Astrid (Skyrim)

Astrid is the leader of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim. She resides in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, near Falkreath, and holds the responsibility of finding new recruits in the Night Mother's absence.

Background
When asked about herself after the player joins the Dark Brotherhood, Astrid says that she had an uncle who made "unwanted advances" towards her, so she killed him. It "felt good, really good," so she killed another, unspecified person, and it "felt even better." After an unknown amount of time, she joined with the Dark Brotherhood, and later married another Brotherhood member, Arnbjorn.

Personality
Astrid decrees her unbeatable dictatorship, comparable and "stronger" than the The Five Tenets. She tires of the laws and restrictions that limit the Brotherhood, deciding that a sort of family-like unity benefits the members of the Brotherhood better than structure.

After the attack on the Falkreath Sanctuary by the Penitus Oculatus, Astrid realizes her mistake in thinking she was the sole authority of the Brotherhood by going against the Five Tenets, as "they have guided the Brotherhood for centuries. I was a fool to oppose them," and as well for leading to the deaths of most of the Brotherhood, and before her death pleads forgiveness for her transgressions against the Night Mother and the Dragonborn.

With Friends Like These...
Successfully killing Grelod the Kind for Aventus Aretino causes Astrid to kidnap the Dragonborn once the "Mysterious Note" is received. She brings them to an abandoned shack and asks them to kill one of three hostages. Regardless of whom the Dragonborn kills, Astrid gives them directions to the Sanctuary, and invites them to join her "family."

Should the Dragonborn choose to kill Astrid instead during this encounter, Commander Maro learns of the deed, and tasks the Dragonborn with eradicating the remaining members of the Dark Brotherhood.

Whispers In The Dark
Astrid asks the Dragonborn to spy on Cicero, as she suspects that he is plotting with another member of the sanctuary to destroy the brotherhood. The Dragonborn obeys, hearing the Night Mother speak and becoming her Listener. Threatened by the Night Mother's choice, Astrid reclaims her authority by sending the Dragonborn on off-handed contracts until she investigates the contract the Night Mother told to the Listener.

Death Incarnate
Upon the attack on the Dark Brotherhood's sanctuary, many of the Assassins of the Dark Brotherhood fell, including Astrid. She begs the Dragonborn to kill her by performing The Black Sacrament, dubbing the Dragonborn her replacement as leader of the brotherhood and admitting she was wrong for defying the Night Mother. She also explains that she negotiated with the head of the Penitus Oculatus, Commander Maro, into revealing the identity of the Dragonborn in exchange for political immunity. Maro went back on his word, attacking the Sanctuary. She asks to be killed with her Blade of Woe, but it doesn't matter what it is done with. After Astrid's death, the Dragonborn and the remaining assassins move to the Dawnstar Sanctuary, where Cicero fled and can still be found if he was spared.

Quests

 * With Friends Like These...
 * Sanctuary
 * Mourning Never Comes
 * Whispers In The Dark
 * The Silence Has Been Broken
 * Bound Until Death
 * Breaching Security
 * The Cure for Madness
 * Recipe for Disaster
 * To Kill an Empire
 * Death Incarnate
 * Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!

With Friends Like These...
When the Dragonborn sleeps in a bed after completing the quest "Innocence Lost," he or she awakens in an abandoned shack, and the following dialogue appears after waking from their slumber.

"Sleep well?"

'''What? Where am I? Who are you?' "Does it matter? You're warm, dry... and still very much alive. That's more than can be said for old Grelod. Hmm?"''
 * You know about that? "Half of Skyrim knows. Old hag gets butchered in her own orphanage? Things like that tend to get around. Oh, but don't misunderstand. I'm not criticizing. It was a good kill. Old crone had it coming. And you saved a group of urchins, to boot. Ah, but there is a slight... problem."
 * A problem? "You see, that little Aretino boy was looking for the Dark Brotherhood. For me, and my associates. Grelod the Kind was, by all rights, a Dark Brotherhood contract. A kill... that you stole. A kill you must repay."
 * You want me to murder someone else? Who? "Well now. Funny you should ask. If you turn around, you'll notice my guests. I've collected them from... well, that's not really important. The here and now. That's what matters. You see, there's a contract out on one of them, and that person can't leave this room alive. But... which one? Go on, see if you can figure it out. Make your choice. Make your kill, I just want to observe... and admire."
 * I'll have no part of this insanity. "Now that is a shame. But what you fail to realize is that you involved yourself in this "insanity" when you took Grelod's life. You made your choice. Now it's time to face the consequences of your actions. You don't leave this shack until someone dies."
 * All right, I'll do it. I'll kill one of them. "See, I knew we could resolve this civilly. A debt owed must be repaid. You understand that. Well, get to it then. Pick your guest, and send the poor fool to the Void. I'll give you the key to this shack, and you'll be on your way."
 * (Remain silent) "Am I to take your silence as acceptance? Then you know where we stand. Make your kill, and we're square. Repayment of your debt is but a discreet knife thrust away."

Note: Astrid's response to "A problem?" will be the same no matter if, "I don't think I like where this is going..." or "(Remain silent)" is chosen.

If the Dragonborn exits dialogue anytime during this conversation, Astrid will say, "I'll cut right to it. You murdered the old woman in this orphanage. You owe the Dark Brotherhood a kill. I've come to collect. One of these poor sods has a contract out on their life. Which one is it? Andy idea? Make you choice. Make your kill. And you get to walk away."

Talking to Astrid before the Dragonborn kills anyone of the hostages will result in Astrid saying, "The anticipation is killing me. Can you figure out who has the contract? Which one will you choose?"

After completing this dialogue, the quest "With Friends Like These..." begins.

Trivia

 * Astrid is voiced by Cindy Robinson. Robinson is best known for her role as the voice of Amy Rose in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise.
 * The quests "With Friends Like These..." and "Death Incarnate" are the only times that Astrid can be killed. Otherwise, she is flagged as an essential character and cannot be killed. Because of this, she can be exploited for fast skill leveling.
 * If she is killed in "With Friends Like These...", she says to the Dragonborn, "Well done," as her last words.
 * Astrid can be reanimated as a Dead Thrall after killing her, and she keeps her original dialogue; however, she only retains one point of health.
 * During the beginning of "With Friends Like These..." is the only time Astrid wears a cowl.
 * When on her deathbed, Astrid says that she deserves whatever punishment Sithis has planned for her in the Void, though the Night Mother says the exact opposite; that Astrid "may find redemption in the Void."

Bugs

 * Sometimes Nazir mentions Astrid waiting at a pool, after completion of the questline, even if she is dead.
 * If you get caught pickpocketing an item from or onto Astrid while she is in her burnt state during the quest "Death Incarnate," she will jump up and attack you. Nazir may then attack her.

Appearances


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