In the real Nirn, people don't have stats and assassins are a threat to every mortal alive.
We just saw the detrimental side of Helseth's genius, that's all.

Which brings me to something I have always kind of wondered. Do you think Barenziah knew about the assissination attempt? She is extremely intelligent and politically savvy, so I wonder if she was testing you at the same time. She showed quite a bit trust in Nerevarine which is rare for her.

I have a hard time seeing Barenziah taking such a back seat and being complicit in the more hairbrained of her son's schemes. But she's an enigma. And if we remember her state of mind at the end of the Real Barenziah, I suppose its possible that she simply gave over to a passive life and filial piety.

I don't see it as much of taking the back seat, as just observing. Watching and learning. Already seems to be Barenziah's style. She's a smart cookie. I kind of have a hard time believing that she didn't know about the assissination attempt before the Nerevarine did.

I also believe that Helseth actually seems to care for his mother (from Daggerfall) and wouldn't completely risk her life in a stupid test.

Edit: I just realized that Oblivion is the only game in the main TES seriTes that Barenziah doesn't play a part. She is a really important TES character, isn't she.

Wait, will the in-game assassins actually attack barenziah? Because if they don't its a very different story.

Time to boot up Tribunal and find out.

Edit: I have no characters at a high enough level that hasn't done it yet, so it may take a while if someone else wants to try it.

Alright, so Rohugh has told me that the assissins do not in fact attack Barenziah and will wait around for you. So Helseth isn't as heartless as it would seem, as it seems the assissins orders were to get you, not Barenziah.

Also, if I remember right, her door is locked. You don't see Barenziah during the supposed assassination attempt.

Her door is locked via script, so she remains oblivious to what is going on during the attempt on your life., and someone knows what is going on - H?

This is my http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?s=&showtopic=832168&view=findpost&p=12096140 which makes it obvious that they know what they are there to do.

Yeah, i used Invisibility and was standing right in front of 'em when they said that, so it made no sense i could only hear parts of the conversation.