The Dark Brotherhood (Skyrim)

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"I told him you can't stop the Dark Brotherhood. Never could."

―Emperor Titus Mede II^[src]

The Dark Brotherhood is an organization of highly trained assassins who carry out assassination contracts. The Dark Brotherhood is called upon by those who must utilize their deadly services through a ritual called "The Black Sacrament". They were once the most highly feared organization in all of Tamriel, but have lost their reputation over time. At one point, they were once governed by The Five Tenets, which set the ground rules for being in the Brotherhood, but those Tenets have long since been abandoned. The Dark Brotherhood has been operating in Tamriel for many centuries, at one time having many clandestine sanctuaries across the Empire. They worship Sithis, the avatar of entropy and chaos, as well as the Night Mother, who is the spiritual leader of the Dark Brotherhood. However, the Night Mother has not spoken to anyone for quite some time...

1 Joining or Destroying the Brotherhood
2 Dark Brotherhood Quests
3 Armor and apparel
4 Dawnstar Sanctuary
- 4.1 Astrid's betrayal
- 4.2 Refurbishing the sanctuary
5 Notable Members
6 Gallery
7 Achievements/Trophies
8 See also

Joining or Destroying the Brotherhood

"Sweet mother, sweet mother, send your child on to me for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear"

―The Black Sacrament ritual^[src]

Any man or woman may join the Dark Brotherhood. Initiates must also display the ability to kill mercilessly, without regret or sorrow. As a result, their ranks include Vampires, Werewolves, Bandits as well as Mages. The player can go to any inn and ask for the latest gossip from the innkeeper. The innkeeper may tell the player that Aventus Aretino is trying to perform the Black Sacrament in Windhelm. Or, if in Riften, the player should speak to a man named Maul. He can usually be found standing against a post off to the left at the entrance of the city. After sharing some tough words, he can give information on both the Thieves Guild, and the Dark Brotherhood; for a price, of course. (Upon intimidation, persuasion or upon being shown an unusual gem, Maul's information is free). The children at the Honorhall Orphanage will also speak about Aventus' attempts to summon the Dark Brotherhood, which will give the player a miscellaneous objective as well. Speaking with Aventus Aretino initiates the quest Innocence Lost and starts the Dark Brotherhood questline. After accepting Aretino's proposal, the player is directed to visit the Honorhall Orphanage. Upon speaking to the children there, and they will tell the player Aventus Aretino escaped and planned to kill their Headmistriss, Grelod the Kind, by summoning the Dark Brotherhood. Kill Grelod (the children will cheer and celebrate once she's dead.)

After Innocence Lost has been completed, sleep in any bed for 24 hours. Also, a courier may appear to the player in any city, with a note with a black hand and the words "We Know". After receiveing the note, sleeping in any bed will begin the next phase of the quest (the acquisition of this note is optional). After some restful slumber, the player is seemingly abducted by a Dark Brotherhood Assassin in their sleep, and wakes up in an Abandoned Shack. (This is where the decsision to join or destroy The Dark Brotherhood can be made). There, the player is asked by Astrid to kill one of three people in the room, initiating the quest With Friends Like These. Killing one, two, or even all of the potential victims will earn the Dragonborn an invitation to join the Dark Brotherhood. The Dragonborn may also take the opportunity to destroy the organization by attacking the Dark Brotherhood representative, Astrid. This will initiate the quest Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! (This is the only chance to destroy the dark brotherhood because after joining, the Brotherhood members are otherwise unkillable.)

Killing a Dark Brotherhood Assassin (when attacked randomly, at a random location) holds no ramifications as the 5 Tenets have been abandoned.
There are no repercussions for sacrificing a Dark Brotherhood Initiate in Boethiah's Calling.

A Werewolf can still sleep in any bed, initiating the quest
Killing Astrid, or pickpocketing her with the Perfect Touch perk (which will allow the player to join the Dark Brotherhood), yields a pair of boots enchanted with the Muffle ability. (This armor feature is also obtainable by joining the Thieves Guild and becoming a Nightingale . The Nightingale Armor features boots with the muffle ability.)

Dark Brotherhood Quests

Armor and apparel

When completing quests in the Dark Brotherhood, the player can obtain four different armor sets.

Shrouded Armor (Skyrim) - obtained at the beginning of With Friends Like These...
Cicero's Armor - obtained if Cicero is killed during The Cure For Madness.
Jester's Outfit - found on the table in the Dawnstar Sanctuary during The Cure For Madness. The variation is weaker statistically than Cicero's Armor.
Ancient Shrouded Armor - obtained by redeeming Olava's Token.
Shrouded Robes - found in the Falkreath Sanctuary, located on the shelves in the first room upon entrance. It can also be obtained from corpse of Gabriella during Death Incarnate or Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!.

Dawnstar Sanctuary

"What is life's greatest illusion?
Innocence, my brother."

―Dawnstar Sanctuary Door.

Astrid's betrayal

After Astrid betrays the brotherhood to Commander Maro and the Penitus Oculatus during the first assassination attempt against Emperor Titus Mede II, the Penitus Oculatus ravage the Falkreath Sanctuary, killing all but Nazir, Babette, and possibly Cicero. During the attack, the Night Mother hides her Listener within her coffin, to protect them from the invaders and the fires they ignited in the sanctuary. The Listener awakens in the Dawnstar Sanctuary, safe and sound.

Refurbishing the sanctuary

Nazir sends the Listener to Delvin Mallory in The Ragged Flagon for assistance with refurbishing the sanctuary. The total upgrade of the sanctuary costs 19,000 . The 20,000 reward given by Amaund Motierre for killing the Emperor can cover this entire expense.

Afterwards, the Listener may report back to Nazir, who effectively serves as a Speaker for additional radiant quests that do not have significance to the faction's storyline. The Night Mother can be approached an unlimited number of times for more radiant quests, rewarding 500-1200 per assassination.