Can You Join the Dark Brotherhood as a Good Character in Skyrim? A Deep Dive
The answer is complex: No, not really. While Skyrim allows for moral ambiguity and roleplaying flexibility, the very nature of the Dark Brotherhood, a guild of assassins who kill for profit, inherently clashes with the ideals of a truly “good” character. However, it is possible to role-play a character with complex motivations that lead them to associate with the Dark Brotherhood, even if they don’t fully embrace the evil. Your choices ultimately determine the narrative of your Dragonborn.
The Core Conflict: Morality vs. Gameplay
The central tension lies in the inherent conflict between gameplay mechanics and moral roleplaying. Skyrim encourages player freedom, letting you choose your allegiances and actions. Joining the Dark Brotherhood unlocks a unique questline filled with intrigue, engaging characters, and valuable rewards. But to access this content, you must perform acts that are objectively evil, starting with the assassination of Grelod the Kind. This act alone is enough to disqualify a character from being considered “good” in most interpretations.
Nuances of ‘Good’
“Good” is subjective. Perhaps your character sees the Dark Brotherhood as a necessary evil, a way to rid the world of truly vile individuals, using their resources to target specific criminals that the law cannot reach. Or maybe your character is motivated by a desire to infiltrate and ultimately dismantle the organization from within, playing the long game for a greater good. These scenarios require significant headcanon and roleplaying to reconcile with the Brotherhood’s actions. In this case, your definition of what constitutes “good” is what is being challenged.
Shades of Gray in the Dark Brotherhood
The game presents some members of the Dark Brotherhood with moments of complexity or even occasional flashes of compassion. However, their core business remains murder for profit, which is fundamentally incompatible with a “good” alignment.
Roleplaying a Morally Flexible Character
While a purely “good” character cannot logically join the Dark Brotherhood, you can create a character with a more nuanced moral compass, allowing them to participate in the questline while still wrestling with their conscience. Here are some archetypes:
- The Pragmatist: This character believes in the greater good and is willing to make sacrifices to achieve it. They might see the Dark Brotherhood’s resources as a tool to be used against even greater evils.
- The Redemption Seeker: Haunted by past mistakes, this character seeks to atone for their sins by infiltrating the Dark Brotherhood and using their skills to undo the harm they’ve caused.
- The Manipulator: This character is solely focused on power and sees the Dark Brotherhood as a stepping stone to achieve their ultimate goals. They may not be inherently evil but are willing to compromise their morals for personal gain.
- The Reluctant Assassin: Driven by desperation or blackmail, this character is forced into the Dark Brotherhood’s service. They may carry out contracts with reluctance and seek ways to minimize harm or sabotage the organization from within.
Choosing Your Path: Joining vs. Destroying
Skyrim presents you with a pivotal choice: join the Dark Brotherhood or destroy them. While joining offers access to a compelling questline, destroying the Dark Brotherhood allows you to roleplay as a hero who eradicates a source of evil from the world. This path also yields rewards, though arguably less engaging than the Brotherhood’s questline.
The Consequences of Joining
Joining the Dark Brotherhood has far-reaching consequences:
- Moral Compromise: You will be forced to commit morally reprehensible acts.
- Reputation Impact: While not always explicitly stated, your actions within the Dark Brotherhood may affect your standing with certain NPCs or factions.
- Alignment Shift: Aligning with the Dark Brotherhood will inherently shift your character towards a more neutral or evil alignment.
The Consequences of Destroying
Destroying the Dark Brotherhood offers a different set of consequences:
- Heroic Roleplay: You solidify your character’s position as a champion of good.
- Limited Rewards: The rewards for destroying the Dark Brotherhood are less significant than those for joining.
- Missed Content: You forgo the unique quests, characters, and lore associated with the Dark Brotherhood questline.
GamesLearningSociety.org and Moral Choices in Gaming
The complexities of moral choices in games like Skyrim are a fascinating area of study. The Games Learning Society explores how games can teach ethical decision-making and promote critical thinking about moral dilemmas. By analyzing the consequences of your choices in Skyrim, you can gain a deeper understanding of your own moral compass and the nuances of good and evil. Check out the GamesLearningSociety.org for more information on how games can be used for educational and personal growth.
Conclusion: The Player’s Choice
Ultimately, whether a “good” character can join the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim depends on your personal interpretation of “good” and your willingness to reconcile the inherent conflict between gameplay and morality. The game provides the tools for you to create a character with complex motivations and nuanced moral compass, allowing you to explore the darker side of Skyrim while grappling with the consequences of your actions. The choice is yours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why would a good character ever consider joining the Dark Brotherhood?
A good character might consider joining to infiltrate and destroy the organization from within, gather intelligence to expose their crimes, or use their resources to target even greater evils. It’s a risky gambit requiring careful roleplaying.
2. Is there a way to minimize the evil acts required to join the Dark Brotherhood?
Not really. The initial act of killing Grelod the Kind is unavoidable. You can, however, choose to spare certain targets later in the questline and focus on contracts that target genuinely evil individuals.
3. Does joining the Dark Brotherhood affect my relationship with other factions?
Not directly, but your actions may indirectly impact your reputation with certain NPCs or factions. For example, killing a Jarl’s relative will likely have negative consequences.
4. Can you become leader of the Dark Brotherhood and change its ways?
No. While you become the Listener, the Dark Brotherhood’s fundamental nature remains unchanged. You can influence some decisions, but you cannot completely reform the organization.
5. Is it better to destroy or join the Dark Brotherhood from a purely gameplay perspective?
Joining the Dark Brotherhood offers a longer, more engaging questline with more substantial rewards. Destroying them provides a shorter, less rewarding experience, but aligns with a heroic playstyle.
6. Can you still get Shadowmere if you destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
No. Shadowmere is a unique horse obtained during the Dark Brotherhood questline. Destroying the Brotherhood prevents you from acquiring him.
7. Can you betray the Dark Brotherhood at any time after joining?
Not easily. The only surefire way to be “against” the Dark Brotherhood is to kill Astrid during your initial encounter. Otherwise, you are committed to their questline until the end.
8. What happens if I accidentally kill an essential Dark Brotherhood member?
Essential members cannot die. They will simply fall to their knees and recover after a short time.
9. Can I still complete the Dark Brotherhood questline if I have a high bounty in a hold?
Yes, but guards will attempt to arrest you on sight, which can be inconvenient. Pay off your bounty or sneak around to avoid detection.
10. How long does it take to get contacted by the Dark Brotherhood after killing Grelod?
It typically takes 1-3 in-game days. Sleeping in a bed will trigger the abduction event.
11. Are there any unique items or abilities only obtainable through the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes, Shadowmere, the Blade of Woe, and unique armor sets are exclusive to the Dark Brotherhood questline.
12. Does joining the Dark Brotherhood lock me out of any other questlines?
No. Joining the Dark Brotherhood does not prevent you from completing any other questlines in the game.
13. What is the most effective race for a Dark Brotherhood assassin?
Any race can be effective, but Khajiit, Argonian, Dark Elf, and Breton are popular choices due to their skill bonuses in stealth, archery, and magic.
14. Do the “Dark Brotherhood Forever” radiant quests ever end?
No, the “Dark Brotherhood Forever” quests are repeatable and designed to provide endless assassination contracts.
15. What happens if Astrid dies during the Purification quest?
Astrid’s death is a scripted event during the Purification quest. It is unavoidable if you continue with the Dark Brotherhood questline.