Shady Sam is a shady merchant character found in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and its Remastered version. He is located outside the northwestern walls of the Imperial City, near the Chestnut Handy Stables, specifically in an alcove along the wall close to the Elven Garden District. Shady Sam is known for selling dubious goods such as lockpicks, skooma (a potion), various poisons, and potions like cure disease, paralysis, and poison. He is available day or night and doesn't require any special quest to unlock his shop. However, his disposition cannot be improved, meaning haggling for better prices is difficult. He starts with 400 Gold and several items including about 30 lockpicks and a variety of poisons. To find him, players should fast travel to Chestnut Handy Stables and then walk along the wall of the Imperial City towards the northwest, where he can be found against the wall waiting for customers. Shady Sam will flee if guards are alerted, and he doesn't engage in combat. He is a consistent and reliable early-game source of lockpicks and other shady items needed for thieving or other underhanded tasks in Oblivion. This location and behavior apply to both the original and Remastered versions of Oblivion.
