Accidentally Breaking the Five Tenets

[MidbossVyers]

In Oblivion, we learn that lower ranked members of the Dark Brotherhood do not know who the members of the Black Hand are. Therefore, during that time, would Lucien have encouraged "random murder" as "practice", like in Skyrim?

[TheVampireDante]

Doubt it. Not on any large scale anyway, wouldn't have wanted anyone/anything drawing attention that might lead back to the Brotherhood. Discretion is an artform to them, so random killings would certainly be seen as an offense.

Besides, no one paid for the death so there's nothing in it for them in that regard.

 

Skyrim's DB are different in that they are presumed to be the last still operating. A small group that really doesn't know how or want to follow the original Tenets since it's been so long, and they don't really care until things start getting serious again.

[MidbossVyers]

But Lucien himself is old guard DB, isn't he?

[TheVampireDante]

Yes, he is.

 

He doesn't really have much say in how the Skyrim age guild is run though, due to his "situation", but if he could I expect he'd frown on the lack of order and respect the remnants of the Brotherhood have for the traditional ways.

The smaller contracts that the guild hands out (Oblivion and Skyrim) - the simple and easy jobs, could be seen as practice and training situations to keep guild members skills sharp instead of wanton murder that could draw unwanted attention.

[MidbossVyers]

Also, given his personality, he would be the sort to just joke about mass murder, like Rusalka jokes about killing all the people at the church in Dies Irae.