No to Nocturnal

Say No to Nocturnal's Oath

A simple mod to avoid Nocturnal's deathly embrace of your soul.

Annoyed that you have to take Nocturnal's Oath and sell your soul to a Daedra in order to complete all of the prerequisites for becoming Guild Master?

Feel frustrated that you have no alternative to giving your soul away to dwell in the Evergloam forever just to defeat Mercer?

Do you hate being railroaded into something because Bethesda doesn't give you choice other than do-as-you're-told or don't complete the game, ever?

Ever feel like backing out of a quest because it doesn't suit your character is really not a choice at all?

What this mod does

Gives you the choice to refuse the Oath in which case Karliah will perform the deed instead.

Or you can continue as normal as per vanilla. The only difference is you now have a choice: no more railroading.

(Karliah will return the Skeleton Key instead if you refuse)

Is it worth it for me?

Pro's: you keep your soul primarily. Nocturnal be damned.

And you can still become Guild Master.

You can keep the key for while if you desire,

just like vanilla: you'll just have to avoid Karliah for a bit.

You get given the Bow later after Karliah has returned the key:

(Karliah will gift it to you since it seems to be her personal possession)

Con's: You have to return the Nightingale Armour

(you're not a Nightingale so it why should Nocturnal let you keep it?)

You also don't get the Nightingale Perks. For the same reason.

There will also be no Nocturnal shrine in the TG Cistern.

You don't get access to Twilight Sepulcher.

Them's the breaks.

So how does it work? What happens instead?

You now have the option to refuse to take Nocturnal's Oath before before entering the chamber.

You then return your Nightingale armour (Brynjolf too since it seems like his heart isn't in it either)

Travel to Irkngthand to take on Mercer Frey just like normal.

After you've escaped Karliah will tell you she'll return the key instead and head off.

After a suitable amount of time (24 hours) Karliah will return to speak to you stating

she's returned the key. She'll also gift you her bow as a thank you.

(You've got to have some reward for helping her avenge the murder of her lover, right?)

Congratulations. You