How to Join the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim
To join the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim, you need to speak with Aventus Aretino in Windhelm and complete his contract, or go straight to Riften and Honorhall Orphanage to kill Grelod the Kind, then wait 1-3 in-game days to receive a letter from the Dark Brotherhood and sleep in any usable bed to activate the quest. This will start the Innocence Lost quest, which is the first step to becoming a member of the Dark Brotherhood and unlocking its unique quests and rewards.
Understanding the Dark Brotherhood
The Dark Brotherhood is a secret society of assassins in the Skyrim universe, known for their ruthlessness and efficiency in eliminating targets. Joining the Dark Brotherhood offers a unique set of quests, rewards, and gameplay mechanics that can enhance your Skyrim experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the Benefits of Joining the Dark Brotherhood?
Joining the Dark Brotherhood provides access to unique quests, rewards such as the Blade of Woe and Ancient Shrouded Armor, and the opportunity to become a powerful assassin.
2. Can I Join the Dawnguard and Dark Brotherhood?
You can join the Dawnguard and still become a Vampire Lord, but joining the Dark Brotherhood does not conflict with being a Dawnguard member.
3. How Do I Activate the Dark Brotherhood Questline?
To activate the Dark Brotherhood questline, you need to complete the Innocence Lost quest by speaking with Aventus Aretino or killing Grelod the Kind.
4. Can I be a Werewolf and a Dark Brotherhood Member?
Yes, you can be a werewolf and join the Dark Brotherhood, and some werewolf members will even recognize you as one of their kind.
5. What are the Rules of the Dark Brotherhood?
The Five Tenets of the Dark Brotherhood include never dishonoring the Night Mother, never betraying the Dark Brotherhood, and never killing a fellow Dark Brother or Sister.
6. Can I Betray the Dark Brotherhood After Joining?
No, once you join the Dark Brotherhood, you cannot betray them without consequences, and attempting to do so will result in the Dark Brotherhood NPCs becoming hostile.
7. Are There Consequences for Joining the Dark Brotherhood?
Joining the Dark Brotherhood requires killing certain targets, which may have consequences such as losing access to certain quests or NPCs.
8. What Happens if I Side with the Brotherhood?
Siding with the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 4 will make the Railroad and The Institute permanent enemies, but this does not apply to the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim.
9. Does the Dark Brotherhood Forever Go Away?
The Dark Brotherhood contract quests will continue indefinitely, but the NPCs involved in the quests are only present for the purpose of completing the mission.
10. Who is Guilty in the Dark Brotherhood Quest?
It is unclear which hostage is guilty in the Dark Brotherhood quest, as each character provides a vague backstory that does not reveal much about their identity.
11. Is There a Downside to Becoming a Vampire in Skyrim?
Becoming a vampire in Skyrim has several downsides, including weakness to sunlight, which prevents health, stamina, and magicka regeneration, and hostility from NPCs.
12. Is it Better to Become a Werewolf or Vampire in Skyrim?
Being a werewolf is less taxing and does not require maintenance, but the benefits are not as present as those of being a vampire.
13. What Happens if You Go to Castle Volkihar Before Dawnguard?
Visiting Castle Volkihar before starting the Dawnguard questline can result in a bug that breaks the entire questline.
14. Can You Cure Vampirism in Skyrim?
Yes, vampirism can be cured by completing a quest for Falion, which requires standing in the Summoning Stones and allowing him to perform a ritual.
15. Can You Marry Astrid in Skyrim?
No, Astrid is already married and her husband is essential until he dies, making it impossible to marry her without her dying in the process.