Ready to embrace the shadows? In Oblivion Remastered, joining the Dark Brotherhood is not for the faint of heart-you must commit a cold-blooded murder of an innocent NPC, then rest in safety to awaken Lucien Lachance, your dark recruiter. From there, a twisted path of assassination quests awaits, starting with the chilling task to eliminate Rufio at the Inn of Ill Omen. Dare to enter the Brotherhood’s secret sanctuary in Cheydinhal and prove your deadly worth in this infamous faction of The Elder Scrolls IV.
This guide explains how to join the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion Remastered and which target is the safest one to kill to get started.
How to join the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion Remastered
To join the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion Remastered, you must first murder an innocent NPC-this act cannot be against bandits or hostile enemies, but a non-aggressive civilian who won’t immediately provoke guards. After committing the murder, rest in a safe bed to trigger a visit from Lucien Lachance, a Dark Brotherhood emissary, who will offer you a chance to join the guild. He will assign you to assassinate Rufio, located in the Inn of Ill Omen south of the Imperial City. Upon completing this task and sleeping again, you will be invited to enter the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary near Cheydinhal by using the secret password “Sanguine, my brother,” officially initiating you into the deadly assassin faction.
The only way to join the Dark Brotherhood is to kill an innocent person. Sleep in a safe place afterward – any inn or bed in a place where people aren’t trying to kill you will do – and you’ll wake up to see Lucien Lachance watching you. He’ll congratulate you for being a ruthless killer and offer to let you join the Dark Brotherhood if you can prove yourself to him.
Lucien wants you to kill Rufio for the quest “A Knife in the Dark.” He doesn’t say why, but he tells you where to find him – the Inn of Ill Omen. It’s on the road south of the Imperial City.
Travel there, and you can chat with the proprietor to find out where Rufio is if you want. He’s in the “private quarters,” which is the basement. Enter the cellar hatch by the front door, and go to the room at the hallway’s far end. Rufio is asleep in the bed. You can kill him there, pickpocket him first, or wake him up to hear a little of his story. He admits to murdering a woman and then tries to flee.
He won’t leave the basement, so there’s no chance of him escaping and you failing the quest. Once he’s dead, sleep in one of the beds to make Lucien appear again.
After reaffirming your desire to join the Dark Brotherhood, Lucien directs you to a house in Cheydinhal. Enter the basement there, and speak the password: “Sanguine, My Brother.” The branch leader, Ocheeva, will have a chat, and you’ll officially join the Dark Brotherhood. Ocheeva will give you your first quest after that.
Who to kill to join the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion Remastered
To join the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion Remastered, you must first kill an innocent NPC. This cannot be a bandit, enemy, or quest-essential character, but rather a random, non-hostile civilian who is ideally isolated and not near guards to avoid bounty. Suitable targets include beggars, lone travelers, or NPCs at isolated farms or homesteads. After committing the murder, rest in a safe bed away from other NPCs. Upon waking, you will be approached by Lucien Lachance, who will offer you the chance to join the Dark Brotherhood and assign you the next task to prove your worth.
The target has to be an innocent person. That means it can’t be a bandit or other villain, and it can’t be someone with a legitimate grievance against you – someone you attacked or stole from, for example. Oblivion Remastered marks NPCs who give quests or have some importance to the story or other side quests with a crown icon when you approach them. Don’t kill these people, as you might need them later.
One popular choice is the Adoring Fanfollower, since he rises from the dead a few days after shuffling off the mortal coil. However, he won’t start following you until after you rise through the Arena’s ranks, which can take a little while. It’s a solid way to earn money and progress another faction’s quest, but if you just want to start the Dark Brotherhood quest early, there’s a better way.
It also involves the Arena. Travel there, and enter the spectator area that’s reserved for betting patrons. Kill one of the viewers. There are no guards around, and the other spectators are more interested in watching the murder they have money on than dealing with the murder happening literally right next to them. You can get it done and leave without any pushback, and guards won’t follow you afterward either.
What’s the secret to successfully joining the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion Remastered
The secret to successfully joining the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion Remastered lies in committing a murder that meets specific criteria: you must kill an innocent, non-essential NPC who is not a bandit or quest-giver, ideally someone isolated like a beggar or lone traveler to avoid guard interference and quest complications. After the murder, sleep in a safe place such as a bed you own or an inn; this triggers a visit from Lucien Lachance, who offers you the Blade of Woe and the initiation quest “A Knife in the Dark”.
Next, you must travel to the Inn of Ill Omen near Bravil, locate Rufio in the basement, and assassinate him. After killing Rufio and sleeping again, Lucien will reappear to formally invite you to join the Dark Brotherhood. Finally, head to an abandoned house near the eastern gate of Cheydinhal, pick the lock, and at the basement door marked with a skull and red handprint, respond with the secret phrase “Sanguine, my Brother” to gain entry to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary and complete your initiation.
Key tips include avoiding killing shopkeepers, quest-essential NPCs (marked with a crown icon), or anyone whose death might lock you out of other content, ensuring your murder is discreet and unprovoked to successfully trigger the Brotherhood’s invitation.
What’s the key to choosing the right NPC for your first kill in Oblivion
The key to choosing the right NPC for your first kill in Oblivion to join the Dark Brotherhood is to select an innocent, non-essential character who is not involved in quests or shopkeeping and who won’t cause major gameplay disruptions if killed. Ideal targets include NPCs like Alga in Bruma, Dralora Athram in the Imperial City, or Glarthir in Skingrad, as they are not quest-critical and will respawn or won’t negatively impact your progress. Avoid killing essential NPCs marked with a crown icon or those who give quests, as they cannot be killed or their death could lock you out of content. Killing hostile enemies like bandits or wizards doesn’t count; the murder must be of an innocent to attract the Brotherhood’s attention.
