Okay, let's talk about the Oblivion Dark Brotherhood quests. Seriously, even years later, this questline stands out as one of the absolute best in any Elder Scrolls game, maybe even in RPG history. Forget the Main Quest for a minute. Forget saving the world. This? This is about creeping through the shadows, following a twisted code, and becoming Cyrodiil's most feared blade in the dark. If you've stumbled here looking for "oblivion dark brotherhood quests walkthrough," "dark brotherhood oblivion rewards," or just wondering if it's worth joining a bunch of murderous lunatics, you're in the right place. I've played through this dozens of times, made every mistake, discovered every secret, and yeah, I have some strong opinions.

Joining isn't exactly advertised in the Imperial City marketplace. It starts... unexpectedly. You have to murder an innocent person. Cold blood. No quest marker guides you. You just... do it. And then sleep. That first visit from Lucien Lachance? Chilling. That deep, calm voice in the darkness promising you belong? It hooks you. That's the genius of the **Oblivion Dark Brotherhood questline** – it makes you complicit right from the jump. It doesn't feel like picking a faction; it feels like being chosen by something ancient and terrifying.

How to Actually Join the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion

Everyone asks this first. It's not like walking into the Fighter's Guild. The path is stained red.

1. Commit Murder: You need to kill ANY non-essential NPC who isn't already hostile to you. Guards attacking you? Doesn't count. Bandits? Nope. Has to be a civilian going about their day. Popular targets include the beggars in the Imperial City (like Saliith in the Elven Gardens District) or annoying fanatics like Heimlin in Cheydinhal. Just make sure the crime isn't witnessed, or you'll have a bounty.
2. Go to Sleep: After the deed, find a bed. Any owned bed (like in an Inn room you've rented) or a bedroll in the wilderness works. Sleep for at least 1 hour. This triggers the event.
3. The Visitor: You'll wake up in a dark version of the location you slept in. Lucien Lachance, the Silencer, Speaker for the Black Hand, will appear. He speaks of the Night Mother, the Five Tenets, and your "unique talents." He invites you to join and gives your first contract: Rufio.
4. Find the Sanctuary: Lucien tells you the location is written on the note he leaves. It points you to an old, nondescript crypt in Bravil, near the Silverfish River (Look southeast across the water from Bravil's main gates). Say the phrase "Silence, my brother" to the door to enter.

The Complete Oblivion Dark Brotherhood Quests Walkthrough (In Order)

Once you're in, the quests unfold sequentially. This isn't a radiant system; it's a meticulously crafted, dark narrative. Here’s the rundown of every contract and task within the oblivion dark brotherhood quests:

Sanctuary Introduction & Early Contracts

Meeting the family is... memorable. Ocheeva runs things here in Cheydinhal. Vicente Valtieri is the ancient, charming vampire. Antoinetta Marie is the poisoner. Teinaava is the Argonian scout. And then there's Gogron gro-Bolmog... loud, proud, and not subtle. M'raaj-Dar? Khajiit mage with a serious attitude problem. You get your bed in the back. Feels almost cozy, in a murderous cult kind of way.

You start feeling like part of the dysfunctional family. Vicente is oddly paternal. Ocheeva is stern but fair. The others... well, they tolerate you. Then Lucien calls you away. Something big is brewing.

The Turning Point: Purification

Lucien summons you to Fort Farragut (west of Cheydinhal). The atmosphere is different. Tense. He claims the Cheydinhal Sanctuary has been corrupted, violating the Five Tenets. Your new orders? Purification. Kill *everyone* inside. Everyone. Ocheeva. Vicente. Gogron. Antoinetta. Teinaava. M'raaj-Dar. All of them.

How to do it? You have options:

• Stealth Kill: Sneak up on each while they sleep or are isolated. Hardest but cleanest.
• Poison: Reverse-pickpocket poisons into their inventories (Paralysis helps).
• Direct Combat: Tough fight against multiple skilled killers. Not recommended unless overpowered.
• Summoning/Followers: Use conjured creatures or actual followers as distractions/extra muscle. (Followers might turn on you afterwards!)

Reward: Promotion to Silencer, Lucien Lachance becomes your direct contact, Blade of Woe (Unique, high damage dagger, Absorb Health 10pts). This dagger is iconic. You'll use it forever.

Leaving that bloody sanctuary feels empty. Was Lucien right? Doubt starts creeping in. The Oblivion Dark Brotherhood quests aren't just about killing; they're about loyalty and sacrifice.

The Black Hand & The Ultimate Contract

As Silencer, you report directly to Lucien. He gives you contracts personally, often involving high-profile targets and requiring extreme discretion. The stakes feel higher.

Promotion to Speaker is huge. It means joining the elite governing body – the Black Hand. Lucien inducts you at the Deepscorn Hollow sanctuary (south of Bravil). You etch your name on the Black Door. The sense of power is intoxicating... but short-lived.

Deepscorn Hollow & The Traitor

Deepscorn Hollow becomes YOUR sanctuary. It needs some work (filthy!), but it's yours. Lucien tasks you with a crucial mission: investigate the disappearances of other Black Hand members. Suspicion falls on the Cheydinhal Sanctuary... the one *you* purified. Lucien sends you back to Fort Farragut for orders. What you find is horrific.

Where is Lucien Lachance? You arrive to find Lucien's mutilated body hanging from the rafters in a cage. The message is clear: betrayal from within the Black Hand itself. The remaining Speakers are dead. You are likely next. The Night Mother herself contacts you, revealing the traitor: Mathieu Bellamont. He orchestrated everything to destroy the Dark Brotherhood, blaming them for his mother's death. His final target? You. And the Night Mother.

The Final Showdown: Ending the Night Mother's Sorrow

Your mission is clear: Kill Mathieu Bellamont. He's holed up in the Imperial City Temple District, specifically in the *actual* lair of the Night Mother beneath the Temple of the One. Getting inside requires speaking the phrase to the secret door: "Sanguine, my brother."

The Fight: Inside, you find Mathieu attempting to destroy the Night Mother's coffin. He's not alone; he has powerful summoned Daedra (Dremora or Xivilai) protecting him. This is the toughest fight in the oblivion dark brotherhood quests. Prioritize killing the Daedra first if they overwhelm you. Mathieu himself uses Destruction magic. Use cover, potions, and anything in your arsenal.

Once Mathieu falls, the Night Mother speaks again. The Brotherhood is shattered, but not destroyed. She tasks you, the last Speaker and Listener (you hear her directly now!), with rebuilding. The quest concludes, but your role continues...

Rewards: Promotion to Listener, Ability to receive quests directly from the Night Mother (Radiant quests "Contracts from the Night Mother"), Ancient Shrouded Armor Set (superior stats to regular Shrouded Armor), Sense of being the most dangerous person in Tamriel.

Dark Brotherhood Oblivion Rewards: What's Worth Killing For?

Besides gold (which piles up), the unique gear is fantastic. Here’s the juicy loot:

Beyond the Main Story: Dark Brotherhood Forever?

After becoming Listener, your job isn't over. The Night Mother herself starts giving you contracts. This is the "Dark Brotherhood Forever" radiant quest system. Basically, she gives you random assassination targets across Cyrodiil. How it works:

• Activation: Sleep in your bed at Deepscorn Hollow or any other owned bed.
• The Contract: You wake up with a note detailing the target and their location.
• The Target: Usually a randomly generated NPC in a specific town or location. Difficulty varies.
• Reward: Gold (scales with your level, roughly 200-500), sometimes minor loot.

Pros: Infinite assassination work. Good gold farm. Roleplaying as the ultimate assassin. What else is there to do with the Brotherhood?

Cons: Gets repetitive fast. Targets are generic. Doesn't advance any story. Honestly? I usually stop after a few. The magic was in the main Oblivion dark brotherhood quests.

Common Questions About Oblivion Dark Brotherhood Quests (Answered!)

Can I join the Dark Brotherhood without murdering an innocent?

Nope. Absolutely not. Murder is the only key. The game mechanics demand it. No exploits bypass this trigger. Embrace the darkness.

What happens if I get caught doing a Dark Brotherhood quest?

You get a bounty, guards attack. If you kill a target in front of witnesses, it's standard assault/murder charge. Pay the bounty, go to jail, or resist arrest. It doesn't automatically fail the DB quest unless the quest specifically requires "No Trace" or "No Witnesses" (like Accidents Happen or Scheduled for Execution). Getting caught *entering* a Sanctuary? Doesn't happen; doors only open with the phrase.

Can I save Lucien Lachance?

Sadly, no. His fate is scripted and central to the plot. Finding him like that is supposed to be a gut punch. Mods might change this, but in vanilla Oblivion, Lucien dies.

Is there a downside to joining the Dark Brotherhood?

Beyond the moral implications? Not really gameplay-wise. Guards don't treat you differently. Factions don't reject you (except maybe the Knights of the Nine DLC, but that's later). Your fame/infamy increases significantly, meaning some NPCs might comment negatively. That's about it. The rewards far outweigh any vague reputation hit.

Can I complete the Dark Brotherhood questline if I killed Vicente before The Purification?

Vicente is essential until "The Purification." Killing him earlier bugs the questline irreparably. You cannot progress. Don't kill family members early! Stick to your contracts.

Is the Dark Brotherhood questline worth it?

Unequivocally YES. It offers the best writing, most memorable characters, coolest unique gear, and a genuinely gripping storyline in Oblivion. The sense of progression from lowly murderer to leader of the guild is unmatched. It's darker, more personal, and frankly, more fun than saving the world from Mehrunes Dagon. Worth every drop of virtual blood.

How long does the Oblivion Dark Brotherhood questline take?

Focusing just on the main quests (excluding radiant ones), expect 6-10 hours depending on your playstyle, level, and how much you explore/side-track. Rushing the kills might take 4-5 hours. Savoring the atmosphere and doing contracts carefully takes longer.

What's the best way to play the Dark Brotherhood quests?

Sneak and Archery/Short Blade are obvious fits. But Illusion (Invisibility, Chameleon, Frenzy) and Conjuration (distractions!) are incredibly powerful. Alchemy for poisons fits thematically too. Even a brute-force warrior can manage, but stealth makes fulfilling specific conditions (No Trace) much easier. Roleplay it! Talk to the members between contracts.

Final Thoughts on the Dark Brotherhood Oblivion Experience

Look, the Oblivion Dark Brotherhood quests set a bar that later games struggled to reach. Skyrim's DB was fun, but it lacked the gut-punch twists, the genuine sense of camaraderie-turned-betrayal, and the depth of characters like Vicente or Lucien. The Purification remains one of the most shocking moments I've encountered in a game. It forced me to confront my actions in a way few quests do.

Yeah, the AI has its quirks. Sometimes guards see you through walls. Sometimes a Sanctuary member glitches into a corner. It's old. But the core experience? Unforgettable. The rewards are genuinely useful throughout the game. The story is dark, compelling, and makes you feel like a true agent of Sithis.

If you're playing Oblivion and haven't done these quests, you're missing out on its absolute peak. Commit that murder. Go to sleep. Listen to Lucien's voice. Step into the Cheydinhal Sanctuary. Just... maybe don't get too attached to anyone. Hail Sithis.