The Dark Brotherhood questline is one of the best Bethesda has ever made. But should you join the Brotherhood in the Oblivion Remaster?
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered made us all come back to some of our favorite childhood experiences. But it also made us come back to one of Bethesda Game Studios’ best quests ever. If you don’t know yet, we’re talking about the Dark Brotherhood questline. It’s one of the best ever, but should you join the Brotherhood?
Most Oblivion Remastered players cast themselves as noble heroes, so the idea of joining a death cult of assassins like the Dark Brotherhood might seem like a hard no. After all, it starts with murdering an innocent person; how does it make sense? Despite that, it’s one of the best questlines in RPG history. Here’s why its pros far outweigh the cons.
The pros of joining the Dark Brotherhood in the Oblivion Remaster
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The Dark Brotherhood questline is still one of the best we’ve seen from Bethesda across all their RPGs. From the chilling moment Lucien Lachance appears at your bedside after your first innocent kill, to the final, blood-soaked twists within the Black Hand, each quest is full of detail and dark mystery, and we love it. The characters also have some of the best writing in the game.
If you can stomach the moral implications of this questline, the Brotherhood rewards you generously. You can get early access to unique gear like the Blade of Woe and Shadowmere, the game’s best mount. These can make your playthrough much easier. You’ll also earn a steady stream of gold, and eventually, you’ll gain the ability to become a Listener, netting you 200 gold per in-game week.
Ironically, joining the Dark Brotherhood also contributes to the hero’s journey aspect of the game, in a way. The Hero of Kvatch begins the game as a prisoner, a blank slate with a murky past. It can mark a dark chapter in your character’s journey. A fall from grace, a moment of weakness, or even a necessary evil to save someone else. Some real Darth Vader type stuff, you know.
The missions are no joke either. The quests you get often let you take different approaches. Stealth, deception, or outright violence. They are all options, and it makes the entire questline feel more than just the typical RPG fetch or kill quests. Unlike other guilds, the Brotherhood’s missions play out like something you’d read in a George R. R. Martin book.
The pros of joining the Dark Brotherhood in the Oblivion Remaster
It’s worth it, just do it. | Image Credit: Bethesda Game Studios
Firstly, the Dark Brotherhood doesn’t send you a polite letter inviting you to join. Instead, you will have to murder a completely innocent NPC without provocation. That requirement alone is often where most people draw the line. Especially if they’re trying to play the game as the hero. But this act immediately adds Infamy to your record.
Joining the Brotherhood also locks you out of some roleplaying and gameplay options unless you’re willing to work to reclaim your lost virtue. The Infamy you gain not only limits your ability to wear divine gear but also distances you from factions like the Knights of the Nine. If you’re planning to be the symbol of justice and mercy, the consequences of joining the Brotherhood will make that harder.
Being a part of the Brotherhood is no light work either. Be warned, the Brotherhood is unforgiving. Kill or steal from a fellow member, and you’ll be expelled. Get caught committing murder, and you’ll face a bounty and potential imprisonment. Unlike the Thieves Guild, the Brotherhood won’t assist you in dealing with the law. Once you’re in, you need to survive on your own.
In the end, the pros and cons really don’t end up mattering. Because the cons are part of why the questline is so good in the first place. Regardless of why you choose to join the Brotherhood, it’s worth seeing through at least once. After all, in a fantasy world, even heroes sometimes walk through the shadows.
