I don't want dragons in my game, but I do want to complete the Bleak Falls Barrow quest. What would happen if I simply didn't loot the Dragonstone from the Draugr Boss? Would this break my game (I want dragons in later) or would I be fine? (I also don't want to hand in the Dragonstone, as walking into Dragonsreach with it will trigger Dragon Rising)

Until you kill the first dragon outside of whiterun random dragons don't appear....up to that point you can do it however you want to, including turning the dragonstone in to farrengar

Also, if you just want to leave the Dragonstone where it lies, you will be able to come back and re-do the quest later if you decide you want to do the MQ after all.

@jslayer66: love your sig!

Dragons are triggered by the Dragon Rising quest, which in turn is triggered by givin the Dragonstone to Farengar. So just don't approach Jarl Balgruuf, don't talk to him about Helgen and you'll never start the MQ. Or if you already started, then don't bring the stone back.

IIRC the stone is looted from a draugr boss. I think you shouldn't leave it behind, after 30 in-game days Bleak Falls Barrow will respawn and the stone might disappear (or not. I'm not sure).

but if you return the stone to that slurring farrengar the jarl starts babbling about dragons attacking the tower?

If anything leave the stone. Since its a quest item I doubt you can remove it from your inventory should you take it with you.

Yep they babble about it...but until you actually kill it, random dragons won't start appearing

You can just get the Golden Claw and leave.

I have often wondered though how you would open the door later if you give it back to the merchant. I know you will be sent back to get the stone, but if you already gave the claw back to the merchant how would you get in?

I don't think there would be a speech option.