Life had been grey. After Martin sacrificed himself, I had found little hope for my future. No family, no Cyrodiil left to save, and still I was treated like shit by everyone. The only thing left to do was kill or be killed. I had begun with petty thievery. And raised in rank to find the true identity of the Grey Fox; Corvus Umbranox. Count of Anvil, long lost husband of Countess Millona Umbranox. I had given up the Cowl to my co-worker, Armand Christophe, after only two months of running the Thieves Guild. Thievery is all the same; steal, get paid, steal, get paid. I had even tried the arena and risen to Grand Champion. I had brushed off Palias Greenthorn, known commonly as my Adoring Fan, for days. Until it got annoying enough that I quit returning to the arena altogether. I couldn't handle it anymore.
When I was approached by a drunkard around the back of an Inn while visiting Leyawiin, to collect a bounty for a Black Bow, I lost it. I snapped. He was coming onto me with his toothless grin and slopped mead down the front of my Imperial Dragon Armor. A gift from Chancellor Ocato. So I drew my blade and slew him on the spot. Realizing what I did, I'd fled on the horse gifted to me by Prior Maborel. Borrowed, really. But a dead man doesn't need his horse, does he?
I didn't stop until I was safe in Bravil's gates, having made it by morning. Having a house in every county was proving useful once more, so I went across the bridge and through to my dusty, rather unused house, and I fell hard asleep on my bed after a bottle of wine to drown out the dreams.
I hadn't realized there was somebody in the room with me, even upon waking, until I'd sat up and seen the man in a black robe sitting in the corner of my room on a wooden chair.
"You sleep rather soundly for a murderer." He said. His voice was like silk, deep and must have made him a hit with the ladies. "That's good. You'll need a clear conscience for what I'm about to propose."
I say nothing. How the hell did he get in?
"You prefer silence, then? As do I, my dear child. As do I. For is silence not the symphony of death, the orchestra of Sithis himself? Ironic, then, that I come to you now as Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood. My name is Lucien Lachance, and my voice is the will of the Night Mother. She's been watching you. Observing as you kill, admiring as you end life without pity or remorse. The Night Mother is most pleased... That is why I stand here before you. I bear an offering. An opportunity... to join our rather unique family..."
"Please continue Mr. Lachance." I was intrigued at that point.
"Ah," he said, "I find your etiquette. . . refreshing. Now please, listen carefully. On the Green Road to the north of Bravil lies the Inn of Ill Omen. There you will find a man named Rufio. Kill him, and your initiation into the Dark Brotherhood will be complete. Do this, and the next time you sleep in a location I deem secure, I will reveal myself once more, bearing the love of your new family." I once again was silent, weighing this new opportunity.
"Please accept this token from the Dark Brotherhood. It is a virgin blade, and thirsts for blood. May it serve you well, as does your silence. Your path is clear. Send Rufio to his death, and the Dark Brotherhood will embrace you as family. Now, I bid you farewell. I do hope we'll meet again soon." With that, he stood, handed me the blade, and vanished into thin air. I watched my door open and close without any sound of footsteps and only the faint blurriness of the chameleon spell, along with the blade, to prove he was ever there at all.