So I was wandering through the wilderness (maybe not the best thing to since I'm level 10) and three thugs came at me to kill me. I killed them and after searching them I found a contract that was signed by someone (can't remember name will tell you guys when I get on and check) saying to kill me. So I'm not a happy camper.

Awhile later I'm riding my horse in the wilderness (again probably not a good idea) and an assassin attacked me. He attempted to kill me and thus I killed him. I searched him and found papers from his guild (I suppose?) with directions to kill me as they had been paid in advance.

When I get the names mentioned on here, I would like to know if I can find these people and.... Return the favor and kill them....... quietly. Any help greatly appreciated.

This is Skyrim - everyone is out to get you, including the guy you bumped off last week. If you want to stop assassins from coming after you - just take a little trip to Windhelm and chat it up with the locals.

Did you steal from them? That's why.

They're not the only guys that are hired to kill. The Thalmor can also send groups to go after you. If you piss of any NPCs in the game, such as stealing from them or doing something against them in a quest, they will send hired thugs after you. The other kind of guys that come after you, assassins, they have their own story that you might want to look into by talking to some locals in towns.

Just search up their name on the uesp wiki and find out where they live, just make sure they aren't essential to any quests you wanna do first.

This^ Sometimes kicking something over in a store will get thugs sent after you, it's pretty funny.

the thugs are sent to you because you probably stole from someone or killed a family member, the assassin on the other hand i think is just a random encounter (i've run into them without doing anything, no quests... just ran around killing animals)

Revenge? Whoever you crossed was getting revenge on you!

Also, in the Dragonborn DLC, Morag Tong assassins will target you if you're a Dark Brotherhood member.

Ok in the one contract I was called a thief, though I didn't recognize the name. Of course might have just been a random act of mine. I'll search him up and have a non-violent chat and I will see where it goes from there.

Spoilers make me a sad panda.

The animals want revenge, and PETA wasn't taking calls.

At least, you have been warned, assuming you're with the DB.

I'm kinda sad... I've only had a set of hired bountyhunters go after me once from an NPC I pickpocketed. Over a thousand hours later I still have to encounter a single one. I know I'm not THAT good at pickpocketing!

I think the NPC still believes they're still alive, trying to get you.