Dark Brotherhood Skyrim How To Join

Alright, friend, so you wanna join the coolest (and deadliest) club in Skyrim, huh? You want to whisper sweet nothings… of death… into the ears of your enemies? You’re thinking about signing up for the Dark Brotherhood? Excellent choice! It's way more exciting than pottery class, trust me.

But before you start sharpening your daggers and practicing your evil monologues, let's figure out how to actually, you know, get in. It's not like they're running around handing out membership applications, are they?

Step 1: Innocence Lost... or Found?

Okay, this is where things get a little…murky. The first step is to find Aventus Aretino in Windhelm. Little dude's trying to summon the Dark Brotherhood, so he's pretty much doing half the work for you. Just head to Windhelm and listen for rumors about a kid performing the Black Sacrament. Think of it as an extremely messed-up birthday wish.

Aventus is in his family's old house, which is... let's just say it's seen better days. He's been chanting and offering trinkets to a statue, trying to get the attention of the Night Mother. And guess what? It works!

He wants you to… ahem… "take care" of a certain Grelod the Kind at Honorhall Orphanage in Riften. "Kind" is a bit of a stretch, apparently. Look, I’m not judging. I'm just saying, if a little kid is summoning assassins, something's probably up. No one ever summons assassins to deliver flowers. Well, almost no one.

Step 2: The "Kind" Treatment

Head on over to Riften. It’s in the southeastern corner of Skyrim. Don't worry, Riften is easy to find, just follow the stench of corruption and skooma. Honorhall Orphanage is right inside the city.

Now, this is where you get to decide how sneaky you want to be. You could go in guns (or daggers) blazing, but that's not exactly subtle. You might even get a bounty on your head. Which, let's be honest, is inconvenient when you're trying to join a secret society of assassins. Personally, I prefer the stealthy approach. It's more dramatic.

Get rid of Grelod. However you see fit. Maybe an arrow to the back? A well-placed poison apple? The choice is yours, my friend. Just remember to be discreet. Or not. Up to you, really. We're just spitballing here. But try not to get caught. Unless you want to get arrested, then by all means, go for it! Your game, your rules.

Step 3: Sleep Tight!

Once Grelod is… dealt with… return to Aventus in Windhelm. He'll be ecstatic! He'll reward you with a little something, and you can bask in the glow of a job well done (sort of). Now comes the waiting game. Go to sleep in any bed. Seriously. Any bed will do. Even a fancy one. You deserve it after all that…orphanage management.

When you wake up, you'll find yourself in a… less than ideal situation. Let's just say you're not in Kansas anymore. You'll be face-to-face with Astrid, the leader of the Dark Brotherhood. She’s not exactly thrilled that you stole her contract. Whoops!

Step 4: Welcome to the Family! (Kind Of)

Astrid will give you a choice. You can pay your dues by… eliminating one of three unfortunate souls tied up in a nearby room. Or you can refuse and she'll... well, let's just say it won't be a pleasant outcome for you.

Pick your victim, do the deed, and congratulations! You're officially a member of the Dark Brotherhood! Prepare for contracts, shadowy figures, creepy rituals, and a whole lot of stabbing! Who needs a 9-to-5 when you can have this?

Pro Tip: Invest in some good lockpicks. You'll need them.

And that’s it! You’re in! Now go forth, my friend, and embrace your inner assassin. Remember, stay stealthy, trust no one (except maybe the Night Mother), and always, always check your contracts for fine print. You never know what kind of bizarre clauses those clients will sneak in. Have fun, and may your daggers always find their mark!