Unlock Shadowmere Early: Dark Brotherhood Questline Timing Tips

In the realm of Oblivion, The Dark Brotherhood remains one of the most cherished guilds. Its captivating questline, intriguing characters, enticing rewards, unexpected twists, and thrilling turns have ensured its enduring appeal. Even those who played it years ago hold fond memories of it, while novice players are just now uncovering its charm with the release of Oblivion Remastered.

In my gaming journey through Oblivion Remastered, figuring out when and how to tackle questlines, or what order to complete factions, can sometimes feel like a puzzle. The Dark Brotherhood, for instance, presents a conundrum because it adds Infamy points that may clash with the Knights of the Nine DLC. Yet, it also demands a morally challenging action: taking an innocent life, which isn’t something my character usually does unless absolutely necessary. It’s these complexities that make the game so engaging!

Joining the Dark Brotherhood Early

There are multiple strategies for initiating the Dark Brotherhood adventure, hinging on whether you prefer immersive role-play or faster access to superior weapons and assets. If you embark on the Dark Brotherhood quest between levels 1 and 15, you’ll gain early access to the mighty Blade of Woe, decent armor, and Shadowmere – a swift, invincible steed that streamlines your journey through Cyrodiil. Neglecting Shadowmere, the Blade of Woe, and initial Dark Brotherhood armor could adversely impact your gameplay experience.

A person adopting this method can portray their Kvatch Hero initially as a reformed antagonist in the game ‘Oblivion’. They’d start off as part of the Dark Brotherhood, embarking on their journey despite being freshly released from prison due to an unspecified crime. This setup offers a unique twist because the Dark Brotherhood also provides contracts for assassinations, offering the player a steady stream of earnings.

Joining the Dark Brotherhood Later in Oblivion

Starting out with the Dark Brotherhood early in the game might present a challenge because the Blade of Woe, a weapon I’ve grown quite fond of, gets leveled up after completing the quest “Honor Thy Mother”. Its power and enchantment scale with your character level, peaking at Level 30. Given the Dark Brotherhood’s sinister nature that involves offing innocent NPCs, it can be tough to stomach joining such an organization if you’re playing a virtuous, compassionate character. Plus, the Dark Brotherhood bestows Infamy points, and until you revisit the Wayshrines of all the Nine members, these points can make it problematic to wear the Crusader’s sacred relics.

In contrast, roleplay can break down these obstacles. The Dark Brotherhood presents an ideal journey for a Hero who’s slipped from grace into the shadows. In the game Oblivion, the Hero of Kvatch might suffer loss and descend into darkness, ultimately joining the Dark Brotherhood as a result. This character might then abandon allegiance to the Nine and embrace Sithis, choosing not to bear the Crusader’s relics. This transition seamlessly sets the stage for Shivering Isles, introducing a protagonist who has surrendered to chaos and desires madness.

With this method, the Hero gains benefits since they can handle quests more effortlessly as their abilities improve and equipment upgrades. The Dark Brotherhood won’t have to be reinitiated after finishing every main storyline and side content, allowing players to leverage the skills and gear bestowed by the faction.

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2025-05-08 07:48