Scoundrel ' s Folly Scoundrel ' s Folly is a quest available in . This is the fifth quest in the Thieves Guild questline . There may be a line on the person or persons who have been working against the Guild . An old Guild collaborator in Solitude may have some information . Walkthrough . The quest begins by speaking to Mercer Frey . He thinks he may have finally caught the Guild ' s anonymous adversary slipping up . From the note provided by the Dragonborn , he deduces that they are likely using an old Guild contact at the East Empire Trading Company in Solitude as a go between . He figures it is Gulum - Ei and wants him shaken down for information . If the Dragonborn choses to speak to Brynjolf before leaving , he ' ll give more details of who Gulum - Ei is and his involvement with the Guild . He says that Gulum - Ei has no honor and in order to gain any useful information from him , he will need to either be bought off or followed in order to gain information that could be used as leverage against him . Either way , Brynjolf makes it clear . . . Do Not Kill Gulum - Ei . If he is killed , there will be no reward from Mercer Frey . Gulum - Ei . Gulum - Ei will most likely be in the Winking Skeever in Solitude . It is possible to persuade him with a high enough Speech skill . Otherwise , he plays stupid at first , in which case bribing him is the only way to get information . If the bribe option is selected , he will say that he has a client that wants a case of firebrand wine , which can be stolen from the Blue Palace . Getting the wine is easy enough — it can just be picked up at the Blue Palace . It ' s relatively close to the entrance , so the Dragonborn should be able to follow the quest marker . After getting him the wine , he claims not to know anything except that the woman in question has a grudge against Mercer Frey . At this point , he heads out of Solitude down towards the docks and into the East Empire Company Warehouse . He can be pickpocketed for the key to the warehouse . East Empire Company Warehouse . Following him into the warehouse requires stealth . It may be easiest to stay on top of the shelves to follow him since the guards are always patrolling , and there ' s a ramp just behind the small hut near the entrance . An alternative is to remain in the water below the docks . If the guards or Gulum - Ei catch the Dragonborn , they will attack , but they can be killed for no bounty . Upon reaching the end of the shelves , up the stairs and straight on is a small ledge . It is possible to walk across then drop down onto the walkway . At this stage the easiest way to follow him is just to drop into the water and move as slowly and quietly as possible . He can then be followed out of the water , up a ramp through a hidden door . At the farthest northern point is an elevated building . To get to the building there is another ramp leading up to the left of the one to the hidden door . Inside the building on a table is the East Empire Shipping Map , which can be sold to Delvin . Alternatively , the Dragonborn can swim directly across the bay and wait for him under the docks , then follow him into Brinewater Grotto . Brinewater Grotto . Inside the grotto are several hostile bandits . There is a bandit swimming in the water , so sneaking can be tricky , but it is possible to sneak past him underwater . There is a chest underwater where he is . A way to get by the bandit in the water and the one on top is , after seeing the two bandits on the dock talking to each other and right before going up those stairs , to the right is a spider web which can be cut down with a weapon . Beyond are three frostbite spiders . When confronted at the end of the line , Gulum - Ei identifies the real target , Karliah . She murdered the former Guild Master and is now after Mercer . Gulum - Ei pleads innocent . He can be killed , but if spared , he becomes available as a fence . Killing him will also forfeit the reward from Mercer . Return to Mercer Frey . Returning to Mercer with the location Gulum - Ei said she was headed ( ' Where the End Began ' ) completes this quest and begins the next , Speaking With Silence .