Many players exploring the world of Skyrim eventually become curious about one of the game’s most mysterious factions the Dark Brotherhood. Known for secrecy, assassination contracts, and a dark code of loyalty, the Dark Brotherhood offers a unique storyline that is very different from other guilds in the game. Joining this group unlocks special quests, unique equipment, and a deep narrative filled with intrigue and moral choices. Because the Dark Brotherhood operates in the shadows, the process of joining them is not obvious to new players. Unlike other factions that openly recruit members, this secret organization requires a specific series of actions before they will acknowledge you. Learning how to join the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim allows players to access one of the most memorable questlines in the entire game.
Understanding the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim
The Dark Brotherhood is an ancient guild of assassins that worships a mysterious entity known as the Night Mother. Members of the Brotherhood carry out assassination contracts for clients who perform a dark ritual called the Black Sacrament. This ritual is believed to summon the attention of the organization and request the death of a specific target.
Within the world of Skyrim, the Brotherhood operates secretly and keeps its location hidden from most people. Unlike the Companions or the College of Winterhold, you cannot simply walk up to their headquarters and ask to join. Instead, the game requires players to trigger a special chain of events that eventually leads to an invitation.
This secretive recruitment method adds to the mysterious atmosphere surrounding the faction and makes the moment of joining feel more significant.
The First Step to Join the Dark Brotherhood
The journey to join the Dark Brotherhood begins with a rumor heard in various towns across Skyrim. Players may hear guards or citizens talk about a boy in Windhelm who is attempting to summon the Brotherhood through a ritual. This conversation hints at the first important quest in the process.
To start the questline, travel to the city of Windhelm and locate a house called Aretino Residence. Inside this house, players will meet Aventus Aretino, a young boy performing the Black Sacrament in hopes of hiring the Dark Brotherhood.
Speaking with Aventus begins the quest that sets everything in motion.
What Happens During This Quest
- The player learns about the Black Sacrament ritual
- Aventus asks for help dealing with someone he hates
- The player receives a contract-like mission
- This mission introduces the player to the world of assassinations
Completing this task is essential because it demonstrates your willingness to perform an assassination.
Completing the First Assassination
The mission given by Aventus involves eliminating a character named Grelod the Kind. She runs an orphanage in the city of Riften and is known for treating children poorly. Players must travel to Honorhall Orphanage and confront her.
Once the player kills Grelod, the quest will be marked as complete. This moment is important because it is the first time the player carries out an assassination that catches the attention of the Dark Brotherhood.
After completing the mission, return to Aventus Aretino in Windhelm to report the outcome. He will reward the player and express satisfaction with the result.
However, the story does not end there. The Brotherhood has noticed your actions.
Waiting for the Mysterious Message
After finishing the mission for Aventus, players should continue exploring Skyrim normally. Eventually, a courier will approach the player with a strange letter. The message simply reads, We know.
This letter is the Dark Brotherhood acknowledging that you have completed an assassination tied to the Black Sacrament. It acts as a signal that you are now on their radar.
At this point, the player does not immediately join the Brotherhood. Instead, another event must occur before the next part of the story begins.
The Kidnapping Event
The next step happens when the player sleeps in any bed across Skyrim. After resting, the character wakes up in an unfamiliar location called an abandoned shack. Inside the room stands Astrid, a key member of the Dark Brotherhood.
Astrid explains that you have interfered with a contract meant for the Brotherhood. She presents a test to determine whether you deserve to join the organization.
In the shack, three captives are kneeling with bags over their heads. Astrid tells the player that one of them has a contract placed on their life, and she demands that you choose someone to kill.
Possible Outcomes in the Shack
- Kill one of the captives as instructed
- Kill all three captives
- Refuse and attack Astrid instead
The typical path for joining the Dark Brotherhood is to kill at least one of the captives. Once the task is completed, Astrid will welcome you into the organization.
Receiving the Invitation
After passing Astrid’s test, she officially invites the player to join the Dark Brotherhood. She provides the location of their sanctuary, which is hidden near the city of Falkreath.
Traveling to the sanctuary triggers the next stage of the questline. At the entrance, players must use a special passphrase to gain access. Once inside, they meet the rest of the Brotherhood members and officially become part of the guild.
This moment marks the beginning of the full Dark Brotherhood storyline.
Benefits of Joining the Dark Brotherhood
Joining the Dark Brotherhood unlocks several advantages for players who enjoy stealth gameplay and story-driven quests. The faction provides unique rewards, powerful equipment, and memorable characters.
Key Rewards From the Dark Brotherhood
- Special assassination contracts
- Unique armor designed for stealth
- Access to the Brotherhood sanctuary
- A series of story quests involving political intrigue
- Powerful weapons and rare items
Many players consider this questline one of the most engaging narratives in Skyrim because it includes unexpected twists and dramatic missions.
Tips for Completing Dark Brotherhood Missions
Because the Dark Brotherhood focuses on assassination, stealth skills can be extremely useful during its quests. Sneaking, archery, and dagger attacks allow players to eliminate targets quietly without drawing attention.
Using stealth mechanics can also earn bonus rewards in certain contracts. Some missions provide additional gold if the player kills the target without being detected.
It is also helpful to improve skills such as Sneak, One-Handed combat, and Illusion magic. These abilities make it easier to move unseen and approach targets without raising alarms.
Why the Dark Brotherhood Questline Is Popular
The Dark Brotherhood storyline remains one of the most talked-about parts of Skyrim because it offers a darker perspective on the game’s world. While many quests involve heroism or helping towns, the Brotherhood storyline explores secrecy, moral ambiguity, and hidden conspiracies.
Players experience a unique narrative where loyalty, betrayal, and power struggles shape the direction of the guild. Each mission reveals more about the Brotherhood’s traditions and the mysterious Night Mother they serve.
This mix of storytelling, stealth gameplay, and memorable characters has made the Dark Brotherhood one of the most iconic factions in the Elder Scrolls series.
Learning how to join the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim requires completing a series of hidden steps that begin with rumors in Windhelm and lead to a secret initiation test. From helping Aventus Aretino to meeting Astrid in the abandoned shack, each stage builds the mystery surrounding this assassin guild. Once players gain access to the sanctuary, they unlock an extensive questline filled with contracts, secrets, and powerful rewards. For those interested in stealth gameplay and dark storytelling, joining the Dark Brotherhood is one of the most memorable experiences available in the world of Skyrim.