I'm probably hoping for too much, but if I give Riften over to the Empire, but then side with the stormcloaks and retake the city, will Maven go into exile like the other disgraced jarls or does she still live in Riften? I figure she's immune to being exiled due to her role in the Thieves Guild questline, but I was surprised when I did the opposite with Markarth and the head Silver-Blood actually went into exile.

I believe she still lives in Riften.

If the stormcloaks wins the civil war Maven does not go into exiled. She will continue to live in Riften. Of course Laila Law-Giver will regain her Jarl status. I don't know if it's a bug or not but Maven continues to walk around with Jarl status to her name.

Maven is the only Jarl who does not leave the city and go into exile. Even Vignar Gray-Mane, who cannot be deposed, has an exiled AI package. Maven will retain the title "Jarl" in front of her name, however, and her son Hemming will glower at you whenever you pass by.

And that's why scumbags like him are always the first to be killed

Ah, the joys of illusion magic.

Well hes not much of scumbag.... He could say other unpleasant things like "I should bash your face in for everything you did" had he said that then he becomes a scumbag

She will still be in Riften.

It would be awesome though if we could have a questline about destroying the Thieves Guild, and then get to choose if we want to kill maven or send her into exile.

Even better, a questline where restoring the former glory of the TG included getting rid of Maven. One way or the other.

Without the help from Maven the TG would be none existence.

Does that make her more powerful than Nocturnal, then?

You might be right about that I'm surprise to see that Maven hasn't taken in the Dark Brotherhood

I love that old [censored] Her daughter is something else

I'm not so sure about that. After all, the Guild was thriving before she came along. I don't know for how long she's been supporting the Guild, but I've had the impression that it was Mercer Frey who started to cooperate with her, and if you've done the TG questline you know what HE did.

When will you be finished programming your new mod here for Skyrim?