We all know that the king-guy gets killed at the begining of Oblivion, but why is what I want to know? Probably to open the gates, but that also brings up the questions, Who? And Why? Who wants the emperer dead, and why do they want the gates opened? Anyone have any thoughts? At least if we see an assasan in black chain armor killing the emperer we can guess Helseth, for good reason.

Remember it;s not just one assassin, there are many assassins that you have to take down before one finally beats the emperor, probably meaning they've been planning it for some time. I assume it's in relation to that cult that wants to open the gates.

Really? I don't remember seeing anything about multiple assassins... Oh well.(Stupid brain...)

It mentioned multiple assassins in the latest OXM.

Yep, multiple assassins, funny how in the beggining you face assassins as newb targets, unlike someone who should be a much harder targets, considering they are.. well, assassins

they are probably noobed down for that part of the game, i'm sure assassins are among the hardest people to kill.

Yes thats exactly my point, why put assassins as target practice, makes no sense

Well we know that they kill the emperer, so maybe it is scripted so that you can't kill them, or that you don't actually fight them. Like they avoid you and sheak a dagger into the emperers back, something like that.

Since when are assassins supposed to be difficult to kill? People are incorrect in their always present assumption that assassins use stealth. An assassin is, simply put, a killer, not a god.

As for the original topic: "Why would someone want the Emperor dead?" For the same reason I want Bush dead. Because their crappy rulers, Septim even more than Bush, because Bush is only ruining my life for another 3 years. Septim could, theoretically, live forever. But thanks to our handy dandy n00b assassins, he gets pwned.

I should tell you that you should watch what you say... The government has ways off finding out things. Even on the World Wide Web.

Anyways.. Why does it have to be a cult? It could be some rebel faction that just wants too.. You know those rebels, fighting without thinking of the consequences

In my book, an assassin is not just any killer. It's someone who will kill you before you realize what's going on. The man who knows his job (killing) inside-out. It's someone who should kill a prisoner with a stick in his hand easier then a fly. I'd put bandits or some lowlifes for target practice, but I guess story wise, assassins were the only noob targets bethesda could lay out for us. It's no big deal or anything, I just found it odd.

like channler said, it could possibly be some people who succesfully killed the emperor only to realize "Oh compassion. we unleashed oblivion."

I think it's definitely part of a purposeful scheme to unleash oblivion. In my opinion there was definitely some conspiracy going on to try and get the daedra come out.

The Dark Brotherhood is not soley at Helseth's beck and call. He is merely a frequent customer.


The purpose of a ASSASSIN is to kill someone with Stealth. As in, kill them when they don't know where you are.

In a straight up fight, well, a Assassin is trained to kill people without the NEED for a flat out fight.

So a fight means they're going to get thrashed. Assassins are stealth killers. Not front line warriors. Most at least.

Main Entry: Assassin
Pronounciation: boat-boat-in
1:a person who commits murder; especially : one who murders a politically important person either for hire or from fanatical motives

Unless within the last 20 seconds the definition of the word "assassin" has been changed globally, I'd dare to say that you are incorrect.

Any coward can pick up a weapon and kill. Anyone can be an assassin.

Well, I must say, assassins aren't always gods of stealth. Think about it, these people had to get past a bunch of highly trained guards to kill the emporer, so brute strength and luck would most likely have helped these assassins more than stealth.

Anyways, the assassins could have been a great number of people. A group of vengeful former Redguard Crowns, Talos cult members or even Morrowinders aftaid of losing land or culture.

That brings up a new subject of question: What race (Imperial, Elf, Orc, ect) are the assassins, and does that have any significance to the plot?

watch itll be the dark brotherhood. mabye they should have sent more when coming after me. i was asleep and still got the jump on him. wore his outfit to work the next day i tell ya. (looking like snakeyes)

I doubt its the DB, you will be working for them later (optionally).

Actually, it wouldn't be the first time they'd have pulled a stunt like that. They did kill many a powerful ruler. They don't care who their victim is, as long as they can kill someone and possibly make some money in the process. They're not like the Morag Tong. They're bloodlusty, vicious murderers that haven't got a shred of decency in them.

For instance, in 2E430, the then-ruler of the Second Empire, Potentate Savirien-Chorak was murdered by the DB, along with all his heirs, thus ending the Second Empire. In 3E41, it was Pelagius I who got in the DBs way. So you can clearly see, the Dark Brotherhood has no concept of a job being too big for them. And the fact that you can join them later doesn't mean it can't be them. After all, you'll be wanting the guy who hired them in the first place...

True but, it might be suspicious if you became the DB guildmaster and diddn't bump into anything regarding the main plot. Perhaps you will be able to ask them right off the bat "Did you kill the emperor?"

Hmm... Well I think that its either some Daedra Cult or something, or the DB. As Stargie said, there's almost no job to big for the DB so even thought killing the emporer would releash creatures from Oblivion it might have been a darn good payment

a daedra cult just seems too...uneducated to pull off something like assassinate the friggin emperor.

then again i have never seen a daedric cult...

Sine when is Septim a crappy ruler? Could you explain? Considering the time period he has lived in he has done pretty well. In fact I remember reading that the beginning of his reign was a golden age for Tamriel.

Maybe a Daedra Cult hired a couple of DB Assassins then...

I have the answer.

It's Terence Stamp's character. He wants Oblivion to open so he can take over the world.

Thats not the answer since we dont know which character he will play

Actually, the "The British are coming..." press release has a bit of a spoiler which lends a lot of weight to DoomedOne's suggestion. Not sure if people want to read this, since it is a spoiler (I was annoyed when I read it), so I'll colour it white on white. Select it (just hitting control-A will probably do) to read.

that´s right indeed, I think mr.Stamp shalt be one crazy bugger