew about her for ages, but my theory was: she is a member of the thieves' guild selling weapons they can't sell well in their own homecountry for cheap, basically getting rid of them because nobody there would want old nord weapons, they look down on the nord far too much. They have other uses for the jewelry that's lightweight and can be shipped well. So she is simply a fence selling unwanted stuff they got from grave robbing to people who need weapons badly enough to not ask any questions, like where she got those weapons from.
The 'heathens' I suspect have to pay her a lot for her help to disappear - and then she'll double cross them.
So I didn't think she was a spy, just a fence.
I've actually got one fly to throw into the theory that being very simple if the player is on good terms with Niranye and a Thalmor Justiciar attacks you (I have tested this) she will come to the Dovahkiin's defense though I think that may have to do with the fact that anyone the player has positive relations with will attack Thalmor attacking the player so I'm not sure. But I have tested it, I spawned in a hostile justiciar and Niranye along with everyone else in Windhelm's market square dogpiled and killed the guy Thalmor are really not welcome anywhere Stormcloak territory I haven't tested it when Windhelm is Imperial controlled as I've not completed the Civil War chain BUT I'm willing to be the same thing would happen, general rule don't be a Thalmor and attack the Dovahkiin in a hold that is full of their friends, it causes everyone even the guards to go after you. In fact the random Thalmor kill teams that come after you in general are idiots with a death wish, they are sent after the freaking Dragonborn which is always a losing fight if the player is smart or high level, I've had a random Thalmor kill squad attack me while I was clad in full Dragonbone armor and wielding Volendrung and it was right outside the gates of Whiterun where I was Thane, the guards immediately came to my aid and we killed them. I'm not sure why they came after me, most likely because I kill Thalmor Justiciars whenever I encounter them out of habit.
This quest is also a nod to a similar quest line in oblivion in cyrodil.
This is a pretty convincing theory. I'm surprised too that it hasn't been discovered before.
I love how you have AC Revelation music imbedded lol
11:54 - It could be that she is being an informed individual who understands that the best way to defeat your enemy is to know your enemy.
I think you're correct, but to answer your theoretical question, it would be to know what your enemy thinks so that you know how to combat it better.
Next video: Why are there more town guards than any other job in Skyrim?
I hope elder scrolls 6 will have this level of detail
Woah never noticed this. Good find
That is a hypothesis, not a theory
Man, I wish we could go back to the game being new. I miss all the theories and deep dives.
Hey, thanks for putting so much effort and time making such entertaining and informative video ☺️☺️Long live the Elder Scroll Franchise.