Skyrim: How do I join the Dark Brotherhood?

I'd like to join it, but I don't know where to go and who to talk to. I think it's in Falkreath, am I right? I haven't actually travelled there yet.

Could someone please tell me the location and name of ther person I need to talk to to join, or at least get the quest for joining? Thanks!


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Answer:

Any man or woman may join the Dark Brotherhood, provided they are efficient killers and skilled in the art of stealth. Initiates must also display the ability to kill mercilessly, without regret or sorrow. As a result, their ranks include Vampires, Werewolves, Bandits as well as Mages. While on your travels in Skyrim, go to any inn, and ask for the latest gossip from the innkeeper. The innkeeper may tell you that Aventus Aretino is trying to perform the Black Sacrament in Windhelm.Or, if you happen to be in Riften, speak to a man named Maul. He can usually be found standing against a post off to the left as soon as you enter the city. After sharing some tough words with you, he gives you information on both the Thieves Guild, and the Dark Brotherhood; for a price, of course. (If you pass a persuasion or intimidation speechcraft test or have an unusual gem to show off to Maul, this information is free). Sometimes a Windhelm town guard may mention that the Arentino boy is trying to summon the Dark Brotherhood, which will give you the miscellaneous objective as well. However you choose to initiate it, speaking with Aventus Aretino initiates the quest Innocence Lost and your plunge into the Dark Brotherhood. After accepting Aretino's proposal, visit the Honorhall Orphanage. Speak to the children there, and they will tell you Aventus Aretino escaped and planned to kill their caretaker, Grelod the Kind, by summoning the Dark Brotherhood. Kill Grelod (the children will cheer and celebrate once she's dead.)

After Innocence Lost has been completed, wait 24 hours and sleep in any bed. Or go to a different city and a courier will appear and give you a note with an imprint of a black hand (the infamous insignia of the Black Hand) and the words 'We know' written beneath it, obviously referring to your recent transgression of the law. Once you receive the note, find and sleep in any bed (the acquisition of this note is optional). Following your restful slumber, you are seemingly abducted by a Dark Brotherhood Assassin in your sleep, and wake up in an Abandoned Shack. (This is where you decide whether or not if you want to join or destroy The Dark Brotherhood). There, you are asked to kill one of three people in the room, initiating the quest With Friends Like These. Killing one, two, or even all of the potential victims will earn you an invitation to join the Dark Brotherhood. You may also take the opportunity to destroy the organization by attacking the Dark Brotherhood representative, Astrid. This will initiate the quest Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! (This is the only chance you will get to destroy the dark brotherhood because after you join, the Brotherhood members are otherwise unkillable.)

Killing a Dark Brotherhood Assassin (when attacked randomly, at a random location) holds no ramifications as the 5 Tenets have been abandoned.

There are no repercussions for sacrificing a Dark Brotherhood Initiate in Boethiah's Calling.

Werewolf status - if you are currently infected as a Werewolf you do not earn resting bonuses by sleeping in beds, although you can still sleep in them. This means you CAN initiate the meeting with Astrid as a werewolf.

Killing Astrid yields a pair of boots, enchanted with the Muffle ability. (This armor feature is also obtainable by joining the Thieves Guild and becoming a Nightingale . The Nightingale Armor features boots with the muffle ability.)


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