Many players exploring the world of Skyrim eventually become curious about the Dark Brotherhood questline. This faction is known for its mysterious assassins, secret rituals, and dramatic story missions. Unlike other guilds in the game, joining the Dark Brotherhood requires completing a specific chain of events before the faction even reveals itself. Because of this, some players spend many hours in the game without realizing how to start the Dark Brotherhood quest. Understanding the correct steps will help you unlock one of the most memorable storylines in Skyrim, filled with unique characters, stealth missions, and powerful rewards for those willing to walk the path of an assassin.
Understanding the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim
The Dark Brotherhood is a secret organization of assassins that exists throughout the Elder Scrolls universe. In Skyrim, the group operates quietly and carries out assassination contracts for those who perform a special ritual known as the Black Sacrament.
Members of the Dark Brotherhood believe they serve a higher purpose connected to an ancient figure called the Night Mother. Their assassinations are considered sacred duties rather than simple acts of violence. This dark philosophy makes the faction very different from other guilds in the game.
Before a player can officially join the organization, the Dark Brotherhood must first notice their actions. The process begins with a rumor in one of Skyrim’s major cities.
Step One Travel to Windhelm
The first step in starting the Dark Brotherhood quest in Skyrim is visiting the city of Windhelm. This city is located in the northeastern region of the map and is known for its cold climate and strong Nordic culture.
While exploring Windhelm, players may hear rumors from guards or citizens about a strange boy trying to contact assassins. These rumors lead to an important character who begins the entire questline.
The boy’s name is Aventus Aretino, and he lives alone in a house within the city. Curious players who investigate these rumors will eventually find his home and discover what he is attempting to do.
Meeting Aventus Aretino
When players enter Aventus Aretino’s house, they will see the boy performing the Black Sacrament. This ritual is meant to summon the Dark Brotherhood so he can request the death of someone who wronged him.
Aventus explains that he wants revenge against Grelod the Kind, the cruel caretaker of the Honorhall Orphanage located in Riften. According to Aventus, Grelod mistreats the children and deserves punishment.
This conversation begins the quest called Innocence Lost, which is the true starting point for the Dark Brotherhood storyline.
Step Two Travel to Riften
To continue the quest, players must travel to the city of Riften. This city lies in the southeastern part of Skyrim and is known for its thieves and underground crime networks.
Inside Riften, players can find the Honorhall Orphanage where Grelod the Kind lives. The building is open to visitors during the day, allowing the player to enter without suspicion.
Once inside, players will see how Grelod treats the children harshly, reinforcing Aventus Aretino’s story. At this point, the player must decide how to deal with the situation.
Step Three Eliminate Grelod the Kind
To progress in the Dark Brotherhood questline, Grelod the Kind must be killed. This act fulfills the contract Aventus tried to send through the Black Sacrament.
There are several ways players can complete this objective. Some players choose to use stealth to avoid detection, while others eliminate her openly. Surprisingly, many characters inside the orphanage will not report the crime because they disliked Grelod’s behavior.
After Grelod is gone, the children celebrate their freedom. This moment confirms that the mission has been completed successfully.
Step Four Return to Aventus Aretino
After finishing the task in Riften, the next step is returning to Windhelm to speak with Aventus again. When the player tells him the job is done, he becomes extremely grateful.
Aventus believes the player is a member of the Dark Brotherhood and thanks them for accepting his contract. As a reward, he gives the player a family heirloom.
Although the mission appears complete at this point, it actually triggers the next stage of the Dark Brotherhood storyline.
Step Five Wait for the Mysterious Message
After finishing the quest with Aventus, players must continue playing normally for a while. Eventually, a courier will approach and deliver a strange note.
The message simply says
- We know.
This short sentence indicates that the Dark Brotherhood has noticed the player’s actions. Someone within the organization has been watching.
The note acts as a signal that the next part of the questline is about to begin.
Step Six Sleep to Trigger the Next Event
Once the mysterious message is received, the player must sleep in any bed in Skyrim. It does not matter where the bed is located, as long as the player rests long enough.
After sleeping, the character wakes up in a completely different place. Instead of their original location, they find themselves inside a small abandoned shack.
This sudden change marks the moment when the Dark Brotherhood officially enters the story.
Meeting Astrid in the Abandoned Shack
Inside the shack, the player meets Astrid, the leader of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim. She explains that the player interfered with one of the Brotherhood’s contracts when they killed Grelod the Kind.
Astrid then presents a test to determine whether the player deserves to join the organization. Three prisoners are tied up in the room, and one of them is supposedly the true contract target.
The player must decide which person to eliminate. Astrid refuses to reveal the correct answer, making the choice entirely up to the player.
Proving Loyalty to the Dark Brotherhood
The test in the abandoned shack is meant to evaluate the player’s willingness to act as an assassin. Once the player completes the task, Astrid accepts their decision as proof of potential.
Afterward, she invites the player to visit the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary located near Falkreath. This hidden base becomes the headquarters for the faction in Skyrim.
Entering the sanctuary officially begins the Dark Brotherhood questline and unlocks many assassination missions.
Benefits of Starting the Dark Brotherhood Quest
Players who start the Dark Brotherhood questline gain access to a wide range of unique content. The faction offers missions that focus on stealth, planning, and creative problem solving.
Some advantages of joining the Dark Brotherhood include
- Special assassin armor that improves stealth abilities
- High gold rewards from assassination contracts
- Access to a secret sanctuary and unique characters
- One of the most detailed storylines in Skyrim
These rewards make the faction especially appealing for players who prefer stealth-based gameplay.
Alternative Path Destroying the Dark Brotherhood
Although many players choose to join the faction, Skyrim also provides another option. During the meeting in the abandoned shack, the player can attack Astrid instead of completing her test.
Doing this starts a different questline where the player works with the Imperial authorities to destroy the Dark Brotherhood entirely. This alternative path gives players more control over their character’s moral choices.
Both paths offer interesting gameplay experiences and show how flexible Skyrim’s role-playing system can be.
Learning how to start the Dark Brotherhood quest in Skyrim requires following several specific steps. From hearing rumors in Windhelm to completing the mission involving Aventus Aretino and Grelod the Kind, each stage slowly leads the player into the secret world of assassins.
Once the mysterious message appears and the meeting with Astrid takes place, the Dark Brotherhood storyline fully begins. With its memorable characters, dark themes, and unique missions, this questline remains one of the most popular experiences in the entire game.