Criminal Underworld in Skyrim

I have the honour to write this report for your eyes only.
This report is the compilation of a year of effort of your majesty’s most loyal agents.
The status of the criminal underworld in Skyrim is as follows.

It has been known to us so far that various native criminal organizations have long since been subsumed into the Thieves Guild, which gives the local guild a unique character compared to its counterparts in other provinces. However, our sources have yet to fully identify the specific composite organizations, one thread of which we followed suggests a possible influence from a native nocturnal cult, though the nature of influence on the guild, or the size of this cult, cannot be gauged, it may be possible that this is merely a subsect within the guild, rather than a driving force.

So far, given the recent devastation in Cyrodiil and the mass amount of retiring soldiers, there has been an uptick in demand for property within Skyrim. This has led, along with the recovery efforts in Cyrodiil, to a notable increase in the prices of goods and property within Skyrim, which has contributed to an increase in the number of members within the guild. Our source within the guild suggests a notable tension between old native members and newer members from Cyrodiil. The present conflict may be tied to a possible cult within the guild, though our source believes it stems from conflicting interests and methods.

Much like Cyrodiil and High Rock, Skyrim is experiencing an uptick in banditry, though no cohesive bandit organization exists for this to be much of note, or worry, for the imperial administration; currently, the Guild holds the sole monopoly on organized crime within the province, though possible nationalist groups, both Reachfolk, and Nord groups, may move into the criminal underworld.

Given the possibility of nationalist groups going underground, it is the recommendation of this report that the Penitus Occulatus further infiltrate the Thieves guild, and attempt to drive policy in such a way as to maintain a sole monopoly. If local nationalist groups form their own enterprises, this would pose a notable risk to imperial investments.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your most Humble and Obedient Servant,

Lurius Floria
Director of Imperial Intelligence in Skyrim