Hours 50 - 51: Killing Spree

I decided to devote the next two hours to completing as many Dark Brotherhood quests (i.e. assassinations) as possible. I fast-traveled as much as possible,and didn't hang around much. The only exception is that I did spend a bit of time talking to my fellow guild-members about some of the assassinations, as they mostly had something interesting to say.

The first two missions went by smoothly. Each mission requires you to assassinate a target, and there is an extra stipulation for each mission which, if fulfilled, will earn you an extra bonus. I managed to do six missions in the two hours. The first involved killing a pirate captain, and the next staging an 'accidental' killing. I failed to avoid detection and lost the bonus for that one.

Next, I had to break into the Imperial Prison and kill an inmate - and kill no guards. I gained access through the extensive sewer network. My 'drain life 100' spell proved invaluable here, as it allowed me to kill the numerous rats and mudcrabs which infest the sewers with virtually no hassle and no mana expenditure - they die to one cast.

Once I entered the prison, I began to sneak around, but always got seen and attacked by the guards. I reloaded from the prison entrance a few times, until I had the thought of simply sprinting my way past all the guards, using my increased speed and agility to avoid their blows. It worked! I ran all the way through the prison, with about give guards hot on my heels, but they just couldn't keep up with me. I reached the target, cast Immolate, and then before the guards knew what had happened I had jumped back over their heads and was on my way back to the sewers. I soon lost them. This earned me a nice bonus - the Scales of Pitiless Justice, which provide permanent stat boots just by being in my inventory! I also earned an amulet called Cruelty's Heart from the next quest, providing a large boost to Willpower and Strength.

I haven't posted a summary of my character since I was level 6, ten levels ago, so now seems as good a time as any.

Level: 16
Health/magicka/fatigue: 152/330/239
Days passed: 91
Quests completed: 51
Creatures killed: 523
People killed: 219
Places found: 93

I forgot to take a picture of my 'Skills' page, I will try to remember to include that in a future entry. I would like to have more magicka - I am often depleted after a few spells, but overall I am happy with my stats. My personality is drained by the Scaled of Pitiless Justice, but that doesn't mater since I can Charm anyone 100% with a spell. I do remember that my Illusion skill is only at 45 (just 10 higher than when I was level 6) and it needs to be 75, I think, before I can start making use of Paralyze spells. Something I will try to work on.

I completed the next three assassinations with no trouble. I'm enjoying the Dark Brotherhood so far, and it's providing a nice change. It's also given me some much better equipment already than what I got from the Mage's guild. I sell off most of the 'stealth' equipment I gain, though, as since the prison mission I am not really bothering with it - I can rely on my speed, and my healing spells to heal myself if any stray blows connect as my pursuers try in vain to catch me. I can imagine it might be quite fun to do a 'speed run' of Oblivion some time

During one of the missions I paused to observe the night sky, which I'd never really paid attention to before. Behold!

Also, during the fifth quest (The Lonely Wanderer), I encountered the target's girlfriend, who turned out to be by far the most attractive (in fact the only attractive) looking female character in the game!