In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, players have the option to join just about any of the available factions they want, without any limitations. From being a brave Companion to studying magic at the College of Winterhold, there's a faction for any type of character build imaginable. Even for assassins, there's the infamous Dark Brotherhood.
While the faction itself is one of the most unique and sinister in Skyrim — and also an excellent way to make tons of gold quickly, there are a lot of inconsistencies in its story. Even among highly skilled and trained assassins, there are bound to be facts and details that just don't seem to make any sense at all.
10 Transporting The Night Mother
At some point during the quest line of the Brotherhood, the Dragonborn will be introduced to Cicero, a rather annoying and strange character. He's actually a member of a previous Brotherhood sanctuary and has been transporting the body of the Night Mother for weeks.
It's quite baffling to think he did this all on his own, without any suspicion at all. Especially after entering Skyrim's borders with the Stormcloak Rebellion brewing, one would imagine that the local Imperials would want to check his cargo at least once.
9 Payments
Payments are a bit of a gray area for the Brotherhood. It's unclear whether the members are in it for religious convictions or for profit, because the Brotherhood seems to be an intimate mixture of the best of both worlds. However, what doesn't get explained is where all the money comes from.
While those who perform the Black Sacrament might offer a reward to the Dragonborn, the actual payment comes from the faction itself, and it's never fully explained where and how this money is acquired.
8 Killing Grelod
In order to join the Brotherhood, the Dragonborn must first attract their attention by killing the old and abusive owner of Riften's orphanage, Grelod the Kind. This is an actual contract which is received from Aventus Aretino in Windhelm.
The Brotherhood seems to imply afterwards that they were aware of Aventus performing the Black Sacrament. And yet, they don't show any anger or distaste towards the Dragonborn, who snatched the contract under their noses. For a struggling faction, the Dark Brotherhood is too flexible.
7 Relying On Rumors
In Skyrim's version of the Dark Brotherhood, it's soon discovered that the faction isn't quite as prepared as many believe. Performing the Black Sacrament alone won't attract the attention of the assassins, since there hasn't been a Listener for a long time to communicate the will of the Night Mother.
Due to this, the faction has been relying entirely on rumors, which just seems like a terrible way to run things. What if they fail to hear about a Black Sacrament? What if they hear false rumors? So many things could go wrong.
6 Astrid At The Abandoned Shack
Once the Dragonborn is transported to the Abandoned Shack where they meet Astrid for the first time, they have a few different options to choose from when it comes to killing someone in the shack. They can either kill any or all of the hostages, or they can turn on Astrid herself.
The weird thing about this is that Astrid isn't actually a very tough kill at all, and as she dies, she seems to relish her final moments by saying "well done." Given that she's obsessed with being in power, it's a weird choice of words.
5 Abandoning The Tenets
Since the Oblivion crisis, the Dark Brotherhood has been struggling quite a bit. Many of its headquarters have been ransacked by Imperials, which has severely weakened the influence of the faction all across Tamriel. In Skyrim, it's implied the Falkreath sanctuary is among the last safe havens, if not the last.
That said, one would think a struggling faction like this would strengthen its bond with its founding values in a crisis like this. Instead, the sanctuary rejects its principles.
4 The Night Mother's Coffin
After things go down and Astrid betrays the Dragonborn, the Falkreath sanctuary is attacked by the Penitus Oculatus. During this raid, the entire place is basically burned down and ransacked by Imperials, while most of the members are also killed.
However, one thing the Imperials never seem to notice is the massive, ominous black coffin of the Night Mother in which the Dragonborn hides. It's pretty unlikely this would happen, given how strange of an object it is.
3 Astrid's Trust In Maro
About halfway through the quest line of the Dark Brotherhood, the Dragonborn is tasked with attacking Commander Maro's son in a plot to eventually kill the Emperor. However, shortly after this, Astrid actually makes a deal with Maro himself to turn in the Listener if the Brotherhood was spared.
This doesn't make sense, especially since Astrid literally ordered the assassination of Maro's son. It's unlikely she would trust someone she betrayed herself and expect not to get hurt. As one would imagine, Maro does turn on her in the end to avenge his son, and no one's surprised except Astrid.
2 Weak But Feared
There's a strange duality about the Brotherhood in Skyrim that also doesn't make much sense. On one hand, as the Dragonborn joins the faction, they're told that the Brotherhood is in shambles and that its influence isn't the greatest as of now.
On the other, the citizens of Skyrim and possibly of Tamriel as well, still speak of the Brotherhood in fearful whispers. There seems to be a weird dissonance between the actual state of the faction and its image among outsiders.
1 Getting To The Abandoned Shack
One of the greatest questions surrounding the Dark Brotherhood is of course how the Dragonborn was taken to the Abandoned Shack in the first place. One Grelod is killed, the Dragonborn will receive a mysterious note from the Brotherhood and after sleeping, they will find themselves in the Abandoned Shack.
How are they transported there without waking up? Are they drugged? How would they even be taken away without anyone seeing them, especially if the Dragonborn is sleeping at an inn? It just doesn't add up.
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