Can You Destroy the Dark Brotherhood After Joining in Skyrim?
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The shadowy allure of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim is undeniable. Many players find themselves drawn to the thrill of assassination, the promise of unique rewards, and the captivating storyline. However, a nagging question often arises: Can you destroy the Dark Brotherhood after joining their ranks? The short answer is: no, you cannot destroy the Dark Brotherhood after formally joining, unless you betray them and initiate the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest early.
This crucial decision hinges on your actions during the quest “With Friends Like These…” When you are taken to the abandoned shack and presented with three hostages, you have a pivotal choice. If you kill any of the hostages and speak with Astrid, you cement your commitment to the Dark Brotherhood. From this point on, those characters you encounter later become essential, so the option to betray them is gone.
However, if you instead kill Astrid herself in the shack, you trigger the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” questline. This is the only way to actively oppose the Brotherhood from the start. Attempting to betray them later, after becoming a full member, is not possible within the game’s design. Skyrim offers a fascinating moral quandary: embrace the darkness, or snuff it out before it consumes you.
Understanding the Consequences of Your Choice
Your decision to either join or destroy the Dark Brotherhood has significant ramifications for your gameplay experience. Joining unlocks a series of quests filled with intrigue, murder, and moral ambiguity. You gain access to powerful weapons, armor, and the trusty steed Shadowmere. Destroying the Dark Brotherhood, on the other hand, offers a sense of righteous justice, but it also means missing out on a substantial chunk of content. Weighing these factors carefully is essential before making your choice.
Rewards and Risks
The rewards for joining the Dark Brotherhood are numerous. You receive gold, unique items, and the opportunity to explore a compelling narrative. The risk is, of course, the moral compromise of becoming an assassin. Destroying the Dark Brotherhood offers a clear conscience but deprives you of those rewards and experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Destroying the Dark Brotherhood
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further illuminate the complexities of this decision:
1. What happens if I kill Astrid in the shack?
Killing Astrid in the shack immediately initiates the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” questline. You’ll be directed to inform a guard in a major city about your actions, who will then task you with reporting to Commander Maro of the Penitus Oculatus.
2. Is it better to join the Dark Brotherhood or destroy it?
This depends entirely on your playstyle and preferences. A completionist may choose to join to experience the full questline and acquire all the unique items. A player focused on morality might opt to destroy them. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal choice.
3. Are there consequences for joining the Dark Brotherhood?
The primary consequence is the moral implication of participating in assassination contracts. You will be forced to kill individuals, some of whom may have compelling backstories, which can affect your character’s moral standing within the game.
4. Can I betray the Dark Brotherhood at any time after joining?
No. Once you commit to the Dark Brotherhood by killing a hostage and speaking with Astrid, you are locked into their questline. The option to betray them and initiate the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest is no longer available.
5. What are the benefits of destroying the Dark Brotherhood?
The main benefit is the satisfaction of ridding Skyrim of a sinister organization. You receive a small amount of gold from Commander Maro, but the rewards are significantly less substantial compared to joining the Dark Brotherhood.
6. Is it possible to save everyone in the Dark Brotherhood?
If you continue with the dark brotherhood questline, you can save the Dark Brotherhood itself, but not the members. If you destroy them, you cannot save any members.
7. Does it matter who I kill for Astrid?
While Astrid favors killing Vasha (the Khajiit) due to his self-confessed crimes, the choice ultimately doesn’t impact the questline significantly. All three hostages have questionable backgrounds.
8. What happens to Babette if I destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
Babette will not be present in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary if you choose to destroy them. She is specifically tied to the Brotherhood’s existence.
9. Can I marry Astrid in Skyrim?
No, you cannot marry Astrid in Skyrim. She is already married to Arnbjorn, and both of them are essential to the Dark Brotherhood questline.
10. Why does the Dark Brotherhood want me dead in some playthroughs?
In some playthroughs, after destroying the Dark Brotherhood, an assassin may seek revenge. This adds a layer of consequence to your decision and demonstrates the Brotherhood’s reach even after their apparent destruction. It’s to give you a vague incentive to choose the Destroying the Dark Brotherhood quest, which has few rewards. There is no indication as to who performed the Black Sacrament.
11. Can I join the Dark Brotherhood without talking to Aventus Aretino?
Yes, you can initiate the Dark Brotherhood questline without speaking to Aventus Aretino. Murdering Grelod the Kind at the Honorhall Orphanage in Riften will trigger a visit from a Dark Brotherhood courier, leading to your eventual recruitment.
12. Can I enter the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary without joining?
No, you cannot enter the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary without officially joining the Brotherhood, unless you use glitches or console commands (on PC). The entrance is concealed and requires specific knowledge and access granted only to members.
13. Is the Dark Brotherhood questline endless?
While the main Dark Brotherhood questline has a definitive end, after the main quest you can get radiant quests to kill people, which can make the dark brotherhood questline feel endless.
14. What are some things I should avoid doing in Skyrim?
Avoid spreading your skill points too thin, stealing from chickens (it angers entire villages), and murdering essential NPCs, as it can break quests. Also, avoid storing items in containers you don’t own, as they may disappear.
15. Who betrayed the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim?
In the end, Astrid betrays the Dark Brotherhood and is later confronted about this.
Conclusion: Choose Wisely
The decision to join or destroy the Dark Brotherhood is one of the most impactful choices you’ll make in Skyrim. There are pros and cons to each route, and it ultimately depends on your personal preferences and playstyle. Once you’ve made your choice, be prepared to live with the consequences, as there’s no turning back.
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