Skyrim Dark Brotherhood How To Join

Okay, picture this: I'm wandering around Skyrim, level 8 maybe, rocking some seriously mismatched armor (think iron helmet, fur chest piece, and hide boots – a true fashion icon, I know). Suddenly, I hear rumors. Whispers in taverns about a kid, Aventus Aretino, in Windhelm. Rumor has it, he's performing some... interesting rituals. Being the naturally curious Dragonborn that I am, I just HAD to investigate.

Turns out, little Aventus is trying to summon the Dark Brotherhood. Yeah, that Dark Brotherhood. The legendary guild of assassins. And that, my friends, is where our journey begins. Because if you're reading this, chances are you're also itching to join their ranks. Don't worry, I won't judge. We all have our dark sides (especially when a shopkeeper marks up their prices for no reason).

Step 1: Hear the Whispers

First things first, you need to trigger the quest. As I mentioned, the initial trigger is usually hearing about Aventus Aretino in Windhelm. Tavern keepers are your best bet for this. Just keep asking about rumors. The game likes to be a little mysterious sometimes, so it might take a bit of chatting around. (Pro tip: if you haven’t already, explore Windhelm! It’s a fascinating city, even without the assassin subplot.)

Step 2: Aventus Aretino and the Black Sacrament

Head to Windhelm and find the Aretino Residence. You might have to pick the lock (hope you've been leveling that lockpicking skill!). Inside, you’ll find Aventus performing the Black Sacrament. This involves some... interesting ingredients and chanting to Mother Night.

Now, talk to Aventus. He'll mistake you for the assassin he summoned. He'll give you a "contract" – to kill Grelod the Kind at the Honorhall Orphanage in Riften. "Kind" is definitely a strong word for Grelod. Trust me.

Step 3: Fulfilling the Contract

Head to Riften and infiltrate the Honorhall Orphanage. You can either sneak in or just walk right through the front door. It's up to you. But this next bit is non-negotiable: you need to eliminate Grelod. How you do it is your business. Loudly? Quietly? The choice is yours, my friend. Just... get it done.

Once Grelod is gone (permanently, I might add), return to Aventus in Windhelm. He'll be overjoyed and reward you with a valuable family heirloom. Sweet! (Okay, maybe not "sweet" given the circumstances, but hey, free stuff!)

Step 4: Sleep Tight... Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite (Or Assassins Kidnap You)

Now comes the waiting game. Sleep in any bed in Skyrim. After a while, you’ll wake up in a rather...uncomfortable situation. You've been kidnapped! You'll find yourself in an abandoned shack with Astrid, the leader of the Dark Brotherhood. She’s not exactly thrilled that you took a contract without consulting her first. (Oops.)

Astrid will give you a choice: kill one of the three captured people in the shack, or kill Astrid herself. DO NOT KILL ASTRID (unless you really want to miss out on the entire Dark Brotherhood questline). Instead, pick one of the captives and… well, you know what to do. Consider it an initiation test. A rather brutal one, granted, but hey, that’s the Dark Brotherhood for you!

Once you’ve completed Astrid's task, she'll be impressed (or at least less annoyed). She’ll then invite you to join the Dark Brotherhood. Congratulations! You’re now a member of one of the most infamous guilds in Skyrim. Prepare for contracts, betrayals, and a whole lot of sneaking around. And remember: Silence, my Brother.

So there you have it! The complete (and hopefully not-too-terrifying) guide to joining the Dark Brotherhood. Now go forth, my friend, and embrace your inner assassin. Just try not to get caught by the guards, okay? (And maybe avoid targeting essential NPCs. Trust me, it's a headache you don't need.)