Death Incarnate Death Incarnate is a quest available in . After what was supposed to be the Dark Brotherhood ' s greatest contract in centuries , the Dragonborn learns that it was all a setup so that Commander Maro could attack the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary . As Listener , the Dragonborn must rescue any surviving members and ensure that the Brotherhood lives on . This quest begins once the quest " To Kill an Empire " has been completed . Walkthrough . Entrance to Sanctuary . Commander Maro ’ s men have located the Sanctuary and are currently raiding it . When the Dragonborn arrives , several Penitus Oculatus Agents will be encountered at the entrance . Festus can be found dead , pinned to a tree by a barrage of arrows outside the door . Kill the agents and enter the Black Door . Sanctuary Assault . Inside the Sanctuary , explosions can be heard from deeper within . Where Astrid would normally be located , there are two Penitus Oculatus Agents . Eavesdropping on their conversation reveals that the Sanctuary is being set alight and an agent named Arcturus has led some other men deeper into the Sanctuary . The Dragonborn should kill the agents and move on . Fire magic works well in this area due to the large amounts of oil on the ground . The body of Veezara can be found on the ground here . After proceeding deeper into the Sanctuary , the death of Arnbjorn will be witnessed ; he attacks a group of agents in Beast Form before being slain . His death is scripted , so nothing can be done to save him . When proceeding forward , the dead bodies of Gabriella and Lis will be found . In the dining hall , Nazir will be seen battling several agents , along with their leader , Arcturus . After defeating Arcturus and any other agents nearby , the Dragonborn should talk to Nazir and follow him , killing any more agents that are encountered . Embrace the Night Mother . Nazir will run into the Night Mother ' s room , only to discover that it ' s a dead end . The Night Mother communicates to the Dragonborn , telling them to embrace her , as it is the only way to survive . Open her sarcophagus and step inside . The screen will go black , and she will tell the Dragonborn to sleep . Nazir and Babette will free the Dragonborn some time later , after the fires have died . Just before the coffin doors open , the Night Mother will tell the Dragonborn to speak to Astrid , somewhere inside the Sanctuary . The Dread Lord Beckons . Outside the coffin , head out of the grotto and up the stone stairs to Astrid ' s usual location . Continue into the room on the right , and into a new room beyond that . Astrid is there , burned beyond recognition , lying in the center of a ring of candles in the configuration of the Black Sacrament . She explains that she betrayed the Dragonborn to the Penitus Oculatus in return for their promise to spare the Dark Brotherhood . She says that her action was unforgivable and that Sithis will judge her accordingly . She asks the Dragonborn to rebuild the Dark Brotherhood , and gives the Dragonborn her Blade of Woe and demands that she be killed , as she has enacted the Black Sacrament on herself . After Astrid is killed , the quest log indicates that the Dragonborn should return to the Night Mother . She says that the contract to assassinate the true Emperor , Titus Mede II , must still be carried out . She commands the Dragonborn to speak to Amaund Motierre in Whiterun , as he will know the true Emperor ' s real location . This completes the quest and begins the next quest , " Hail Sithis ! . "