Summary
Cicero is a prominent character inSkyrim’s Dark Brotherhood questline, and choosing whether to kill him is a decision players will have to make. While killing him may seem like the logical thing to do inSkyrimbased on the crimes he has committed, sparing Cicero may actually be the more moral option, according to Dark Brotherhood law.
Duringthe Dark Brotherhood questline, it is revealed that the Dragonborn is the Night Mother’s new Listener, a role that Cicero was hoping to fulfill. Astrid accuses him of conspiring against the Brotherhood, and Cicero becomes hostile against his leader for questioning the Night Mother. While the Dragonborn is away on some assassination missions, Cicero attacks Astrid and wounds other members of the group, and then he flees to the old Dawnstar Brotherhood sanctuary, where the Dragonborn must decide to kill or spare him.
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Why Should You Spare Cicero?
WhileSkyrimmay paint this series of events as Cicero’s fault, there’s a lot more information to read in between the lines. First, and possibly most importantly, Astrid betrays the Dark Brotherhood and the Dragonborn, and everyone inside the sanctuary is killed except forNazir and Babetteas a result. It’s possible Astrid’s motivation for doing this was simply that she didn’t want her authority questioned or otherwise undermined by the Listener, who is meant to hold the highest rank in the Brotherhood. This would make sense because Astrid accuses Cicero of plotting against the Brotherhood without reason or justification.
In fact, Cicero may just be the only truly devoted member of the Dark Brotherhood. Though the tenets have been officially abandoned inSkyrimlore, a list of the Five Tenets is still on display inthe Dark Brotherhood’s sanctuary. By spying on Cicero, going against the Night Mother’s wishes, and betraying the Dark Brotherhood,Astrid violates all five of these rules.It’s Astrid’s megalomania that ultimately causes the overall downfall of the Brotherhood.
Bonus Benefits To Sparing Cicero
So, although Cicero might seem like nothing but an insane, homicidal jester, he’s simply followingthe old laws of the Dark Brotherhoodby listening to the Night Mother’s commands. If the Dragonborn chooses to let Cicero live, not only are they following the wishes of the Night Mother, but they would be honoring the core beliefs of the Brotherhood bybringing them along as a follower.
As far as followers go,Skyrimisn’t known for having effective companions, butCicero is one of the bestin the game. He’s an assassin with high stats, but he also has a more developed personality than most companions inSkyrim,despite how annoying he might be to keep around.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
WHERE TO PLAY
Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim celebrates 10 years of adventuring in stunning detail. The Anniversary Edition includes a decade worth of content: the critically acclaimed core game and add-ons of Skyrim Special Edition, plus Creation Club content released on or prior to Jun 28, 2025.EPIC FANTASY REBORNSkyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLDPlay any type of character you may imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAYChoose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.BATTLE DRAGONSBattle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
