Character Sheet
The Code
Zaria-do trained in the old ways of Elsweyr and fled the one contract she would not take. In Skyrim she perfects the art on those who deserve it.
Her code: she chooses who deserves the knife. She pays her debts. She never kills the innocent, never poisons food or water, and never leaves a job half-done. The Dark Brotherhood will test every line of this.
Build Spine
Primary: Sneak (multipliers and detection), Archery (the opener), Alchemy (poisons and funding).
Secondary: One-Handed daggers (the 15x finish), Illusion (Muffle, Quiet Casting, Frenzy), Light Armor (the failure budget).
Support: Enchanting (Muffle boots, Fortify gear, Extra Effect), Lockpicking and Pickpocket (trade skills), Smithing to tempering depth only.
Stat split: Roughly 1 Magicka : 2 Health : 2 Stamina early, drifting Magicka-ward once Illusion matters; she is a knife first and a mage a distant second.
Lockout Ledger
Only what this route touches. A build run still refuses to walk into a locked door.
Hard save discipline: before any irreversible choice below, make a named manual save.
| Risk | What it locks | Safe handling | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Brotherhood entry | Killing Astrid at the Abandoned Shack starts Destroy the Dark Brotherhood instead; the whole questline and the Shrouded Gloves (30x daggers) are gone. | Sleep, take the ride, hear her out. Zaria-do joins to judge them from inside. | Levels 26-40 |
| Thieves Guild: Loud and Clear | Killing during Guild jobs fails them; blood on Guild work also fights her code. | Ghost the jobs: Muffle, shadows, no bodies. | Levels 11-25 |
| Cicero’s life | The Cure for Madness choice is permanent; sparing him keeps a follower and a storyline thread. | Her code says the jester’s crimes are the Brotherhood’s own business: spare him. Hard save first if unsure. | Levels 26-40 |
| Dawnguard side choice | Joining the vampires locks the Dawnguard side, crossbows, and the human path this route assumes. | Side with the Dawnguard at Dimhollow. Serana’s story continues either way. | Levels 41-52 |
| Paarthurnax | Killing him is permanent and closes his dialogue; the Blades lock themselves out instead if refused. | Refuse the Blades. Her list is her own; he is not on it. | Levels 41-52 |
| Werewolf blood (out of scope) | The Companions’ Circle forces lycanthropy to advance; this route stops before it. | Companions optional up to Proving Honor only; the beast blood is not her way. | If visited |
| Achievements disabled | Non-Creation-Club mods disable achievements for that save. | Vanilla plus Anniversary content only, per the rules. | Always |
What this run does not cover
The Civil War (armies are not her trade), the Companions beyond a courtesy visit (no beast blood), the College questline past what Illusion training requires, heavy crafting mastery, and the 100% achievement sweep. Hrodvar’s guide covers the completionist route; this one goes deep instead of wide.
The Saga Route
Escape, first bow, first poisons, the road to Riften.
The Thieves Guild teaches the trade while Sneak, Archery, and Alchemy mature.
The Dark Brotherhood, the dagger, and the questions her code must answer.
Dragons, the main quest, Dawnguard and the crossbow, Illusion at working strength.
Solstheim, Master-tier tools, the complete assassin.