- "The leader of the Dark Brotherhood? You mean Astrid? Dead? And this is no jest? You, my friend. You've slain their leader. Ha! This is a stroke of good fortune. Long have I watched the Dark Brotherhood's movements... waiting for the time to strike. That time is now!"
- ―Commander Maro[src]
Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! is a quest available in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in which the Dragonborn is tasked by the Penitus Oculatus to eliminate the Dark Brotherhood after killing the faction's leader in Skyrim, Astrid. Starting this quest makes it impossible to later join the Dark Brotherhood.
Background[]
I have killed Astrid, the leader of the Dark Brotherhood. I should report her death to a guard.
Objectives[]
- Report Astrid's death to a guard
- Speak with Commander Maro
- Kill everyone in the Sanctuary!
- Report back to Commander Maro
Walkthrough[]
This quest begins after completing "Innocence Lost" and starting "With Friends Like These...," the Dragonborn is captured during their sleep by the leader of the Dark Brotherhood, Astrid, and brought to the Abandoned Shack in Hjaalmarch. Astrid orders them to kill one of three captives therein: Fultheim the Fearless, Alea Quintus, and Vasha. Killing Astrid instead of the three captives will fail "With Friends Like These..." and begin this quest in its place.
Report Astrid's death[]
After killing Astrid, the Dragonborn will be directed to report to any guard with the information that they have killed a Dark Brotherhood assassin (the closest guards may be found in Morthal, south of the shack). The guard will tell them to report to Commander Maro, who resides at the Penitus Oculatus Outpost in Dragon Bridge.
Maro says that he has been tracking the Dark Brotherhood and waiting for an opportunity to attack. On hearing news of the death of their leader, he tasks the Dragonborn with infiltrating the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, using the password his agents recently acquired, and slaying every assassin inside.
Kill everyone in the Sanctuary[]
Travel to the Sanctuary, southwest of Falkreath. To complete the quest, the Dragonborn must kill Nazir, Gabriella, Arnbjorn, Festus Krex, and Veezara,all of them will turn hostile if they detect the Dragonborn.
The pet of the sanctuary, the frostbite spider Lis, does not have to be killed, but it will attack if it spots the Dragonborn.
The assassins can be powerful, and collectively possess a range of attacks that make fighting several of them together in the cramped space fairly difficult. The use of bows, invisibility and poisons are effective ways to take care of them.
Report back to Commander Maro[]
When the job is done, the Dragonborn must report back to Commander Maro to complete the quest and collect the reward of 3,000 
. Once the quest is complete, the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary will remain accessible and undamaged, in contrast to finishing the Dark Brotherhood questline when most of it is destroyed.
Reward[]
- 3,000
Journal[]
| Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! – DBDestroy | |
|---|---|
| ID | Journal Entry |
| 10 | I have killed Astrid, the leader of the Dark Brotherhood. I should report her death to a guard.
|
| 20 | I've spoken to a guard about Astrid's death. He told me I should share this information with Commander Maro, in the village of Dragon Bridge.
|
| 30 | Commander Maro has tasked me with killing every assassin in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary! He has provided me with the pass phrase that will allow me to enter.
|
| 40 | I have killed every assassin in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary. I should now report back to Commander Maro.
|
| 200 | After killing Astrid, the leader of the Dark Brotherhood, I was commissioned by Commander Maro to wipe out the assassins' Sanctuary. I did so, and was rewarded for my efforts. Of course, it will now be impossible for me to join the shadowy organization...
|
Trivia[]
- After killing Astrid, the three captives can be freed, though they can also be killed with no consequence for their.
- Cicero and Babette are not present in the Sanctuary, thus they are not killed, although Cicero is never seen again, and Babette is never seen at all.
- Guards can be heard saying afterwards, "You know, I could've gone into that sanctuary and killed all those Dark Brotherhood types, but I was... sick that day." or "You...You destroyed the Dark Brotherhood. Friend, I owe you a drink."
- After the Brotherhood has been eliminated, there will be no more random encounters possible of Dark Brotherhood assassins to kill the Dragonborn.
- When reporting Astrid's demise to Commander Maro, one enters the usual conversation (i.e., a menu with dialogue options). However, when reporting back, one will not be able to enter into any conversation; Maro simply talks to them.
- Completing the quest will cause Commander Maro to consider the Dragonborn a friend. He may also appear at the Dragonborn's wedding.
- There is a very similar quest that starts The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal, called "Hunt the Dark Brotherhood."
- It is possible to reverse the actions taken during this quest, however doing so may crash the game. Open console and type
setstage db02a 10. Then, go to the Abandoned Shack and enter it; one will find Astrid dead. Open the console, click on Astrid, and typeresurrect. Wait until she walks outside. Follow her outside, and she will "fly" away. After this, go to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary. Repeat the resurrection and following on all of the dead Brotherhood members. - Destroying will make all Dark Brotherhood rewards and items permanently inaccessible, e.g. Cicero as a follower,Shadowmere and windshear will be unavailable.
- If the Dragonborn casts Calm on a member of the Dark Brotherhood, they will have the same dialogue as if the Dragonborn joined the Dark Brotherhood with the exception of Nazir, Nazir will not give contracts.
Appearances[]
| Dark Brotherhood | |
|---|---|
| Main Quests | |
| Contracts | |
| Others |
|