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  • Starting Whispers In The Dark
  • Contract: Kill Hern
  • Contract: Kill Lurbuk
  • Continuing From Whispers In The Dark

Trouble has come to the Dark Brotherhood's small family in Skyrim. The arrival of the Speaker, Cicero, has gotten Astrid paranoid. As soon as you return from your first contract, she gives you a new task. You need to hide within the Night Mother's Coffin to spy on the Keeper.

Related: Skyrim: Paladin Build Guide

Things do not go to plan, and you are sent off for another pair of contracts while Astrid figures out what to do. These two contracts will be another exercise in being a murderer for hire, though you may wish to finish them sooner rather than later to deal with trouble at home.

Starting Whispers In The Dark

Astrid springs this quest on you after you complete Mourning Never Comes. Believing that Cicero's incessant speech is evidence of a traitor among the Dark Brotherhood, she sends you to collect proof by hiding in the Night Mother's coffin.

Being in friendly territory, this is easily done. You only have to walk to the coffin and pick the novice-level lock to stand with the desiccated body that is the Night Mother.

If this creeps you out too much, you can consider reloading a prior save to destroy the Dark Brotherhood.

Once inside, you can listen to Cicero ramble about swaying people to his side. Though it is clear that he is speaking to the Night Mother, she never replies to him. Instead, she communicates with you directly.

Lamenting Cicero's inability to hear her, she names you Listener and tells you to go to the ruin of Volunruud and speak to Amaund Motierre. She also gives you a phrase to placate Cicero when he discovers you moments later.

Astrid rushes in at Cicero's screaming, wanting to know what you've learned. She is upset by what you tell her and makes you disregard the Night Mother's instructions. Instead, you will accept more contracts from Nazir.

  1. Contract: Kill Hern
  2. Contract: Kill Lurbuk

Whispers In The Dark ends here, though you will need to finish at least one contract to continue.

Related: The Elder Scrolls: The Dark Brotherhood, Explained

Contract: Kill Hern

In what is likely going to be your most dangerous target thus far, you are sent to kill Hern, a vampire near Falkreath. He lives a quiet life with his equally vampiric wife in Half Moon Mill. The pair of them sustain themselves on the blood of passing travelers.

As a vampire, Hern remains indoors during the day. His schedule is essentially the reverse of your less sun-averse targets.

While there are few witnesses, dealing with two angry vampires can end very badly very quickly. An ideal time to strike would be around 9 pm when he operates the lumber mill. Otherwise, you can kill the pair of them in their home

Contract: Kill Lurbuk

According to Nazir, so many people want Lurbuk dead that Astrid had to hold a lottery to decide who to accept the contract from. You can find him in Dawnstar's Inn where he can be found performing or resting between sets.

Asking him for a song will prompt him to perform. He will provide you with personal motivation to slay him.

Lurbuk is not a combatant and will not put up a fight though his presence in an inn makes it hard to avoid witnesses. Killing him in his room would be advised as he is hard to see there. Just make sure it is done in a single blow.

Continuing From Whispers In The Dark

Returning after killing either target will have Astrid approach you. She has decided that it is unwise to ignore the Night Mother and asks you to meet with Amaund Motierre. The next quest, The Silence Has Been Broken then begins.

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