Can You Become the Leader of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim? A Deep Dive
The chilling question of leadership within the Dark Brotherhood in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one many players ponder. The answer, however, is a bit nuanced.
No, you cannot become the overall “leader” or Master of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim in the traditional sense of replacing Astrid. While you rise through the ranks and become a highly valued member, participating in numerous contracts and expanding the Brotherhood’s influence, you never fully usurp Astrid’s position. You remain an important operative and fulfill the role of the Listener, which holds significant power and responsibility within the organization’s hierarchy, acting as the voice of the Night Mother. However, the role of Listener is very different than that of a leader. In essence, you become the Night Mother’s chosen conduit, relaying her will to the Brotherhood and helping it thrive once more. You restore the Brotherhood to its former glory, but you do not control its day-to-day operations in the same way a guild master typically would.
This distinction is important. Your character becomes essential to the Brotherhood’s survival and success, influencing its direction through the Night Mother’s guidance. You become a powerful figure but not its formal head. Think of it more as a partnership with Astrid and the Night Mother. You are a key player in the Brotherhood, but ultimate leadership still rests elsewhere. This sets Skyrim’s Dark Brotherhood apart from other guild storylines, such as the Thieves Guild, where you explicitly become the Guild Master.
Understanding the Dark Brotherhood Hierarchy
To truly understand why you can’t become the full leader, it’s important to consider the Dark Brotherhood’s unique structure:
- The Night Mother: The spiritual leader, the ancient, mummified corpse who is said to be the bride of Sithis. Her will is paramount.
- The Listener: You! The individual who can hear and interpret the Night Mother’s whispers.
- The Black Hand: A council of Speakers who lead the Brotherhood’s chapters across Tamriel.
- Speakers: Each Speaker is responsible for a specific sanctuary and its assassins.
- Assassins: The rank-and-file members who carry out the contracts.
Your role as the Listener is crucial because you are the direct link to the Night Mother, influencing the Black Hand and, therefore, the entire organization. But you don’t manage the individual sanctuaries or the everyday tasks of the assassins in the same way that Astrid and other speakers do.
The Rewards of Joining the Dark Brotherhood
While you may not take the top leadership spot, the rewards for joining and completing the Dark Brotherhood questline are significant:
- Gold: Completing contracts rewards you with substantial amounts of gold.
- Unique Equipment: You obtain items like the Blade of Woe, Ancient Shrouded Armor, and Shadowmere, a unique horse.
- New Home: You gain access to the Dawnstar Sanctuary.
- Assassin Recruits: You can bring new assassins to the Brotherhood’s ranks, further strengthening the organization.
- Satisfying Story: The Dark Brotherhood storyline is one of the most engaging and morally ambiguous in Skyrim, offering a compelling narrative and memorable characters.
Ultimately, becoming the Listener is a powerful position within the Dark Brotherhood, allowing you to shape its future and ensuring its continued existence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to deepen your understanding of the Dark Brotherhood and your role within it:
What happens after I complete the Dark Brotherhood questline?
After completing the main Dark Brotherhood questline, you can continue to accept radiant quests from Nazir. These repetitive missions provide a steady income and keep you engaged with the Brotherhood even after the main story concludes.
Are there any consequences for joining the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes, there are consequences. Joining the Dark Brotherhood means participating in morally questionable activities. You’ll be killing innocent people, even if some targets are more deserving than others. Some players might find this clashes with their preferred playstyle. You will also lose the chance to complete quests from those you kill and this includes minor side quests.
Can I destroy the Dark Brotherhood instead?
Yes, you can destroy the Dark Brotherhood by accepting the quest “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” from Commander Maro. This eliminates the entire organization and prevents you from accessing the rewards and storyline associated with joining them.
How do I become the Listener?
You become the Listener during the Dark Brotherhood questline. After several successful contracts, you will be contacted by the Night Mother. You will then be able to hear her voice and interpret her will, thus becoming the Listener.
What are the Five Tenets of the Dark Brotherhood?
The Five Tenets of the Dark Brotherhood are:
- Never dishonor the Night Mother.
- Never betray the Dark Brotherhood.
- Never disobey or refuse to carry out the orders of a superior.
- Never steal the possessions of another Dark Brother or Sister.
- Never kill a fellow Dark Brother or Sister.
Is the Dark Brotherhood questline endless?
The main Dark Brotherhood questline has a defined ending, but you can continue to receive radiant quests from Nazir indefinitely.
Can I have followers in the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes, you can have followers accompany you on missions while you are a member of the Dark Brotherhood. Your follower can help you assassinate targets and provide support in combat.
Can I betray the Dark Brotherhood after joining?
You cannot betray the Dark Brotherhood after joining in the traditional sense. Once you are in, you’re in for good. If you want to eradicate them, you must start the quest to destroy them before you pledge your full allegiance to the organization.
What are the benefits of destroying the Dark Brotherhood?
If you destroy the Dark Brotherhood, you receive a one-time reward of gold from Commander Maro and a sense of moral righteousness for eliminating a group of assassins. However, you miss out on the unique rewards and engaging storyline associated with joining them.
Are there other assassin guilds in Skyrim?
No, the Dark Brotherhood is the only true assassin guild in Skyrim.
What happens if I kill Astrid?
Killing Astrid outside of the quest “With Friends Like These…” will incur the wrath of the Dark Brotherhood and prevent you from joining them. Doing so during the quest will simply skip to the next stage where you will be abudcted while sleeping to finish the questline.
How do I trigger the Dark Brotherhood questline?
To trigger the Dark Brotherhood questline, you must complete the quest “Innocence Lost” in Windhelm, which involves killing Grelod the Kind at the Honorhall Orphanage. After sleeping in a bed, you will be abducted and brought to Astrid, initiating the Dark Brotherhood storyline.
How important is the Listener role in the Dark Brotherhood?
The Listener role is incredibly important. You become the Night Mother’s chosen one and relay her will to the other members of the Dark Brotherhood. This makes you a powerful figure who is essential for the survival and growth of the organization. You play a pivotal role in restoring the Brotherhood to its former glory.
Where is the Dawnstar Sanctuary?
The Dawnstar Sanctuary is located west of Dawnstar, nestled in the mountains. It becomes your primary base of operations after completing a certain point in the Dark Brotherhood questline.
Can I rebuild the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes, as the Listener, you play a crucial role in rebuilding the Dark Brotherhood after it has suffered losses and setbacks. By completing contracts and recruiting new assassins, you ensure its continued existence and growth in Skyrim.
The complex narrative and faction dynamics found in games such as Skyrim offer many opportunities for learning and understanding societal structures. Organizations like the Games Learning Society, available at GamesLearningSociety.org, explore these educational aspects of gaming. It is important to be aware and to take time to learn what society offers.