Identifying Unusual Gem

[Tiny Trees]

I reached Riften where I was to talk to someone about identifying the gem. The quest leads us to joining the Thieves Guild. Wondering about this I started googling about the quest, and the common concensus was join the TG. Apparently you can gain enough rank not to have to do anything dicey and identify the gem.

Anyway still apprehensive I didn't take joining the guild at all after chatting to the guy at Riften. However I did manage to get the gem identified.

As I have not seen this suggested anywhere I guess I'd better post it here. There's a cave I think, called Rannvieg's Fast. In there was a chest at the first end to the short cave system. Anyway just in front of the chest is a trapdoor, which anyone cautious avoids. After looting the chest I triggered the trapdoor purposely and fell in. There is a book in the lower level that when you read it flashes message Unusual Gem identified. You need to fight straight away with a warlock down there, and need to be able to lock-pick so take enough picks.

[Ilja]

I can't say nothing about your solution (I haven't tested it), but while you don't actually have any use for those stones without TG, then doesn't the trouble identifying them without the guild sound like a bit pointless?

That might have been a slight spoiler, but while everyone in the game is pointing you to join the guild with the gem, then I doubt that it came as surprise.

[Tiny Trees]

Oh surpirse yes. I was going to sell my spare ones and keep one. However I don't need to join the TG - confuuuused again.

[Ilja]

Selling these gems isn't possible in vanilla game, because they are considered as quest items. However, there is a mod for that for peoples who wish to do what you had in mind.

Sell Unusual Gems - Stones of Barenziah by kryptopyr
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/23431/?

[Red Shift]

Identifying the gem is just a breadcrumb aimed at getting you to join the TG. You wont realise the benefit of the gem unless you join and develop the story further.

Why the reluctance to join the TG?

[Zefram Cochrane]

Originally posted by srs bsns:

Identifying the gem is just a breadcrumb aimed at getting you to join the TG. You wont realise the benefit of the gem unless you join and develop the story further.

Why the reluctance to join the TG?

I dunno, maybe because they're a bunch of slimy bastards?

@OP: theres a mod "Destroy the Thieves Guild" that gives you an alternative option to get the stones evaluated etc.

[Tiny Trees]

I suppose it's what townfolk say about them; discpicable vagabonds and such like. I don't want to be doing them any favours, grrr. I never played TG in Morrowind or Oblivion, coz I wondered if it would affect what else I could do. That's all.

If I can get by without the TG, I might try it anyway, just to see.

[Ilja]

Teehee. Here we are different. My characters are always some sort of rogues. Even if they do not always want to finish guild missions, they usually still belong to guild.

My shaman didn't complete a single quest there, but was not above picking pockets, when visiting cities. Even my archmage had connections to the guild. :)

[fran25]

It is a long hard quest as there are a ton of them.

[Tiny Trees]

I just googled it backwards starting with 'skyrim rannveig's fast'. All the usual uesp, elderscollswiki, etc. I think the book is called Sild's Journal. The cave, dungeon is related to No Stone Unturned.

I don't mind putting the details up because folk do google for it. Since Rannveig's Fast is fairly close to Whiterun, I think it's meant as an alternative; must be. It might be safe to assume you can progress with maybe more of the related quests.

Going the thieves way maybe opens up more quests, I guess, if it doesn't stop you doing other stuff. Either way Skyrim is plentiful.

[DFH01]

I'm in rannveig's fast right now, no mods, all i find is an unusual gem, no mention of it being identified. Besides i like killing mercer frey, so i'm off to join the thieves guild.

[Tiny Trees]

You have to get downstairs. I explained what you need to do.

[Trigger]

Destroy the Thieves Guild is awesome - it should have been in the vanilla game

[Brandybuck]

You can actually get to Vex and talk to her without joining the TG, but I'm not sure she will have quest options in her dialog without it.

[Bomb Bloke]

Most of the gems have to be stolen anyways, should you wish to complete the full set. Sure, they're not marked as "owned", but a good chunk of them are located in the bedrooms of Jarls or other people of "importance".

Originally posted by Tiny Trees:

I suppose it's what townfolk say about them; discpicable vagabonds and such like. I don't want to be doing them any favours, grrr.

Maybe you could improve their image.

Originally posted by Tiny Trees:

I never played TG in Morrowind or Oblivion, coz I wondered if it would affect what else I could do.

Unlike in Morrowind, you won't cut off other quest lines by joining or completing the thieves guild in Oblivion or Skyrim.

In Morrowind, working for one guild often takes a hatchet - quite literally - to your chances at working for another.

[Brandybuck]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Unlike in Morrowind, you won't cut off other quest lines by joining or completing the thieves guild in Oblivion or Skyrim.

I became master of all guilds on a single character in Morrowind. There is only one conflict but it can easily be worked around. There are some reputation modifiers but they are trivial.