Q&A for How to Join the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim

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Question

What is the name of the inn in Windhelm?

Entity303

Community Answer

The inn of Windhelm is called Candlehearth Hall. It’s the first building you'll see when entering Windhelm.

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Question

Do you get the Blade of Woe by killing Astrid or do you get it only if you do the quest line?

Community Answer

You can get it by killing Astrid and starting the "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood" questline, by pickpocketing her with the perk that allows you to pickpocket equipped weapons, or by killing Astrid as is intended at the end of the normal main Dark Brotherhood questline (she will give the blade to you in gratitude). You can actually get two by pickpocketing her and then finishing the main normal Dark Brotherhood questline!

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Question

Where is the the Dark Brotherhood's sanctuary?

Community Answer

Go to Windhelm. Hear about "Aventus Aretino" and go to his house in the city. Find him performing the ritual to summon the assassins. He will send you to Riften. Kill Grelod at the orphanage. Wait a few days and sleep in a bed. Astrid will find you. Kill one of the three people she brought (or two, or all, just don't attack her). Afterwards, head to Falkreath. Follow the map marker to the sanctuary. It's located underneath the road, tucked away, so it's tough to see at first. Use the passphrase to enter the door.

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Question

Who will deliver the letter?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

A generic courier with no name will. You will be stopped (so you can't accidentally miss it) and told that some creepy, quiet person wants to give you a note. Read the note to make sure it's from the Dark Brotherhood (it has a black hand with "We know"). Then you can sleep.

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Question

I started the quest; do I have to play for three in-game days, or can I wait for it?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

Waiting in one spot (where time is sped up) won't count, but fast traveling will. So just fast travel to faraway places, walk around for a bit, and then sleep.

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Question

I killed Grelod but I didn't receive any letters from the dark brotherhood. Why didn't I?

Community Answer

Wait a few days, 72 in-game hours, and find a bed and sleep. Astrid will find you and the quest should proceed.

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Question

I stumbled upon the Sanctuary earlier, What would happen if I walk in, and they don't know me?

Community Answer

You cannot enter unless you have the correct passphrase. To start the quest, go to Windhelm and hear someone mention "Aventus Aretino". Proceed from there.

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Question

Can I still join the Dark Brotherhood if I joined the Thieves Guild?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

Yes. You can join both. Go to the marketplace in Riften and talk to Brynjolf to start the quest to become part of the Thieves Guild.

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Question

Where do you go to get the quest?

Community Answer

Go to The Orphanage in Riften. Enter and then go straight, and you'll find the quest.

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Question

Can I get the letter from the Dark Brotherhood while doing another quest?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

Yes, you can. Other quests don't affect the Dark Brotherhood quest, so you will get the letter like normal.

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Question

Before knowing about the Dark Brotherhood I saw the Grelod lady at the orphanage abusing the kids, so I killed her. Is it possible for me to still join the Dark Brotherhood? If so, how?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

Still try to ask Aventus about his quest. The game might automatically register that she is dead and move you along normally. If you can't get past Aventus and you're on PC, go to Grelod (her body will still be where she died), open the console by pressing the tilde button, and click her body. Then type in "resurrect" without the quotation marks, press enter, and close the console by pressing the tilde button. She will be resurrected. Talk to Aventus to start the quest and kill her again.

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Question

What happens when you are in the Dark Brotherhood?

Community Answer

You get assassination side quests that pay you about 1000 septims each and get access to the main Dark Brotherhood questline, which can grant you a follower and the unique Blade of Woe at the end. It also has an interesting storyline to follow, which makes the game more entertaining.

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Question

What happens when I kill Astrid?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

You start a questline called "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!" and cannot join the Dark Brotherhood. So if you want to join this organization, don't attack Astrid before or during your time as a member. (Note that you do have to kill Astrid at the end of the Dark Brotherhood main questline as part of the normal questline, but this will not destroy the organization).

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