I really don't wan't to walk away from this quest line because I'm really enjoying it, but I'm stuck.

I got my ass kicked too many times at Goldenglow Estate (lvl 5) so I abandoned that and started doing side jobs for Vex and Delvin. I completed Bedlam, The Robbery, and The Money Job (?), was on my way out of Riften to try Goldnglow again, and I was attacked by 3 big brutes who slaughter me in 3 hits.

One has a helmet with downturned horns and uses an axe, the other two have no helmets and swords. They block and dodge and surround me and slaughter me. I'm just a little Bosmer with a 4 steel daggers and a hunting bow... I tried Weak Potion of Invisiblity for 20 seconds and poisoned a dagger in each hand with something that drained stamina and health, but they moved to freaking fast!!! I tried that twice.

I need to know what I did to set this off. I went to Markath and immediately got caught by Allys who drops a note. I didn't read it as I wasn't interested in getting involved in too much. So I wander around Markath for 10 mins and I'll be damned if I didn't walk right into the Shrine and bump into him! So I got a quest update I didn't even read.

Also when I went to Winhelm, I got caught by the Elf being harrased by the Nords and her plea for help, but I don't think I got any quest updates by talking to her.

Does anyone have a clue why I'm being brutally slaughtered?? Since I can't defeat these guys for at least 3 more levels, I'd like to undo whatever I did.

THe brutes you speak of are hired thugs. They are unrelated to the theives guild. I have ran into them in different places on all of my characters.

Remember you can always just run. Jump into a lake, or dive off a cliff.

But why me? Why now when I am so under-powered? I've reloaded 5 times and they're always there.... Why would there be a 'quest stopper' thrown in like that?? So my only choice is to abandon the Thieves Guild for 3-7 more levels?? Maybe 10??

That doesn't sound right.

You know that's not a bad idea. Sneaking into Riften, then just jumping in the nearest water for my getaway.

But something tells me they won't be isolated to Riften....

hired thugs are related to thieve's guild. when you do the side jobs, and anger a shop keeper (though no one saw you steal) they will hire some thugs to rough you up...or kill you. if you can kill them you will find a note on thier bodies saying X shopkeeper hired them to take care of you.

So it must be one of the shopkeepers I roughed up in the 2nd quest, not someone from the side jobs... hmmm.... I wonder if I can confront the shop owners and end this without reading the note. I'm going to try this.

Thank you for the tip!

I've been jumped by thugs from time to time, and when I kill them they have a contract or note on the saying something like kill this person ( you) for the theft of items, or for crimes against this organisation or that. I was wondering how you can steal something without being caught then be tagged and as the person who stole property.

I think it's just random when the game detects you've stolen something.

To be honest level 5 may be a little low for doing these quests, very little perks to make life easier for sneaking and such.
I was level 30 or so when I started it and I had trouble, not with fighting but in sneaking, my character has no sneak/pickpocket perks! I managed most by using spells and potions. It might be better to level a bit as the quest line can be tough in places.

I should be able to have dreams of being a master thief. I should be able to complete the early TG quests and acquire skills that prepare me for tougher quests...

Kinda dis-heartened. I hope every quest line doesn't defeat me like this by the 4th quest.... I'd like to earn a living and have some fun!

Easy your fence is a snitch lol....

i believe it was mentioned but the 3 thugs have nothing to do with any quest line most likely. usually they are hired by someone you randomly encounter and either steal from or assault in some way. good luck trying to un-do that.

also, there is the difficulty slider if you need....

Hi! I got "hired thugs "after me in Whiterun when I was around your level. I got rid of the bunch by casting the low level illusion spell (can get from any castle wizard) called Fury on them near the town guards, the thugs started attacking the guards, guards made quick work of the thugs. Have to be carefull though if u dont want innocent townsfolk killed by the thugs under the spell..
Fury is also good for situations around your lvl to get enemy groups just fighting each other in dungeons etc, but on later levels you must invest perks in illusion to affect stronger people.
And Illusion has other good spells for thief like Muffle to make you sneak better...

Oh, and, hahaa, in my case turned out in the thugs note it was the Whiterun City Guard themselves who had hired them to "teach a lesson to a thief", the irony ,

I finally won that battle. I had just sold my axe, my two handed sword, and longsword since I was doing 'domestic' jobs so I went back a couple of saves, kept my two handed sword, leveled up and chose the first perk in two handed which is damage 20%, then got my back up against a wall in a corner and took them one by one. FOUR of them.

But it's frustrating that I can't be a classic Bosmer sneak/thief type of character and survive the baby steps of this game. I'm having to confront multiple heavily armed enemies at once in these early quests and daggers and bows are pretty laughable.... but oh well. I'm a little Bosmer waif with a big ass sword....

Just keep working on sneak. It will reward eventually.