To join the Thieves Guild in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, follow these steps:
- Discover the Guild's Location
- One way is to commit a crime (like stealing) and get caught, then serve your jail time. After release, wait or wander the Imperial City until someone approaches you with a note inviting you to meet in the Garden of Dareloth in the Waterfront District.
- Alternatively, read one of the Gray Fox wanted posters scattered around the Imperial City, then find a beggar and raise their disposition until they like you. Talk to them about Gray Fox, and they will tell you about the guild and direct you to the Garden of Dareloth.
- You can also simply go to the Garden of Dareloth at midnight without prior knowledge; this will start the initiation process
- Attend the Initiation Ceremony
- At midnight in the Garden of Dareloth (behind the Abandoned Shack in the Waterfront District), meet Armand Christophe and other aspiring thieves.
- Armand will give you the initiation quest called "May the Best Thief Win," where you compete with two other candidates to steal Amantius Allectus' diary from a house in the Temple District
- Complete the Initiation Quest
- Follow the other candidates to the target house, pick the lock on the desk, and steal the diary.
- Return the diary to Armand to officially become a member of the Thieves Guild.
- Be prepared to deal with guards who may accuse you, but Armand can help you pay off any bounties for half the cost
- Guild Rules and Benefits
- You cannot steal from or assault fellow guild members, beggars, or peasants. Killing anyone on a job is forbidden and can lead to expulsion or a heavy fine.
- Joining the guild grants access to fences who buy stolen goods and allow you to pay off fines and bounties at reduced costs.
- The guild is ideal for characters with Sneak or Security skills but is open to all classes
In summary, joining the Thieves Guild involves either getting caught stealing and serving jail time or gaining information from wanted posters and beggars, then attending the midnight meeting in the Waterfront District to begin your initiation quest. Completing the quest successfully inducts you into the guild, granting access to unique benefits and quests
