Commander Maro is an Imperial and the commander of the Penitus Oculatus, the Emperor’s own security service. He runs things from the Penitus Oculatus Outpost in Dragon Bridge, and his single job during the Emperor’s visit to Skyrim is keeping Titus Mede II alive. That puts him squarely on a collision course with the Dark Brotherhood, whose questline he dominates as its main antagonist.
Where to find them
He is normally at the Penitus Oculatus Outpost in Dragon Bridge. During “To Kill an Empire” he stands guard outside Castle Dour in Solitude, and if he survives the questline you can find him down at the Solitude docks. He is essential, so he cannot die until the story allows it.
Quests
Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! If you take the other path and report the Brotherhood instead of joining it, Maro is your employer. Tell him you have killed Astrid and he hands over the password to their Sanctuary near Falkreath, orders everyone inside killed, and pays 3,000 gold once the job is done.
Breaching Security After Vittoria Vici dies, the Emperor’s visit becomes a certainty, and Maro sends his son Gaius on a tour of the major cities to check their security. The Brotherhood sends you after Gaius, with orders to plant a letter framing him as a traitor.
To Kill an Empire Disguised as the Gourmet, you hand Maro your writ and he waves you through, flustered and apologetic, to meet Gianna in the castle kitchens. The “Emperor” you kill turns out to be a decoy, and Maro reveals that someone in your own Family sold you out in exchange for the Brotherhood’s survival. Then he cheerfully breaks that deal, because you killed his son, and sends his agents to burn the Sanctuary. That sets up Death Incarnate.
Hail Sithis! Killing Maro is optional. If you leave him alone, he tells one of his agents that the Dragon Bridge outpost will soon be closed and that he plans to resign once the Emperor sails, convinced the Brotherhood is finished. If he spots you, he reacts with pure disbelief and attacks. Aboard the ship, the real Emperor gets a little dig in at Maro’s expense.
Personality & relationships
Maro is a professional to the bone and a protective father. His farewell to Gaius is all careful advice and fatherly worry, which makes his later rage easy to understand. He also dislikes being bothered while on duty, so expect short answers if you are not on official business.
Good to know
After you destroy the Brotherhood, he may show up at your wedding to congratulate you. If the Stormcloaks win the civil war while Maro is still alive, he simply stays in Dragon Bridge with his agents. And when he finds out you are the Gourmet he swears “by Azura”, an odd choice for an Imperial.
Quick facts
- Race: Imperial
- Gender: Male
- Level: levels with you (x1)
- Class: Warrior
- Status: Essential
- Found in: Dragon Bridge
- Base ID: 0001D4B5
Also in Dragon Bridge
Corrupt Agent, Faida, Gaius Maro, Horgeir, Julienne Lylvieve, Lodvar, Michel Lylvieve, Olda, Varnius Junius, Azzada Lylvieve, Clinton Lylvieve.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.