Thieves Guild The Thieves Guild is a renowned and infamous faction of thieves operating throughout the various provinces of Tamriel . Originally based off a guild from southern Hammerfell , the guild overtook the many unorganized outlaw groups across Tamriel , having them adopt a set of small rules and giving them order . The guild has ties to Nocturnal , the patron of thieves . History . Second Era . Founding . The original Thieves Guild was founded in Abah ' s Landing , a bustling located on the barren peninsula of Hew ' s Bane in southern Hammerfell . The exact founding date is unknown , though it was a number of years before 2E 549 . At some point during the sixth century of the Second Era , a member known as Bright Ilmund took control of the guild . Under Ilmund ' s leadership , it was viewed that he ate any scraps the Abah ' s Landing merchant lords threw at him , all while he shook down any citizen for coin and couldn ' t plan a proper heist , causing many members to leave . After his death at around 2E 556 , Nicolas became the guildmaster , and set down the three rules of the guild that remained for centuries . With this , the guild returned to its ' glory and made heavy profits from the fees given by the merchant lords . In 2E 582 , Nicolas set out on a heist to al - Danobia Tomb near Taneth , with his inner council of Zeira , Edda , and Daldur . After failing to bypass one of the tomb ' s traps , only Zeira made it out alive , becoming the guildmaster . Magnifica Falorah then hired the Iron Wheel after discovering the perpetrators , and sent them to Abah ' s Landing to hunt out guild members and find her dowry . Sometime afterwards , Quen and the Vestige joined the guild after a heist of theirs at Fulstrom Homestead was foiled by Chief Inspector Rhanbiq . After investigating the Iron Wheel ' s intentions , they discovered the merchant lord Cosh was truly Nicolas , who had faked his own death . The guild infiltrated Falorah and Cosh ' s wedding , seeking to inform her of Cosh ' s intentions , though Rhanbiq arrested everyone of the guild at the wedding and captured Zeira , taking her to No Shira Citadel . After Zeira was freed , the guild told Falorah of Nicolas having the dowry and Danobia ' s crown , and she then established connections with the guild . Spread . In time , the guild spread across Tamriel , having a foothold in every province . Barenziah , the queen of Mournhold , was known to have joined their ranks . Third Era . Oblivion Crisis . The Thieves Guild is headed by the Gray Fox . Fourth Era . Dragon Crisis . During the Dragon Crisis , the Dovahkiin has the option of joining the Thieves Guild in Skyrim . Prior to the events of 4E 201 , the Thieves Guild in Skyrim has experienced a decrease in strength and luck due to Mercer Frey ' s theft of the Skeleton Key from the Twilight Sepulcher . At the end of the Thieves Guild questline in , the Dovahkiin can become Guildmaster . Organization . Culture . Purpose . Members of the Thieves Guild protect each other and punish clumsy and greedy thieves . Kings depend on them to keep amateur thieves out of business . Regulations . Recruitment . In , the Last Dragonborn can join the guild by stealing Madesi ' s Silver Ring from his strongbox in Riften and planting it in Brand - Shei ' s pocket in the quest A Chance Arrangement . Similar organizations . Camonna Tong . The Camonna Tong and Thieves Guild are similar in that both are criminal organizations . One major difference is that the Camonna Tong are less honorable , functioning as more of a mafia compared to the Thieves Guild . They lack the code of honor that the Thieves Guild has , and are the native crime syndicate in Morrowind . Dark Brotherhood . The Thieves Guild had a strong connection with the Dark Brotherhood , and despite their differences in purpose , ethics and ideas and policies , the Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves Guild have always had a good connection between each other . This is especially true with the Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves Guild in Skyrim . Delvin Mallory of the Thieves Guild and Astrid of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim have had a good relationship with each other in friendship and in business . Red Asp . The Red Asp was known to be the Hallin ' s Stand Thieves Guild during the Second Era . It was run by Ufa the Red Asp and had ties to Outlaw Refuges . See also . For more detailed information on the Thieves Guild in a specific game , please see the following :