Can you pickpocket Babette? An in-depth look at Skyrim‘s creepiest child

Babette is one of the most intriguing characters you‘ll meet during your adventures in Skyrim. Despite having the body of a young girl, Babette is actually a 300 year old vampire, turned at the age of 10. She is a member of the Dark Brotherhood and plays the role of an alchemist and spell seller.

Due to Babette‘s status as a "child" NPC, she cannot be pickpocketed or killed – any attempts to harm her will fail. This invincibility is hard-coded into the game engine, as Babette‘s race is technically listed as "child" even though her dialogue suggests she‘s an adult. This quirk has provided many laughs for Skyrim players attempting to steal from or attack the seemingly innocent girl.

While Babette is impervious to thievery, the same can‘t be said for most other inhabitants of Skyrim. Here are some tips for successful pickpocketing in the game:

• Quicksave before each attempt – if caught, reload and try again
• Target NPCs carrying high value enchanted items
• Optimize your build with perks like Light Fingers in the Sneak tree
• Use spells like Paralysis to incapacitate targets temporarily
• Level up Pickpocket by stealing smaller items first to increase your skill
• The maximum chance of pickpocketing is 90% – some items are impossible!

An expert pickpocket like Babette can steal over 1900 gold from an alert target. With quick fingers and persistence, you may one day match her prowess.

In French, Babette is a feminine diminutive form of Elizabeth or Barbara and essentially means "God is my oath". It began use as an independent name during the 17th century. The -ette ending is a common feature of French nicknames denoting femininity and small size.

Fun fact: Babette first appeared as a name in Margaret Mitchell‘s famous novel Gone With The Wind.

Babette is also the name of a minor character in Disney‘s Beauty and the Beast. She works as a maid and takes a liking to Lumière, the charming candelabra. In some Disney media she‘s called Fifi instead of Babette.

There‘s also a Babette in Don DeLillo‘s White Noise – she is the wife of the narrator Jack Gladney. Unbeknownst to her family, Babette secretly takes pills called Dylar which impact her behavior.

As one of the last members of the Dark Brotherhood, Babette plays an important role. She offers vital intelligence to the player about the Brotherhood‘s contracts and activities. Due to her immortality and magical abilities, she‘s viewed with respect.

Babette maintains a close friendship with Gabriella, another Dark Brotherhood member. She also cares deeply for Cicero, keeper of the Night Mother.

If you choose to betray the Brotherhood, Babette will disappear and evade your attempts to destroy the organization. As a child, she cannot be harmed. Only by advancing the Brotherhood questline can Babette be confronted.

Whether you see her as a helpful assassin child or a creepy 300 year old vampire, Babette remains one of the most memorable characters in Skyrim. Approach her with caution – and make sure to watch your pockets!

Unraveling Babette‘s mysterious backstory

As one of the longest standing members of the Dark Brotherhood, Babette has a fascinating backstory shrouded in mystery. Some key facts about her origins include:

• She was originally a Breton girl born in High Rock over 300 years ago.
• Babette was bitten by a vampire lord named Lord Lovidicus, transforming her into a child vampire.
• She has been an assassin for over 200 years, honing her skills across multiple provinces.
• Her youthful appearance masks her true lethality – she is an expert alchemist and mage.
• Babette cares deeply for the Night Mother, seeing her as the true leader of the Brotherhood.
• She believes deeply in the tenets of the Brotherhood and the worship of Sithis.

While Babette‘s moral compass is certainly skewed, there is an odd innocence and loyalty in how she views her role in the Dark Brotherhood. She seems to revel in being part of a family, after existing alone for so many years. Understanding Babette‘s deep connection to the Brotherhood and Night Mother adds layers of complexity and tragedy to this strange child.

Mastering the art of pickpocketing

Pickpocketing is one of the most lucrative skills to develop in Skyrim. Here are some expert tips to start successfully stealing items off alert NPCs:

• Quicksave before every pickpocket attempt in case you fail
• Focus on targets sleeping or sitting for 100% chance of success
• Join the Thieves Guild to get the Cutsman‘s Fingers perk (10% bonus chance)
• Activate the Misdirection perk to briefly steal equipped items
• Paralyze targets if you need more time to steal higher value items
• Focus on stealing lightweight, high value gems and enchanted rings

The maximum gold amount you can steal from an alert target is 2,852 septims. But even at 100 skill with all perks, the highest chance of success is 90%. Here are the pickpocket probabilities based on skill level and perks:

As you can see, developing your Pickpocket skill takes patience and plenty of quickloading! But with practice, you‘ll be able to regularly pilfer weapons, potions, and gemstones with minimal risk. Stick to easier targets at low levels before moving onto town leaders and higher stakes heists.

Of course, Babette has centuries of experience on even the most seasoned Skyrim thief. But the secrets she‘s learned can help you become a pickpocket pro in your own right.

The practice of pickpocketing has existed for centuries, requiring precision, stealth and light fingers. Some notable pickpockets through history include:

• Cutting Ball, a notorious English pickpocket in the 17th century. He was forced to exile in Georgia.
• George Barrington, an Irishman who pickpocketed throughout Europe, before being transported to Australia.
• Cutaway Micky, an American pickpocket who stole from wealthy train passengers in the 19th century.
• Fagin, the fictional leader of a children‘s pickpocketing gang in Charles Dickens‘ Oliver Twist.

The most skilled pickpockets employ misdirection and sleight of hand to subtly lift wallets and valuables from targets. Devices like the 19th century dip used a hidden pocket to conceal stolen items. Babette would have surely been a dab hand with such equipment!

While pickpocketing has greatly reduced with modern policing, it remains an intriguing skill requiring dexterity and subterfuge. Game worlds like Skyrim provide a safe place to hone such roguish abilities – albeit without harming any virtual NPCs!

Babette has featured as a minor character across various fictional works, often playing a mischievous or secretive role:

Beauty and the Beast:

• Babette is a castle maid who takes a liking to Lumière the candelabra.
• She is flirtatious and has a feather duster companion called Fifi in some media.
• Her role symbolizes the lively romantic spirit of the castle inhabitants.

White Noise (novel):

• Babette is married to narrator Jack Gladney, but secretly takes pills called Dylar.
• Dylar is an experimental drug said to help people overcome the fear of death.
• Jack is shocked at Babette‘s deception, damaging the trust in their marriage.

In each case, Babette adds an element of surprise and deception to the story. While seemingly innocent on the surface, she hides a more complex inner life. This aligns with her vampire role within Skyrim as well!

Now it‘s over to you fellow traveler! What are your favorite Babette moments in Skyrim or other media? Let me know your experiences with pickpocketing this little vampire child!