UESP Forums

Nein.

The Stormcloaks?

Nope.

Bandits?

Wrong answer.

I'm starting to think the Imperials, because of the "A potential throat to slit" line, as in General Tullius.

Don't let your hatred of General Tullius influence your answer.
Incorrect.

The Blades?

Mercer Frey but I think more so Delvin Mallory

No correct answers so far.

the ragged flagon?

Nope.

I don't know why but the Standing Stones spring to mind.

Wrong answer.

Questgivers?

or maybe, Daedric Quest-givers?

Approaching the right track.

Brynjolf?

Hey, hey, hey, I'm an Imperial through and through.

The people of Riften?

Innkeepers?

No correct guesses so far.

I'm thinking this might be broader than a small group of NPCs, as such, my guess is that it is the population of either Riften, Whiterun or Morthal.

Here's the riddle again, for ease of reading

One of the first friends you might make,
One left in the lurch, but in a different way,
A sly concealer of spirits,
A defiler with an illustrious name,
A potential throat to slit,
A trader of rumours with a Khajiit-trained successor,
A liberator of beehives,
A hard worker filling orders for the high and mighty,
A hand abandoned by fingers,
A keeper of one of the three keys to what once was,
A fair employer of a scorned god's son,
A most unfortunate thrall,
We shall all help you prosper,
If your pack is large enough.
Who are we?

You are on the right track.
But it is not the entire population of any city.

The Thieves Guild seems to fit many of the lines, though I don't know if you'd class that as a 'small group of NPCs'

No, it's not the Thieves Guild.

wait a second
is it Karliah or the nightingales?