Courier ( Skyrim ) Couriers bring messages to the Dragonborn , often activating certain quests . Characteristics . The courier may take up to 24 hours or more to deliver the letter , depending on how much the Dragonborn travels . They can also be found with messages to other people and will tell the Dragonborn that they are " in a hurry . " All couriers are either Nords , Imperials , Dunmer or Bosmer . Encounters . Dragon Shout . A courier will bring a letter to the Dragonborn for the first time after they use a dragon shout in virtually any location . This activates a radiant quest , in which the Dragonborn learns the locations of new Word Wall s throughout Skyrim . Letters revealing the locations of Word Walls can be stolen from the couriers . This can sometimes result in the courier sending Hired Thug s after the Dragonborn . Homestead . In , couriers are one way of activating the process of buying a plot of land to build a homestead on , as they will bring a letter from one of the three Holds . Enchanted weapons . Couriers can bring letters when the Dragonborn acquires certain enchanted weapons or types of weapons or armor from vendors or from smithing / enchanting them . These quests usually ask the Dragonborn to deliver said weapon to a rich researcher who offers suitable reward for bringing them the item . A good example is the " Letter from Calcemo " . Letter of Inheritance . Couriers also bear the " Letter of Inheritance " when someone close to the Dragonborn dies . Often , these letters are accompanied by various sums of . Inns and taverns . Couriers can be found in inns across Skyrim . They do not deliver anything to the Dragonborn , but can be pickpocket ed for a radiant " Courier ' s Letter " . Sometimes a courier may enter an inn or tavern but , if followed inside , will not be there . Civil War . Couriers may be found in the wild , either being a Stormcloak or Imperial courier . They run to an area and respond generically when talked to . They can also try to get the Dragonborn to join whatever faction they are affiliated with . If the courier wanders into an area controlled by the opposite faction , they will be attacked and killed . Attacking . Couriers are one of the few people in Skyrim that , when attacked , do not call the guards and no immediate repercussion is exhibited . This allows you to level up quickly by constantly attacking them . Discerning the Transmundane . If the Dragonborn has completed the first half of " Discerning the Transmundane " and has reached level 15 , they will receive a " Letter from Septimus Signus " . Pieces of the Past . After the Dragonborn reaches level 20 , a courier will deliver a " Museum Pamphlet " from Silus Vesuius inviting them to visit his Mythic Dawn Museum in Dawnstar . Repairing the Phial . After the quests " The White Phial " and " Throat of the World " have both been completed , a courier will deliver the " Letter from Quintus Navale " asking the Dragonborn to return there . The Man Who Cried Wolf . Elisif the Fair and Falk Firebeard will both send a letter by courier to the Dragonborn upon completion of this quest , requesting their service once again . With Friends Like These . . . . After killing Grelod the Kind for Aventus Aretino , a courier brings a " Mysterious Note " to the Dragonborn from the Dark Brotherhood . Unearthed . Various couriers will deliver notes from Ralis Sedarys . Each new letter will bring annoyance from the courier at having to constantly deliver letters from Ralis .