Can You Betray the Dark Brotherhood at Any Time in Skyrim?
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The short answer is no, you cannot betray the Dark Brotherhood at any time in Skyrim. Your window for choosing to destroy them is very narrow. It hinges on a specific decision made at the very beginning of the questline. If you spare Astrid in the Abandoned Shack and agree to join the Dark Brotherhood, the option to betray them is essentially locked off until a specific point in the questline when the game gives you the option.
Once you’ve officially joined their ranks, there’s no turning back… until there is. The game won’t let you simply decide one day that you’ve had enough and start attacking your fellow assassins. The mechanism for betraying the Dark Brotherhood is intricately tied to the early stages of the story.
Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- The Initial Choice: When you first encounter Astrid in the Abandoned Shack, she presents you with a twisted choice: kill one of the three bound prisoners. Instead of complying, you can choose to attack and kill Astrid herself. This action immediately triggers the quest “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!”
- The “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” Quest: Killing Astrid initiates a quest where you report her actions to a guard, triggering an assault on the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary and eliminating the entire chapter.
- After Joining: If you choose to join the Dark Brotherhood by following Astrid’s initial instructions, you’ll proceed through their questline. While some players have attempted to initiate open rebellion within the sanctuary, the game doesn’t allow it. Attacking your fellow assassins will simply brand you as a criminal, but it doesn’t trigger any sort of official betrayal questline once the initial decision to join is made.
- A Specific Point to Destroy: If you’re on a second playthrough and joined the Dark Brotherhood before, or didn’t like the outcome of the quests, there is one possible outcome when you will be tasked to destroy the Dark Brotherhood. The game will make it available to you at a specific point.
In essence, the option to betray the Dark Brotherhood in a meaningful way—through the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” questline—is only available at the very beginning. Once you commit to joining, you’re committed for the duration of the main quest line. After that initial choice, you either embrace the role of an assassin or you remain a thorn in their side, forever locked out of their ranks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Betraying the Dark Brotherhood
Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding the Dark Brotherhood and your opportunities to betray them, offering deeper insights into the mechanics and consequences of your choices:
How does killing Astrid impact the game?
Killing Astrid immediately starts the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest. You won’t be able to access any of the Dark Brotherhood’s quests, rewards, or storylines. You do, however, gain access to a unique questline centered around eradicating the assassins. Plus, you can loot Astrid’s unique gear.
What rewards do I miss out on if I destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
By destroying the Dark Brotherhood, you forfeit access to several unique items, including the Shrouded Armor set, access to the Blade of Woe, and the numerous gold rewards from their contracts. You also miss out on character development and dialogue, plus unique sanctuary upgrades.
Can I still get the Blade of Woe if I destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes, you can obtain the Blade of Woe even if you choose to destroy the Dark Brotherhood. You’ll find it on Astrid’s body after killing her in the Abandoned Shack.
What happens to Babette if I destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
Babette will not appear in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary if you destroy the guild.
Is the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest harder than the Dark Brotherhood questline?
The “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest is shorter, and generally considered less challenging than the full Dark Brotherhood questline. The difficulty stems more from the initial fight against Astrid, who can be a formidable opponent at low levels.
Can I rejoin the Dark Brotherhood if I accidentally attack a member?
If you attack a member of the Dark Brotherhood after joining, you will be kicked out, but not permanently barred from the guild. Getting kicked out 3 times will permanently bar you.
Are there any moral consequences to joining the Dark Brotherhood?
Joining the Dark Brotherhood inevitably leads to the player committing morally reprehensible acts, including assassination and murder. Whether this impacts your personal roleplaying experience is up to you, but the game treats you as an antagonist during this questline.
Can I complete radiant quests for the Night Mother after finishing the main Dark Brotherhood questline?
Yes, the “Dark Brotherhood Forever” questline is repeatable, offering endless contracts from the Night Mother. These radiant quests allow you to continue your life as an assassin indefinitely.
What is the hardest quest in Skyrim?
While subjective, many players consider “The Ebony Warrior” the hardest quest in Skyrim, as it involves battling a powerful, high-level opponent. Other difficult quests include “No Stone Unturned” due to its extensive searching and “A Return to Your Roots” for its challenging dungeon crawl.
Does Cicero disappear if I destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes, Cicero disappears along with the Night Mother if you destroy the Dark Brotherhood.
What happens if I kill one of the hostages instead of Astrid?
If you follow Astrid’s initial instructions and kill one of the hostages, you will successfully join the Dark Brotherhood and begin their questline.
Are there any mods that allow me to betray the Dark Brotherhood later in the questline?
Yes, there are mods available that alter the game’s mechanics and allow you to betray the Dark Brotherhood at various points in the questline. Searching for mods on sites like Nexus Mods using terms like “Dark Brotherhood betrayal” or “Dark Brotherhood alternate endings” will provide options. Always carefully research and understand the potential impacts of any mods before installing them. The Games Learning Society has resources regarding using mods for enriching a game. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.
What are the best skills to develop if I plan on playing a Dark Brotherhood character?
Essential skills for a Dark Brotherhood character include Sneak, Archery, One-Handed, and Alchemy. Sneak allows you to approach targets undetected, Archery offers ranged assassination options, One-Handed provides close-quarters combat capabilities, and Alchemy allows you to craft poisons and potions to enhance your effectiveness.
Is Paladin Danse really a synth?
This pertains to Fallout 4, not Skyrim, but yes, Paladin Danse is revealed to be a synth later in the game’s questline.
Can the Minutemen destroy the Brotherhood of Steel?
Again, in Fallout 4, yes, the Minutemen can be used to destroy the Brotherhood of Steel if the player becomes hostile to the Brotherhood and seeks assistance from the Minutemen.
Hopefully, these FAQs have answered the questions you might have about the Dark Brotherhood and the consequences of joining or betraying them. Whether you choose to embrace the shadows or become their ultimate enemy, the choice is yours to make in the vast and unforgiving world of Skyrim.