Skyrimis filled with numerous traders that help players sell their items or buy weapons, materials, and spells. Of all the traders, Belethor from Whiterun is one of the most well-known since he is one of the first traders encountered inSkyrim, and he provides players with necessary trades for actions such as smithing and spellcasting. For all of his faults, Belethor showcases what a good NPC should be, one that is loved and hated by players yet can provide a memorable experience when interacted with.
While Belethor does not have the best items in the game, he does have a great location, particularly for those early on in their adventure. This makes him one of themost useful merchants inSkyrimfor players trying to get enough gold to buy one of the houses.Since there is no lore behind Belethor’s character, his personality and dialogue can give players an insight into the man that runs Whiterun’s General Goods Store.
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Belethor’s Personality
Belethor is a Breton pawnbroker, a class that gives him heightened trading skillssuch as speech and pickpocketing. In Whiterun, he is renowned for running the General Goods Store and his dialogue options steer his personality toward that of a salesperson. He is constantly trying to sell items while making some pun or delivering a terrible joke. In fact, most of his world views are generally geared toward making more money. For example, he is one of the few NPCs in Whiterun that does not pick a side in the Civil War dispute between the Stormcloaks and the Imperials, instead stating that he would rather make more money.
As with many NPCs inSkyrim, Belethor is often seen wandering the city in which he resides, usually walking between his store and the inn. He will also hire thugs to go after the player for something as menial as knocking an item down in his store. Many of the guards in Whiterun often refer to him as a “sleazy little man," a reputation he has wholeheartedly accepted as he continues to try and cheat his way to a better deal.
General Goods Store
Out of all the other cities inSkyrim, Whiterun is one of the few where the players will fight within the city limits, with both the civil war breaking out into the street andthe Dawnguard DLC’s vampire attacks. As a result, it is possible for Belethor to be killed, leaving the General Goods Store free of a proprietor. Ysolda, one of the other NPCs in Whiterun will take over the store if Belethor were to be killed by the Dawnguard vampire attack.
On the other hand, If Belethor were to die while inside the store from any other cause, the store will be permanently locked, and players will no longer be able to enter. As with most stores in the game, Belethor runs his shop from 8:00-20:00 and only has 750 gold to buy items with. However, due to the store’s location, players can continue to trade in the Whiterun marketplace even after he has run out of gold. This amount of gold in the store can also be increased if the player decides to invest in the General Goods Store after unlocking theInvestor perk in the Speech skill tree. Belethor sells weapons and armor, food, building items, scrolls, and books, and he will buy most looted items that the player will bring. However, he will also overcharge if the player needs to buy an item back.
Belethor is one of the most memorable characters in all ofSkyrim,with his one-liners being some of the most recognizable dialogue and his questionable motives often lingering in players' minds. His personality, salesman demeanor, and general hatred of anything that does not go his way play well with the hard times that many NPCs are living through. However, as Dragonborn, players will undoubtedly find Belethor to be extremely helpful, at least to get richer. While it is unlikely that Belethorwill be inThe Elder Scrolls 6, it would be great to see his legacy and wit have an influence on some of the stores in the upcoming game.
Skyrimis now available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
