Bound Until Death

Bound Until Death is a quest available in in which the Dragonborn is ordered to assassinate Vittoria Vici at her wedding in Solitude as part of a series of contracts designed to pave way for the assassination of the Emperor of Tamriel.
==Background==
I must journey to the Temple of the Divines in Solitude, attend the public wedding reception of Vittoria Vici and Asgeir Snow-Shod, and kill the bride. I'll receive a bonus if I kill Vici as she addresses the crowd.
==Objectives==
#Kill Vittoria Vici
#Report back to Astrid
==Walkthrough==
Before leaving the Sanctuary, it is a good idea to talk with the Dark Brotherhood members. In particular, Gabriella says that she has scouted the area and has left something on a parapet overlooking the balcony ("an excellent spot for a long-range kill"), while Babette will talk about a loose gargoyle that can be used to do the deed.
===Entering the temple===
The quest begins in Solitude, in the Temple of the Divines. In front of the temple there will be a group of people. The bride and groom are in two chairs opposite the temple door. Talking to the bride starts the event immediately, or else it will start on its own after waiting a while. Alternatively, after entering the temple, up the first stairs on the right and out the door on the right, the Dragonborn will end up on top of the roof, looking down on the gathering. The event will start on its own.
===The balcony===
After about thirty seconds, the bride and groom will get up from their thrones, and enter a door. This door will lead them to the balcony above their place of honor that faces the assembled guests. Vittoria should be killed after she starts speaking.
===Methods for killing Vittoria Vici===
There are many methods that can be employed to successfully assassinate Vici, some of which may avoid the Dragonborn incurring a bounty and are easier to achieve.
====Quick fast travel====
Staying hidden while standing on the balcony behind her during her speech allows her to be killed in one hit (using a silent kill method like Assassin's Blade). Any repercussions can be avoided by immediately fast traveling to another location before anyone notices and becomes an enemy. Using a weapon that can capture a soul at the same time should be considered. However, the bonus gold is not available using this method.
However, it is possible to push the gargoyle onto Vici during her speech and then immediately fast-travel to another location before she dies (however this method does NOT work if you fast travel before the gargoyle hits her). This will bring her body along (sometimes and otherwise return to the balcony after fast travel escape to loot her body). She continues the death animation at the destination and dies there, which allows her body to be looted. This method avoids any bounty yet does get the bonus.
====Sniper====
The "something" that Gabriella left are Firiniel's End (an enchanted, Elven bow that does 20 frost damage), Elven Arrows, and a Potion of True Shot on the balcony across from where the bride delivers her speech. It is reachable by using the door in the northwest corner of the courtyard in front of the temple. There will be a clear shot from this point but there will be a chance of immediate discovery after the shot and pursuit by the guards, depending on Sneak skill. Collecting the bow is recommended, even if it is not used for the quest, as it has fairly high stats and a useful enchantment. If they were not collected during the quest, the bow, arrows and potion will still be on the balcony and can be picked up at any time after the quest has been completed.
The shot can also be taken from the walkway above the balcony where Firiniel's End was left. The walkway runs all around the courtyard, however the angle and cover options appear best at the furthest corners. The shot should be taken while sneaking. Once done, a hostile response can be prevented by immediately backing away into the corner (or drinking an invisibility potion between release and impact), then staying hidden until the way is clear.
Another way to kill her is by using the Illusion spell Fury on the bride. This will always be fatal, because this causes everyone to attack her. This will forfeit the gold bonus, however. The perk Quiet Casting is needed to do this unobserved.
====Statue====
Babette revealed that a gargoyle statue above the balcony where Vici gives her speech is loose. Dislodging the statue during her speech will crush and kill her. The walkway above the bride gives access to the gargoyle. When the bride starts speaking, pushing the loose gargoyle (while in sneak, preferably) gives the best chance of escape, as no one may even see the act. This will usually (though not always) give the bonus for killing her in the middle of her speech. All the guests and the groom will now be hostile - however, a bounty may not be accrued. There is a window of time between when the crash is heard and when someone calls out where it is possible to fast travel out, making an easy escape, but losing the ability to loot her corpse.
Another way the Dragonborn could avoid detection with this method is if they become invisible after tipping the statue over. This will provide the Dragonborn with a larger pocket of time to fast travel out and/or loot the corpse. It is also possible to drop the statue on her while standing next to her on the speech platform by crouch hopping. This will make it easier to quickly loot her body but requires high sneak skill. On rare occasions, if the gargoyle falls on Vittoria, the groom may also be crushed. This can cause an additional 1,000 bounty in Haafingar. However, sometimes the bonus will be forfeited even if the statue is pushed onto Vici during her speech. Reloading a previous save and killing Vici again may be necessary if this happens. There's a chance that Vici's corpse may fall into the floor, making it impossible to loot her body.
====Frenzy poison====
A way to minimize hostile reaction to the attack (or at least offer a big distraction), is to give a frenzy poison to Asgeir Snow-Shod. This requires having the Pickpocket perk Poisoned. Asgeir will then attack and kill Vici. This can also be achieved by casting Frenzy on him, if the Illusion skill level is high enough. After this, the guards will have to fight both him and his parents before they can do anything else, and by then the Dragonborn can be out of Solitude, and back in the Sanctuary.
====Atronach bomb====
Another alternative that avoids sneaking is to summon a Flame Atronach right next to Vici and then destroy it. Upon death, the Flame Atronach will create a large explosion that should kill Vici and, since she was not directly killed, will not incur any bounty.
==== Flaming familiar ====
Summoning Flaming Familiar on the balcony will kill both Snow-Shod and Vici after it exploded. Asgeir may be able to survive the explosion if he managed to exit the balcony before Vici. This method also does not incur any bounty. After the guests become hostile, immediately sheathe the spell and they will lower their weapons. Loot the corpse(s) and fast travel back to the sanctuary.
====Dragon====
If add-on is available, and if a dragon shows up, it can be tamed with the Bend Will shout, and then commanded to kill Vici.
====Poison====
With the Pickpocket perk "Poisoned," it is possible to sneak onto the balcony and, provided the right poison is used, drug Vici, then make a quick getaway. No weapons, no half-hearted sneak attacks and best of all, no bounty.
====Simple murder====
She can openly be killed, then a daring escape made with the guards hot on the Dragonborn's tail. This method does incur the standard thousand gold bounty, just like any other murder, but the bonus may still be earned if she is killed while speaking to the crowd. With the right perks and high enough Sneak and Archery levels, she can be shot with an arrow in the middle of the crowd without getting caught. As long as detection is avoided, this allows escaping without incurring the wrath of the Penitus Oculatus.
====Deceiving the Herd====
If DLC is installed, the "Deceiving the Herd" quest is active, and the quest log reads "Kill someone out in the streets of Solitude," she can simply be killed while wearing the Dawnguard Armor. Planting the Incriminating Letter on Vici's corpse satisfies that other quest.
====Werewolf or Vampire assassination====
Another way is to go to a private spot or go somewhere that is unoccupied and then activate the transformation to Werewolf or Vampire. There should be no bounty for killing Vici while transformed. Further, the werewolf transformation makes it easier to sprint out of Solitude. The guards can be lost by heading to the Statue to Meridia just west of Solitude.
====Unrelenting force====
A somewhat amusing method of killing Vici is using the Unrelenting Force shout. The third word must be unlocked, which means you have to have completed the quest "The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller." The shout can then be used to push Vici off the balcony, which is high enough to kill her. Furthermore, the shout can be used from Vici's left side, placing Asgeir in its area of effect as well and pushing them both off the balcony. Even if Snow-Shod isn't killed, the most immediate threat to the Dragonborn after the murder will be cleared.
====Rune trap====
Another way to kill Vici is to use a Rune spell. The Dragonborn needs only place the Rune on the balcony, then run off and find a hiding spot. Once the Rune goes off and kills Vici, the Dragonborn can escape fairly easily. With sufficient Sneak skill and perhaps the Quiet Casting perk, the Dragonborn can escape detection and bounty.
===Escaping===
If immediate escape is not achieved, the fellow Dark Brotherhood assassin Veezara will appear and say that Astrid sent him to help. He will take care of the crowd, allowing the Dragonborn to slip away. Being a member of the Thieves Guild can allow for an easy escape as well, because a guard can be bribed or only charge half of the bounty and everyone will 'forget' everything. Fighting the crowd is not advised as it can result in a hefty bounty, damaging the economy, preventing some quests from being achieved, and making Solitude sparsely populated to the point of eeriness. Alternatively, the Dragonborn may sheathe their weapon, and the guards will cease attack. However, Veezara may still try to kill the Penitus Oculatus agent guarding the door. Casting Harmony can not only calm everyone down but will also level the Illusion skill by multiple levels. Note that if Harmony is cast before Veezara appears, Veezara won't be affected and will still attack the Penitus Oculatus agent. This can be solved by casting Harmony again or casting Pacify on Veezara.
===Achieving the bonus===
The bounty will be paid as long as the bride dies during her speech on the balcony, regardless of the method used, except for a Frenzy cast on her. The bonus is simply a large amount of leveled gold. The Dragonborn will be rewarded with the unique spell named Spectral Assassin (which summons Lucien Lachance as a temporary follower once per day) regardless of whether Vici was killed while on the balcony. After reporting back to Astrid, whichever outcome achieved, she says to speak to Gabriella. This immediately concludes Bound Until Death and begins "Breaching Security."
==Journal==
Bound Until Death – DB05	Bound Until Death – DB05
ID 	Journal Entry
10 	I must journey to the Temple of the Divines in Solitude, attend the public wedding reception of Vittoria Vici and Asgeir Snow-Shod, and kill the bride. I'll receive a bonus if I kill Vici as she addresses the crowd.
*Objective 10: Kill Vittoria Vici
20 	
*Objective 20: Report back to Astrid
200 	I have killed Vittoria Vici, the Emperor's cousin, at her own wedding, and everyone will assume it's related to the ongoing war. The Emperor will now be forced to visit Skyrim to deal with the aftermath, paving the way for his assassination.
*Quest complete
==Trivia==
*Vittoria Vici's corpse contains Vittoria's Wedding Band, Wedding Dress, Wedding Sandals and Wedding Wreath. These items can also be found afterwards in a coffin in the Solitude Hall of the Dead. Any items taken from her coffin will count as stolen.
*If detection occurs and a fight begins, the Snow-Shod family members present will begin fighting the guards. This will end with the whole Snow-Shod family being killed.
*Sometimes yielding to the groom will stop the crowd's attack. Veezara will still come to assist in the escape.
*Even if the Dragonborn is never detected and Veezara didn't show up, he will later (when talking at the sanctuary) say that it was "a pleasure to fight by your side."
*A dragon may appear during the wedding. If so, the guests will act normally but the guards outside the wedding will attack it.
*If Pantea Ateia has been killed prior to the wedding, her body will be lying on the floor where she should be performing.
*The other members of the Dark Brotherhood seem to envy the Dragonborn when talked to during the quest.
*If the Dragonborn goes to where the newlyweds are sitting before the speech, there is a boy named Kayd present. If he is asked if he is having a good time, he replies, "Not really. Just a bunch of elders standing around, looking important. I wish something exciting would happen.'"
**If attempting a sneak bow snipe at the very back of the area, Kayd might pose a detection problem even to highly skilled Sneaks, considering how often he would turn around to talk to the Dragonborn. One way of getting around this is to constantly consume invisible potions before and after the shot.
*Vici has multiple slightly different versions of her speech, one of which will be randomly triggered during the quest.
*Before the quest, the Dragonborn may encounter a noble couple and guard, bringing gifts to Vici's wedding. They can optionally be killed for their loot. After the quest, the Dragonborn can encounter a couple wearing ragged clothes. The characters claim to have been attacked by bandits. These could be the same characters.
*Vici might end up flying, like when one of the Giants attacks the Dragonborn, upon dropping the loose gargoyle above her which may result to being unable to loot her corpse.
*After the quest is completed, the Penitus Oculatus agent that was assigned to protect Vittoria remains standing guard by the entrance to the reception area and respawns if killed.
==Bugs==
Click to show
* It is possible that, no matter how Vittoria is killed, the bonus will not be given.
** Reloading can sometimes solve this, this time waiting until the middle of her speech (about the third line).
** This most often happens when fast traveling in the time gap between the gargoyle landing on Vittoria and a guest screaming about murder. Six consecutive attempts and reloads yielded no bonus from fast-traveling, but waiting for Veezara to mount a distraction, fleeing Solitude and taking a carriage to Falkreath netted the bonus.
**After waiting for the crowd to turn hostile, bribing or surrendering to the guards (especially if Solitude is under the Thieves Guild's influence) can also allow the bonus to be collected.
* It is also possible to receive the bonus no matter what, possibly due to her murder at the hands of a follower.
* After killing Vittoria, one can not fast travel even after running for a long distance.
* Killing Vittoria can result in everyone in Solitude becoming hostile, then becoming friendly when you put away your weapon.
* Killing Vittoria may get no bounty in Haafingar, but rather one in The Rift.
** Solution: Going to jail in another Hold should allow fast travel again.
* It is possible that when killing the bride a 1,000 bounty is indicated, but it is not actually applied.
* Despite the killing occurring in Solitude, a bounty of 1,000 in The Rift may also be enacted. A possible reason is Asgeir was also killed by the loose gargoyle, and consequently a bounty is incurred, as Asgeir is from the Rift.
* There is a bug that causes Vittoria to disappear from the balcony as soon as the Dragonborn enters the temple to find the gargoyle. She will appear back on the throne next to her husband.
*If a Dragon appears during the murder, when Gargoyle is knocked loose, no one will notice who killed Vittoria because the dragon will take all the attention.
* It is possible that upon pushing the statue onto Vittoria, even while hidden and with a high sneak skill, both the crowd, guards and all other residents of Solitude will become hostile or flee. A possible workaround for this is to exit the city without drawing a weapon and to carefully jump down the cliff by the warehouse, then into the water. Swimming to the other side evades any hostiles in Solitude and fast travel is then possible.
*It is possible the gargoyle will not actually fall, but Vittoria dies anyway. Upon returning to the sanctuary, the bonus for killing her during her speech may not be given.
*It is possible to not obtain the quest after "The Silence Has Been Broken." The reason for this is currently unknown.
* Finishing this quest makes completing the Thieves Guild questline impossible if not already complete. This is caused by resulting in a failure of the Solitude special quest required to activate the final Thieves Guild mission. Only confirmed on Xbox.
* If a follower is told to wait at another location before Vittoria is killed (to avoid having them fight off the crowd during the escape), not only the current follower but certain other followers/spouses may become hostile.
* After the assassination, the guards can still see and shoot the Dragonborn even if they turn invisible, creating the odd visual effect of arrows suspended in mid-air floating down the street.
* If "Honor Thy Family" quest is received, "Bound Until Death" quest might be removed from the active quests. There is no known fix for this, if the Dragonborn have not entered Solitude before the quest was removed.
*The Imperial Guards may attack and kill the Penitus Oculatus Agent.
==Achievements==
==Appearances==
*
de:Bis dass der Tod euch scheidet
ru:Пока смерть не разлучит нас
pl:Zadanie:Póki śmierć nas nie rozłączy
fr:Jusqu'à ce que la mort nous sépare
uk:Доки смерть не розлучить нас
es:Hasta que la muerte los separe