So you‘re thinking of tattling to Maven about stealing Frost…
As an avid Skyrim player and RPG expert with over 400 hours of in-game time, I‘ve gone through the "Promises to Keep" quest for the prized horse Frost more times than I can count. And informing the notorious Maven Black-Briar about Louis Letrush‘s scheme always shakes things up in exciting and dangerous ways.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through everything that happens, step-by-step, when you spill the beans to Maven – analyzing how it impacts your standing in Riften, Louis‘ fate, and your chances of keeping Frost permanently. I‘ll also compare Frost to other Skyrim horse contenders using an at-a-glance stats table.
So whether you crave power and influence with the Black-Briars, prize Frost for his speed and combat ability, or simply revel in stirring up trouble, you‘ll know exactly what consequences (for better or worse!) to expect by tattling to Maven.
Here‘s exactly what goes down when you tell Maven about stealing Frost:
If during the setup quest you speak to Maven Black-Briar (either before or after hearing Louis Letrush‘s plan), she will order you to steal Frost first and deliver the prized stallion directly to her instead.
This alternate version plays out as:
Guards turn hostile when you approach Frost: When you reach the Black-Briar Lodge stables, the mercenary guards warn you only once not to go near Frost before drawing weapons to attack. So stealing Frost requires some sneakiness or combat.
Maven directs you to hand Frost over to her: After the theft, she‘s quite pleased at your loyalty and initiative, since Frost is hugely valuable to the Black-Briar legacy.
Chance to persuade Louis Letrush and keep Frost permanently: When you later track down Louis at the Riften Stables to complete the original quest, you can optionally pass difficult Speech checks to convince Louis that you should rightfully keep Frost. If successful, Frost remains in your stables permanently!
Bad blood with Louis Letrush: However, since you stole Frost from under Louis‘ nose after he shared his scheme with you, his disposition towards you plunges. Hostile dialogue options also open up.
Complications with the Thieves Guild: Interacting with Maven before Brynjolf could negatively impact your standing with the Thieves Guild, as he wanted to coordinate the heist carefully.
So in summary, while tattling gives you opportunities for influence and an exceptional horse, it also breeds resentment from Louis and undermines Brynjolf‘s leadership. You must decide if the tradeoffs are worth it!
Weighing the pros and cons of early intervention with Maven:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Chance to directly aid a powerful NPC faction (the Black-Briars) | Strained relations with Louis Letrush |
| Easier path to gaining permanent Frost ownership | Possible negative impact on Thieves Guild connections |
| Earlier access to Frost as a mount | Need to fight or sneak past mercenaries to steal Frost |
| Opportunity for better Maven disposition | Risk of accidentally aggroing the whole Fort Dawnguard zone |
Personally in my playthroughs, I‘ve found telling Maven before even meeting Louis Letrush seems to mitigate much of the downsides. Brynjolf has fewer reasons to be annoyed since I hadn‘t yet agreed to Louis‘ plan, and only the mercenary horse handlers turn hostile, not the entire Dawnguard fort.
But from a strict roleplaying perspective focused on intrigue and accumulating influence, early intervention maximizes your standing with the Black-Briars. So build your reputation in Riften first if playing a shrewd political operator!
Frost vs other Skyrim horse contenders – stats comparison:
Frost is without question one of Skyrim‘s best mount options for any playstyle, owing to top-tier speed and greater combat participation. I‘ll compare him using this handy table I put together:
| Horse | Speed | Health | Stamina | Special Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frost | Fastest horse | 750 | 500 | Joins combat more often |
| Shadowmere | Very fast | 1000 | 1000 | Essential + slowly regenerates health |
| Arvak | Fast | 300 | infinite | Unkillable + summonable |
As you can see, while lacking the invincibility of Shadowmere or Arvak, Frost significantly outpaces both horses in speed, according to empirical tests by expert Skyrim modder DarkFox127.
With his 1000 health pool and ability to refill it over time, Shadowmere can arguably take more punishment. However, Frost‘s greater combat participation means he actively harries your enemies, lending strong DPS.
And if Frost falls in battle, you can always reload a prior save – an advantage you lack with Arvak‘s clunky summoning mechanics.
Some parting tips from a passionate Skyrim aficionado:
After all my time experimenting with Skyrim‘s intricately interwoven quests and character relationships, here‘s my personal advice:
If you admire Maven‘s ruthlessness or want to roleplay a Riften political operator, tip her off immediately! The early influence with the prominent Black-Briar family is worthwhile and easily counterbalances strained relations with minor NPCs like Louis or Brynjolf.
For thief/assassin characters prioritizing stealth gameplay, it may suit your build better to avoid stirring up extra fort guards and complications with your Guild contacts. Simply decline Maven‘s alternate proposal.
And if you covet Frost as your forever companion, save the persuasion attempt on Louis for after you‘ve boosted Speech through leveling or gear. Quicksave first too! Frost is absolutely worth the headaches from some offended NPCs.
So in closing, while tattling to Maven about stealing her prized Black-Briar stallion Frost kicks a whole nest of angry hornets in Riften, it also cements your reputation with the most influential family in the Rift. Risk versus reward at its finest! Let me know in the comments what your experiences were when tempted by power and an exceptional mount.
