The Chef's Secret

 I took off after Cicero as instructed by Astrid and found her husband collapsed outside of the Dawnstar sanctuary. I entered and barreled my way through some sanctuary ghost guards with Lucien at my side. I make it a point to have him at my side as often as I can. He expressed his desires for peace between Cicero and us, which I whole-heartedly agreed with.

Here he is. Here's Cicero.

Poor guy. I couldn't help but feel immensely sorry for him and approached slowly while he mistakingly begged for his life. He didn't have to ask me, I know he was the correct one all along. I told Cicero he didn't have to worry, that I would tell Astrid he was dead so that he may live and that I would take care of things. Whether he believed me or not I didn't care. I took off back to the Falkreath sanctuary then!

Along the way I decided to hitch a ride on a cart. It's a little slower than my current horse but it was scenic and I didn't have to do any of the driving! I got to sight see.

When I arrived I told Astrid that Cicero was dead and she commended me. I held my wrath toward her to myself and listened as she instructed me of my next task. Find out who the Gormet master chef is from the one and only person in all of Tamriel who knows... then kill him.

I tracked him to Markarth where he is acting as head chef and kindly persuaded him to tell me who the Gormet is and where I might find him.

 Then I told him in return for telling him this information I would spare his life. he was greatful. Little did he know that I had lied to him... because I didn't want his last moments of life to be in fear.


I calmly waited until nightfall when everyone went to sleep then killed him with one slash. I didn't want to be seen and also he would die peacefully in his sleep.

It was a success. The Gormet is somewhere between Dawnstar and Winterhold in a little tavern type place along the road. Off I go!

Finally! Shadowmere Is Mine!

Returning to the sanctuary after completing the last contracts rewarded me with my old flame Lucien! I was so excited to finally be seeing him again and used him right away! He would stay by my side and fight with me until killed. Little did I know he wouldn't last that long in the field.

I was asked by Astrid to follow this soldier from Solitude and kill him within the property of another city if I wanted my bonus. I had intended to get the bonus and so patiently waited while the soldier had a last goodbye chat with his son in Solitude before he set off across the bridge to the rest of the world. I intended to patiently follow him along the way and into the next city, keeping him pleasant company as it were.. but ..

He walked, and walked, north of solitude (what? There's no towns or cities up here...) for hours. The sun finally began to set and it grew dark and we were still wandering around just north of Solitude. I began to think this man was crazy.... and got fed up wandering in the dangerous wild with him, and just slew him there. No bonus is worth this.

The second part of this newest contract asked me to slay royalty. I had two options, suggested to me by my dark brotherhood sisters and brothers, I could rig the statue at the very top to fall ontop of them and make it look like an accident... or I could hide from afar and shoot them with a poisoned arrow that was left there for me by a dark sister. I chose the latter because I had no idea how to get up on the roof by the statue, and I feared if I tried to figure it out, by the time I did the ceremony would be done and over with.

 The shot was easy.

Chaos ensued! I suddenly found myself unable to see to find the exit! Then there was a voice in the darkness, of a stranger standing right next to me somewhere!

Great, a chance! I turned to make my escape... only to realize for the second time I couldn't see to leave! Shoot! Stupid ENB/weather mod conflict! It makes the shadows entirely too dark for me.... yet I can't bring myself to change either one of them!

To put it bluntly.. I blundered my way down to the streets and totally screwed up my grand escape. I ended up streaking through the city streets chased by a mob. I finally did eventually escape however, but not without getting all banged up with bruises.

On the way back to the sanctuary I took some pictures of some beautiful landscapes.

I returned to find the sanctuary in an uproar! It was Cicero who had gotten fed up with Astrid's foolishness and thrown a fit before streaking off into the night. Good for you Cicero!

I was asked to go after him and happily agreed. I was met outside with the gift I had been waiting for! Shadowmere!

Overjoyed with Shadowmere I hopped on him and took off toward Dawnstar and the ancient sanctuary after Cicero!

Astrid's News

After a long journey I finally arrived at the sanctuary and had a surprise greeting from Astrid! She had finally changed her mind about the nightmother (or so she says) and agreed to let me go to meet Amaund. Too late!

Since I had already gone and done that I simply handed her the jewel and note that he had given me. It actually saved me a lot of time. Kill the emperor he says! So it begins...I'm off to get the jewel appraised by a member of the thieves guild in Riften! This will be my first trip into the thieves guild headquarters.

A pretty view on the way.

Uh.. nooo.... >.>


The thieves guild didn't like me entering their headquarters. I had to do this a couple of times:

I met Dirge! I like this guy. I payed him a compliment and he gave me what I think was a drink.

And so after a long day in Riften getting the jewel appraised I set out on a cloudy day back toward the sanctuary near Falkreath.