What exactly are Nightingales?

[FarmGirl]

This is just something that I am curious about-I have close to 450 hours in Skyrim (I have been laid up for several months) and have done the Thieve's Guild several times. I get the impression that the Nightingales are basically thieves that have extra "luck" from Nocturnal. Am I missing something?
I see most people on the forums playing Nightingales as assassins?

 

[Nocte Aeterna]

The Nightingales are basically a band of highly skilled thieves (meaning not just anyone can join) loyal to Nocturnal, the Daedric Prince (though the voice is actually female) of luck. Nocturnal acts as a matron to the Thieves Guild, at least in the latter's eyes. Their well-being depends on her, mostly.

The Nightingales' existence is meant to be secret, though, so it's treated like a mere myth among most of the guild. The original three Nightingales were Gallus, Mercer Frey, and Karliah.

Spoiler

But during the latter portion of the Thieves Guild questline, you know that the Dragonborn and Brynjolf join the Nightingales in Gallus' and Mercer's places respectively, after you kill Mercer Frey.

 

[Verac]

in short words, they are thief assassins in a way, but mainly serve as guards for nocturnal for when she calls for them. Thats when they're assassinations come into play. other than that they are extremely talented thieves.

 

[FarmGirl]

Thank you both. That is good info. I was confused because so many people say their PC is a "Nightingale assassin".

 

[tvr123]

This is just something that I am curious about-I have close to 450 hours in Skyrim (I have been laid up for several months) and have done the Thieve's Guild several times.

 

[Voodoo_uk2]

I think they may call it this as its a mixture of
Half Any Assassin Uniform leathers or home-made and Nightingale uniform or just Full Nightingale Uniform as its pretty dark and Badass
when i joined the Dark Brotherhood who are by far the most feared Assassins i had already previously joined the Nightingales ( and had their armour stashed at one of my drums ) Well when i got given the DB clobber i was like ..Oh Thanks ( not ) its ok but really does not work for me dunno about anyone else here i like to have the DB torso and Gloves mixed with the Nightingale Cowl and Booties its a good look sorry about the NV but i made my Assassin garb as stealthy as possible and even in day light its a bit hard for the detail not to be shaddowed

Nightingale Cowl - DarkBrotherhood Leather Armour Black/Read - DB Leather Gauntlets - Nightingale Boots plus all have enchantments

 

[FarmGirl]

What exactly are you saying? You don't believe I have 450 hours?

 

[Verac]

i hate that Nightengale gear looks like dark brotherhood gear, and vise versa. i mean hell as nightengal looks like a freakin' harbinger of sithis, Grim reaper apparal ETC

 

[Voodoo_uk2]

i hate that Nightengale gear looks like dark brotherhood gear, and vise versa. i mean hell as nightengal looks like a freakin' harbinger of sithis, Grim reaper apparal ETC

Yeah this stage of the game questline is pretty sinister but for me its a chance to do away with my good natured Wandering Warrior Mage and get my Evil on lool plus im getting a hella lot of Stealth points i wasnt getting before i dont think i will go FULL EVIL and get taken by the dark side an stay a nonfaced murderous shadow in the dark but for now Skyrim will have to sleep with one eye open

 

[Dashmiel]

Nightingales are just thieves who Nocturnal drafted to be her/his/it's (Daedric Princes are technically genderless) lackeys. They protect her shrine, keep her artifact safe, scrub the floors of her temple, etc. Oh, and eternal damnation. Can't forget eternal damnation, that's a biggie with all of the Daedric Lords. Nightingales forfeit their soul and must serve Nocturnal eternally in death.

In return, Nocturnal makes sure mortal thieves (in Skyrim's case just the Thieves Guild, but Lorewise every thief in Tamriel has Nocturnal as the matron of their profession) are a bit luckier than honest folk, and gives her Nightingales a bit extra umpth with badass clothes and powers.

 

[FarmGirl]

So basically once you're a Nightingale you are promoted from thief to thief/assassin/whatever Nocturnal wants you to be?
I wonder what s/he has you do in death...

 

[Dashmiel]

So basically once you're a Nightingale you are promoted from thief to thief/assassin/whatever Nocturnal wants you to be?
I wonder what s/he has you do in death...

Yup. You're promoted to thief/assassin/whatever Nocturnal wants you to be. After Death, I imagine she'd set you to guard the Pilgrim's path or something. Or eat your soul. That's a very likely possibility too.

 

[Andre2807]

As previous replies said, the nightingales are devoted followers of Lady Nocturnal. I myself made a nightingale "assassin" based around the gear and weapons used by the nightingales. Meaning that I don't assassinate the nightingales lol, I'm just an assassin, devoted to Lady Nocturnal.

 

[FarmGirl]

As previous replies said, the nightingales are devoted followers of Lady Nocturnal. I myself made a nightingale "assassin" based around the gear and weapons used by the nightingales. Meaning that I don't assassinate the nightingales lol, I'm just an assassin, devoted to Lady Nocturnal.

New character idea! The assassinator of Nightingales! Hmmm, there wouldn't be a lot of jobs to do.

funny sig, too. I get it.

 

[Verac]

So basically once you're a Nightingale you are promoted from thief to thief/assassin/whatever Nocturnal wants you to be?
I wonder what s/he has you do in death...

you dont get promoted your chosen, and only 3 people can be a nightengale and those 3 may choose 3 powers that repersent they're fighting style as for death, they are much like werewolves. they return to they're makers domain for eternity, but unlike werewolves who hunt for eternity in hircines realm, they act as guards and other things i imagine in the realm of nocturnal.

 

[Cylos]

you dont get promoted your chosen, and only 3 people can be a nightengale and those 3 may choose 3 powers that repersent they're fighting style as for death, they are much like werewolves. they return to they're makers domain for eternity, but unlike werewolves who hunt for eternity in hircines realm, they act as guards and other things i imagine in the realm of nocturnal.

It's not for all eternity, once Nocturnal feels you've fulfilled your contract she will allow your spirit to be freed. I think you still gain the choice to remain a Nightingale though.

What are Nightingales? Servants of Nocturnal, protectors of the Twilight Sepulcher and Nocturnal's artifacts. They don't have to be with the Thieves Guild, it's just since luck plays such a pivotal role for the TG it was convenient for them to be Nightingales.

Now my question is, how would the Nightingales react to the Gray Fox?

 

[Verac]

It's not for all eternity, once Nocturnal feels you've fulfilled your contract she will allow your spirit to be freed. I think you still gain the choice to remain a Nightingale though.

What are Nightingales? Servants of Nocturnal, protectors of the Twilight Sepulcher and Nocturnal's artifacts. They don't have to be with the Thieves Guild, it's just since luck plays such a pivotal role for the TG it was convenient for them to be Nightingales.

Now my question is, how would the Nightingales react to the Gray Fox?

i imagine the gray fox is the top of thievery, not even going as far as killing. just steal and run. unless left absolutely no choice, where as nightingales are enforcers/assassins/thieves. more more so combatants. so all in all gray fox is the ultimate thief the embodiment of the thieves guild repersenting them more so than nocturnal though with her influance now in the guild his "Return" would shake the guild up as the nightingales are kinda in power....and the gray fox is suppose to be head honcho. im still furious that that lying karlaiah states that i WILL be called on for missions for nocturnal as a guardian....would have been intresting to kill someone who stole the cowl.

 

[Ritterkreuz]

i hate that Nightengale gear looks like dark brotherhood gear, and vise versa. i mean hell as nightengal looks like a freakin' harbinger of sithis, Grim reaper apparal ETC

I always here Batman music when I see the armor. Not that light-campy 60's stuff, I'm talking about that really dark cartoon from the 90's.