Oblivion:Accidents Happen

An honest Wood Elf in Bruma has upset some dishonest people. Quest Giver: Vicente Valtieri Location(s): Bruma, Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary Prerequisite Quest: A Watery Grave Next Quest: Scheduled for Execution Reward: Leveled gold, advancement to Slayer Sufferthorn Dagger Fame/Infamy: Infamy +1 ID: Dark03Accidents

"Loosen the fastenings any night between 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm..."

Quick Walkthrough

1. Receive your next contract from Vicente Valtieri.
2. Travel to Baenlin's house in Bruma.
3. Kill Baenlin.
   • (Optional) Release the mounted Minotaur head.
4. Return to Vicente to collect your reward.

Detailed Walkthrough

Blood of the Damned

The mini-quest to get the contract from Vicente Valtieri is called "Blood of the Damned". To complete it, you just need to accept the contract from Vicente.

A Regular Routine...

Once you accept the contract, Vicente will tell you what needs to be done: "As I expected. Good. The target is a Wood Elf named Baenlin. You will find him at his home in Bruma. Enter secretly and avoid his manservant, Gromm. On the second floor is a secreted door leading to a crawlspace. Inside are the fastenings of a mounted head that hangs over Baenlin's favorite chair. Loosen the fastenings any night between 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm, and the head will surely fall on Baenlin as he relaxes in his chair, as is custom. If Baenlin is killed in any other manner, or if the manservant Gromm is killed, you will forfeit the bonus. Now go, and may Sithis be with you." You are now directed to go to Bruma and kill the target Baenlin in his own home. If you speak to Gogron or Teinaava before you leave, they will also provide an insight on his manservant, Gromm: "The manservant's name is Gromm, you say? Sounds like a Nord. Probably a big one. If he catches you, get ready for a serious fight." and "If the target is old and weak, as you say, then his manservant is sure to be quite the opposite. Best to stay out of his way."

"...and the head will surely fall on Baenlin as he relaxes in his chair, as is custom."

...Goes Horribly Wrong

When you arrive in Bruma, Baenlin's house is located just north of the eastern gate. If you spoke to Antoinetta beforehand, she'll give you some advice about how to enter the house: "How do you plan on entering this man's house? Through the front door? Be smart and look for a more inconspicuous way in, like a cellar entrance." Following her suggestion, you can find a door leading into the basement situated at the rear of the house, providing a safe and indirect access.

Once inside the house, sneak upstairs, enter the room closest to the stairs, and proceed into the crawlspace through the door hidden in the wall. The precarious fastenings are at the end of the crawlspace, but remember Vicente's directions: "Loosen the fastenings any night between 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm, and the head will surely fall on Baenlin as he relaxes in his chair, as is custom." Wait until it is between those times before you release the mounted head, which will fall on Baenlin in his seat, killing him instantly.

A Deadly Advancement

Sneaking out the same way you came, you will notice Gromm standing in front of Baenlin's dead body. Be careful not to attract his attention as he will now attack you on sight. Retreat through the basement and out into Bruma, then return to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary. Valtieri will comment on your completion of the contract. If you killed Baenlin in the manner requested, he will say: "So, the accident has been staged, and Baenlin lies dead. Well done! You have more than earned your reward and bonus." However, if you completed the mission in some other way, he will be disappointed: "Baenlin is dead, yes, but you did not fulfill the contract precisely as directed. I will grant your reward of gold, but the bonus is forfeit." He will then reward you with a leveled amount of gold (up to 600 gold) and an advancement to Slayer. If you successfully made Baenlin's death seem like an accident, you will receive the bonus reward Sufferthorn. You can now accept the next quest from Vicente, and the quest Scheduled for Execution will begin.

Notes

• An achievement will be unlocked upon being promoted to Slayer.
• After you complete this quest, a special edition of the Black Horse Courier is published: Tragic Accident! Baenlin Dead!
  • If Gromm survives, you can get a copy from male Nords and Imperials in Bruma; if he died, they won't give you a copy but the Couriers will. If you break into the upper level of the Black Horse Courier building, even before you kill Baenlin, there will be a copy of this edition of the paper.
• If Gromm sees you, he gives you twenty seconds to leave. If you do not leave (or if he sees you again) he will attack you.
  • If you have already killed Gromm before starting the quest, you cannot get the bonus.
• The crawlspace cannot be entered before this quest is started.
  • It is possible to wait in the crawlspace if you close the door behind you. The game will no longer consider you a trespasser.
• If you return to Bruma on a later date, and if Gromm survives, you can find him in Olav's Tap and Tack, weeping over his dead employer. Baenlin's house is now occupied by his nephew Caenlin.
• After the quest is completed, you obtain ownership of all of the items in Baenlin's, now Caenlin's, house. Caenlin will still confront you if you take an item, but you will receive no bounty.

Journal Entries

Blood of the Damned (Dark02WateryFIN)
Stage	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
10		I must accept a quest from Vicente Valtieri.
100	Finishes quest	I have accepted a quest from Vicente Valtieri.
Accidents Happen (Dark03Accidents)
10		I must go to the city of Bruma, find Baenlin's house, and gain entrance. Once inside, I should stage a tragic accident.
15		I have entered Baenlin's house. If I can access the second floor crawlspace and loosen the fastenings on the mounted head, between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM, it will fall on Baenlin as he rests in his chair. If Baenlin dies any other way, or if Gromm is killed, I will lose my bonus.
20		The mounted head has fallen on Baenlin, killing him as expected. I must return to the Sanctuary and speak with Vicente Valtieri to receive my reward.
30		I fulfilled the contract, but not in the manner requested. As a result, I have forfeited my bonus. I must now return to the Sanctuary and speak with Vicente Valtieri to receive my reward.
100	Finishes quest	I have spoken with Vicente Valtieri.

Notes

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in random order.
• If an entry is marked as "Finishes Quest" it means the quest disappears from the Active Quest list, but you may still receive new entries for that quest.
• It is possible to use the console to advance through the quest by entering setstage Dark03Accidents stage, where stage is the number of the stage you wish to complete. It is not possible to un-complete (i.e. go back) quest stages. See SetStage for more information.

Prev: A Watery Grave

Up: Dark Brotherhood

Next: Scheduled for Execution