So I was in Riften training in smithing with Balimund. I dropped a bunch of stuff on the ground to clear my inventory so I could organize everything I had... Well, that kinda caused the town to break out into a riot. I first dropped a potion by accident and that beggar Edda ran up to me asking if she could have it. I was pretty amazed to see that, I thought, well, now that's really neat of the AI to do that. So I started dropping my other stuff, armor, bars, weapons, etc. Well, Edda and that other beggar fought to the death over some of my stuff, something about "Seeing it first" A guard scolded me for dropping a weapon, as that was dangerous, what with children around and what not. And a few people kept asking for my stuff XD Oh what a mess that was. I had no idea the AI did things like that. Then again, I've never dropped anything in town before. A good 1000 hours in, and still finding stuff out every day. This game amazes me.

Anyone else have something like this happen? Or something astounding? The only other "Wow moment" I can think of, was when I was being attacked by an assassin and a group of thugs all the while Alduin was resurrecting a dragon in the background, creepy clouds, swirling draconic magic, dragon speak and all.

There are many threads like this in the Cheats and Spoilers forum.

This has been a known thing for quite some time. But it never happens for me. bah. Most I get is someone asking me about that sword I dropped.

Yeah its pretty cool. Though I've never started a small war over it. I might try it out as an experiment.

One time, the Stormcloak supporting old man who lost his daughter to the Empire fought to the death with Mjoll and Aerin over a BASKET.

When that save became corrupted, and I re-made the character, I wanted to test it out again.

He fought Mjoll and Aerin, but this time for a piece of bread.

Both times, no one took the bread/basket.

Happened to me with a bandit once. Was a very strange occurrence.

Baskets are serious business.

nope, they are content that they proved they saw it first.

Note to self: Beggars will kill for a single piece of gold, a roll of paper, and a human skull. XD

imagine if you dropped something worth alot.

My GF dropped some stuff she didn't want, got spotted by a npc who picked up her stuff, ran after her and said "Here, you dropped this". And the stuff was back in her inventory again.

This

There's some amazing AI in the game like this. If one of your game friends dies during the day to day Skyrim life, a courier will send you their will, giving you their possessions or money (if they like you).

Yea, this also applies if you just meet them, befreinded them, and then kill them yourself (all in a ingame hour) *Facepalm*.

I've tried this repeatedly and have never been able to accomplish it. The worst that has happened is a guard comes up to me to say that if I continue to litter, I'll have to pay off his $50 fine.