The Shadowy Truth: Unmasking the Betrayer of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim
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The question of who betrayed the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim is a complex one, steeped in layers of deceit, ambition, and ultimately, survival. While multiple characters play pivotal roles in the downfall of the Falkreath Sanctuary, the title of “betrayer” squarely belongs to Astrid. Her actions, driven by a fear of losing power and a lust for wealth, set in motion the events that lead to the near-total annihilation of her chapter of the infamous assassin guild.
Astrid’s Web of Deceit: The Prime Mover of Betrayal
Astrid’s betrayal is multifaceted. It’s not a simple act of turning information over to the enemy; it’s a carefully orchestrated plan born from her own insecurities and a deep-seated need to control. Here’s how it unfolds:
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The Initial Deception: After the Dragonborn is kidnapped and forced to choose a “target” to eliminate in an abandoned shack, Astrid recruits them into the Dark Brotherhood, seemingly welcoming a new asset. However, this recruitment is the first step in her scheme.
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The Purified Plot: Astrid contacts Commander Maro of the Penitus Oculatus, the Emperor’s personal guard, and informs him of the Dark Brotherhood’s resurgence. She offers the Dragonborn as a sacrifice to the Penitus Oculatus as part of a supposed deal to eliminate the Brotherhood and collect the reward money for herself.
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The False Promise: Astrid intends to eliminate the Dragonborn and the remainder of the Dark Brotherhood members in Falkreath and take all the riches from the contract. She believes this will allow her to maintain her leadership position and secure her own future.
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The Illusion of Loyalty: Throughout the main questline, Astrid maintains a facade of loyalty and concern for the Brotherhood, skillfully manipulating events and individuals to serve her own ends. This deception extends even to her marriage to Arnbjorn, whose loyalty is exploited for her purposes.
Astrid’s betrayal is not merely a single act, but a protracted campaign of deception. She leverages the trust and dedication of her fellow assassins, ultimately sacrificing them to protect her own position. While Mathieu Bellamont‘s actions contributed to the chaos, his motives were driven by revenge, not ambition within the Dark Brotherhood itself. Astrid’s actions, on the other hand, were a direct assault on the very foundation of the Brotherhood’s structure and principles.
Mathieu Bellamont: A Secondary Culprit, Not the Primary Betrayer
While Mathieu Bellamont is undeniably a key figure in the Dark Brotherhood’s troubles, he isn’t the betrayer in the same way as Astrid. Mathieu sought revenge for the murder of his mother at the hands of the Cheydinhal Sanctuary during The Purification. This vengeance led him to orchestrate the hit on Emperor Titus Mede II. He sought external retribution instead of treachery from within the Dark Brotherhood.
Unraveling the Truth: Motives and Consequences
Astrid’s motivation boils down to fear and greed. The arrival of the Dragonborn and their rapid ascent within the Brotherhood threatened her authority. Her primary goal was to get rid of the new Listener, collect the payment from the contract, and continue to lead the Dark Brotherhood herself.
The consequences of Astrid’s betrayal are devastating. The Falkreath Sanctuary is decimated, and the surviving members are scattered and demoralized. While the Brotherhood eventually recovers under the Dragonborn’s leadership, the scars of Astrid’s treachery linger.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why did Astrid betray the Dark Brotherhood?
Astrid betrayed the Dark Brotherhood primarily out of fear of losing her power and control. She saw the Dragonborn’s rise as the Listener as a threat to her leadership and decided to eliminate them and the rest of her group, take the payment for the contract, and continue to run the Dark Brotherhood herself.
2. Who hired the assassins that attack the Dragonborn randomly?
Those assassins were hired by someone you’ve wronged in Skyrim, usually by stealing or pickpocketing from them. It’s similar to hired thugs, but you’ll never know for certain who initiated the contract.
3. Is it possible to save Astrid?
No, it is impossible to save Astrid. She dies as part of the main Dark Brotherhood questline. Even if you attempt to kill her before her scripted death, she is an essential character and will only be downed, not killed.
4. What happens if you kill Astrid before joining the Dark Brotherhood?
If you kill Astrid before joining the Dark Brotherhood, you will initiate the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” questline. You will then be directed to a guard who will tell you to speak with Commander Maro and proceed to eliminate the Dark Brotherhood.
5. Is it better to join or destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
The choice depends on your playstyle. Joining allows you to access unique quests, items, and achievements. Destroying them aligns with a more moral playthrough. A great resource for further learning and exploration in this area is the Games Learning Society, which investigates the educational and social impacts of games. Check them out at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
6. Can you marry Astrid in Skyrim?
No, you cannot marry Astrid in Skyrim. She is already married to Arnbjorn, and both characters are essential to the plot, meaning they can’t be killed until their designated deaths in the questline.
7. What is the downside of joining the Dark Brotherhood?
The main downside is that you will be involved in the merciless killing of many characters, some of whom you might otherwise interact with as merchants or quest givers.
8. Who can be saved from the Dark Brotherhood when it is destroyed?
If you destroy the Dark Brotherhood, only Babette will survive.
9. Is the “Dark Brotherhood Forever” quest ever completed?
No, the “Dark Brotherhood Forever” quest is a radiant, never-ending quest that provides continuous assassination contracts. It will never be removed from your quest log as completed.
10. Who is Mathieu Bellamont and what was his role?
Mathieu Bellamont is the son of a woman murdered by the Dark Brotherhood during the Cheydinhal Sanctuary’s “Purification” quest in Oblivion. His role was to orchestrate the assassination of Emperor Titus Mede II as an act of revenge.
11. What happens to Babette if you destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
Babette always survives regardless of whether you join or destroy the Dark Brotherhood and she is immortal.
12. Why does the Dark Brotherhood sometimes send assassins after the Dragonborn?
The Dark Brotherhood will send assassins after you if you commit a crime in the game and are not caught. Discrete murdering, stealing, and pickpocketing all count.
13. What unique rewards do you get for joining the Dark Brotherhood?
Joining the Dark Brotherhood provides access to unique armor sets (Shrouded Armor), weapons (Blade of Woe), spells (Summon Spectral Assassin), and access to the Night Mother’s blessings, as well as a continuous stream of gold through contracts.
14. What happens to Cicero if you destroy the Dark Brotherhood?
If you destroy the Dark Brotherhood, Cicero will be killed alongside the other members of the sanctuary. However, he is essential until the player makes a choice regarding his fate during the Dark Brotherhood questline, so the player gets the option to let him live or die.
15. Is it necessary to purify the Dark Brotherhood?
There is a point where you must purify the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary by killing them. This is not the same as the quest to destroy them entirely.
In conclusion, while multiple threads contributed to the Dark Brotherhood’s downfall, Astrid’s calculated betrayal stands as the central act of treachery. Her ambition and fear directly led to the sanctuary’s destruction and the near-obliteration of her fellow assassins. While Mathieu Bellamont sought external vengeance, Astrid’s internal treachery proved the most devastating blow to the Dark Brotherhood. GamesLearningSociety.org studies the impact of games in real-world scenarios and is a great resource to learn more about the effects of games on society.