Death Incarnate
Location	Falkreath Sanctuary
Prerequisite	To Kill An Empire
Next Quest	Hail Sithis
Reward	Blade of Woe
Faction	Dark Brotherhood
Type	Dark Brotherhood Quest

Walkthrough

This quest begins once the player completes Dark Brotherhood Quest: To Kill An Empire.

Entrance to Sanctuary

Commander Maro’s men have located the sanctuary and are currently raiding it. Once the player reaches the entrance to the sanctuary four or more Penitus Oculatus Agents will be encountered at the entrance. At this point any method can be used to take down or sneak around the Agents to get through to the door. Festus is pinned to the tree just outside the door by a barrage of arrows. Enter the Black Door

Inside the Sanctuary

Upon entering the Sanctuary, fire will be heard from deeper in the sanctuary. Keep moving through the building to where Astrid would normally be located. Instead two Penitus Oculatus Agents will be in the area, if evesdropped upon it will be heard that the sanctuary is being set alight as well as that an agent named Arcturus has led some agents deeper into the sanctuary. At this point both agents should be dealt with; fire magic is recommended at this section due to the large amounts of oil on the ground. Afterwards, the body of Veezara will be located on the ground.

Proceed foward deeper into the sanctuary, and the death of Arnbjorn will be witnessed; he will be witnessed attacking a group of agents in Beast Form before being slain by arrows. His death is pre-scripted, so nothing can be done to save him. Proceed forwards, and the dead bodies of Gabriella and Lis will be located. Head into the dining hall where Nazir (one of the few surviving Dark Brotherhood members) will be seen battling several Penitus Occulatus agents.

Nazir

Arcturus, the leader of the Penitus Occulatus agents, will be attempting to slay Nazir. Defeat Arcturus and any other agents near by. At this point talk to Nazir, who will formulate a plan of escape. Follow Nazir.

Embrace the Night Mother

Nazir will run to the southeast, into a connecting corridor above the stained glass window. At this point, the Night Mother will tell the player to embrace her, as it is the only way to survive. Kill any agents in the way and head to the Night Mother's chamber. Once at the chamber open her sarcophagus, step inside, and her coffin will be thrown through the window by Nazir. Nazir will escape through the hole in the window. At this point Babette and Nazir will move the coffin upright. Just before the coffin doors open, the night mother will tell the player to speak to Astrid, who will be in the sanctuary.

The Dread Lord Beckons

Upon stepping out of the coffin, Nazir will tell the player to slow down. The reply selected will not affect the questline at this point. Next head out of the grotto and up the stone stairs to the south. This will lead to the path of the remainder of the entrance chamber. Turn right and head north, and Astrid will be seen burned beyond recognition. She will be in the center of a ring of candles in the configuration of the Black Sacrament. She will inform the player that she had betrayed him/her to the Penitus Occulatus in return for their promise to spare the Dark Brotherhood. All three reactions will result in the same end result. Astrid will state how her action was unforgivable and that Sithis will judge her accordingly. She will then ask the player to rebuild the Dark Brotherhood for her. She will give her Blade of Woe to the player and demand that she be killed, as she has enacted the Black Sacrament on herself. It does not matter what weapon or spell is used to kill her.

Completing this quest begins the next Dark Brotherhood quest: Hail Sithis.

Trivia

• If the player somehow missed the Stone of Barenziah on the dresser in Astrid's room, upon first joining the Dark Brotherhood, then it will be sitting on the dresser while leaving.
• There is no way for Astrid to survive. Using a healing spell on Astrid (i.e. Healing Hands) will also result in her death.
• Astrid cannot be killed with an arrow to head, as the arrow will bounce off, but an arrow to the torso works.

• Items will be lost if they are placed in the chest or a cupboard (in the room with all the beds) before the Sanctuary collapse.
• After embracing the Night Mother, it's possible to hear Nazir talking to Babette while carrying the coffin. This makes for some hilarious dialogue, wherein Nazir complains that Babette isn't helping him, and she sarcastically replies that she isn't physically built for lifting such heavy objects.
•  PC   360   PS3  Try and take the fighting slow inside the sanctuary because some users may experience drastic lag, freezes, and even crashes.

Bugs

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Gallery