Honeyside, a charming house nestled in the heart of Riften, offers a unique opportunity for players to establish a comfortable and strategically located residence in Skyrim. Owning Honeyside provides numerous benefits, including a secure place to store your treasures, craft valuable items, and rest after a long day of adventuring. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step required to acquire Honeyside, from completing the necessary quests to furnishing your new home.
Why Choose Honeyside?
Before diving into the acquisition process, let’s explore why Honeyside is a desirable property:
- Location, Location, Location: Riften is a bustling city in the southeast corner of Skyrim. Its central location makes it an excellent base for exploring the surrounding areas, including the Rift and Eastmarch. It also boasts convenient access to major roads, allowing for quick travel to other cities.
- Thieves Guild Affiliation: If you’re planning on joining (or have already joined) the Thieves Guild, Riften is practically a second home. Honeyside offers a safe haven close to the Ragged Flagon, the Guild’s headquarters.
- Merchant Access: Riften is teeming with merchants offering a wide range of goods and services. From blacksmiths and alchemists to general goods stores, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Honeyside is a well-designed house with a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Its exterior blends seamlessly with Riften’s architecture, while the interior offers ample space for living and crafting.
- Canal-side Charm: The property backs onto the canals, giving it a unique and picturesque setting. The gentle sounds of the water create a relaxing ambiance.
Prerequisites for Purchasing Honeyside
Before you can purchase Honeyside, you must meet a few requirements. These requirements primarily involve assisting the citizens of Riften and gaining their favor:
- Become Thane of the Rift: This is the most significant prerequisite. To become Thane, you must complete a series of quests that benefit the people of Riften.
- Earn the Jarl’s Favor: The Jarl of Riften, initially Laila Law-Giver and later Maven Black-Briar (depending on your choices during the Imperial Legion or Stormcloak questline), must deem you worthy of becoming Thane.
- Have Sufficient Gold: Honeyside costs 5,000 gold. Ensure you have enough money before attempting to purchase the house.
Becoming Thane of the Rift: A Step-by-Step Guide
The process of becoming Thane involves two primary steps: completing quests to assist the citizens of Riften and then speaking with the Jarl. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Step 1: Assisting the People of Riften
You need to complete at least five quests that benefit the citizens of Riften or the surrounding Rift area. These quests are typically small tasks that involve helping people with their problems. Here are some examples of quests that count towards Thane-hood:
- Skooma Trade: Speak to Wujeeta, a dockworker near the Riften Fishery. She’ll complain about feeling unwell and suspect skooma poisoning. Give her a health potion (or two) and she’ll ask you to investigate the skooma trade. This involves searching a warehouse and reporting your findings to the Jarl. This is often the first quest players encounter and it counts towards the five required.
- Supply and Demand: Talk to Brynjolf in the Riften marketplace (usually found near the entrance). He might give you a task to help him with a “business” venture which involves planting a stolen ring on Brand-Shei. This quest is part of the Thieves Guild questline, but the initial stages also fulfill the Thane requirements, however you must not expose Brynjolf.
- The Book of Love: Speak to Dinya Balu at the Temple of Mara in Riften. She will ask you to travel around Skyrim to help couples in need, embodying the principles of Mara’s love. This is a longer quest, but it’s a good way to explore different regions of Skyrim and help people along the way.
- Unholy Vigil: Talk to Keeper Carcette in the Hall of the Vigilant (located southwest of Dawnstar, before heading into the Pale Pass). Upon arriving, you will find the Hall burned down and Carcette dying. She asks you to warn Vigilant Tolan about the vampires. Finding and dealing with Tolan’s problem counts as helping the Rift because the Hall of the Vigilant is the Rift Hold.
- Helping the Argonians at the Docks: Many of the Argonian dockworkers have small requests. These might involve giving them some gold or finding missing items. These tasks are quick and easy and can contribute to your overall progress. For example, Talen-Jei at the Bee and Barb may ask you to retrieve some special ingredients for his drinks from outside of Riften.
- Miscellaneous Quests: Keep an eye out for other small tasks offered by the citizens of Riften. These might involve delivering messages, retrieving items, or helping with simple chores. These quests are often unmarked, so pay attention to conversations and be willing to lend a helping hand. Many citizens will offer radiant quests, such as chopping wood, delivering items, or mining ore. These count towards the “Help the People” requirement.
Important Notes:
- Quest Tracking: Keep track of the quests you’ve completed. While the game doesn’t explicitly tell you which quests count towards Thane-hood, generally, any quest that directly benefits a citizen of Riften or resolves a problem in the Rift region will qualify.
- Quest Variety: Try to complete a variety of quests to ensure that you meet the requirements. Don’t rely solely on one type of quest (e.g., only giving gold to beggars).
- Quest Givers: Talk to as many NPCs as possible in Riften. Many citizens will have quests to offer, but you need to initiate the conversation to discover them.
- Radiant Quests: Some quests are “radiant,” meaning they can be repeated multiple times. However, completing the same radiant quest multiple times for the same person usually only counts as one instance of helping.
Step 2: Speaking with the Jarl
Once you’ve completed at least five quests that benefit the people of Riften, return to the Jarl (either Laila Law-Giver or Maven Black-Briar) and speak with her. She will likely acknowledge your efforts and offer you the opportunity to become Thane of the Rift.
If the option to become Thane isn’t immediately available, try the following:
- Complete More Quests: It’s possible that you haven’t completed enough qualifying quests. Try completing a few more tasks to ensure you meet the requirements.
- Check Your Journal: Review your journal to see if you have any unfinished quests related to Riften or the Rift. Completing these quests may unlock the option to become Thane.
- Increase Your Level: In some cases, the Jarl may not offer you the Thane-hood until you reach a certain level. Try leveling up a few times and then speaking with her again.
Once the Jarl is satisfied with your efforts, she will bestow upon you the title of Thane of the Rift. She will also grant you a unique weapon and assign you a Housecarl, Iona, to protect you. Iona will be waiting for you inside Honeyside once you purchase it.
Purchasing Honeyside
After becoming Thane of the Rift, you can finally purchase Honeyside. Here’s how:
- Speak to the Steward: After becoming Thane, speak to the Jarl’s steward. If Laila Law-Giver is the Jarl, her steward is Anuriel. If Maven Black-Briar is the Jarl, her steward is Hemming Gold-Hand. The steward is usually located in the Jarl’s Longhouse (Mistveil Keep).
- Inquire About Property: Ask the steward if there are any properties available for purchase in Riften. They will inform you that Honeyside is for sale.
- Pay the Purchase Price: Honeyside costs 5,000 gold. If you have sufficient funds, pay the steward to purchase the house.
Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of Honeyside in Riften.
Furnishing Honeyside
Purchasing Honeyside only gets you the basic structure. To make it a comfortable and functional home, you’ll need to purchase furnishings from the steward. Here’s a list of available furnishing options and their prices:
- Honeyside Basement: 2,000 gold. Adds a basement area with additional storage and crafting options. Highly recommended.
- Honeyside Alchemy Laboratory: 1,500 gold. Adds an alchemy lab to the house, allowing you to create potions and poisons.
- Honeyside Child’s Bedroom: 1,250 gold. Adds a bedroom for your adopted children. Required if you plan to adopt children.
- Honeyside Enchanter’s Tower: 3,000 gold. Adds an enchanting table and storage. The most expensive upgrade, but very useful.
- Honeyside Main Room: 500 gold. Furnishes the main living area of the house.
- Honeyside Kitchen: 500 gold. Adds basic kitchen amenities.
- Honeyside Bedroom: 800 gold. Furnishes the master bedroom.
- Honeyside Porch: 500 gold. Adds some decorations and seating to the porch area.
You can purchase these furnishings one at a time or all at once. The steward will arrange for the furnishings to be installed in your house. After each purchase, revisit Honeyside to enjoy your upgrades!
Tips and Tricks for Honeyside Owners
Here are some additional tips to enhance your experience as a Honeyside homeowner:
- Storage Solutions: Honeyside offers ample storage space. Utilize the chests, wardrobes, and cupboards to organize your gear and resources. The basement is particularly useful for storing crafting materials.
- Crafting Convenience: The alchemy lab and enchanting tower provide convenient crafting stations within your home. This eliminates the need to travel to other locations to create potions, poisons, and enchanted items.
- Secure Location: Honeyside is a safe place to store valuable items. Unlike some other locations in Skyrim, your items will not disappear from Honeyside.
- Thieves Guild Synergy: Honeyside’s proximity to the Thieves Guild makes it an ideal base for thieves. You can quickly stash stolen goods and access the Guild’s services.
- Family Life: If you adopt children, Honeyside can become a loving family home. The child’s bedroom provides a comfortable space for your children to sleep and play.
- Garden Access: While Honeyside doesn’t have a dedicated garden, you can access the Riften canal-side gardens. These are public spaces but very convenient for picking flowers needed for crafting.
- Personalize Your Home: Feel free to decorate Honeyside with items you find or craft throughout your adventures. Adding personal touches can make your house feel more like a home. You can move items around and place them on tables and shelves to create a unique and personalized living space.
- Fast Travel Point: Once you own Honeyside, it becomes a fast travel location. This allows you to quickly return to Riften from anywhere in Skyrim.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes, players encounter issues when trying to purchase or furnish Honeyside. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
- Cannot Purchase Honeyside: If the steward doesn’t offer you the option to purchase Honeyside, ensure that you have become Thane of the Rift and completed the necessary quests. Double-check your journal and make sure you have assisted at least five citizens of Riften. It may also be necessary to advance further in the main questline, or other questlines in Riften, before the Jarl will make you thane.
- Missing Furnishings: If you purchase furnishings but they don’t appear in your house, try leaving Honeyside and re-entering. This will often trigger the furnishings to load. If the problem persists, try restarting your game or console.
- Steward Not Available: If you can’t find the steward, check their usual locations in Mistveil Keep. They may be in a different room or temporarily unavailable. Try waiting for a few hours or returning at a different time of day.
- Quest Glitches: Sometimes, quests can glitch, preventing you from progressing. If you encounter a quest glitch, try reloading an earlier save or consulting online resources for solutions. The Unofficial Skyrim Patch is a popular mod that fixes many common bugs and glitches in the game.
Conclusion
Purchasing Honeyside in Skyrim is a rewarding experience that provides numerous benefits. By following this comprehensive guide, you can successfully become Thane of the Rift, acquire Honeyside, and transform it into a comfortable and functional home. Enjoy your new life in Riften!
Owning a home in Skyrim is one of the best ways to enhance your role-playing experience and create a sense of immersion in the game world. Honeyside, with its unique location and charming atmosphere, is an excellent choice for players of all types. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to Skyrim, Honeyside offers a welcoming and secure haven in the heart of Riften.