Riekling (Dragonborn)

Rieklings are creatures that appear in . They are native to Solstheim and tend to live in small tribes in caves, ancient ruins and even mountain peaks. They are hostile in nature, but individually pose a minor threat. They typically rely on strength in numbers and a small group can quickly overwhelm an enemy.
==Culture==
Riekling society has a tribal structure, with tribal members holding specific occupational positions such as hunters, scouts and warriors. Strength is highly respected: the strongest member of a tribe typically assumes the rank of chief, and succession is often determined by a fight to the death between the incumbent chief and a challenger claiming to be of greater strength. This bears similarities to elements of Orsimer culture, especially that of Mor Khazgur. A non-Riekling may assume the position of chief if they have the support of the tribe, but this is exceptionally rare.Events of 
Riekling settlements give insight into their level of intelligence, which corresponds roughly to a stone age society: they have developed simple tool-crafting and elements of rudimentary language and religion, and have domesticated bristlebacks, which they raise for food and use as mounts. Characteristics of Riekling religion include the "Godspeak Song" and the construction of shrines, but there do not appear to be any shamans or other religious leaders. At least one Riekling is known to have learned to speak the common tongue.
They are known to hoard seemingly random items, from empty bottles and platters to armor and weapons, which they have stolen or scavenged from the Dunmer, Nords or even Dwemer. They also occupy settlements such as halls and mines after driving out or killing the previous inhabitants, and make use of non-Riekling items such as barrels for shelter and storage.
==Interactions==
===The Chief of Thirsk Hall===
During this quest, an intelligent riekling chief is encountered in Thirsk Mead Hall. He asks the Dragonborn to perform a series of favors that culminates in an attack on the former owners of the mead hall. After completing the quest, the Riekling tribe of Thirsk Mead Hall recognizes the Dragonborn as their leader, and several members will become available as followers. In addition, upon finishing the quest, groups of three Rieklings of any rank may be randomly encountered throughout Solstheim and Skyrim either in the open world or within dungeons, aiding the Dragonborn in combat.
===Potential followers===
Once the Dragonborn becomes an honorary Riekling Chief by finishing the above quest, the Rieklings from Thirsk Mead Hall can be recruited as followers. They can follow basic commands and their inventory can be accessed, but they are still considered pets and therefore may be hired alongside a humanoid follower(s). Thus, they are useful as pack mules, and can be given equipment to be more efficient in battle than other pets such as Armored Trolls or Dogs (though they will still not use healing potions). They are more proficient in Light Armor, but equipped apparel are not visible on their bodies.
Rieklings recruited at Thirsk Mead Hall have different ranks and will appear depending on the level of the Dragonborn. Common Riekling, Scout, Hunter and Warrior can be differentiated by the amount of clothing and facial hair they have. These Rieklings prefer ranged combat and will equip bows and arrows given to them. They will have riekling spears as their default weapon when first recruited, and will resort to unarmed combat if ammo is depleted. With a bow equipped, arrows and spears will be depleted but they will do more damage. When equipped with a single arrow without a bow, they will generate infinite ammo but will not do as much damage as they would with a bow. In battle, they will utilize spear animations, meaning they hold a bow in one hand, and throw arrows with their other.
Other Rieklings that show up to aid the Dragonborn in random encounters can be recruited as well; they will wear feathered headdresses regardless of their rank. As followers, they will instead equip Greatswords (also utilizing spear animations while held) and may be able to mitigate damage by blocking attacks.
==Combat==
Rieklings are rarely found alone and tend to rely on superior numbers to overpower foes. They use spears as their primary weapon in both melee and ranged combat.
Some Rieklings fight while mounted on bristlebacks, which are also used to charge at their foes. They also use ambush tactics to surprise an unsuspecting enemy by bursting out of barrels and other objects used for storage. Despite their small stature, Rieklings are fierce combatants and will rarely retreat from combat.
Note that since the spears the rieklings throw are technically arrows, any arrows the rieklings acquire may be equipped instead of the spears and thrown at the Dragonborn.
==Locations==
Rieklings can be found in the following locations. With the exception of Thirsk and random encounters, they are usually hostile, regardless of whether or not the Dragonborn finished the associated quest(s) in their favor; however, when encountered, friendly Rieklings will still fight against them for the Dragonborn.
*Bristleback Cave
*Broken Tusk Mine
*Castle Karstaag Caverns
*Castle Karstaag Ruins
*Glacial Cave
*Moesring Pass
*Frossel
*Benkongerike
*Fahlbtharz
*Thirsk Mead Hall
==Variants==
===Standard===
All variants use both ranged and melee combat as enemies, but followers will still have the associated ranks.
Type 	Level	 	 	Stamina	Notes
Riekling 	6 	130	0	120 	Use both ranged and melee combat.
Riekling Scout 	11 	200	0	140 	Use both ranged and melee combat.
Riekling Hunter 	16 	250	0	160 	Prefer ranged combat.
Riekling Warrior	23 	352	0	188 	Prefer melee combat.
===Mounted===
*Mounted Riekling — A Riekling mounted on a bristleback. Throw spears from a range and charge at close quarters. Both the Riekling and bristleback share the same health bar.
*Riekling Rider
*Riekling Courser
*Riekling Charger — The most powerful variant of the Mounted Riekling.
===Unique Rieklings===
*Riekling Chief — The leader of a tribe of Rieklings who have occupied Thirsk Mead Hall.
==Dialogue==
;The Chief of Thirsk Hall
"You. Fol. Low. Me."
:Who taught you to talk? "You. Fol. Low. Me?"
:Where are you taking me? "You. Fol. Low. Me!"
;Follower dialogue
Condition 	Response
Generic greeting 	
*"Belifakathoooookawa."
*"Brelfik?"
*"Hrawwaaaa!"
*"Muwafathoo."
Initiating dialogue with a Riekling follower	
*"Baroo?" (What's up?)
*"Hafahoo?!" (Still need something?)
Wait/Follow me. 	
*"Waaaaah!"
*"Waaaah!"
I need to trade some things with you. 	"Habichaaalakawaramalek."
I need you to do something. 	"Takafala gajoo?"
Refusing an order 	"Joooo fah!" (No way!)
Following an order 	"Araa." (I'm on it.)
It's time for us to part ways. 	"Faaa rawala." (Goodbye)
Generic goodbyes 	
*"Bru cha."
*"Farwag."
*"Gelfek."
*"Yuntar."
;Miraak's Mantra
Rieklings found at the Beast Stone will recite Miraak's Mantra in their own language:
*"Wafoo athaaaal."
*"Bertiflik a goroowala."
*"Hra woong aba."
*"Tika twafaara filik."
*"Wilberk tikflaaar."
*"Yuchaaa tungar cha tiweki."
*"Bura warag faaanig."
*"Tiri fuklik taaar aburak."
==Gallery==
Riekling Island.png|A Riekling Island on Solstheim.
Frossel - Riekling Worship.png|A group of Rieklings bowing to a horse-drawn cart inside the cave Frossel.
EECSB RieklingIsland.png|A Riekling tower.
Riekling Chief.png|The Riekling Chief of Thirsk Mead Hall.
Moesring Pass.png|A Riekling Fortress in the Moesring Mountains.
Broken Tusk Mine.png|A Riekling Mine on Solstheim.
Riekling Spear.jpg|A few Riekling Spears.
Fahlbtharz.png|A Riekling outpost outside a Dwemer Ruin.
EECSB MoesringPass.png|A Riekling Hut besides a box.
==Bugs==
* The dialogue option for recruiting a riekling will not appear unless the Dragonborn has no human followers at the moment, meaning they must dismiss their current follower(s) before recruiting the pet.
* A riekling follower from a random encounter may reset its entire inventory, losing all equipped items in the process; this is likely from when the random encounter that spawns them occurs a second time. (Noticeably, the rieklings may then show up in a pair rather than a trio, since the pet would normally be the third member)
* Rieklings are able to equip a Dragon Priest Mask and some helmets simultaneously.
* If the shout Bend Will is used on the leader in the middle of the showdown battle at the end of the questline, any followers will become aggressive to surrounding rieklings.
==Appearances==
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==References==
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fr:Riekelin (Dragonborn)
ru:Рьеклинг (Dragonborn)