I don't know if you guys have seen the Imperial and Stormcloak couriers who randomly show up in the wilderness. I've seen a few of them, and most often it's an Imperial at Shearpoint. Well this evening I saw a Stormcloak courier zip past me as I was approaching a bandit occupied keep, so I decided to follow him. I had hopes of eventually arriving at some location where he would relay an important message to another NPC, and possibly start a quest.

We treked on the road for a long distance, running past wolves, a troll, a farmer, a minstrel (can't recall his name), and dangerously close to a giant and mammoth. On a couple occasionsI had to stop and kill wolves because they were attacking the courier and I didn't want him to die, and then sprint to catch up. I thought I'd lost him at one point, but managed to track him down and continue. Finally, seeing a Stormcloak camp marker on the compass, I was looking forward to witnessing something I had not seen yet in the game. The courier turned off of the road, runs up to the campfire, and starts warming his hands. I stood there feeling disappointment and he glanced back at me as if to say, "Haha, fooled you, idiot!"

Anyone else fall for following one of those guys only to be disappointed?

Oh yes.... on my first toon ever.... I figured exactly as you did (was an Imperial courier though). He ran into Whiterun Imperial Camp, and sat down to eat. I was left with egg on my face.

The first one I ran into was somewhere in Whiterun Hold. I raced after him for a while, but lost him when I was attacked by wolves.

Another time, I was between Reachwater Rock and Reachcliff Cave and came across a Thalmor Patrol and attacked them. After the last one died, the bounty didn't get removed, and I see a courier running past me. I had to get that bounty removed, so it didnt end well for him.

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198056584953/screenshot/451722115162091358?tab=publichttp://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198056584953/screenshot/451722115162091358?tab=public

Was he naked? I encountered a naked courier last night just outside Whiterun. This guy with just his pants on (thank god I didn't install the male nvde mods) comes running through one of the farms towards me so I draw my sword expecting hassle. Nope, just the usual run-of-the-mill naked courier. The letter was strange too. Something about me being an investor to someone's expecition in [...] and they need my assistance. I would love to help but I don't know where [...] is

No...and now I won't - thanks. I Fast Travel almost everywhere, but if I ever see one I definitely won't follow.

Edited for punctuation.

By coincidence I did the same thing myself today. The thing is, on this playthrough, I sided with the Empire and so now Riften is under the control of Maven Black-Briar. Entering Mistveil Keep, I noticed a Stormcloak soldier standing off to the left by the table. She had no conversation other than, "Huh? Yes?" etc. I tried pushing her around a bit, and she eventually sat down at the table for a drink. Hmmf.

I went in to see if Wylandriah had anything good to sell, and as I was talking to her I heard hurried footsteps. Looking into the main hall, I saw a Stormcloak courier at the door, so I immediately followed. She ran through Riften, out the north gate, through Shor's Stone and up the road towards Windhelm. I thought to take a shortcut and unfortunately lost sight of her. It's weird that this was going on in an Imperial city, and she was unmolested by any Imperial guards or patrols she met. Even a giant ignored her. It doesn't make much sense. But then again, I was surprised Maven chose her boy Hemming to be her steward, considering she planted Anuriel in Laila Law-giver's court.

I've recently had en encounter with a roadway thief, but managed to persuade him out of robbing me. After that, he started running away along the road, so I decided to chase him to see where he would go to. Considering we were close to Riften, my guess was he would just head inside the city or something, the city being the TG's headquarters. Anyway, so I followed him, and after he bravely screamed for help when I get attacked by a "Khajiit", and one-shotted a wolf during the journey, he proceeds to run up to the Snow-Shod farm (Nooo, look out dude, there are guards over there!) and stand beside the mill like a guard would. After that, he only answered me with "Huh?", "What?" and/or "Can I help you?". Weird thief. Oh, and the guards acted like nothing was wrong. Maybe he was some family member of the Snow-Shods or something.