Skyrim’s Premature Assassinations: Consequences of Killing Dark Brotherhood Targets Early
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So, you’ve been roaming the wilds of Skyrim, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically, and stumbled upon someone marked for death by the Dark Brotherhood before you even received the contract? This happens more often than you think! The simple answer is: killing a Dark Brotherhood target before receiving the quest from Nazir doesn’t break the game. When you eventually receive the contract, the game will register that the target is already deceased, and you can simply report the successful (albeit preemptive) kill to collect your reward. This article will delve deeper into the implications and other frequently asked questions surrounding the Dark Brotherhood questline in Skyrim.
Navigating the Shadows: Early Kills and Quest Progression
The beauty of Skyrim lies in its emergent gameplay. You’re free to explore and interact with the world however you see fit, often leading to unforeseen consequences… or in this case, unforeseen assassinations. The game is designed to accommodate these deviations from the expected quest progression. The Dark Brotherhood questline is surprisingly robust in this regard.
The System’s Forgiveness
If you stumble upon, say, a particularly annoying merchant who happens to be on Nazir’s hit list, and you decide to take matters into your own hands before Astrid ever sends you on your way, the game simply marks that target as “dead” when you eventually get the quest. Reporting your success to Nazir will trigger the reward sequence as if you had completed the contract as intended.
Implications and Considerations
While killing targets early doesn’t break the questline, there are a few minor things to consider:
- Lost Dialogue: You might miss out on specific dialogue from Astrid or Nazir regarding the target if you’ve already dealt with them. The game might assume you know the target, even if you’ve only heard whispers of their name.
- Story Immersion: Preemptive kills can sometimes disrupt the narrative flow. The impact of receiving the contract and planning the assassination is diminished when the deed is already done.
- Exploiting the System (Not Recommended): While technically possible, deliberately seeking out all potential Dark Brotherhood targets before joining the guild feels like exploiting the system. It trivializes the intended gameplay experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Dark Brotherhood
Here are some of the most common questions players have regarding the Dark Brotherhood questline in Skyrim, along with detailed answers to guide you:
1. What happens if I kill all the Dark Brotherhood contracts before joining?
If you manage to eliminate all the potential targets before ever stepping foot in the Falkreath Sanctuary, Astrid will acknowledge your…enthusiasm with a snarky comment. However, you can still join the Dark Brotherhood and proceed with the questline, albeit with less “fresh” contracts.
2. What are the consequences of destroying the Dark Brotherhood?
Choosing to destroy the Dark Brotherhood results in the loss of several unique rewards, including Shadowmere (a unique horse), the Summon Spectral Assassin power, the Dark Brotherhood Initiate followers, and access to the Master trainers for Alchemy and Light Armor. You also miss out on recruiting Cicero as a follower.
3. Is it worth destroying the Dark Brotherhood?
The answer to this depends entirely on your roleplaying preferences. Joining the Dark Brotherhood provides access to a compelling storyline and unique rewards. Destroying them allows you to roleplay as a hero and rid Skyrim of an evil organization, but you lose out on those exclusive items and experiences. Many players view the Dark Brotherhood questline as one of the best in the game.
4. What do I miss if I kill Astrid?
Killing Astrid initiates the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” questline. You can loot her unique equipment, but you obviously forfeit the opportunity to join the Dark Brotherhood and experience their storyline.
5. Who should I kill in the shack during the “With Friends Like These…” quest?
The choice of captive is entirely inconsequential. None of them have any future bearing on the game. The only thing it affects is if you want to feel like you’re making an informed decision. Astrid is simply testing your willingness to kill.
6. Can I marry Astrid in Skyrim?
No, you cannot marry Astrid. She is already married to Arnbjorn, and both characters are essential until certain points in their respective questlines where their deaths become scripted events.
7. Are you evil if you join the Dark Brotherhood?
Objectively, yes. The Dark Brotherhood is an organization dedicated to assassination for profit. Joining them involves committing morally reprehensible acts, including the murder of innocents (or at least, arguably innocent people). The game forces you to kill Grelod the Kind as part of the initiation. However, whether you feel evil playing as a Dark Brotherhood assassin is a matter of personal roleplaying.
8. Can I kill Astrid at any time?
No. Astrid is marked as essential until the point where her death becomes a plot-driven event. This prevents players from accidentally breaking the questline or eliminating her prematurely.
9. Can you destroy the Dark Brotherhood without joining?
Yes. After being kidnapped by Astrid and presented with the captives in the shack, you have the option to kill Astrid instead of one of the prisoners. This triggers the quest to destroy the Dark Brotherhood.
10. What happens if I kill Cicero before joining the Dark Brotherhood?
Cicero is also an essential character until his role in the Dark Brotherhood questline concludes. You cannot kill him prematurely. The game will prevent you from doing so.
11. Does Vittoria Vici get married if you destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes. Even if you destroy the Dark Brotherhood, Vittoria Vici will still get married. After completing the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest and having witnessed Roggvir’s execution in Solitude, you will eventually receive an invitation to her wedding. This is a completely separate event from the Dark Brotherhood questline.
12. How do I get the bonus for killing Vittoria Vici?
To receive the bonus objective reward for killing Vittoria Vici during her wedding speech, ensure that the “Report to Astrid” objective triggers before you leave Solitude. Fast traveling away too quickly can prevent the bonus from registering.
13. Does Astrid betray the Dragonborn?
Yes. Astrid ultimately betrays the Dragonborn as part of a power play within the Dark Brotherhood. She believes she can maintain control by eliminating the Dragonborn, who, as the Listener, is gaining influence within the organization.
14. Can I become the leader of the Dark Brotherhood?
While you don’t become the de jure leader, you become the Listener, the conduit to the Night Mother, which effectively puts you in a position of immense power and influence within the organization.
15. Can you betray the Dark Brotherhood after joining?
Once you are fully integrated into the Dark Brotherhood, there is no way to betray them except during the scripted moment where their destruction becomes an option. The game doesn’t provide any mechanisms for internal power struggles or alternative allegiances. The Games Learning Society emphasizes the power of games in education. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more! Killing a target early might make you feel like a cunning assassin, even if you are not quite role-playing an assassin.
Conclusion
While the Dark Brotherhood may frown upon your preemptive strikes (if they knew), the game accommodates them quite gracefully. You won’t break the questline, but you might miss out on some immersive story elements. Ultimately, the choice is yours: follow the contracts as intended, or forge your own path of death and destruction in Skyrim. Just be prepared for a few raised eyebrows and maybe a snarky comment or two along the way.