Thieves' Guild- Is Stupidity the Only Option?

[bellofury]

Let's just get all of the Akatosh claims out of the way-- in this case, my character is not Dragonborn.

All of that aside, what I want is a loophole or way to avoid (whether through lore- logic or mods) the Nightingale Oath. My character, being Bosmeri, follows Baan Dar and Y'ffre*, not the Lady of Mysteries. Karliah states the terms of the oath as follows: "You may use your Nightingale powers however you wish, and, in return, you must protect the Twilight Sepulcher in life and death."

Naturally, the only way to refuse also halts the quest entirely, and I haven't found a mod that allows me to, say, return the Key, become Guild Master, etc, without taking the 'deal'.

I've considered a few things, and think that there could be outs lore- wise**. (for a character bound for an afterlife; vampirism, while viable, doesn't count here.)
1. the Song of Hromir, and in-game book, mentions that Hromir tricked a hag who turned out to be named Noctournal by holding to his oath to break promises. She is impressed with his cleverness, and gives his soul back in return for what he took from her.

2. Two cases, one likely fictional (in game) and the other confirmed, are seen in which Noctournal is stolen from. Three, if one counts the Song of Hromir.

3. Clavaucius Vile, though I dread what the consequences might be.

4. Blackmail. As a Nightingale, one knows and is able to confirm that the Nightingales exist, some of the abilities of the Nightingales, and locations relevant to the Nightingales. Revealing these secrets might scare Noctournal into giving in. My logic here is in the fact that a book records a case of Nightingale armor being discovered. The armor vanished without a trace a day after discovery.

5. CHIM, while unlikely without something like the Heart of Lorkhan or a filled Mantella would result in an out.

*Baan Dar appears in the Khajiiti and Bosmeric pantheons as a trickster- diety associated with theft, cleverness, and, of course, trickery.

**I would like to know of any mods I might have missed. In the meantime... Oh, well.