The Cure for Madness

The Savagery of Cicero

This quest begins once you complete Dark Brotherhood Quests: Breaching Security.

nside the main grotto chamber of the Sanctuary, the Dark Brotherhood are gathered around Veezara, who was bleeding from a deep wound. Speak to Astrid, and she reveals that Cicero has gone mad. She says the maniac didn’t like some remarks Astrid had made regarding the Night Mother and attempted to kill her. Veezara stopped him but was wounded. Cicero fled into the forest. Arnbjorn gave chase and hasn’t been seen since. Astrid is worried for her husband’s safety. She is also calling on you to kill Cicero for this treachery! She suggests you find evidence in Cicero’s chamber.

Search the Sanctuary until you find Cicero’s chamber and the Journal on top of the barrel. Pick up the Journal to read about Cicero’s exploits upon his arrival in Skyrim and his knowledge of another, older Sanctuary near Dawnstar. The book also has the passphrase to enter the Sanctuary and some evidence of what (and who) resides inside. Also revealed is Cicero’s distaste for Astrid and her “new ways.”

• Cicero’s Journal, Final Volume

Return to Astrid, and she orders you to the Dawnstar Sanctuary as quickly as possible; in fact, she has secured a steed named Shadowmere to quicken your progress to your destination if you wish.

Race, by foot, horse, or Fast-Travel to Dawnstar, to the Black Door cut into the beachside cliffs. Just outside you’ll find the crumpled form of Arnbjorn. It seems the jester is a deft hand with his “butter knife,” as Arnbjorn calls it, indicating the nasty wound. Arnbjorn reckons he wounded Cicero, too, judging by the trail of blood the fool left behind as he entered the Dawnstar Sanctuary. Arnbjorn would have followed but couldn’t open the Black Door. Convince Arnbjorn to return to Astrid, while you follow the blood.

Puzzle Solution: At the Black Door, when it asks, “What is life’s greatest illusion?” answer “Innocence, by Brother.” You’ll know this if you read Cicero’s Journal.

A Fool’s Errand

Head down the stairs, and you can hear Cicero deeper in the maze of connecting chambers, saying that Astrid has “sent the best” to defeat him. He is hurt; notice the intermittent puddles and drops of blood on the floor and walls. Follow the trail to Cicero. Draw your weapons as you move through the rooms; there are Sanctuary Guardians to kill as you continue deeper down. Note the gold haul you usually find in their remains. Then ready yourself for the traps:

Spear Trapped Bridge: Approach this bridge carefully; three spears shoot out from the right. You should also strike the hanging oil lamps either side of the bridge to lessen the severity of a trap in the oil room directly below.

Oil Room: Set fire to the oil on the floor before you enter this room, or the oil lamps on either side of the bridge drop and roast you alive. Deal with the Sanctuary Guardians from a distance, coaxing them into frying in the room.

Bear Traps: Pass through the broken circular window into the ice tunnels, but watch yourself by the dead goat; there are bear traps to maneuver over or around.

Udefrykte: The beast Cicero wrote about in his journal waits for you inside the ice tunnels. Slay this demented troll with a mixture of ranged attacks, swipes, and dodges around the narrow cave with the chest in it.

Sanctuary Crypt: Retract the vertical spears by using the pull chain. Head down the stairs and face more Sanctuary Guardians as Cicero asks whether you’ll let bygones by bygones. Then climb the stairs opposite, lift the door bar so you can easily exit the Sanctuary after facing Cicero, then open the door to the torture room.

Keeper of the Old Ways

Flanked by two dead skeletons, Cicero awaits your fury. You can immediately attack or remain silent and let Cicero explain himself; after all, you are the Listener. While lacking in clarity, Cicero tells you Astrid is a “pretender” who had no right to “blaspheme” the Night Mother; he was simply compelled through his sense of duty as the Keeper. Or this could be the rambling nonsense of a Fool of Hearts. You have a choice to make: kill him or leave the Sanctuary.

Choose to slay this battle-hardened fool, who isn’t quite as wounded as he may have let on; you have a real fight on your hands! Or, follow Cicero’s advice and leave the Sanctuary, lifting the door bar and exiting quickly via the central chamber. As you step out onto the beach, your quest updates.

Quest Conclusion

Back at the first Sanctuary, Astrid is anxious about the news of Cicero’s demise. You let her know the jester is dead, either telling her the truth (if you killed him) or lying (if you left him alone). Leave Cicero alive, and an additional quest, Cicero’s Return, can occur at the end of this series of quests. For now, there are other matters to attend to and important fellows to murder. Consult with Festus Krex for further details.

Postquest Activities

Dark Brotherhood Quests: Recipe for Disaster begins immediately. Your remaining side contracts are also available, and it is wise to attempt as many of these as you wish as early as possible.