So I've wandered back to Skyrim, with the goal to once again try and slog through the bulk of the game (600+ hours in, and all I've ever seen all of are side quests, the Companions, and the College. No MQ finish, no DLC finish despite owning all of it since Day One). This time around I'm playing a more "long game" character then I have previously - thinking that maybe my loss of interest is trying to make the character too much too fast.

As a result, I started the Dark Brotherhood for the first time. First contract I get is for Narfi, the hapless beggar of Ivarstead. I was rather taken aback, but then I thought about his mother, father, and sister.

So is any indication who has such a vendetta against a family to warrant the death of the whole family? I doubt it, but 'm curious. Of course, a second option is Narfi put out the contract on himself. Just a shame I didn't bother to get his sister's necklace before picking up his contract. Narfi never got to say goodbye.

We're not sure who put the contract on Narfi.

One idea I've heard was that the contract was a purposeful mercy killing; Narfi lost his family, his house, and his future prospects are incredibly limited due to his current state of mind. Mental institutions and psychologists don't really exist in Skyrim or (I'm guessing) Tamriel, after all. And not many people would probably be willing to take him in (or they have offered, but he's refused). So his future is pretty damn bleak unless he had a rich uncle or something. Killing him now would save him the suffering of living for the rest of his life in squalor.

Also, I doubt there was a vendetta against Narfi's family, unless they were pissed off enough to systematically kill each member of the family separately rather than all in one go so as to make them suffer. The conversation with Narfi seems to indicated his parents died separately, then he lived with his sister before she drowned in the river.

It's an interesting situation. The only character I had who joined the dark brotherhood did it to become a dark hero, who set out to rid the world of scum through assassination. When his first contract was Narfi, he realized the DB was not for him and turned his back on them.

Like Marss did say: In-game, it is never told who did give the contract.

Probably, Nazir did just make it up it to test the players character. Or someone other wanted it as a test for following orders.

Other possibilities: Narfi did something very bad, and become a mad beggar because he could stand the memories of what he did!

About this sister, there are two possibilities: The drauge from Geirmund's Hall did kill her, or someone from Ivarstead. Then, he did perform the dark ritual because he did fear the revenge of Narfi. That means, you can roleplay that the first step to the death of Narfi is the moment, where your char tell Narfi that his sister is death.

Alternative: Narfi do own the land where the house-ruin is, in that he sleeps. To get this land (where probably a treasure is hidden) that Narfi won't sell since it reminds him on his family, someone did perform the dark ritual.

Other (stupid) theory: Beitild did have a one-night-stand with Narfi, and then break up with Leigelf, telling him he was so much less mann then Narfi. As result, Leigelf did set up contracts for them both!

My character justified Narfi's demise via the Greater Good principle.

He needs to learn what the Dark Brotherhood can teach him. Once that's done, he'll kill them all himself for being a type of Daedric cult.

I just joined the DB because I like killing people. I put Narfi down as a mercy killing. Salvation through death.

I've always suspected the innkeeper Wilhelm put out the contract on Narfi. He's the only one who seems to care one way or the other about the poor guy and once Wilhelm knows Reyda is dead, he might have decided it would be kinder to have Narfi killed.

Or maybe someone wants revenge on Narfi for killing someone they cared about. It might just be the result of the game randomly selecting reward items but giving Reyda's necklace back to Narfi can result in the player receiving human flesh and/or a human heart.

Lots of people here saying its merciful to put poor Narfi out of his misery. Only a psychopath thinks that way. Not that there is anything wrong with that . . . its the Dark Brotherhood after all.

This one time Narfi gave me a human heart when I retrieved his sister's necklace. It's just a random rare alchemical ingredient, but perhaps one could come up with a sinister backstory.

I question how random that actually is. I've done that quest four or five times now, and every time he's rewarded me with a human body part...

As long as they just roleplay, it's OK.

But when they mean it, I have to ask: What is YOUR problem with racism? Mine is how they think and act about the weak or just different people.

You mean, like a worshiper of Namira?

Cool, that would put (my) evil characters in a dilemma: Kill someone for being worship the Daedra where you are the champion off!

OK, some would see it as form of being chosen and kill Narfi with a face of envy...

I dislike killing Narf dog. Lately, any involvement I have with the DB end with a boot imprint on Astrid's face.

My characters are way more likely to destroy the DB than join it. Mostly, they avoid starting it, but my latest wanted that Blade of Woe, and Astrid has one...

I happily send Narfi to see his family when playing an assassin. It's the humane thing to do.

When do you do it?

After you get the order to kill him, or right after you notice that his sister is dead?

It's pretty rare but I've also gotten Daedra Hearts from him as well. What the heck does that guy get up to?

Sounds like a plan. Let's do it!

After I get the orders to do it. I don't think I've ever killed him before getting them.

Someone who thinks he murdered his sister I imagine. Either that or someone who's just plain annoyed at his constant jabbering. People can be cruel sometimes. Its not like its difficult to get the DB to do your dirty work for you, its a free service too.

Psychopaths wouldn't think or feel anything, they lack any kind of empathy at all. The "putting down a rabid dog" scenario is more of the trying-to-justify-murder as a humane act for something that would otherwise trouble their conscience I imagine. Its amazing what people will convince themselves of when it suits them.

Could also be very black humor.

The one who did the black-sacrament against Narfi must have had some human-heard. After the contract was done, he did not need the heard any more. So he did give it Narfi...

But perhaps it was just another memory of his sister, who traded alchemy ingredients.

And maybe it's his sister's heart.

Incorrect. The DB actually requires a physical payment for their services. Always has. Pray to the Night Mother, a Dark Brother/Sister comes to meet you, you tell them the target and fork over the cash for it.

What, did you think the Night Mother/Sithis just magick'd all that coin into the DB's coffers per completed contract?

Depends...

There is no fix price for a kill. It is just that we did not hear of anybody who did offend someone he did know to be a killer by giving him an very small amount of money.

But we all suggest, it is because nobody did ever hear of such an idiot again.

In the case of Narfi, we can suggest that at least 500 coins where paid.