To Kill an Empire

The Last Supper

This quest begins once you complete Dark Brotherhood Quests: Recipe for Disaster.

Astrid realizes what you’ve accomplished and prepares you for the honor of assassinating the Emperor. You’re to head to Castle Dour in Solitude and present the Gourmet’s Writ of Passage to the officer in charge, Commander Maro. Astrid then tells you that you’re going to prepare a special meal for the Emperor, with an extra ingredient that she hands you. Before you depart, you can ask for more details on Jarrin Root and other information. (Astrid tells you one taste of Jarrin Root is deadly, and she means it. Go to your inventory and eat it, and you’ll drop dead.)

• Jarrin Root

Journey to Solitude and locate the sprawling Castle Dour atop the hill. Step into the large courtyard and find Commander Maro waiting by the tower entrance. He certainly isn’t going to let anyone in with the Emperor staying. There’s no need to use violence or sneaking; instead, speak to Maro and show him the Gourmet’s Writ of Passage. Maro reads the missive and is promptly most apologetic, realizing you’re the “Gourmet.” He allows you into the Emperor’s Tower and requests you meet the castle chef, Gianna. Outside you can also eavesdrop on a conversation between two Penitus Oculatus Agents, talking about Commander Maro and his state of mind, now that his son is not only dead, but also apparently a traitor.

This Soup Is to Die For

Enter the tower. Head left (east) and then right along (south) the corridor to reach the kitchens. Gianna is busily preparing the banquet feast and mistakes you for a delivery person. She is extremely apologetic when you reveal that you are the “Gourmet”! She requests that you don the proper attire; you can’t very well cook without a chef’s hat.

The shelves with the hanging garlic to your left (east) have a selection of chef’s hats you can wear. Take one, and then replace your current headgear with it. Then speak to Gianna again. She would be honored to prepare your signature dish, the Potage le Magnifique, to your exacting specifications. Gianna now asks you for a series of ingredients you can add to the base broth.

• Chef’s Hat

Begin to choose the ingredients. You can:

• Answer with expected ingredients, such as carrots, a splash of mead, Nirnroot, or diced Horker meat.
• Answer with more “esoteric” ingredients, such as a sweetroll, Vampire Dust, a Giant Toe, or a septim.
• Or remain silent and let Gianna figure out what she would add, as a “test” for her.

You can add as many expected or odd ingredients as you wish. When she asks whether the soup is done, tell her there is one final ingredient and hand over the Jarrin Root. Although she’s unsure, your “special ingredient” makes it into the broth. She takes the soup in a stew pot to the dining room.

Follow Gianna across the throne room, up the stairs, and along to the dining room, where you can hear Emperor Titus Mede II talking to three noble guests and taking a rather blasé attitude toward the murder of his cousin, Vittoria Vici. After Gianna takes a deep breath and prepares to present the Potage, you have this opportunity to strike.

The Emperor prepares to have the first taste of the Potage le Magnifique, takes a few slurps, comments on its deliciousness, and then keels over dead. The same effect can be achieved if you quickly attack him. Either way, your bounty suddenly skyrockets, the Penitus Oculatus Agent yells for some help, and general pandemonium breaks out. If you’ve poisoned the Potage, when the Emperor dies, one of the Penitus Oculatus Agents yells that you and the cook have done the dirty deed, and poor Gianna is also attacked in the confusion. Fortunately, this can serve as a distraction while you escape.

Dupe le Magnifique

In the midst of the commotion, dodge any of the guests milling about and disappear out of the entrance to the south, which is only a few steps away. You appear on the Tower battlements, where a cluster of guards and a greeting from Commander Maro stops you. Instead of fury, Maro greets you with a contemptible glee. It appears you’ve killed a decoy of the Emperor; a member of your “Family” tipped off Maro about the operation! You were traded for the Dark Brotherhood’s continued well-being, but Maro has grown tired of this little operation and now vows to butcher all of your clan—starting with you.

To flee Solitude, you can simply dash past the Penitus Oculatus on the stairs, and then quickly descend the tower’s spiral stairs to the ground level (don’t exit into Solitude itself, unless you’re trying to hide and blend in with the population, or you’re using a spell or Sneak to obscure yourself). Continue down the stairs until you reach a lower exit out into Skyrim and the harbor under the gigantic stone arch.

Quest Conclusion

The Brotherhood Sanctuary has disappeared from your world map, making a direct Fast-Travel impossible. Instead, Fast-Travel to Falkreath and head along the road until you spot Penitus Oculatus carts on the road. Or, sneak through the backwoods for a stealthier approach. This quest concludes as you approach the hidden entrance. You hear the sounds of fighting, and Imperials swarm the area. Has the Sanctuary been compromised?

Postquest Activities

Dark Brotherhood Quests: Death Incarnate begins immediately.