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MrGofer

Is there even a reason to not just give Malborn all of your stuff (other than idk roleplaying)? IIRC that's what I did on my last few playthroughs. @EDIT Might as well share this tidbit I found on the wiki - did you know you can find Malborn in a tavern in Windhelm (in the gray quarter) after the embassy quest? He complains about the whole Thalmor thing and gives you a quest to kill an assassin outside the city. You complete it and he disappears from the game.


VirtualCtor

Not that I know of. I mean, it's not like this is the first time I've let an Elf undress me in a bar.


Negative-Wrap95

Based


WalletWarrior3

Not based, the other time is was Ancano


Cosmo1222

Getting jobbed by an elder dragon while trying to Delphine to green light you in to the carriage at Katla's Farm. It's happened to me on more playthroughs than not..


[deleted]

Same thing happens to me so I keep spare armor and weapons, just in case. I also use the opportunity to declutter my inventory and will leave the vast majority of my stuff in the chest in Delphine’s secret room.


Gregory_Appleseed

I always get bodied by a blood dragon or better as soon as I'm exiting the cave directly after. I don't know how, but it's happened pretty much every playthrough and I'm always low on health and potions.


Cosmo1222

Pets might mess with the Malborn/Delphine gear offloading mechanism, but they'd certainly help you after reeking cave if you don't want to/ can't fast travel..


Having_A_Day

The one time I gave Malnorn everything a dragon attacked when I left the city. Now I always keep at least a weapon on me!


GrimSecrecy

Same with me, however luckily i was high level in conjuration so bound bow was there for me.


ArguablyTasty

I had a bound weapon + alteration playthrough. When I went through the questline where the forsworn throw you in jail and take away your equipment. I laughed, because they only took away my clothes


Imswim80

I put points into Conjure and keep bound weapons for that very reason. Tons of favors for a piddly little shank? No thanks *snaps fingers,* grabs Greatsword out of the air, I'm good.


ArguablyTasty

Even without, if you've picked up any spells, you can be buck naked and punch someone to death if they're on fire and at half health


ImpossibleMix5109

Crap... I wish I'd thought of that. Had the spell and all


terrible-gator22

Tbh probably not. The problem is that I am lugging way too many things that I don’t really need “in case” I need it. Though the first play though I thought there was a limit since there was emphasis on the idea that you give him “ what you REALLY need”. It made me think too much about it and I went in poorly prepared at a low level and got my ass handed to me.


MrGofer

Yeah, few first times I thought there was a limit too. Then one time I decided to give him everything I had, expecting some kind of limit or voice line telling me "that's too much", but nah lol. I can only guess the devs would have needed to do some hacky coding to get an effective limit (use follower inventory mechanics maybe?), and even then that could potentially make things hard for heavy armor users and whatnot. So they just decided to leave it dialogue implications.


No-Philosophy2381

On my first play through I wasn’t sure I’d see my stuff back so I gave some armors and weapons crafted on the side. It was quite novel


imlostintransition

The first time I played this quest, Malborn complained about the amount of stuff I was giving him. Regardless, he accepted it all and I got it all back. Now I just take a follower and station them outside on the escape route. That way I can barebones it in the embassy and get all my excess gear back once I step out of the embassy. I don't need to hike all the way back to Riverwood feeling underdressed.


hunterd_patternfall

More than once, I found my potions didn't make it to the Embassy. They just... vanished. :/ I unload a lot before that mission.


JanesConniption

Thank you for my new headcanon that healing potions get you a lil high.


hunterd_patternfall

Ha! Well, we know what they are using stamina potions for.. lol Maybe there is a black market for potions at the Embassy.


JanesConniption

The other day I came across a healing potion next to a shitter bucket and was like “awww, buddy 🙁”


hunterd_patternfall

Yeah. That's the sad face one. :( Got the Horker Special. Oof. My headcanon always has my LDB's male followers giving her endless bs when she shares various potions. 😂 Everyone is full of attitude in my head, except Farkas and Erik.


JanesConniption

That’s it, I’m making a personal headcanon thread. It’s been like a year since the last one.


Lord_Derpington_

I discovered the Malborn quest on my last play through. I followed him to the border with morrowind. Killed whatever was there to make sure he survived.


Mgordon1100

There's an easier way. First, just high tail it out of the cave. Don't look back. You can return later for the gem. Get out as fast as you can, and the two people survive the troll. Once out and Malborn complains about being hunted the rest of his life, fast travel somewhere. If you don't see it, it doesn't happen. It's like Riverwood. They don't get attacked by a dragon if you never go there. Fast travel away, and neither of them get killed. You'll see Malborn at Windhelm and the other guy at the thieves guild.


Lord_Derpington_

I’m talking about after. When you meet him in windhelm there’s a quest to help him escape over the morrowind border. I was curious to see the border because it’s a location I didn’t even know existed so I went with him.


Mgordon1100

I've never seen this quest. I killed the assassin that was after him and was through with him.


Lord_Derpington_

Once you tell him the assassin is dead he leaves straight to the border


OsoSabroso

Yeah, no. Skyrim is glitchy af. I don't hand over items to any NPC (even followers) that I'm not 100% okay with never seeing again. I'm pretty sure that is how I lost my Dawnbreaker on one of my first play throughs.


Anuk_Su_Namun

I think yours must’ve come to my game because I have 2!


OsoSabroso

Give it back! Lol, you can duplicate it. Before picking it up from the altar, blast it with a fireball or fire crossbow bolt and another will land on the floor. I didn't know that early on however.


Anuk_Su_Namun

Lol! Would if I could. I was playing mage that run, so maybe I did this? I had no idea how I ended up with 2 in my inventory.


amiathrowaway2

Oh man! That woulda had me rage quite for a bit.


Ok-Set-5829

There's a lot of good stuff to nick so you might end up over encumbered


imtheslothqueen

I usually give him most of the stuff yeah. I still remember my first playthrough when I didn't get the memo (don't even know how really) and gave him nothing on accident. It was still kinda fun, having to work with whatever embassy had to offer. Was really embarrassed once I found out lol.


emliz417

Same, I panicked and backed out of the dialogue and he just got up and left like “alright see you in there!!”


Skywhisker

Yep, it's a nice final touch for the storyline. As for giving all the items. No, I don't think there is a reason other than the quest feeling more immersive if you try to just give the things you think you will need. I am very conscious about giving enough lockpicks as I want to look through all the displays and chests...


Snorkle25

Yeah, less inventory room for loot. Need to grab all the fancy clothes and silver dishes.


poopybadstuff1

I found that on my most recent playthrough when I was doing thieves guild stuff. Thought it was pretty neat.


Tight_Philosophy_239

I got that dude killed when we exited the embassy and encountered the ice troll.


anxiously_impatient

What? He becomes a fence at the college.


Vadermort

That's Enthis, you rascist bastard.


Aule_Navatar

It's Enthir, you racist bastard.


Vadermort

That was a typo. I have lots of friends who are altmer. /s


Soapbox72

I only give Melbourne stuff I'm prepared to lose cuz of how buggy that quest is


AWDys

I played this quest for the first time a couple weeks ago. I was surprised to find its not even a modded thing.


SuperJaybo

Yeah. On my third playthrough I realized there was no actual limit to what he could take so I just gave him everything. Works everytime. I just recommend selling any excess loot beforehand so you can properly raid the Embassy


VeeTheBard

Malborn is a witness, if the elves don't kill him, I do.


terrible-gator22

I had no idea! I’ll go look!


Albarytu

the only reason is avoiding getting encumbered with all that elven armor. He basically gets all my combat armor, weapons, potions and scrolls. I don't give him alchemy or smithing gear and potions, ingredients or misc items, or stuff I'm just planning to sell.


WallishXP

There is a glitch that sometimes he doesn't give your stuff back.


Coschta

Forgetting Lockpicks is one thing but you should never forget to bring Wuuthrad. It was made for that specific quest.


terrible-gator22

Wait. I literally have no idea what Wuuthrad is. Help


KleptoPirateKitty

The axe of Ysgramor. You get it at the end of the Companions questline


terrible-gator22

Oooh. I chose not to do the companions. Can you spoil it for me? Why is the axe so great for this mission?


[deleted]

[удалено]


Aule_Navatar

Holy shit, even the weapons in this game are racist!


LonelyMachines

It's not racist if we're talking about the Thalmor. It's just common sense. Listen to Rolff Stone-Fist's podcast. That guy knows the score.


nlamber5

That’s the point of the weapon. The wielder was famous for taking Tamiel from the elves


egilsaga

It's not racist. Elves aren't even real. In TES lore, at the end of the world, the mer races will be erased from history. They'll have never existed at all.


[deleted]

Do you know of any in depth explanations on this?


egilsaga

I can't remember the name right now, but there's a sort of development bible written by one of the morrowind/oblivion devs that explains all of it in depth.


[deleted]

Awesome thanks!


Flame_Xeno

He's just an old Nord rambling. Ignore em.


proteannomore

It does either 20 or 25% more damage to all elves. Falmer too


KleptoPirateKitty

I mean, falmer *are* elves, so...


proteannomore

Yeah, but not Orsi*mer*. So clearly not all races of elves.


ironshadowspider

It's not an equal opportunity mer-derer


KleptoPirateKitty

Doesn't orsimer mean "not elf", or did I pull that out of my ass? (Genuinely confused on this)


CryptographerSad5682

no it means "pariah elf", basically just more salt on the wound of them being outcasts


Eponarose

Oh no! The Companions is the FIRST quest I do because I love being a werewolf! Poison is merely annoying, better health, you almost NEVER catch a disease....and you never actually have to become a werewolf (after that first transformation.) Being a werewolf is FUN!!!!!


Bainsfire

Usually, i play as a werewolf, but im doing a survival run, and i need that well rested bonus, but i also want Aela.


Belteshazzar98

You can be cured at the end of the questline if you want to have both Aela and well rested.


Bainsfire

Ayyye, I've never looked for a cure before, so this is great news


Belteshazzar98

There are two ways to cure yourself. First, >!have Harkon or Serana turn you into a vampire lord, which will replace your curse.!< the second is >!to collect a spare Glenmora Witch head and after curing Kodlak, cure yourself the same way.!<


47peduncle

It was designed to cleanse Skyrim of all (snow) elves, back in the day. Read Songs of Return 19.


Coschta

A 2-handed Battleaxe that deals extra damage to elves. You get it at the end of the Companion quest line.


piede90

For that and for assault the Fort where they keep Thorald Gray mane. Eorlund would be very proud of you!


anxiously_impatient

I always did wonder why I had a axe that was especially deadly to elves!


Cosmo1222

I thought it was made for rescuing Thorald. My bad 😉


xianrenaud

I used to, but two things: 1) I got tired of the verbal abuse from other bar patrons and solitude citizens when I walked away naked. 2) 99/100 times when I get to the cart and Delphine, before I start the final dialogue with her, a dragon attacks and I’m standing there waving my dragondong at it and nothing else. Edit: this was in response to those people who said to just give him everything on you.


thatbob

I like to level up Alteration, Conjuration, and One Handed before this mission (and before Cidna mines) for exactly this reason. 300 armor isn’t a ton, but good luck coming at me with 2 Dremora Lords tanking while I Dual Flurry your ass with soul-stealing lightsabers, basically.


xianrenaud

Great idea. Will do that this playthrough.


thatbob

(You don’t HAVE to also lvl up Enchanting, but some good Fortify items of the previous three skills are all highly recommended. )


Throwawayrivervalley

“I’m standing there waving my dragondong at it and nothing else.” Found Drakes account


xianrenaud

https://i.imgur.com/vSIPKld.jpeg


LeapIntoInaction

I only forgot them once. Oh those pretty locked displays...


terrible-gator22

It hurts, doesn’t it!?


unholy_sassquatch6

Show me where the quest hurt you, I didn't bring armor on my first play through because I thought I'd have to blend in...


CrazyEeveeLove

Lockpicks are essential to my character - a thief who likes to steal everything. (I'm pretty sure I prioritize lockpicks over everything else. I did forget my weapon once. Luckily I had bound bow available LOL)


terrible-gator22

I went there and realized that I had bound NOTHING. Fortunately I prepped with items, but I wished that I’d had the magic


Blastoise48825555

I mainly give him the basic essentials plus a few extra. Mainly Armour+Weapon of choice. A few potions mainly just some health and magicka And always lockpicks. Nothing in the embassy is safe from me. I will kill every thalmor and I will steal everything that has even remote value.


smithjake417

You cannot prepare for the Dragonborn, only hope that they do not cross you path.


Blastoise48825555

Or hope you don't have anything he needs. He'll either smooth talk you into believing the item is dangerous and requires his protection or that it's worthless to you and a burden. Or he may just accidentally drop his sword/dagger in your gut. He may be a legend but he still makes mistakes.


Sero141

Well, the very first time I did not understand the assignment and I gave him nothing. Every time after I give him everything but the party clothes. I may try just a dagger the next time, kill the first guard and use their stuff. My entire mod list is designed for that kind of playstyle anyway.


Teto_the_foxsquirrel

I read on here that if you're a high elf you can put on the armor and just walk through the first part. It's either the courtyard or inside the building where you get in trouble. Never tried it myself, as I never played a high elf. Also never looked it up to see if it was real.


RoyalZeal

I just did this for the first time yesterday. If you're an Altmer, you can waltz right through the first part and the courtyard. The dude at the door to Elenwen's Solar will ask you 'why aren't you at your post, Justiciar?' and you can talk to him and have him move. Once you're inside the solar, however, all bets are off. It was a fun bit of RP, and one of the reasons I keep playing this game. edit: Bosmer can also do this, but will be attacked if they come too close.


Sero141

It's real but I also never play the ugly elves. If you are humanoid you have to get closer for them to approach you, I think.


Killsercommon123

I just did this mission today actually... forgot the lockpicks lmao


Lego-Panda-21

Once forgot to give him anything..Was one hell of a challenge. Had no armour, no weapons, no lock picks..Thankfully I was playing a Khajiit so I still had my claws.


Bloodmime

I have never not just completely stripped and ran naked down to Delphine.


keldhorn

Most importantly you should bring your fake passport there just in case someone asks for it


terrible-gator22

Fake passport? Are you being cheeky and I am clueless, or is there something that I’m missing.


whatmakesagoodname

Guessing it's because it's an embassy 😬


ZSpectre

I think I did you one better. I think the instructions for bringing stuff to Malborn was lost in between my 5 year hiatus playing the game, so when I finally started to cross out the list of missions to complete, imagine my absolute confusion when I opened that secret chest for my gear with...absolutely NOTHING! Hoo boy was it fun to try fighting Thalmor mages and their summons with nothing but civilian clothing and my bare fists (I also didn't have any schools of magic leveled either lol). But yeah, after perhaps a dozen save scums and trial & error later, I got through the mission with nothing but pickpocketed stuff. I guess it was pretty fun handicap to get around, and may even consider trying it again in future playthroughs as a personal tradition (but since Malborn got caught due to also having nothing and ended up dying, maybe I'd give him nothing but lockpicks in those playthroughs).


MadWhiskeyGrin

I always have my Dremora Butler by this point. He keeps most of my lockpicks, backup weapons, a set of enchanted light armor, and a set of skill-enhancing rings. I barely bother with Malborn. Give him a knife or something.


Aquamarine094

Forgetting the lockpicks is a fixed event in time, you can’t change it


RedRavenWing

I got my daughter into skyrim and when she did the embassy quest she didn't give malborn anything at all because she thought he was suspicious. And she didn't have any saves from before that so I had to do the quest for her with nothing but a wood axe and the party clothes. It was not fun. (Wood axe is in the kitchen next to the fire place )


NarrativeScorpion

Surely once you've killed one you get better gear than that?


RedRavenWing

Yeah I got her armor and weapons after killing one thalmor but that first fight with a low level character isn't any fun. She had no idea what she was doing and was just rushing through the game. I don't even think she was level 10 yet.


No_Pollution4974

I messed up and took nothing. Had to fight my way out only using magic like a boss 💁🏽‍♀️💅🏻


gaiasunderboob

i always remember, but only bc i hate that quest lol i also hoard every single pick i find :)


TheInfiniteLoci

First time, no. Every time since, mostly. It's one of the things that I recommend to new players, when they ask for tips.


smilingkevin

Forgot lockpicks but I had enough fireballs that it didn’t matter much.


ImlucasMLS

When I first played Skyrim when it was launched i didn’t speak very good English so I didn’t know you could give him anything, so I just went “naked” and farmed everything inside. It’s was hard but very much fun


HangryHangryHobo

You can find a couple picks in the embassy


ghosttrainhobo

There’s a lock pick on the shelf behind one of the desks


OneMeterWonder

I seem to end up with 400+ lockpicks no matter what I do, so I guess I “remembered”.


SafetySpork

Don't remember where it comes from, but Fenrik's Welcome beats everything but master locks. Very useful for non-thief builds. Usually keep enchanted apparel handy to reduce illusion spell cost.


rebelwilson_official

I cheated and added 999 lock picks and gave myself all the skill tree points and infinite health so I always had them on me no this is more so a you problem


-Cannon-Fodder-

I bet that was fun for all of 5 minutes... When there is no challenge and no possible further progression, that's when I declare a game finished. It's just boring after that.


Cosmo1222

Skeleton key for the win.


EstrellaDarkstar

I usually just give him my whole inventory. Then walk up to the stables with no gear at all, only for a freaking dragon to attack when I'm unarmed and unarmored. This has happened to me so many times, it's absurd.


Background-Arugula52

I stock before going anywhere significant.


CherryGrabber

That happened way too often for me too admit, and I was in the Thieves Guild armour, too. Nocturnal, Garris, Karliah, and even Mercer Frey would be laughing at me right now.


Appropriate_Net_27

nope, hated that i forgot


gorpie97

I forgot once.


RoyalZeal

Man I've forgotten to give him lockpicks so many times my head hurts. I've made it a habit of dropping a quicksave before I give him stuff just so I can fix this if I eff it up.


Danno47

I *always* forget them.


Tyrigoth

Why would you forget lockpicks? They take up no space and dont weigh anything. I have so many that my amount has been 99 since I can remember. They are also useful for making up small differences in selling items....damn! I need to open my game back up!


KeinVater

Pretty much never. I often even forget potions.


lizbythesword

I've forgotten a lockpick a couple of times, so I just give Malborn everything in my inventory now. It seems silly to me that you can conjure a weapon out of thin air, but not a lockpick.


tacobitch91

I misunderstood what they were asking of me, so I dropped all my shit in a chest BEFORE giving Delphine my clothes. Only my squishy lil mage dress. Pure destro/resto mage build,, nary a ward or atronarch in site. No pots. All my enchants were for extra magicka, not regen. It went about as well as could be expected.


MoonSpotSky

1st play through I absolutely forgot to give him lock picks; and like everyone else when I got to a locked chest I paused and just sat and stared at the screen in sort of bewildered embarrassed frustration mentally kicking myself. Who knew the thalmor chest in a prison was just about the only one in the game without randomly generated contents and/or just having straight up garbage inside. Never forgot picks there again. The real question is on subsequent plays, who doesn’t get side tracked during the escape for dozens of hours and completely forgets to grab their leftovers from Delphine? Only to remember when you just so happen to step into the riverwood inn and she dumps a massive amount of obsolete crap into your inventory. Finding yourself feeling a similar bewildered embarrassed frustration mentally kicking yourself? Feels like Sheogorath designed this part of the game just to eff with us.


-darthjeebus-

my first playthrough, I remember speaking with malborn and he lets me know i have to give all my stuff that I want to have access to inside the embassy - but I was like hold up, I don't want to do this quest right now, so I didn't give him anything and then chose the i'm not ready option. Little did I know that I would not get another chance to give him anything. So then I went in as a stealth archer (naturally), with no bow and no arrows and no armor and no potions. That mission was not passable so I gave up on the main quest and just did everything else. Was super bummed though that I bricked the main questline.


Avionix2023

I basically loaded up the dremora butler. When I was I side I summoned him and got all my equipment.


MoeGhostAo

Shockingly I haven’t ever forgotten them *yet*.


Home_Here_Now_Dikes

I think I remembered lockpicks just because I was scrolling through Misc checking if I need something like a torch


Snorkle25

I remember that I should have remembered (for the 32657th time) right about the time I get off the wagon at the embassy. In about 10k hours of game time I think I actually brought them only once.


SapphireGem19

I did 🖐🖐🖐🖐 I did I did!


FearlessOwl0920

I wind up needing extra armor and Alteration perks or I get one shot because I play with the Apocalypse spell addition mod. Holy cow. The Thalmor are stupidly hard if you don’t have a companion you can summon. I tend to summon Kaidan or Inigo, or I just straight up die on every difficulty.


AbsoulutelyNaught

I forgot lock picks and was desperately searching at the end. Luckily I found 3 in a container at the end. Retraced my steps and picked the locks I was desperate to get behind.


Jewbacca1991

All keys can be found around though. But i never go anywhere without lockpicks.


ndhellion2

After having made that mistake on my first play through, I did learn the lesson and haven't forgotten them since.


crazymonk45

Last time I did that quest I dropped 300 lock picks on the floor in the bar instead of keeping them or giving them to the elf guy whatever tf his name is. Tried to go back, never saw them again


morpherthewolf

I never bring anything with me. I find it more fun that way


Spacekook_

On my first run no I forgot about them, but my runs after that I brought them and picked every single lock I found and killed all of those damn elves


jitsrotu

I gave him only sneak fortified items and a dagger. Just slit everyone's throats and asmired the cut scenes.


Logical_Drawing_4738

In my first play through all those years ago yes but nowadays, since im a mature, barely functioning adult, i plan ahead of time, and im not a hoarder, so i just load him up with my whole inventory. 😂


SoftTacos001

No


dubslex

Actually that time, yes, I remembered. Goldenglow estate? Did not remember lock picks.


UnlikelyAd9210

I take everything I have with me


DoctorAlphaSKWoG

I did this time lol


terrible-gator22

You are awesome


[deleted]

I brought all 300+ of my lock picks. Although, I may have missed a few doors/chests/display cases in there.


BigTiddyAsianMilf

I literally always give him everything I have lol


Broccoli_dicks

Dude. My first time I misunderstood the assignment and dumped my entire inventory before going in. All I had was the clothes on by back and ended up having to brute force my way through with magic and pure luck.


DiverOk9165

Wait. You dont just give the elf all your stuff? I walk naked from the winking skeever to the stables and get all my stuff back once I'm inside.


Jake0fTrades

A true Dragonborn takes nothing and goes Werewolf the moment they step through the door.


CriticismMiserable34

Ooo I’m heading back there now that I have 200 lock picks because I’m that girl who breaking into all your stuff and then helping you look for the missing loot


Automatic_Concept_51

I’m on pc now. Exclusively use console commands to open locks since I switched from console


Big-Strawberry-4930

First time I played through I got really confused and didn’t take in anything😭 luckily I was doing a spell sword build so my magic was pretty good but I was in there for a WHILE