Cicero

Template:Featured article Template:SkyrimCharacters Template:Confuse Template:AudioQuote **Cicero** is an eccentric jester, and the Keeper of the Night Mother's coffin. He is found on the road north of Whiterun, near Loreius Farm, transporting the coffin of his "mother." After this encounter, he may be found within the Falkreath Sanctuary or the Dawnstar Sanctuary, depending on the Dragonborn's progress through the Dark Brotherhood questline.

## Background

Cicero has five journals that are scattered throughout his room at the Falkreath Sanctuary, telling the story of his slow descent into madness.

As is detailed by his journals, Cicero was once a member of the Bruma Sanctuary before it was destroyed and later a member of the Cheydinhal Sanctuary, and was renowned for his cloak-and-dagger killing style. He mentions riots in Bravil leading to the death of Alisanne Dupre, the Night Mother's previous Listener, and the desecration of the Night Mother's crypt beneath The Lucky Old Lady. Voted Keeper of the Night Mother by the remaining Brotherhood members, Cicero fulfilled one last contract before starting his new duties; he was scheduled to kill a jester, with whom he slowly became obsessed. His attire and flamboyant manner mimic this jester.

 File:TESIV Location Lucky Old Lady.png  He ordered Garnag, a fellow Brotherhood assassin, to murder Rasha, a member of the Black Hand who had falsely claimed to be the next Listener. Eventually, through the months after the last Listener's death, the remaining Brotherhood members left the Sanctuary to look for contracts or food and never returned, leaving Cicero trapped alone in the Cheydinal Sanctuary. Eventually, he grew more and more insane from obsessing over his last kill, isolation, and due to trying to talk to the Night Mother and become her Listener. Eight years later, he wrote letters to Astrid in Skyrim to appeal for sanctuary, fleeing from Cheydinhal to Skyrim with the Night Mother's coffin.

## Personality

 File:Cicero NM.png  Template:Quoteright Widely regarded as bothersome, obnoxious, strange, and insane, Cicero sports flamboyant attire and often speaks with a high-pitched voice. Cicero speaks to both himself and the Night Mother's remains often, and as such, he is considered psychotic. As Keeper of the Night Mother, Cicero takes his vocation very seriously, willing to wound or even kill anyone who questions or ignores the Night Mother's authority, although he was not always like this; as evident from his first two journals, before becoming Keeper, Cicero was quite sane, comparatively speaking. His final contract involved killing a jester, and slowly, while most of his fellow assassins were being killed in Cyrodiil, Cicero descended into madness, obsessing over the jester, and adopting aspects of the jester's persona.

## Interactions

### Delayed Burial

While traveling north of Whiterun, the Dragonborn may encounter a peculiar man in a jester's outfit with a broken-down cart. It turns out his name is Cicero and he will beseech them to aid him, stating he needs repairs for his wagon wheel to move his mother's (The Night Mother's) corpse to a new burial site.

### Whispers in the Dark

 File:Skyrimdark.jpg  Cicero is suspected of treason against the Dark Brotherhood when he continuously locks himself in a room with the Night Mother. He can be heard mumbling, but no one can hear what he is saying. Suspecting that Cicero and another member of the brotherhood are conspiring to betray the other members, Astrid sends the Dragonborn to investigate. The Dragonborn hides in the Night Mother's coffin, eavesdropping on Cicero and his conspirator. While hiding, the Dragonborn learns that Cicero is, in fact, speaking to the Night Mother's remains, although she does not speak back; his private sessions with her were his attempts to verify himself as being the Listener, the one person who can hear the Night Mother speak. Shortly after this discovery, the Dragonborn hears the Night Mother's voice, becoming the Listener. Exiting the coffin, Cicero at first suspects the Dragonborn of defiling the Night Mother's remains, but soon realizes that she has selected the Dragonborn as the Listener. Bitter that he was not made Listener, yet still excited to hear the news, he congratulates the Dragonborn.

Astrid barges into the room, accusing Cicero of conspiring against the Brotherhood. Cicero explains that the Dragonborn is the new Listener; however, despite this Astrid gets ready to attack him. Violence is averted when the Dragonborn explains that the Night Mother spoke to them. Astrid sends the Dragonborn on several contracts, until she can sort out the mess.

### The Cure for Madness

 File:Cicero.jpg  After killing Gaius Maro on his inspection route, the Dragonborn returns to the Falkreath Sanctuary, finding Veezara wounded, Arnbjorn missing, and Astrid quite disgruntled. In a fit of defiance, Cicero attacked Astrid for challenging the Night Mother's authority, but was intercepted by Veezara. Surviving the skirmish, Cicero fled to the Dawnstar Sanctuary, Arnbjorn following close behind. Arriving at the sanctuary, the Dragonborn finds Arnbjorn bleeding heavily and searches the sanctuary for Cicero. Battling through several spectral assassins, the Dragonborn finds Cicero, wounded and babbling. The Dragonborn has the option to kill Cicero, but if they decide not to, Cicero remains at the Dawnstar Sanctuary, even after the Penitus Oculatus destroys the Falkreath Sanctuary.

## As a Follower

If the Dragonborn chose to spare his life, Cicero is found upon exiting the Dawnstar Sanctuary after "Hail Sithis!," where he becomes a possible follower. Cicero is flagged as essential before "The Cure for Madness." and after the quest, if he is spared.

While following the Dragonborn, he makes several off-beat jokes and humorous observations about the current location or quest. While not following the Dragonborn, he lurks around the sanctuary near the Night Mother's sarcophagus, talking to himself and tending her.

Cicero is a unique follower in the fact that he will often, for no reason, start to dance if he is a follower. This can happen at any time, anywhere, regardless of what outfit Cicero is wearing.

Cicero is also unique in that he is the only named follower, other than Serana, who cannot be recruited into the Blades. The only other followers who cannot join the Blades are the Dark Brotherhood initiates.

### Equipment

His default outfit has no defense, and as such he will wear any armor given to him.

It is still possible to get Cicero's clothes after sparing him. Although it is not possible to take his clothing while he has it equipped, even with the Perfect Touch perk, by telling him to follow and then giving him any armor. He equips it, making it possible to pickpocket his clothing if he is relieved as a follower, but in this case the inventory tells that the chance to pickpocket the hat, the shoes, and the clothes is 0%. Having him follow the Dragonborn once more allows for their armor to be retrieved. This can be used to get multiple sets of Cicero's clothes since each time armor is removed from him, his original clothes return.

A copy of Cicero's default equipment, called the Jester's Outfit, lies on a table in the Dawnstar Sanctuary, meaning it is not necessary to kill, pickpocket, or use console commands to obtain his outfit. However, the enchantments on this equipment are weaker and its value is less.

## Dialogue

*"Agh! Bother and befuddle! Stuck here! Stuck! My mother, my poor mother. Unmoving. At rest, but too still!"*

**Problem?** *"Poor Cicero is stuck. Can't you see? I was transporting my dear, sweet mother. Well, not her. Her corpse! She's quite dead. I'm taking mother to a new home. A new crypt. But... aggh! Wagon wheel! Damnedest wagon wheel! It broke! Don't you see?"*
**Is there some way I can help?** *"Oh. Oh yes! Yes, the kindly stranger can certainly help! Go to the farm - the Loreius Farm. Just over there, off the road. Talk to Loreius. He has tools! He can help me! But he won't! He refuses! Convince Loreius to fix my wheel! Do that, and poor Cicero will reward you. With coin! Gleamy, shiny coin!"*
*"The farmer is at his farm! Where else would he be? Loreius is his name. Talk to him. Convince him to help poor Cicero."*

After talking to Loreius:
*"Poor mother... Her new home seems so very far..."*

**I talked to Loreius. He's agreed to fix your wagon wheel.** *"You... you did? He has? Oh stranger! You have made Cicero so happy! So jubilant and ecstatic! But more! Even more! My mother thanks you! Here, here. For your troubles! Shiny, clinky gold! A few coins for a kind deed! And thank you! Thank you again."*
*"I will wait for Loreius! Oh yes, mother and I will wait right here, right here until he fixes our wheel."*

If Cicero is turned in to the guard:
*"Unfair! Unjust! Cicero has done nothing wrong! Loreius will pay for his treachery! Oh, how he will pay... And you! You were no help! Not at all!"*

*"Wait, oh wait. I know you! Yes, yes. From the road! Cicero never forgets a face."*

**You're the man with the wagon! Transporting his mother...** *"I am! I am! But not just my mother. Our mother, hmm? The Night Mother! Oh yes!"*
*"Template:Hide"*
*"Template:Hide"*
*"Template:Hide"*
*"But I..."*
*"Template:Hide"*
*"Template:Hide"*
*"Template:Hide"*
*"Someone lied. Someone told the guard poor Cicero did something he did not. We were detained, delayed! The Night Mother kept from her new home! But you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? Hmmm? No. No... Of course not. Because then Cicero would get angry, and that would be... ugly. Now Loreius. Loreius has learned the meaning of ugly."*
If approached again:
*"Cicero can talk for a moment. Just a moment. Then Mother must be... tended to."*

**Why did you come to the Sanctuary?** *"The Night Mother's crypt in Bravil was... desecrated. The Imperial Province is ravaged by strife. Nowhere there is safe, at present. So Cicero brought our Lady to her new home. Here! This is the only Sanctuary left in all of Skyrim, you see. Such was my... honor. As Keeper."*
**Who is the Night Mother?** *"What? Who is the Night Mother? Oh! Oh, you jest! You jest with gullible Cicero! You of course know that the Night Mother is our Unholy Matron. The undying spirit of a great woman who birthed the children of Sithis. And killed them. In his honor."*
**Tell me about Sithis.** *"Hmm... That's like telling you about the cold of space, or terror of midnight. Sithis is all those things. He is... the Void."*
**What are the duties of a Keeper?** *"Oh, Cicero takes care of our Lady's body. Oils it, preserves it, keeps it safe. Makes sure nobody disrespects our Matron's coffin."*
**What can you tell me about yourself?** *"Me? Oh, Cicero is just the Keeper! I... keep! I look after our matron, you see. The Night Mother. I keep her clean, and protected, and happy... But I am not the Listener. Oh no. There is no Listener. Not yet! But some day, some day, some day I pray, that one will come to hear her say... The words."*
**The Listener? What's a Listener?** *"Oh, well, the Listener is the only person the Night Mother speaks to. It is the highest honor attainable by a member of the Dark Brotherhood. Of course our Lady is dead, so she doesn't talk with words, since her lips are... rotted. But inside the Listener's head. I hear it's... intimate. Ah, but there has not been a Listener in years. Our Lady has not chosen Cicero, and certainly not Astrid. Or... anyone. But some day..."*
*"Farewell, farewell!"*

*"What? What treachery! Defiler! Debaser and defiler! You have violated the sanctity of the Night Mother's coffin! Explain yourself! Speak, worm!"*

**The Night Mother spoke to me! She said "I am the one."** *"She... spoke to you? More treachery! More trickery and deceit! You lie! The Night Mother speaks only to the Listener! And there is... no... Listener!"*
**Wait! She said to tell you, "Darkness rises when silence dies."** *"She... she said that? She said those words... to you? "Darkness rises when silence dies"? But those are the words. The Binding Words. Written in the Keeping Tomes. The signal so I should know. Mother's only way of talking to sweet Cicero... Then... it is true! She is back! Our Lady is back! She has chosen a Listener! She has chosen you! Ha ha ha! All hail the Listener!"*
After becoming the Listener:
*"You are the Listener! You are the Listener! I have served mother well, I have!"*

**Cicero, did you want to be the Listener?** *"Oh... Well... yes. I did. I did indeed. I tried to listen. Tried so very hard. But the Night Mother never spoke to poor Cicero. The silence became almost... maddening. Oh, but that was then! This is now! You're the Listener, and the Night Mother chose you for a reason, I'm sure! Cicero will remain the happy Keeper."*
**Will the Night Mother speak to me again?** *"Ha! Surely you're pulling Cicero's leg! Wait... the Listener is serious? Oh. Well of course the Night Mother will speak to you again! She might speak now, or later, or... I don't know! But speak she will! The Night Mother is part of you now! You get to hear her voices inside your head! The rest of us should be so lucky."*
**What exactly does a Listener do?** *"Oh, the Listener, well... listens! The Night Mother speaks to you. Guides you on your path. But when the Night Mother speaks, the Listener must obey. You must! For her word is the will of Sithis. And Sithis is the Dark Brotherhood incarnate."*

*"Listener! Is that you? Oh, I knew you'd come. Send the best to defeat the best. Astrid knew her stupid wolf couldn't slay sly Cicero."*

When encountering the first Sanctuary Guardian:
*"Oh, but this isn't at all what Mother would want. You kill the Keeper or I kill the Listener? Now that's madness."*

At the spike trap:
*"Ouch! Pointy pointy! My home is well defended. I always have been a stickler for details. Get it? "Stick-ler." Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, I slay me!"*

After passing through the firepot room:
*"You're... still alive. Cicero respects the Listener's abilities, of course, but could you at least slow down a bit? I'm not what I used to be. Heh."*

Near the Udefrykte:
*"Brrr! Chilly! You'll enjoy this. Not an original part of the Sanctuary, per se. Let's call it a "forced addition." Forced by what? Oh, come and see!"*

At the Udefrykte:
*"All right, so Cicero attacked that harlot, Astrid! But what's a fool to do, when his mother is slandered and mocked? Surely the Listener understands!"*

In the burial rooms:
*"Cicero admits, he thought the Listener would be dead by now. Heh. Maybe we could just forget all this? Hmm? Let bygones be bygones? What do you say?"*

While exiting the burial rooms:
*"If it's any comfort, I do feel slightly bad about Veezara. Stupid lizard got in the way! But please tell me that hulking sheepdog has bled to death."*

In front of Cicero's room:
*"And now we come to the end of our play. The grand finale."*

When approaching Cicero:
*"You caught me! I surrender! Ha ha ha ha."*

**There is only one cure for your madness, Cicero. Me.** *"Oh, I like that! Very good, very good! Creative! But killing me would be a mistake! Oh yes. You would displease our mother, hmm? For she's your mother too, isn't she... Listener? Walk away! Let poor Cicero live! Tell the pretender Astrid you did the job! Stabbed, strangled, drowned poor Cicero! One little itty bitty lie!"*
**Time to die, traitor!** *"Traitor? Me? Silly assassin. So confused, so confused... and they say I'm mad! If I'm a traitor, so are you! Have you not heard the maiden's voice? Are you not the Listener? So walk away! Let poor Cicero live! Tell Astrid you did the job! Stabbed, strangled, drowned poor Cicero! A tiny white lie for a dark assassin!"*
**(Remain silent)** *"Oh, you prefer to listen, eh? Of course, of course! The Listener listens! A joke! A funny joke! I get it. Then listen to this - don't kill me. Let poor Cicero live! I attacked the strumpet Astrid, I did! And I'd do it again! Anything for our mother! Return to the pretender, tell her I'm dead! Tell her you strangled me with my own intestines! Ha ha! But lie! Yes, lie! Lie, and let me live!"*If approached again:
*"Do what you will. Cicero has no fight left. In the end, Sithis will judge us both."*

When attacked:
*"Ha ha! Behold the final trick of the Fool of Hearts! You think me near death? Think again!"*

In combat:
*"Stab you, stab you, stab you!"*
*"For the Night Mother!"*
*"Ha ha ha ha!"*
*"Who's the fool now?"*

While being hit:
*"Is that the best the Listener can do?"*
*"I'm bleeding! Ha ha ha ha ha!"*
*"Ow! Cheap shot!"*
*"Come on! Do it again! Ha ha ha ha ha!"*

Upon death:
*"Coming... Mother..."*

*"Listener!"*

**Cicero! It's good to see you again, old friend.**
**What in the name of Sithis...**
**(Remain silent)**

## Conversations

Delayed Burial
**Guard:** "You there! Fool! Hold fast. You've been accused of a crime against the laws of this land. What say you in your defense?"

**Cicero:** "Wh... What? A crime? Me? Preposterous! Poor Cicero is just standing here! Cicero loves order. Oh yes! He would never disrespect the law!"

**Guard:** "You look like a crazy man to me. And what's in that coffin, hmm? Maybe some time in a cell will help loosen that lying tongue."

**Cicero:** "Damn that Loreius. Oh, how he will pay for this treachery..."

**Guard:** "You just keep quiet and stay where you are. Soon as my relief arrives, we'll all take a nice little trip."

Arriving at the Sanctuary
**Cicero:** "But the Night Mother is mother to all! It is her voice we follow! Her will! Would you dare risk disobedience? And surely... punishment?"

**Arnbjorn:** "Keep talking, little man, and we'll see who gets "punished.""

**Festus Krex:** "Oh, be quiet you great lumbering lapdog. The man has had a long journey. You can at least be civil. Mister Cicero, I for one am delighted you and the Night Mother have arrived. Your presence here signals a welcome return to tradition."

**Cicero:** "Oh, what a kind and wise wizard you are. Sure to earn our Lady's favor."

**Astrid:** "You and the Night Mother are of course welcome here, Cicero. And you will be afforded the respect deserving of your position as Keeper. Understood... husband?"

**Arnbjorn:** "Hmph."

**Cicero:** "Oh, yes yes yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

**Astrid:** "But make no mistake. I am the leader of this Sanctuary. My word is law. Are we clear on that point?"

**Cicero:** "Oh yes, mistress. Perfectly! You're the boss."

Whispers in the Dark
**Cicero:** "Are we alone? Yes... yes... alone. Sweet solitude. No one will hear us, disturb us. Everything is going according to plan. The others... I've spoken to them. And they're coming around, I know it. The wizard, Festus Krex... perhaps even the Argonian, and the un-child... What about you? Have you... spoken to anyone? No.... No, of course not. I do the talking, the stalking, the seeing and saying! And what do you do? Nothing! Not... not that I'm angry! No, never! Cicero understands. Heh. Cicero always understands! And obeys! You will talk when you're ready, won't you? Won't you... ...sweet Night Mother."

**Template:Hide:** "Poor Cicero. Dear Cicero. Such a humble servant. But he will never hear my voice. For he is not the Listener."

**Cicero:** "Oh, but how can I defend you? How can I exert your will? If you will not speak? To anyone!"

**Template:Hide:** "Oh, but I will speak. I will speak to you. For you are the one. Yes, you. You, who shares my iron tomb, who warms my ancient bones. I give you this task - journey to Volunruud. Speak with Amaund Motierre."

**Cicero:** "Poor Cicero has failed you. Poor Cicero is sorry, sweet mother. I've tried, so very hard. But I just can't find the Listener."

**Template:Hide:** "Tell Cicero the time has come. Tell him the words he has been waiting for, all these years: "Darkness rises when silence dies.""

**Astrid:** "By Sithis, this ends now! Back away, fool! Whatever you've been planning is over! Are you all right? I heard the commotion. Who was Cicero talking to? Where's the accomplice? Reveal yourself, traitor!"

**Cicero:** "I spoke only to the Night Mother! I spoke to the Night Mother, but she didn't speak to me. Oh no. She spoke only to him! To the listener!"

**Astrid:** "What? The Listener? What are you going on about? What is this lunacy?"

**Cicero:** "It's true, it's true! The Night Mother has spoken! The silence has been broken! The Listener has been chosen!"

## Trivia

 File:TESV The Night Mother.png
* Cicero (if spared), along with Nazir and Babette are the only members to survive the sanctuary massacre, should the Dragonborn be part of the Dark Brotherhood.
* During the quest "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!" Cicero and Babette are the only members of the Dark Brotherhood to not be killed by the Dragonborn.
* The specter of Lucien Lachance warns against killing Cicero, because the "Keeper" is a sacred position in the Dark Brotherhood and, in another quote, that Sithis does not want him dead. Similarly, during the Dragonborn's trek in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary during "The Cure for Madness," Cicero shouts *"Oh, but this isn't at all what Mother would want,"* and *"You kill the Keeper or I kill the Listener. Now that's madness!"*
* In one of his journals, Cicero states that he posed as a "Starstruck fan" to the Grand Champion during "the Arena contract," and then later killed said Champion. This is a reference to the Adoring Fan of Template:Oblivion.
* If Cicero is resurrected as a dead thrall, his mannerisms stay intact. Unlike other undead, he continues to dance and comment as he would if he were a follower.
* If one manages to get Cicero up to his feet during "The Cure for Madness," he is considerably smaller than he was previously. Often this makes the player character have gargantuan properties.
* Like Anska and Barbas, Cicero has a tendency to bump into and subsequently push the Dragonborn forward. This can be dangerous around traps or deep precipices, so care should be taken.
* Unlike most followers, Cicero has no dialogue for finding Dwemer ruins, caves, or Nordic tombs. He also has no dialogue when being healed or when Illusion spells are cast on him.
* Cicero does not have a default bow and arrows. If one wishes him to enter ranged combat, a bow and arrows must be given to him. However, unlike other followers, Cicero uses up arrows given to him, so his supply of arrows should be checked occasionally. This also applies to any enchanted weapon given to him. Over time, the weapon's charge will deplete.
* Although Cicero states in one of his journals that the Keeper of the Night Mother cannot carry out contracts or otherwise kill again, this does not prevent him from fighting if he is a follower.
* When Cicero is told to "wait here," but then moves away from his original spot (such as when detecting a nearby enemy), afterwards he will walk back to the place he was told to wait originally, unlike other followers, who will continue to wait in another spot if they moved away from the place where they were originally told to wait.
* There are three versions of Cicero. The first version of Cicero appears in the Dawnstar Sanctuary, where the Dragonborn has to choose whether to kill or not, as well as the Falkreath Sanctuary, and has base ID `0001BDB1`, ref ID `0001E64A`. This Cicero is level 40, aggressive, has morality of "No Crime," and belongs to the DarkBrotherhoodFaction, Dawnstar Guardian Faction, and FavorExcludedFaction factions. The version who can become follower has IDs as stated further above. This version is taller than the other two (other two have a scale factor of 0.9). The third version is Cicero as met during the quest "Delayed Burial," his base ID `000550F0`, ref ID `000550F1`. This Cicero is level 6, unaggressive, has morality of "Property Crimes Only," and belongs to the CrimeFactionPale and FavorExcludedFaction factions.

## Bugs

Template:Bugs

* Template:PCTemplate:XBOX360 When told to stop moving, Cicero continues to follow the Dragonborn only if his "waiting" dialogue is disrupted.
* Template:XBOX360 Cicero does not follow commands properly. He will do what he is told, such as using an Alchemy Station or sitting in a chair, but as soon as the player presses B or talks to him, he stops what he is doing and approaches the player character, instead of continuing to wait or do what he was told to, like other followers. The only command unaffected by this bug is when told to attack someone/something: he performs the task and the crosshairs return to normal.
* If Cicero is a follower, and is attacked while Shadowmere is nearby, Shadowmere will attack the Dragonborn.
* Template:XBOX360 In the quest "Contract: Kill Maluril," (if it hasn't been completed before the Dark Brotherhood main questline) if asked "I need you to do something," and ordered to kill Maluril, Cicero will refuse, regardless if Maluril is sitting or standing, or the distance from the Dragonborn.
* Template:XBOX360 Cicero will occasionally refuse to enter water, regardless of depth. He will stand at the edge of the water and watch the Dragonborn from the shore. This can result in him getting lost in the environment. Waiting an hour or two when far enough away from him will teleport him to the Dragonborn's location.
* Template:ALLPLATTemplate:XB1Template:NX If one gets Cicero's outfit by pickpocketing it off him during "The Cure for Madness," it will disappear from his inventory despite this version having a different ID from the Dawnstar Sanctuary version.

## Appearances

* Template:Skyrim
* Template:Legends Template:FoDB – (As Cicero the Betrayer)

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