Falkreath Hold Falkreath Hold , Falkreath , New Falkreath , or Newkreath is a forest dense region located in the southern portion of Skyrim , it is one of the nine holds that make up the entire province . Falkreath is home to Skyrim ' s Pine Forests , a large forest that becomes enveloped in a shroud of mist . The region is also home to Lake Ilinalta , one of the biggest lakes in Northern Tamriel . Description . Geography . Western Falkreath . Western Falkreath is the western region in the hold and is located near the Eastern Reach in Skyrim . It is because of that fact ; western Falkreath has had more contact with the denizens of the Reach and other oddities than the rest of Falkreath Hold . Most of Western Falkreath is uncharted , territory beyond the main road which itself , is located on the shores of Lake Ilinalta . Deep within the forest are creatures such as Hagraven s and Spriggan s . The region is home to several witches covens , some that have territory from places as far as the Ilessan Hills . The Glenmoril Witches along with the Hagfeather Coven live in Western Falkreath , more so on the cliffs of the Jerall Mountains . According to legend , there is an ancient temple dedicated to Nocturnal called the Twilight Sepulcher located deep within in the forest . Central Falkreath . Central Falkreath is the epicenter of the region , regardless of the name . The capital of Falkreath Hold is located here , the city of Falkreath is home to one of the biggest gravesites in due to the widespread of war located throughout the region . Falkreath was once a part of the Colovian Estates , a separate government from the Alessian Empire , which dates back to the First Era . Lake Ilinalta is perhaps the biggest lake in Skyrim and takes a vast majority of Central Falkreath and it has a wide variety of fish and other aquatic creatures . The center of the Ilinalta has the Lover Stone , one of the many guardian stones that inhabit Skyrim . The southern roads lead into Hammerfell and the city of Elinhir . Eastern Falkreath . Eastern Falkreath is more mountainous than the other regions of Falkreath Hold , due to its proximity to the Throat of the World and the Jerall Mountains . The region has a clear border between the evergreens of the forest to a thicket of snow covering the valley . Several Imperial strongholds exist in the region , the area is close to the Pale Pass , the road that leads into the Imperial Province of Cyrodiil and the city of Bruma . The town of Helgen is one of these strongholds and it just so happens to be one of the latest ones , as the others have been used by either Bandit s or even Vampire s . To the northwest is the White River , a large river that starts from the Ilinalta and ends at the Yorgrim River , near the city of Windhelm . This river is one of the bigger ones in Skyrim , equaling the likes of the Karth River . Several other landmarks such as the Steelheart Cleft and Bleak Falls Barrow exist across Eastern Falkreath . Fauna . Slaughterfish and Ilinalta Fish . Lake Ilinalta is home to multiple creatures found across Falkreath Hold and even the northern Whiterun Hold region , this because the Ilinalta is one of the biggest water sources in Skyrim . Many animals including the Nords of Falkreath benefit from the Lake . The Lake hosts a wide variety of fishes found exclusively in the Ilinalta ranging from the River Betty to the Cyrodilic Spadetail and even the Nordic Barnacle , which are found in the depths of the Ilinalta . One of the common most predators in Tamrielic Waters is the Slaughterfish , a large fish with sharp teeth and a long snout . Swimming in the water can be quite dangerous since the Slaughterfish can be as formidable as a Shark of the Abecean Sea . The Slaughterfish tends to travel and hunt alone but can be found with one or two in large bodies of water , like the Ilinalta . Regardless of their danger , the scales of a Slaughterfish and the eggs are sought out by Alchemists since they can Fortify Stamina and give Resistance to Frost and Poison . Slaughterfish can also be made into a Slaughterfish Fillet which requires Fire Salts , Grounded Black Pepper , Vinegar , and an Alder Wood Plank . A Slaughterfish is commonly paired with the Trodh . Spriggans . Falkreath ' s Pine Forest is home to all sorts of strange creatures that harness the power of the Green to kill those that enter their territory . One of these creatures includes the Spriggan s . Over time , the Spriggan has changed appearance to resemble a feminine - esque creature with a body made out of wood and flowers . During the Second Era , the Spriggan had this form except with a spider - like lower torso . But by , the Third Era , their legs resemble that of a human , albeit with the same wooden hollow body . Spriggans are found mostly in groves and clearings in the forest , places such as Moss Mother Cavern or Peak ' s Shade Tower are notable for their Spriggans . The Spriggan has a tendency to utilize the animals of the Forest such as Wolves and Sabre Cat s to help fight against an invader , but without them , the Spriggan can be a tough prey to kill since they instantly restore their health in a near - death status . Spriggans are not widespread in Skyrim , they are mostly found in Falkreath Hold and the Rift , but they can be found in pockets throughout Skyrim . In places such as Shadowgreen Cavern in Haafingar and the Eldergleam Sanctuary in Eastmarch . Wolves . One of the most common predators to roam Tamriel , in general , is the Wolf . Wolves tend to come in packs of three or four and can attack a passerby all at once or one at a time . Many areas in Falkreath Hold are used as wolf dens , such as Brittleshin Pass and the Southfringe Sanctum . Since the Hold is very close to the Jerall Mountains , a sub - species of wolves called the Ice Wolf inhabit the southern mountains ; they are stronger than the regular wolf found in the Pine Forest . When attacked by a wolf , be sure to keep your guard , since , as mentioned before , they tend to come in packs . A wolf would attack by pouncing on their prey and overwhelming them with their massive weight . Defeating a wolf would require steady footing and a sharp weapon that can cleave them through . Wolves are usually hunted for their pelts and their piercing fangs . Hunters from Falkreath and even Whiterun hunt in the Pine Forest and even as far as the mountains . Falkreath is considered to be a part of Colovia , and because of that , there are sightings of the Dire Wolf . The Dire Wolf is ideally a super wolf that is large enough to be mountable . Dire Wolves are used as mounts from places as far as Falkreath Hold to the Gold Coast . Ghosts . The region of Falkreath Hold is one of the most ominous places in Skyrim , with the Dark Brotherhood having a presence in the area and the massive graveyard located in Falkreath City . The merchants of Falkreath have used the historical significance of the war - torn region to reflect the themes of death and mortality in their business . This has given Falkreath a unique identity that differentiates itself from the rest of the Nine Holds of Skyrim . Of course , with a ravaged region such as Falkreath , there are bound to be a few Ghost s to inhabit the area . The Ghosts of Falkreath remained in the forest throughout history from the Battle of Old Hroldan to the Oblivion Crisis . Zombies , of course , take on an ethereal form of their former physical body and float in the air like a gust of cold wind . Since the Dark Brotherhood lives within the forest , many vengeful spirits seek their killers . Ghosts tend to remain on Nirn , rather than moving on into Aetherius , usually because they have unfinished business and as a result , are bound to the physical world . Ghosts are found deep in the forest , but can be found roaming crypts or even Nordic Tombs such as Shriekwind Bastion or ruined structures like Ilinalta ' s Deep . Werewolves . Several Daedric cults have had cells located throughout Falkreath Hold . They range from a Vampiric cult of Clavicus Vile in the eastern mountains in Haemar ' s Shame , to the Nightingales , a trio of highly skilled thieves dedicated to Nocturnal in the Twilight Sepulcher . Because of Falkreath ' s abundance in hunting game , Hircine , the Daedric Prince of the Hunt , has significant influence throughout the region . As a result , several Nords contracted Lycanthropy and became a Werewolf . Werewolves are large bipedal wolves that are bigger than any creature that roams the Pine Forest . They have gnarly fangs that can chew through an Iron Shield and large claws that can cut a thick Pine tree in the forest . Many followers of Hircine see Lycanthropy as a blessing from their Daedric Prince and utilize the ability to slay their enemies when they are out numbered . Those who want to prove themselves to Hircine would travel across Falkreath Hold to hunt a mythical creature called the White Stag , slaying the beast would reveal the Aspect of Hircine . Bloated Man ' s Grotto is where many go after killing the White Stag in cold blood . Flora . Falkreath Hold can be quite mountainous from the north in the Brittleshin Mountains , to the east with the Throat of the World , and to the south in the Jerall Mountains . Many Alchemists travel to Falkreath to search for alchemic ingredients to make the best potions and poisons . Falkreath Hold grows a vast amount of Mountain Flower s ; the Mountain Flower is the best ingredient to make reagents such as a Potion of Health or a Potion of Stamina . What makes the Flower distinct is that they come in four different colors , they come in Blue , Red , Purple , and Yellow . The Blue Mountain Flower rejuvenates the consumer ' s health and fortifies their Conjuration skills . The Red Mountain Flower gives the user a boost in Magicka , but can be harmful to their health . The Purple Mountain Flower rejuvenates the consumer ' s stamina and fortifies their sneaking skills . They also give the consumer resistance to frost , making them the perfect ingredient to travel in Skyrim . The Yellow Mountain Flower is the rarest one in Skyrim , only found in certain clearings and the Ancestor Glade , a hidden grove in the Jerall Mountains . The Yellow one gives the consumer resistance to diseases and fortifies their health . The Nightshade of Falkreath Hold has been associated with death and more so with the Dark Brotherhood . Those who perform the Black Sacrament , use Nightshade petals in the ritual as a way to give a contract . Nightshades are also employed in sacrifices for Molag Bal , full Nightshades and several other ingredients to send a soul to Coldharbour . The Nightshade is a thin flower with dark purple leaves and dark green stem ; they are commonly associated with the Dead , which plays into the themes of Falkreath . Nightshades can be used as a basic poison since it can ravage Health , it can also be a burden to stamina , causing the strength to drain away . They can also give a boost in the Destruction school of magic . Nightshades are found around areas with the dead such as the Hall of the Dead and the Falkreath Graveyard . The Dark Brotherhood grows Nightshades to make poisons for their targets . Nightshades are also considered a bad omen to the Nords of Skyrim , and they usually stay away . The Thistle Branch is one of the most common flowers to be found in Falkreath Hold , but as much as the Tundra Cotton in Whiterun Hold . The Thistle is located along the mountain ranges in Eastern Falkreath , in the area in between the Pine Forest and the Snowy Mountains . The Thistle is particularly thorny , throughout the stem and it has thin purple petals on the top . This plant has excellent alchemic properties because the plant gives good resistance to both poison and frost , as well as enhancing the Heavy Armor skill . Thistle Branch can also be grown underground , places such as Embershard Mine and Shriekwind Bastion have been documented with increasing patches of Thistle throughout the caverns . The Thistle , of course , has adverse effects , the Thistle can be ravaging to the Stamina , making it useful for stamina draining poison . Government . The city of Falkreath is the capital of the entire region , which is , of course , the case . Falkreath in itself is a small settlement , larger than other cities such as Morthal , but not as big as cities like Solitude or Windhelm . The leaders of Falkreath govern smaller settlements by opposing taxes and giving them representation in the Court of Falkreath ; these settlements include the towns of Helgen and Neugrad Watch . Falkreath Hold is a vast region , much larger than the Winterhold region in the northeast and greater than the Haafingar Hold in the north - northwest . Falkreath Hold was once a part of an alliance with the western holds , that has diminished for some time , but has spiritually remained into modern times . The Kingdom of Western Skyrim was an alliance with the regions of Whiterun Hold , The Reach , Hjaalmarch , and Haafingar that was separate from the Nords of the Old Holds in the east . This alliance was led by King Svartr , who fought for the position of High King from Freydis of Windhelm . The alliance lasted for several years and was ruled by Svartr ' s descendant , Svargrim . The West Skyrim alliance faded away sometime before the rise of Tiber Septim , but it remained embedded in the hearts of the western holds , keeping them close together as the Old Holds with each other . Skyrim was divided in the Skyrim Civil War after High King Torygg was murdered by Ulfric Stormcloak . The holds of West Skyrim , except for Whiterun , was with the Mede Empire and the leader of the Imperial Legion , General Tullius . Traditionally , the head of Skyrim ' s Holds are called Jarl s . Jarls are sovereign kings that gain their status through honorable acts such as defending the Hold , sometimes , they are given by birthright , this was the case for the Fourth Era Jarl of Falkreath , Siddgeir , who inherited the throne from his uncle , Dengeir of Stuhn . The Jarl lives in a large keep called the Jarl ' s Longhouse , which is sometimes built like a Mead Hall , like with the Palace of the Kings in Windhelm . The Jarl ' s Longhouse in Falkreath is located in the center of the city , surrounded by the local shops and inns . The Jarl is not the only to govern the Hold ; they have several assistants that serve different roles . The Court Wizard is the local wizard that serves the Jarl in magical and other occurrences in their domain . Ranging from learning the magical abilities of a spell or researching ancient tablets dating back to the Merethic Era . Court Wizards can even sell spells and incantations to passersby coming into Falkreath . The Steward is the Jarl ' s assistant , their second in - command . They tend to help the Jarl in maintain the Hold and to deal with mundane everyday things . Stewards organize bounties in the Hold , and have the local Hold Guard distribute them among the local gathering spots such as the Inn and the Fighters Guild . They also gather the townsfolk for meetings and organize events such as holidays . The Thane of a Hold is a champion to the people of a Hold , generally given to those , who have helped the people from a threat or has had enough wealth to win the title . The Jarl and Thane are given a bodyguard called the Housecarl , they are sworn protectors of both the Jarl and Thane . Religion . Falkreath Hold , along with the other holds in Skyrim , was once a part of the Empire and were given one of the Nine Divines . Falkreath is one of the few cities in Skyrim not to have a temple dedicated to a divine . The only divine with a shrine in Falkreath is Arkay , the god of the circle of life . Arkay is worshipped throughout the Empire in places such as County of Cheydinhal , the Kingdom of Sentinel , and the Barony of the Ilessan Hills . Arkay is the patron of life and is related to the seasons . His followers are commonly used in funerals or burials , to have Arkay help pass the deceased ' s soul into Aetherius . Falkreath ' s theme of death goes well with Arkay ' s ideals ; the graveyard is tended by priests of Arkay . The Nord ic version of Arkay is the God of Mortality , Orkey , whose priests are commonly the caretakers of the Hall of the Dead . The Hall of the Dead is an underground sub - section of a city where many of the city ' s residents are buried , along with family and friends . Arkay has a shrine in a house located on the northwestern end of town . History . Second Era . The Kingdom of Western Skyrim . During the reign of the Akaviri Potentate , the province of Skyrim was ruled by High King Logrolf . Not much is known about his reign , other than that he was assassinated by an unknown assailant . Many eyes were looking at Freydis of Windhelm to be the next High Queen of Skyrim and this was to be true when the Crown of Verity chose her to be the next leader . However , the Jarl of Solitude , Svartr claimed that Freydis was not a legitimate heir to the throne and a moot was required to determine the next High King / High Queen . The Moot had chosen Svartr to become the High King of Skyrim and was selected so by the Kings of West Skyrim . As mentioned before , the Crown of Verity chose Freydis to become High Queen , and she has been selected so by the Leaders of the Old Holds . It was at that moment , the province of Skyrim was split into two separate kingdoms , one controlled by High King Svartr and one controlled by High Queen Freydis . The Kingdom of Western Skyrim would monitor the cities of Solitude , Markarth , Whiterun , Falkreath , and Morthal . The Kingdom of Eastern Skyrim would control the cities of Windhelm , Riften , Winterhold , and Dawnstar . These two kingdoms would remain divided for quite some time . Yashnag and the Orcs of Skyrim . In 1E 980 , the city of Orsinium was besieged by the combined forces of Daggerfall and Sentinel in the attempt to destroy the rising Kingdom of Orcs in Wrothgar . Remnants of Orsinium traveled all across the Reach from places as far south as Craglorn and as far east as Falkreath Hold . An Orcish chieftain named Yashnag gro - Yazgu traveled to Western Falkreath to reclaim the land originally stolen by the Nord s of Falkreath Hold . Yashnag swept through West Skyrim like the plague , causing trouble for the Court of Solitude and High King Svartr . Svartr ' s men were unable to hold back the growing force of Yashnag ' s Chiefdom . The city of Falkreath was dealt worse by the Orcish Berserkers ; the Jarl of Falkreath was murdered by Yashnag during a battle , resulting in the Jarl ' s son to assume the throne of a weakened kingdom . Hakkvild challenged Yashnag to a duel , to avenge his father and his land . Yashnag accepted and was ultimately defeated by Hakkvild . Hakkvild received a new nickname , dubbing him , Hakkvild Yashnag - Killer . The new Jarl burned down Yashnag ' s Chiefdom in 2E 467 , ending the Orcish Kingdom in Falkreath . Yashnag had a legacy that inspired many Orcs to follow in his footsteps . One of these notable Orcs was Kurog gro - Bagrakh , who brought together the Orsimer in Wrothgar and established the second Kingdom of Orsinium . The Siege of Falkreath Hold . During the Interregnum in 2E 583 , the region of Falkreath Hold was under the control of Jarl Hjurgol Skjoralmor . During this time , the Kingdom of Western Skyrim was under the sovereignty of High King Svargrim , a descendant of Svartr and leader of Solitude since 2E 561 . Svargrim was in his twilight years but remained the leader of Western Skyrim through sheer determination . West Skyrim was not involved with the Alliance War that swept across Tamriel like the plague since both kingdoms have split since the Akaviri Potentate . West Skyrim , including Falkreath Hold , was not a part of the Ebonheart Pact , nor their competitors . Around the same year , the city of Falkreath was besieged by the Dreadhorn Clan , an alliance of Reachmen and Minotaur s led by Domihaus the Bloody - Horned . Domihaus had fronts surrounding the city and simultaneously attacked the gates . The defense was led by Eerika Skjoralmor , the Thane of Falkreath and the daughter of the Jarl . The eastern front was led by Morrigh Bullblood , and she used a Siege Mammoth to break down the gate . Her efforts were halted when a group of warriors led by a traveler named the Vestige killed her and defeated the eastern front . Eerika tasked the travelers to help her in the conflict by bringing the survivors to the Hall of the Dead on the southeastern portion of town . With the survivors secured , the group was sent to the Jarl ' s Longhouse on the hill to find Jarl Skjoralmor , to protect him from the Dreadhorn Clan . He was , however , murdered by Domihaus . The group defeated Domihaus and saved the city of Falkreath from the Reachmen . Cuhlecain and the Rise of Tiber Septim . Falkreath Hold was once a part of the province of Cyrodiil and the Colovian Estates , a separate government in Cyrodiil that takes up a significant portion of the Colovian West . The leader of Falkreath was a man named Cuhlecain . Cuhlecain wanted to unite the Kingdoms of Colovia but need to secure the northern borders where many Nord s and Reachmen have fought for centuries . Cuhlecain and his allies led a force at the Battle of Old Hroldan with his prized general from Alcaire , Hjalti Early - Beard . The walls of Hroldan were impenetrable , and he was not expecting reinforcements from the city of Falkreath . At one moment , Hjalti used the power of the Voice to break down the walls of Hroldan and defeated the Reachmen in the region . The Nords present in the battle began to call him Hjalti Talos , or Stormcrown . Cuhlecain utilized his general to unite the Colovian Estates and to reclaim the Eastern Heartlands . Before Cuhlecain would be crowned Emperor , he would be assassinated by Hjalti , leaving Talos to become the Emperor of Tamriel . The assassination was blamed by warriors from the Western Reach . Hjalti Talos would be crowned Emperor by Zurin Arctus and be renamed to Tiber Septim . Tiber Septim would soon unite the provinces of Tamriel by ending several wars through intervention and utilizing an ancient Dwemer weapon called the Numidium . Tiber Septim ended the civil war in Hammerfell by having his navy defeat Prince A ' Tor of the Crowns and using Numidium to besiege the province of the Summerset Isles . Third Era . Falkreath Hold and its cities during the Simulacrum . During the Imperial Simulacrum from 3E 389 to 3E 399 , the Imperial Battlemage named Jagar Tharn impersonated Emperor Uriel Septim VII and casted both him and Talin Warhaft into the Deadlands , Mehrunes Dagon ' s plane of Oblivion . Jagar Tharn had a mighty staff called the Staff of Chaos which was the key to releasing Uriel and Warhaft from the Deadlands . To secure his control , he broke the Staff of Chaos into several pieces and hid them across the provinces in Tamriel . Tharn ' s apprentice , Ria Silmane caught wind of this and planned to tell the Elder Council , however , Tharn killed her with his vile magic . Ria Silmane ' s spirit sought the aid of a warrior also kept imprisoned by Tharn . Silmane help the warrior escaped and tasked them with finding the pieces of the Staff of Chaos throughout Tamriel . At one point , this warrior traveled to the city of Falcrenth during their quest to gather the pieces . The warrior defeat Jagar Tharn at the Imperial Palace and freed both Uriel VII and Talin Warhaft , this young warrior was named the Eternal Champion . The region of Falkreath Hold was undefined , and many settlements dotted the landscape or at least the general area . The city of Falcrenth was located on the southernmost edge of the Skyrim border . Smaller towns such as North Hall , Neugrad Watch , and Oakwood existed in the area . Falcrenth at the time was ruled by King Bjeld . Fourth Era . A Land Divided ; The Skyrim Civil War . In 4E 201 , the province of Skyrim was ruled by High King Torygg and his wife , Elisif the Fair . The two ruled from the city of Solitude after the former capital , Winterhold was destroyed in an event called the Great Collapse . Torygg has ruled the Imperial Province of Skyrim in the aftermath of the Great War and the Markarth Incident , which was considered the catalyst of the coming Skyrim Civil War . Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak of Windhelm believed in the independence of Skyrim in a way that is just shy of treason . In the old ways , when one considers themselves a good High King , they would challenge the current one in a duel for the title . Ulfric traveled to Solitude to seek an audience with Torygg , to challenge his title . Before Torygg could react , Ulfric used the power of the Thu ' um to shatter Torygg , killing him in the process . Ulfric escaped to Windhelm , and soon the Civil War commenced . Falkreath Hold along with the rest of West Skyrim joined the Mede Empire and the Imperial Legion in Solitude . The leader of Falkreath Hold for a while was , Dengeir of Stuhn , current a senile old man who lives in Falkreath . His nephew , Siddgeir took his place as the Leader of Falkreath . Many consider Siddgeir as unqualified for the position and that he abuses his power as the Jarl , he left many of the towns duties to his steward , Nenya . Siddgeir can be considered a jack of all trades , dealing with the likes of local merchants to the bandits of the Hold . Ulfric Stormcloak and members of his Stormcloak Militia were captured near the mining town of Darkwater Crossing and taken to the Imperial Fort Town of Helgen , located in Eastern Falkreath . He , along with the Stormcloaks accompanying him would have been executed on the chopping block , with Ulfric ' s head being taken to the Imperial City as a trophy to the Emperor . Things , however , took a turn for the worst and the city of Helgen was destroyed , but not by the Stormcloaks . The Destruction of Helgen ; Enter the Dragon Crisis . The Skyrim Civil War had the potential to end in the same year , in 4E 201 when the Imperial Legion ambushed Ulfric Stormcloak ' s group near the mining town of Darkwater Crossing . Ulfric along with several Stormcloak soldiers were taken to the town of Helgen , located on the edge of Eastern Falkreath , not far from the Pale Pass to Cyrodiil . The plan was to execute the warriors and eventually claim the Stormcloak Territory in the Old Holds . Among the prisoners was a horse thief from Rorikstead and an estranged warrior trying to escape to the Imperial Province in the south . Before Ulfric could be executed a Dragon destroys the city with its terrifying flames and its screeching roar . Many notable figures were present on that day including Ulfric Stormcloak , General Tullius , Ambassador Elenwen , and the Last Dragonborn . According to several records , the Dragon attacked Helgen to kill the Last Dragonborn in his most vulnerable . The Last Dragonborn miraculously survived the destruction of Helgen and eventually traveled the reaches of Skyrim to defeat the Dragons appearing across the province and to slay Alduin the World - Eater . The city of Helgen was abandoned after the attack , and it served as a reminder of the Dragon Crisis for both sides of the Skyrim Civil War . From within the Shadows ; The Dark Brotherhood . Throughout the Fourth Era , the Dark Brotherhood was slowly dying as their many sanctuaries throughout Tamriel were being raided and the Brotherhood being killed . Several different sanctuaries were either destroyed in an attack or were forced to relocate into other sanctuaries . The Sanctuary in the city of Wayrest for example , was razed in a Corsair Invasion that was caused by King Barynia , who let the docks of Wayrest open to anyone , even Corsairs . Eventually in 4E 201 , the Falkreath Sanctuary was one of the few remaining hideouts that were active . It was a small community of assassins , one of which , was one of the last Shadowscale s . The leader of the Falkreath Chapter was a Nord ic woman named Astrid , she believed in her own code of conduct rather than the Five Tenets . It soon led to her downfall when the Penitus Oculatus razed the sanctuary burned the remain members of the Brotherhood . The Brotherhood was given the contract to assassinate several key political figures in the Kingdom of Solitude such as Vittoria Vici and Gaius Maro of the Penitus Oculatus . Each assassination led to the murder of Emperor Titus Mede II , who was visiting the province on a political mission . Titus Mede II died on his ship , the Katariah one night . Commander Maro tracked the Dark Brotherhood for several months and was able to locate their sanctuary in Falkreath Hold . Maro and a platoon of Penitus Oculatus agents traveled to Falkreath and burned down the sanctuary with barrels of oil . Several assassins died in the fire except for three of them . They took the remains of the Night Mother with them and traveled elsewhere . Claims say that the brotherhood moved to an abandoned sanctuary near the city of Dawnstar took refuge in ruins . From there the Brotherhood grew and slightly gained prominence in the region , with a shared alliance with the Thieves Guild Chapter in Skyrim . The Brotherhood murdered both Commander Maro and the Emperor after the destruction of their former base .