First off, to avoid confusion, I must explain the situation. I am one of those self-pact gamers. Before I left for Mournhold, I left ALL of my main equipment at my stronghold, and set out for the capital with merely the common clothes I came in, and just enough gold to get me to Ebonheart. My resoning being, that with my good armor and weapons, the enemies may be too easy (proven wrong there) and that if I left my stuff in Vvardenfell, I'd have the opportunity to try out the new armor and weapons of Tribunal. Also I vowed not to return for anything until I was entirely done with the expansion as far as I want to.

So, I've noticed, all the locks are 50 or so. Easy pickings. But, nobody sells lockpicks! I suppose they are banned in Mournhold or something? Is there any where I could find (or preferrably buy) any picks in the capital city? I need them to complete some of the quests...

I suspect that there are none (there are no trainers either). I'm not sure that the game was designed to be completed without return specifically (although it is easy to do so if you have what you need to start with). In Bloodmoon for example you have to return to the mainland to complete one quest as the quest item required is not found in Solstheim. On this one you may have to leave the quest for another visit. However most locks have keys in game somewhere. Which quests do you need the lock-picks for?

Thank you good sir. I do not need them for strictly the main quest (yet, I suppose), but rather for the miscellaneous quests. Namely, the Anonymous Writer quest and the Insane Woman in Godsreach quest. (This is, without giving the slightest hint of a spoiler.)

If I absolutely must, I'll go back to the mainland to retrieve a common pick. But I also suspect that the woman in the back of the High Temple may have an unlock spell. However, she requires a high rank in the Temple for services, and the Archcannon won't hand me any duties until I've made the Seven Pilgrimages. Unless there is another way to advance without leaving Mournhold. This is all just a suggestion though...

My suggestion is to go back and retrieve maybe 3 or 4 lockpicks (depending on your current level) and bring them with you. I know there are one or two quests total in the Tribunal expansion that require you to go back to the mainland, so maybe pick them up when you do those quests. I do believe that one of the quests is the guy that collects things in the upstairs of the Craftsman's Hall. Pay him a visit.

EDIT:
Sorry, I just realized how old this thread was, as I dont normally visit the Tribunal section of the forums. It said it was new, and I thought it said the last post was July 3, but it was June 3.