Dark Brotherhood ( Skyrim ) The Dark Brotherhood is an organization of highly trained assassins who carry out assassination contracts . The Dark Brotherhood is called upon by those who wish to utilize their deadly services through a ritual called " The Black Sacrament , " although to join the organization , one must be contacted directly . They were once the most feared organization in all of Tamriel , but have lost their reputation over time due to the destruction of multiple sanctuaries across Tamriel . At one point , they were governed by The Five Tenets , which set the ground rules for the Brotherhood , but those tenets have long since been abandoned . The Dark Brotherhood has been operating in Tamriel for many Eras , at one time having many clandestine sanctuaries across the Empire . They revere Sithis , the avatar of entropy and chaos , as well as the Night Mother , who is their spiritual leader . History . The Dark Brotherhood has been struggling for survival ever since the end of the Third Era . Due to the events of , the Dark Brotherhood in Cyrodiil was crippled . They managed to survive until the Great War , when , one after another , each Brotherhood Sanctuary was destroyed . By the end of the war , the Brotherhood was near total destruction once again . Cicero , one of two remaining Dark Brotherhood assassins outside of Skyrim ( the other believed to be a deserter ) , took the Night Mother ' s corpse from Bravil to the last remaining Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary . In , the Dark Brotherhood has no listener to hear the Night Mother and thus hears about The Black Sacrament through rumors . This type of life for the Brotherhood continues until the Dragonborn joins them . Dark Brotherhood Requirements . Any man or woman may join the Dark Brotherhood . Initiates must display the ability to kill mercilessly , without regret or sorrow . As a result , their ranks include vampires , werewolves , bandits , and mages . A high sneak skill is recommended before joining the Dark Brotherhood . Jobs done for them often require stealth , to kill an enemy without being detected . A very useful perk for this is Assassin ' s Blade . To get this , the Dragonborn must have a level 50 sneak skill ( along with the other perks leading up to it ) . It will allow successful sneak attacks with daggers to do 15 times normal damage . Using stealth , however , is not the only way to assassinate a target without being noticed or given a bounty . One can use both Destruction and Illusion magic to take down targets . To do this , one has to have the Quiet Casting perk , and at least a Fire Bolt / Lightning bolt / Ice Spike spell in the Destruction school . With these requirements , while in stealth mode , one can fire a spell at a target to kill them , without receiving a bounty . An alternative way for mages to use magic to kill a target , is , while in stealth mode , cast a fury spell at one ' s target in a public place ; this way , characters in - game will kill the target and thus no bounty will be received . Also , if the Dragonborn is a werewolf , they can transform , putting themselves into an unidentifiable state ; this way , they can kill their target without getting a bounty , but they must transform without being noticed . Attracting the Dark Brotherhood ' s attention . The Dragonborn can go to any inn and ask for the latest gossip from the innkeeper . The innkeeper may tell the Dragonborn that Aventus Aretino is trying to perform the Black Sacrament in Windhelm . Alternatively , if in Riften , the Dragonborn can speak to a man named Maul . He can usually be found standing against a post off to the left at the entrance of the city . If Maven Black - Briar is Jarl , he will be in Mistveil Keep as her housecarl . After sharing some tough words , he can give information on the Dark Brotherhood - for a price , of course . With a successful intimidation or persuasion , or upon being shown an unusual gem , Maul ' s information is free . The children in the Honorhall Orphanage in Riften will also speak about Aventus ' attempts to summon the Dark Brotherhood , which will give the Dragonborn a miscellaneous objective as well . Upon speaking to the children there , they will tell the Dragonborn that Aventus Aretino escaped and has plans to kill their headmistress , Grelod the Kind , by summoning the Dark Brotherhood . Speaking with Aventus Aretino in his parent ' s home in Windhelm initiates the quest " Innocence Lost " and starts the Dark Brotherhood questline . After accepting Aretino ' s proposal , the Dragonborn is directed to visit Honorhall Orphanage . After killing Grelod , the children will cheer and celebrate her death . No bounty is issued for her death . Joining or Destroying the Brotherhood . Twenty - four hours after Innocence Lost has been completed , a courier will appear to the Dragonborn in any city , with a note saying , " We know . " A black hand - print is above the words . After receiving the note , sleeping in any bed for any amount of time will begin the next phase of the quest ( the acquisition of this note is optional ) . While sleeping , the Dragonborn is abducted by a Dark Brotherhood assassin and wakes up in an Abandoned Shack . This is where the decision to join or destroy the Dark Brotherhood must be made . There , the Dragonborn is asked by Astrid , the Dark Brotherhood assassin , 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 the Dragonborn an invitation to join the Dark Brotherhood . The Dragonborn may also take the opportunity to destroy the organization by attacking Astrid . This will initiate the quest " Destroy the Dark Brotherhood ! . " Note that this is the only chance to destroy the Dark Brotherhood , because after joining , the Brotherhood members are otherwise unable to be killed , without the use of Console Commands . Apparel . When completing quests in the Dark Brotherhood , the Dragonborn can obtain three armor sets , and three clothing sets . Dawnstar Sanctuary . Astrid . After Astrid betrays the brotherhood to Commander Maro and the Penitus Oculatus during the first assassination attempt against Emperor Titus Mede II , the Penitus Oculatus ravage the Falkreath Sanctuary , killing all but Nazir , Babette , and possibly Cicero . During the attack , the Night Mother hides her Listener within her coffin , to protect them from the invaders and the fires they ignited in the sanctuary . The Listener awakens in the Sanctuary , safe and sound . The Listener then is told by the Night Mother that Astrid is still alive in the temple and must be located . She is burnt badly . She admits to betraying the Brotherhood and hands the Dragonborn the Blade of Woe with which to kill her . Refurnishing the sanctuary . Nazir sends the Listener to Delvin Mallory in The Ragged Flagon for assistance with refurbishing the sanctuary . The total upgrade of the sanctuary costs 19 , 000 . The 20 , 000 reward given by Amaund Motierre for killing the Emperor can cover this entire expense . Afterwards , the Listener may report back to Nazir , who effectively serves as a Speaker for additional contracts that do not have significance to the faction ' s storyline . The Night Mother can be approached an unlimited number of times for more radiant quests , rewarding 500 – 1200 per assassination . After every possible upgrade has been purchased for the Sanctuary , Dark Brotherhood Initiate s will be in the Sanctuary . They are available as followers .