I had an assassin attack me too, and there's no indication of who sent him. As far as I know I haven't killed any NPCs besides the random bandits or necromages or whatever you run across all the time. I haven't pickpocketed or as far as I know done anything to anger any non-generic NPCs.

I have absolutely no idea what this assassination attempt is all about. It's annoying not knowing if it's just some random event or the result of something I did.

I've been a goody two shoes my entire play through and I still get DB assassins after me. I just like to RP that someone doesn't appreciate my kindness to others and wants me offed

The trigger for the Dark Brotherhood assassins is not yet known. The trigger for hired thugs is usually listed in a note that they carry. As for Thalmor hit squads, I'm not sure if the trigger is known.

One surefire way to trigger Thalmor hit squads is by interacting in any fashion with one of the roaming Thalmor patrols. If you even just talk to them (even if you don't get to the point in the conversation where they attack you) you will start to be attacked by Thalmor on the road.

Of course, if you run up and kill the roaming patrols, that will do it too.

I've only been outright attacked by one Thalmor hit squad, and I've slain lots and lots of them at this point. Basically, if I see Thalmor, I drop whatever I'm doing and goad them into fighting me.

DB... well, I screwed Sven over in Riverwood, and disemboweled the Silver-Blood mercs in Karthwasten, among other things. So I'm not surprised that this character has been attacked by DB assassins 5 or 6 times so far.

So, basically you're saying you might as well attack them on sight. Good to know. I hate those guys. My Bosmer hates them too.

They still do I think.

Skyrim, in a nutshell.

I know chickens (and horses) will report you to the guards... Maybe those birds circling overhead will too. I know sometimes my stealth eye thingy opens when the only thing nearby is a bird overhead.

who is trying to kill me? just about everybody.

it is so nice to have the freedom to slaughter anyone i chose (oblivion db ref.)

I don't think there's ever a chance to find the person who performs the Black Sacrament to have you dead. In this world, people will want you dead for the smallest things: having a bad voice, looking at someone funny, having a sword they want,being a werewolf, being a vampire, worshipping Talos, worshipping Daedra, being a beggar, being an argonian, being a khajit, being an elf, being a nord, being a woman, being a man, having a false eye (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tell-Tale_Heart), the list is endless.

I also got an assassination attempt in winterhold when I was level 14. but now im 44. I tried to find out who try to kill me, so I can get that REVENGE!!!!!