In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, getting into the Dark Brotherhood means doing some dark stuff, like killing someone. Here’s a complete guide on how to join up, plus tips on which NPCs you can take out without messing up your game.
How to Join the Dark Brotherhood
Commit a Murder
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To catch the Dark Brotherhood’s eye, you gotta kill an innocent NPC—someone who’s not a bad guy and isn’t tied to some other quest that’ll mess things up.
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Once you pull it off, you’ll see a message like, "Your killing has been observed by forces unknown..." That’s the Brotherhood saying, “Hey, we see you.”
Wait for the Invite
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Crash in a bed somewhere safe, like an inn or your house.
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When you wake up, Lucien Lachance, a Dark Brotherhood guy, will show up and offer you a spot. He’ll hand you the "A Knife in the Dark" quest, telling you to go kill a dude named Rufio at the Inn of Ill Omen.
Finish the Starter Quest
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Head to the Inn of Ill Omen (south of the Imperial City) and take out Rufio, who’s usually chilling in his room.
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Sleep in a bed again after that, and Lucien will pop back up to officially bring you into the Dark Brotherhood.
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You’ll get the Blade of Woe and directions to their hideout in Cheydinhal, kicking off the questline.
Which NPCs Are Safe to Kill
You need to pick an NPC whose death won’t break the game or screw up quests. Here’s the deal on who’s okay to kill and who to steer clear of.
Guidelines for Choosing an NPC
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Skip Essential NPCs: These guys can’t die until their quests are done, so they won’t work for this.
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Don’t Touch Quest NPCs: Taking out someone tied to big quests (like the Mages Guild or main story) can wreck your progress.
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Go for Nobodies: NPCs with basic dialogue, no quests, or no faction ties are your best bet.
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Pick a Quiet Spot: Killing somewhere private lowers the chance of getting caught and slapped with a bounty.
Safe NPCs to Kill
Here are some NPCs you can take out without causing trouble:
Rufio (Inn of Ill Omen)
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Location: Inn of Ill Omen, south of the Imperial City.
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Why Safe: Rufio’s basically made for the Dark Brotherhood’s intro quest. You can kill him early to get things rolling, and it won’t mess up anything else.
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Note: If you kill him before Lucien shows up, you’ll still get contacted, and you’ll skip the kill part of "A Knife in the Dark".
Baenlin (Bruma)
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Location: Baenlin’s house in Bruma.
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Why Safe: Baenlin’s a minor NPC who shows up in a later Dark Brotherhood quest, "Accidents Happen". Killing him early doesn’t break anything since his death is already part of the plan. His servant, Gromm, is also fair game.
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Note: Don’t go after other Bruma folks, as lots of them are tied to quests.
Generic Farmers or Commoners
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Drusilla or Eronor (Weynon Priory, near Chorrol): Minor NPCs who don’t matter much after the early main quest.
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Shaleez (Flooded Mine, near Bravil): A lone Argonian with no quest connections.
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Random farmers (like ones near Skingrad or Anvil): Most unnamed farmhands aren’t important.
These folks don’t have special dialogue or quest roles, so their deaths don’t affect anything big. Talk to them first to make sure they’re not tied to anything. If they’re just spouting generic lines, you’re good.
Beggars
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Favel Dres (Cheydinhal).
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Nermus the Mooch (Skingrad).
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Simplicia the Slow (Imperial City).
Beggars usually aren’t part of major quests, and killing them doesn’t mess with factions. Some give tiny tips for Thieves Guild stuff, though, so hold off if you’re planning to join that crew.
Taking out beggars might feel harsh, but it won’t break the game.
NPCs to Avoid Killing
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Quest NPCs: Don’t touch folks like Jauffre, Martin (main quest), or guild leaders like Raminus Polus in the Mages Guild.
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Faction Members: Killing Fighters Guild or Mages Guild folks can lock you out of those questlines.
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City Guards: Taking them out gets you a bounty and might not even trigger the Dark Brotherhood quest.
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Named NPCs with Chat: People with unique names and lots of dialogue (like shopkeepers or trainers) are often tied to quests or services.
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