I'm walking here is Skyrim, and suddenly I get attacked by an assassin.
After I barely manage to kill him, I find a note on his remains:
As instructed, you are to eliminate
<PlayerName>by any means necessary. The Black Sacrament has been performed – somebody wants this poor fool dead.We've already received payment for the contract. Failure is not an option.
~ Astrid
Obviously, I don't like being marked for death, and would prefer to instead completely destroy Astrid and the rest.
Best Answer
(The links are spoilers, avoid them if you don't want to be spoiled.) Speak to Aventus Aretino inside the Aretino Residence in Windhelm to start a chain of events, with some patience you will then receive a "mysterious letter" from a courier, read it and sleep. When you awaken, you will find yourself in an unfamiliar shack. When forced to make a decision, choose not to kill the "innocent" (not the first, second, or third, but the fourth). Your desired path will soon be revealed.