The Shadowy Truth: Does the Dark Brotherhood Forever End in Skyrim?
The answer, dear assassin, is both yes and no. The main questline of the Dark Brotherhood, a thrilling saga of contracts, betrayals, and political intrigue culminating in a high-profile assassination, does indeed have a definitive conclusion. You’ll carry out your grim duties, navigate the treacherous waters of power within the Brotherhood, and ultimately face a final reckoning. However, the chilling whispers of the Night Mother don’t cease after the final, dramatic act. Prepare yourself, because the Dark Brotherhood Forever questline never ends.
Once the main storyline concludes, you’ll find yourself offered radiant quests called “The Dark Brotherhood Forever.” These are infinitely repeatable contracts given by the Night Mother. While providing a steady stream of gold and further immersion within the guild, they don’t contribute to an overarching narrative. Think of them as the eternal grind, a continuous flow of targets delivered to you until the end of your Skyrim days. These missions will take you all over Skyrim to assassinate targets. While these missions don’t advance a deeper plot, they ensure your place in the Brotherhood remains secure, your skills sharp, and your pockets full of gold. The radiant nature of the questline means that it pulls from a pool of potential assassination targets, guaranteeing that no two experiences are ever the same, and that the stream of assassinations remain fresh and dynamic.
So, while the compelling drama of the main Dark Brotherhood story has a resolution, the life of a contract killer within Skyrim is a commitment without an end. Are you ready for a lifetime of shadows and death?
Delving Deeper: Frequently Asked Questions about the Dark Brotherhood
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim, giving you a comprehensive understanding of this infamous guild:
1. How many Dark Brotherhood main quests are there?
The primary Dark Brotherhood questline consists of fourteen distinct quests, each building upon the last to create a compelling narrative arc.
2. Can you disband the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes, you can destroy the Dark Brotherhood. To initiate this path, travel to any city and speak to a guard about rumors. This will lead you to Commander Maro in Dragon Bridge. Follow his instructions, infiltrate the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, eliminate all its members, and return to Maro for your reward.
3. Do Night Mother contracts in the Dark Brotherhood Forever questline ever end?
No, the Night Mother’s contracts within the Dark Brotherhood Forever questline are designed to be endless. They are a radiant quest system, providing an infinite stream of assassination missions.
4. Can you kill Astrid in the shack at the beginning of the Dark Brotherhood questline?
Yes, you can kill Astrid in the shack after you are kidnapped and given the choice to kill one of the captives. Killing Astrid allows you to start the quest “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!”, effectively ending your path to join them in the traditional sense. However, it will also lock you out of the main questline.
5. Does Astrid betray you in Skyrim’s Dark Brotherhood questline?
Yes, Astrid does betray you later in the Dark Brotherhood questline. Her motivations stem from a desire to maintain control and power within the organization.
6. Is it better to join or destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
The “better” choice depends on your playstyle and goals.
- Joining offers unique quests, rewards (like Shadowmere and the Blade of Woe), and achievements.
- Destroying the Dark Brotherhood is a more moral choice for characters who oppose assassination.
From a completionist perspective, joining and completing the questline is often recommended to obtain all unique items and achievements before potentially reloading a save to experience the alternative. Consider reading articles about the benefits of integrating elements from games into the classroom through the Games Learning Society. You can visit the Games Learning Society website for more information and resources.
7. Do you ever run out of Dark Brotherhood radiant quests after the main quest is complete?
No, you will never run out of the radiant quests called “The Dark Brotherhood Forever.” They are designed to be infinitely repeatable, with the Night Mother providing you with new assassination targets indefinitely.
8. Is The Dark Brotherhood Forever quest truly infinite?
Yes, the Dark Brotherhood Forever questline is designed to continue indefinitely. The radiant nature of the quest ensures a constant flow of assassination contracts.
9. Is there any benefit to destroying the Dark Brotherhood?
The primary benefit of destroying the Dark Brotherhood is aligned with a more moral gameplay approach. You eliminate a group of assassins from Skyrim, contributing to a (slightly) safer world. However, you do forfeit the unique rewards and engaging quests associated with joining the Brotherhood. Additionally, if you are playing the Dragonborn DLC and are not a member of the Dark Brotherhood, then the Morag Tong cannot try to assassinate you in Solstheim.
10. What happens to Babette if you destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
Babette is one of the few members of the Dark Brotherhood to survive its destruction. Due to her being flagged as an essential character, she will flee the sanctuary if you attack her.
11. Can you join the Dark Brotherhood after killing Astrid?
No, if you kill Astrid in the shack, you will trigger the quest to destroy the Dark Brotherhood and permanently prevent yourself from joining them through the standard questline.
12. Can you become the leader of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim?
Yes, you eventually become the leader (Listener) of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim after completing the main questline.
13. Can you save Astrid from her fate?
No, Astrid’s death is a fixed event in the Dark Brotherhood questline. She is an essential character until a certain point in the questline and cannot be killed permanently before this.
14. What are the rewards for completing all of the Dark Brotherhood quests?
Completing the Dark Brotherhood questline yields significant rewards:
- Gold: Accumulating a substantial amount of gold throughout the questline.
- Blade of Woe: A unique dagger that absorbs health from opponents.
- Ancient Shrouded Armor set: A powerful set of armor with enchantments beneficial for assassins.
- Shadowmere: A unique and powerful horse with high health and stamina.
15. Is The Dark Brotherhood Forever a repeating quest?
Yes, The Dark Brotherhood Forever is a radiant quest, meaning it will repeat indefinitely with randomized targets and locations, ensuring a continuous stream of assassination contracts.
The Dark Brotherhood, therefore, offers two distinct experiences: a compelling, story-driven questline and an endless stream of assassinations, perfect for those who crave the life of a silent killer. Whether you choose to embrace the shadows fully or eradicate them from Skyrim, the choice is yours.