Few characters in Skyrim leave as strong an impression as Cicero, the jester-clad keeper of the Night Mother. Whether you find him on the roadside near Loreius Farm or deep in the Dark Brotherhood’s hidden sanctuary, his manic laughter and unsettling dialogue make him impossible to forget. But beyond the theatrics, Cicero plays a pivotal role in one of the game’s most compelling questlines, and the choice of whether to kill or spare him ranks among Skyrim’s most debated moral decisions.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Cicero: his backstory, how to encounter him, the key moments in his arc, whether he’s worth recruiting as a follower, and what makes him one of the most memorable NPCs in the game. If you’re running through the Dark Brotherhood questline for the first time or replaying to explore different outcomes, here’s your roadmap to the mad jester’s story.
Key Takeaways
- Cicero Skyrim’s jester-clad Keeper of the Night Mother is a memorable NPC whose moral choice—to kill or spare him—ranks among the game’s most debated decisions.
- Sparing Cicero rewards players with one of Skyrim’s strongest followers, featuring exceptional stealth combat stats, dual-wielding daggers, and unique darkly comedic dialogue.
- The Loreius Farm encounter provides early foreshadowing of Cicero’s story, and reading his five journals throughout the game reveals his tragic descent from competent assassin to devoted madman.
- Cicero embodies Skyrim’s core theme of tradition versus pragmatism, with his unwavering devotion to the Night Mother clashing against Astrid’s pragmatic leadership of the Dark Brotherhood.
- Andrew Wheaton’s exceptional voice acting and intentional dark humor make Cicero stand out as one of gaming’s most memorable jester characters, combining narrative depth with strong mechanical rewards.
Who Is Cicero in Skyrim?
Cicero’s Background and Lore
Cicero isn’t just a random madman, he’s the Keeper of the Night Mother, the spiritual and literal guardian of the Dark Brotherhood’s mummified matriarch. Before arriving in Skyrim, Cicero served the Brotherhood in Cyrodiil, where he maintained the Night Mother’s corpse and documented his descent into madness through a series of journals scattered throughout the game.
Those journals (volumes 1 through 5) reveal a tragic arc: Cicero was once a competent, even enthusiastic assassin who took his role seriously. But years of isolation, dwindling Brotherhood membership, and the psychological toll of hearing the Night Mother’s voice eroded his sanity. By the time he reaches Skyrim, he’s equal parts devotee and lunatic, speaking in third person and giggling through murder.
His loyalty to the Night Mother is absolute, which puts him at odds with other members of the Dark Brotherhood who view the old traditions as outdated superstition. That tension drives much of the drama in the questline.
Cicero’s Role in the Dark Brotherhood Questline
Cicero serves as both ally and antagonist depending on where you are in the story. He arrives at the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary with the Night Mother’s body in tow, and his presence immediately causes friction, especially with Astrid, the sanctuary’s pragmatic leader who has little patience for the old ways.
As the questline progresses, Cicero’s devotion to tradition and the Night Mother clashes with Astrid’s authority. This conflict culminates in “The Cure for Madness” quest, where Cicero’s actions force the player to hunt him down and decide his fate. Whether he becomes an enemy or a companion hinges entirely on that choice.
How to Encounter Cicero
The Loreius Farm Encounter
Most players meet Cicero long before joining the Dark Brotherhood. If you’re traveling between Whiterun and Dawnstar, you’ll likely stumble across Loreius Farm, where Cicero is stranded with a broken wagon wheel. He’ll ask for help convincing the farmer, Vantus Loreius, to repair it.
You have two options here:
- Help Cicero: Persuade, bribe, or intimidate Loreius into fixing the wheel. Cicero rewards you with a modest amount of gold.
- Report Cicero: Speak to the guard in Dragon Bridge and report the suspicious jester. This results in Cicero being briefly detained, but it doesn’t prevent him from reaching the sanctuary.
This encounter is optional and doesn’t lock you out of the Dark Brotherhood questline. But it’s a nice bit of foreshadowing, and if you help him, Cicero remembers it later.
Joining the Dark Brotherhood
To actually interact with Cicero beyond the roadside encounter, you need to join the Dark Brotherhood. The questline kicks off with “Innocence Lost,” which starts after you overhear rumors about Aventus Aretino in Windhelm trying to contact the Brotherhood. Complete his contract, sleep in any bed, and you’ll be kidnapped by Astrid to begin “With Friends Like These…”
Once you’re inducted and complete the initial contracts, Cicero arrives at the sanctuary during the quest “Delayed Burial.” From that point on, he’s a fixture of the storyline.
Key Moments in Cicero’s Story
The Arrival at the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary
Cicero’s entrance is anything but subtle. He wheels the Night Mother’s coffin into the sanctuary, much to the confusion and annoyance of the other assassins. Astrid grudgingly allows him to stay, but the tension is palpable.
During this period, Cicero acts as the Night Mother’s mouthpiece. When she begins speaking to the player, naming them her Listener, Cicero is overjoyed. Finally, someone else hears her voice. This dynamic shifts the power structure within the Brotherhood and further alienates Astrid, who resents being sidelined.
The Betrayal and Escape
Things come to a head during “The Cure for Madness.” After a series of tense exchanges, Cicero snaps and attacks Astrid, wounding her before fleeing to the Dawnstar Sanctuary, an abandoned Brotherhood hideout. Astrid orders you to track him down and kill him.
When you arrive at the Dawnstar Sanctuary, you’ll fight through spectral assassins (enchanted guardians left behind by the old Brotherhood) before confronting Cicero. He’s injured and pleading, sometimes coherent, sometimes rambling. This is where the big choice happens.
The Cure for Madness Quest
“The Cure for Madness” is the emotional peak of Cicero’s arc. The quest title itself is ambiguous: Is the “cure” killing Cicero, or is madness itself the cure for the Brotherhood’s stagnation?
During the confrontation, Cicero begs for his life, citing his service to the Night Mother. If you speak to the Night Mother before making your decision, she remains neutral, she doesn’t explicitly command you to spare or kill him, leaving the choice entirely up to you.
This ambiguity is intentional. The game wants you to weigh loyalty, tradition, and pragmatism against revenge and order.
Should You Kill Cicero or Spare Him?
Consequences of Killing Cicero
If you choose to kill Cicero, you can loot his body for Cicero’s Clothes (a unique jester outfit with solid enchantments) and some gold. Astrid is pleased, and the Brotherhood continues under her leadership, at least for a while.
From a gameplay perspective, killing him locks you out of recruiting him as a follower later. You also miss out on his unique commentary and combat abilities. Some players argue this is the “lawful” choice within the Brotherhood’s hierarchy, since Astrid technically gave the order.
But narratively, killing Cicero removes one of the last true believers in the old ways. Given how the Dark Brotherhood questline unfolds (no spoilers, but things get rough), there’s irony in eliminating someone who might’ve been right all along.
Consequences of Sparing Cicero
Spare Cicero, and he’ll remain in the Dawnstar Sanctuary, recovering from his injuries. You can recruit him as a follower once the main Dark Brotherhood questline wraps up. He’s genuinely grateful and remains loyal even though everything.
Astrid isn’t thrilled, but she doesn’t punish you for it. Sparing him aligns more closely with honoring the Night Mother’s traditions, which becomes thematically significant as the story progresses.
You can still obtain Cicero’s outfit later by pickpocketing or using console commands on PC, though it requires a bit more effort.
Which Choice Is Better for Your Playthrough?
If you want the best mechanical outcome, spare Cicero. He’s an excellent follower with strong combat stats, and his dialogue adds flavor to your adventures. Many tier lists and build guides rank him among the top followers in the game.
If you’re roleplaying a character who values order and Astrid’s authority, killing him makes sense narratively. But from a pure gameplay and long-term enjoyment standpoint, keeping him alive offers more content.
Cicero as a Follower
How to Recruit Cicero
To recruit Cicero, you must:
- Spare him during “The Cure for Madness.”
- Complete the Dark Brotherhood questline through “Hail Sithis.”
- Return to the Dawnstar Sanctuary and speak to him.
He’ll agree to follow you, and from that point on he’s available as a permanent companion. He can’t be married, but he’ll stick with you through thick and thin.
Cicero’s Combat Abilities and Stats
Cicero is one of the strongest followers in Skyrim, especially for stealth builds. His stats include:
- Level cap: 50 (scales with the player up to level 50)
- Primary skills: One-Handed, Sneak, Archery
- Combat style: Dual-wields daggers with high attack speed and sneak multipliers
- Health: Caps around 500-550 at max level
- Perks: Benefits from assassin-style perks, making him lethal in sneak attacks
He’s particularly effective in stealth missions. His high Sneak skill means he won’t blow your cover, and his dual-wielding DPS shreds enemies in close quarters. He’s less tanky than followers like Lydia or Frea, but his damage output more than compensates.
One downside: Cicero’s essential flag is removed after you recruit him, meaning he can die in combat if you’re not careful. Keep an eye on him during tough fights.
Unique Dialogue and Personality Traits
Cicero’s commentary is what sets him apart. He frequently breaks into song, refers to himself in third person, and makes morbidly cheerful observations about murder. Lines like “Let’s kill someone.” and “Cicero is hungry… for blood.” become oddly endearing after a while.
He also has unique reactions to certain locations and quests, especially those tied to Daedric Princes or the Dark Brotherhood. If you’re someone who values personality in followers over raw utility, Cicero delivers in spades.
Cicero’s Equipment and Items
Cicero’s Clothes and Armor
Cicero’s Clothes is a unique light armor set consisting of:
- Cicero’s Hat
- Cicero’s Gloves
- Cicero’s Boots
- Cicero’s Clothes (chest piece)
Each piece carries useful enchantments:
- Hat: Fortify prices by 20%
- Gloves: Fortify one-handed damage and Fortify pickpocket
- Boots: Fortify sneak and one-handed damage
- Clothes: Fortify sneak and poison resistance
The set is ideal for stealth assassins or anyone roleplaying a Dark Brotherhood character. The enchantments aren’t the strongest in the game, but they’re thematic and functional for early-to-mid game builds.
If you spare Cicero, you can still acquire the outfit by pickpocketing him (requires high Pickpocket skill and the Perfect Touch perk) or, on PC, using console commands.
Cicero’s Unique Weapons
Cicero dual-wields a pair of iron daggers by default, nothing special. But, if you kill him, you won’t find unique weapons on his body. His value as a follower lies more in his combat AI and stats than his gear.
That said, you can equip him with better weapons once he’s following you. Give him Mehrunes’ Razor or Blade of Woe, and watch him tear through enemies with improved damage.
Tips for Playing Through Cicero’s Questline
Here are some practical tips to get the most out of Cicero’s story:
- Do the Loreius Farm encounter early. It’s easy to miss if you fast-travel everywhere. Helping Cicero here adds a nice callback later when he recognizes you.
- Read Cicero’s journals. All five volumes are scattered around the Dawnstar Sanctuary and the main sanctuary. They’re short, well-written, and provide crucial context for his character.
- Save before “The Cure for Madness.” If you’re undecided about killing or sparing him, keep a manual save so you can explore both outcomes without replaying the entire questline.
- Bring a follower to the Dawnstar Sanctuary. The spectral assassins can be tough, especially if you’re under-leveled. A tanky companion helps.
- Loot the Dawnstar Sanctuary thoroughly. Beyond Cicero, the place is packed with alchemy ingredients, potions, and Dark Brotherhood-themed gear. There’s also a Blade of Woe on a shelf if you missed it earlier.
- Check for mods. If you’re on PC, several popular mods available on Nexus Mods expand Cicero’s dialogue, fix bugs, or allow you to obtain his outfit without killing him. Mods like “Cicero as a Companion” and “Enhanced Follower Cicero” are worth exploring.
For players torn between killing and sparing, many detailed walkthroughs and character analyses can help you decide based on your playstyle and roleplay preferences.
What Makes Cicero One of Skyrim’s Most Memorable Characters
Cicero stands out in a game full of memorable NPCs for a few key reasons. First, his voice acting, provided by Andrew Wheaton, is exceptional. The manic energy, the sing-song delivery, the sudden shifts between lucidity and madness, it all sells the character in a way flat dialogue never could.
Second, Cicero embodies one of Skyrim’s core themes: the tension between tradition and pragmatism. The Dark Brotherhood is dying, and Astrid’s leadership represents a break from the old ways in favor of survival. Cicero, clinging to the Night Mother and the Five Tenets, represents a dogmatic past that may or may not be worth preserving. The game doesn’t give you an easy answer, which makes the moral choice feel meaningful.
Third, he’s genuinely funny, intentionally so. Skyrim’s humor is often dry or incidental (guards with arrow-in-knee syndrome, wonky physics), but Cicero’s absurdity is baked into his writing. Lines like “Skyrim is now host to the prettiest princess.” when he’s supposedly moving a corpse are darkly comedic in a way few other characters attempt.
Finally, he’s mechanically rewarding. Strong combat stats, unique dialogue, and a distinctive appearance make him a top-tier follower. Even players who find him annoying at first often come around once they see how effective he is in a fight.
All of this combines to make Cicero more than just a quest NPC, he’s a character players remember long after finishing the Dark Brotherhood storyline.
Conclusion
Cicero’s arc is one of the most carefully crafted character stories in Skyrim. From the roadside encounter at Loreius Farm to the final confrontation in the Dawnstar Sanctuary, every beat builds toward a choice that forces players to consider loyalty, tradition, and mercy.
Whether you kill him for his crimes or spare him for his devotion, Cicero leaves a mark. And if you do spare him, you gain one of the game’s best followers, a deadly, darkly funny companion who’ll stick with you through whatever chaos Skyrim throws your way. So the next time you hear that jester’s laugh echoing across the tundra, consider giving the mad Keeper a chance. He might just surprise you.
