Arnbjorn

"Here's all you need to know: I'm a werewolf. I like killing things. I love Astrid. I hate annoying people. And the color blue gives me a headache."

―Arnbjorn^[src]

Arnbjorn is a Nord assassin and a member of the Dark Brotherhood, as well as a Werewolf. He is married to the leader of the Dark Brotherhood, Astrid.

Background[]

He is an ex-member of the Companions. He was asked to leave because his "unorthodox" methods were offensive to other members. It is unclear what these methods were or how they were offensive, however, given his current status, it seems possible he used underhanded, duplicitous techniques that would have offended the Companions' sense of honor. He joined The Circle and became a werewolf prior to his expulsion.

He initially disapproves of the Dragonborn, showing a rude attitude, but after several successful assassinations, he begins to respect and even envy the Dragonborn.

If the Dragonborn is also a werewolf, however, he will immediately know and react a bit more amiably. Regardless of whether they are a werewolf or not, Arnbjorn will use little nicknames such as "lambshank," "beef roast," "tidbit," or "hamhock." He says not to take offense from the nicknames.

Interactions[]

The Cure for Madness[]

When returning to the Sanctuary after killing Gaius Maro, there is Astrid and some other Dark Brotherhood members standing around Veezara, who is wounded. Astrid will tell the player to go chase after Cicero, who attacked her and the other Brotherhood members in a fit of rage over their dislike of the Night Mother. Astrid also tells the player to find her husband, who chased after Cicero to protect the other members. After traveling to the Dawnstar Sanctuary, Arnbjorn is found heavily bleeding outside the black door, unable to continue.

Death Incarnate[]

Arnbjorn is killed during the assault on the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, where he dies in werewolf form while holding off Penitus Oculatus agents. His death is scripted and he will still die even if the Penitus Oculatus are killed first.

Destroy the Dark Brotherhood![]

Arnbjorn is one of the assassins needed to be eliminated if the player kills Astrid during With Friends Like These...

Dialogue[]

Show: Sanctuary
In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: "Well, well. It's raw meat. Oh, my beautiful wife has told me all about you." It's nice to meet you, Arnbjorn. You know nothing about me, or my abilities. (Remain silent) "I'll give you a week before you end up dead in a ditch." What can you tell me about yourself? "Look. If you're trying to get to know me - don't. I don't like you, and I never well. It's nothing personal. But... My wife trusts you, and I trust her judgement. So you can't be all bad. Here's all you need to know: I'm a werewolf. I like killing things. I love Astrid. I hate annoying people. And the color blue gives me a headache." What can you tell me about yourself? (As a member of the Companions) "I might ask the same of you. For you are more than mortal. You are moon-born. You are wolf. So you're a Companion, then? I can't imagine you got your gift anywhere else. I hope you have better luck with them than I did. Oh yes, I was once brother to the Companions. Let's just say they found my methods "unsettling." The Dark Brotherhood, obviously, feels differently." "Until next time, brother."

Show: Mourning Never Comes
In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: "Huh?" Any advice on my current contract? "Yeah. Follow my wife's orders, and don't do anything stupid." What are your thoughts on Cicero and the Night Mother? "The witless fool and his pet corpse? Take a guess."

Show: Whispers in the Dark
In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary Astrid thinks a Family member may be conspiring with Cicero. "She said that? If I find anyone working against my wife, or this sanctuary, I'll beat them to death with their own severed head. Of course, they'd probably already be dead... But you know what I mean!"

Show: The Silence Has Been Broken
In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: Any advice on my current contract? "Oho! The Listener wants my counsel! I thought you were above the opinions of mere mortals, now that you commune with dead old women."

Show: Bound Until Death
In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: Any advice on my current contract? "You've got to kill a soft little woman on her wedding day. What's next? Murdering a crippled orphan in his sleep?"

Show: Breaching Security
In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: Any advice on my current contract? "What's the matter, Listener? Night Mother not feeling very chatty these days? You need help from your flesh and blood lessers? You've got to track a man, kill him, and then frame him for a crime. This contract's perfect... for me. Clearly, my lovely wife made a mistake."

Show: The Cure for Madness
Outside the Dawnstar Sanctuary: "Should have figured Astrid would send you." You're hurt. "What gave it away? Ha ha ha ha ha. Yeah, got to admit that little jester is good with that butter knife. But don't worry, I gave as good as I got." Where's Cicero now? "In there! Through the door. Some old Sanctuary, by the looks of it. I would have followed him, but I don't know the phrase." I know the phrase. I'll get Cicero - you go home. "All right, you convinced me. Doubt I'd be much good to you, anyway. The little fop cut me pretty deep. But I slashed him good. Pretty sure I severed an artery. Don't know what you're going to find in there... but you can probably just follow the blood." If approached again: "Do me a favor and kill that little jester twice. Just to make sure." After killing Cicero: "There you are. Look, I... I just wanted to say thanks for coming to find me. Back in Dawnstar. Crazy jester finally met his match, am I right?"

Show: Recipe for Disaster
In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: Any advice on my current contract? "The last thing you need is my help. Listener or not, you've proven yourself time and again. To Astrid, to the Family... and to me."

Show: To Kill an Empire
In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: Any advice on my current contract? "You get to kill the Emperor. The bloody Emperor. You'd better enjoy this one. You owe us all that much. So make it bloody, painful, and spectacular."

Conversations[]

Contracts[]

Arnbjorn: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Veezara: "Ha ha ha ha! Again! Again! Do the part where he tries to buy you some candy." Babette: "Okay, okay. Wait. Here we go. "Ooh, you are such a pretty little girl. Would the sweetie like a sweetie? Oh yes, how about some chocolate?" Oh yes, please, kind sir. My mama and papa left me all alone, and I'm so very hungry. I know a shortcut to the candy shop. Through this alley. Oh ya, very good. Very good. My it is dark down here. Oh, but you are so beautiful. Such a lovely smile. Your teeth... your teeth! No! Aggghh!!" Gabriella: "Oh Babette, but you are so wicked." Nazir: "What about you, Festus? How did that last contract turn out?" Arnbjorn: "Oh, yes, please, old man. Regale us with your tales of wizardry..." Festus Krex: "Ah, the young and stupid. Always mocking the experienced and brilliant. My contract went very well, I'll have you know. Tried a new spell. Little something I've been working on in my spare time. Came "this" close to turning that priest inside out. Damned messy." Gabriella: "And what of your latest, Arnbjorn. Something about a Khajiit? Merchant was it?" Babette: "Oh, a big doggy chasing a little kitty! How adorable!" Nazir: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Festus: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Veezara: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Arnbjorn: "I am not adorable, it was not funny, and he wasn't a merchant. He was a Khajiit monk, a master of the Whispering Fang style. But now he's dead... and I have a new loincloth." Nazir: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Festus: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Veezara: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Babette: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

Arriving in the Sanctuary[]

Cicero: "But the Night Mother is mother to all! It is her voice we follow! Her will! Would you dare risk disobedience? And surely... punishment?" Arnbjorn: "Keep talking, little man, and we'll see who gets "punished."" Festus Krex: "Oh, be quiet you great lumbering lapdog. The man has had a long journey. You can at least be civil. Mister Cicero, I for one am delighted you and the Night Mother have arrived. Your presence here signals a welcome return to tradition." Cicero: "Oh, what a kind and wise wizard you are. Sure to earn our Lady's favor." Astrid: "You and the Night Mother are of course welcome here, Cicero. And you will be afforded the respect deserving of your position as Keeper. Understood... husband?" Arnbjorn: "Hmph." Cicero: "Oh, yes yes yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Astrid: "But make no mistake. I am the leader of this Sanctuary. My word is law. Are we clear on that point?" Cicero: "Oh yes, mistress. Perfectly! You're the boss."

Quotes[]

"Should have figured Astrid would send you."
"Gee, thanks for the help."
"What gave it away?"
"Do me a favor and kill that little jester twice. Just to make sure."
"Sister/Brother."

Trivia[]

He wears a unique short sleeved variation of the shrouded armor. If the armor is stolen and equipped, regardless of the character, it will have long sleeves.
He never wears any sort of footwear or gloves, possibly due to his Lycanthropy.
He is the only Dark Brotherhood character who will never give any useful advice when asked for it before a mission, apart from Cicero, who does not have that dialogue option.
He can sometimes be seen in the forge part of the sanctuary attacking nothing because of movements made by two-handed attacks. He may be seen using a dual one-handed power strike, despite using a two-handed battleaxe.
He, like many other members of the Dark Brotherhood, thinks Cicero is insane.
When he dies at the hands of the Penitus Oculatus, Arnbjorn will have the body piece of the Shrouded Armor in his inventory. However, if he is killed during Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!, he will only have one or two randomly enchanted battleaxes in his inventory.
When returning to the Sanctuary after finishing the first contract(s), when everyone is gathered around the Night Mother's coffin and her Keeper, Festus Krex calls Arnbjorn a "great lumbering lapdog" when he is rude to Cicero. Also, during The Cure for Madness, Cicero calls Arnbjorn a "stupid wolf" and "hulking sheepdog," in derogatory reference to Arnbjorn being a werewolf.
He appears to dislike daggers, as he calls the one wielded by Cicero a "butter knife."
Out of the rest of the Brotherhood members, Arnbjorn is the most disrespecting to the Night Mother, even going as far to call her Cicero's "pet corpse."
When greeting him for the first time during Sanctuary, he calls the player character "fresh meat."
Arnbjorn's death is scripted; even if the Dragonborn kills all the Penitus Oculatus agents attacking Arnbjorn, he will simply collapse and die, seemingly without cause.

Bugs[]

This section contains bugs related to Arnbjorn. Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template 360 / XB1 , PS3 / PS4 , PC / MAC , NX / PS5 , XS , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.

PS3 Sometimes, if Cicero isn't killed during the quest The Cure for Madness, Arbjorn may not respawn in the Falkreath Sanctuary.

Appearances[]

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim