Cicero ' s Journal - Volume 1 Summary . This autobiographical writing chronicles contracts performed by an Imperial assassin of the Dark Brotherhood , Cicero . Starting on the 8th day of Evening Star and following through until the 27th day of Rain ' s Hand , the journal was written by Cicero at the end of 4E 186 and rolls into the new year , into 4E 187 of the Fourth Era . Events written herein track Cicero ' s acceptance into the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary in Cheydinhal , after the collapse of the Bruma Sanctuary . The book mentions the killing of a baroness , the physical absence of the Black Hand , and how it has affected the power scale of the Brotherhood , and Cicero ' s personal conflicts with Rasha , a Khajiit i Speaker . Also mentioned here are the presence of the last known Listener , a female Breton named Alisanne Dupre , her desire to reestablish the recruitment of Shadowscale s , and Cicero ' s posing as a fan of the Arena ' s Grand Champion . The latter led to rumors that the Adoring Fan of and Cicero were the same person . First in a series of five , the following editions are : " Volume 2 " , " Volume 3 " , " Volume 4 " , and the " Final Volume " . Content . 8th of Evening Star 4E 186 As I begin this new phase of my life , I have decided to finally keep a journal . So much has happened to me thus far , both within the Brotherhood and without - when I think there is no record of what has transpired , it almost seems an affront to Sithis himself . So I am determined to make amends . Yes , the Dark Brotherhood has its own scribes and chroniclers , but it is their solemn task to record those events deemed important to the organization as a whole . Let this volume serve as the personal record of one man , a lowly assassin who has pledged his blade and his life for the Dark Brotherhood . 23rd of Evening Star 4E 186 I have arrived safely in the Cheydinhal Sanctuary , and have been greeted warmly by Rasha and the others . Indeed , the level of support and acceptance shown by my new family is rather overwhelming . For this Sanctuary knows suffering , knows sorrow , for the ghosts of Purification still haunt its halls . So , who better to understand the plight of a brother who has lost home and heart ? Who better to comfort one whose Sanctuary is no more ? The Bruma Sanctuary may be gone , but my dearest brothers and sisters will live forever in my dreams , just as their souls live forever by the Dread Father ' s side . 1st of Rain ' s Hand 4E 187 Completed the baroness contract . She died well . Her handmaiden , less so . 12th of Rain ' s Hand 4E 187 Cheydinhal suits me . With the destruction or abandonment of the other Sanctuaries , our contracts are plentiful , as are our bonuses . Still , we seem to be losing our footholds throughout Tamriel at an alarming rate . There are rumors that the Black Hand is split on our continued direction . Some favor expansion , the others consolidation . My personal feeling is that the Dark Brotherhood needs to , at the very least , maintain the illusion of being everywhere at once . It has become exceedingly difficult to fulfill ( or even establish ) contracts in provinces where we no longer have a physical presence , like Hammerfell . The more we ignore Tamriel , the more people lose faith in the Dark Brotherhood - our power , our services , our dedication to the Void . 27th of Rain ' s Hand 4E 187 The Listener , Alisanne Dupre , has been visiting with us for several days , down from her private residence in Bravil . She and Rasha had been discussing the possibility of re - opening the Shadowscale training facility of Archon , in Black Marsh , but ultimately decided we lacked the resources to follow through with the plan . 27th of Rain ' s Hand 4E 187 Completed the Arena contract . I ultimately decided to pose as a starstruck fan , and immediately got into the Grand Champion ' s good graces . While escorting the arrogant fool through the Great Forest , I slashed his throat and left the corpse for the bears .