I was just wondering what people thought that future of the blades were after the events of Skyrim? Replace the Penitus Oculatus? or become a bit more independent?

Sadly, I suspect Esbern and Delphine will be the last of the Blades ever to live in Tamriel...

...until a new band of freedom fighters name themselves 'the Blades' in TES VII!

I think they're done for. I hope they're done for (I'm sick of being their agent). It seems like they've lost all formal organization at the start of the game (though I think I've seen some other npcs with their swords walking around inns and small towns), and the Emperor has his own, vastly superior security force.

The Blades in Oblivion (And even Morrowind) are nothing like these two fools. Let the Blades die with some honor left to them.

Abandon hope all ye who read this post, spoilers ahead.



Now, that being said, I think the Blades are going to survive. As long as there are dragons to slay they will survive, and Esbern and Delphine seem to be extremely resourceful. Though they both seem to have forgotten the fact that they are supposed to be serving the Dragonborn and not the other way around, since they want you to

That, and you can add recruits to their hideout. Sort of a pointless quest that crushes our very spirits if we add our beloved friends to the Blades only to find out they got wiped out by some Thalmor or dragons, don't you think? But I guess that is not a very strong argument with Morrowind being a prime counterpoint.

Or the dragoborn can forsake them completely. Beth is going to have to resolve this somehow, and the easiest way would be to make it just not matter.

Yeah, I'm a bit miffed at the Blades. Whatever is left of them anyway. I'm the Dragonborn, you slags!

After playing through the MQ, I have lost all respect for the Blades. Delphine is a disgrace. Esbern reminds me of Caius without the Moon Sugar habit.

I actually liked the two a good deal until they almost seemingly went OOC. That being said, there is a quest where you can bring in recruits for the blades, although I haven't done it myself.

Like i said after they told me to do you know what, I lost all respect for them.


Just the manner in which they brought it to you, do it or your not one of us. It's been explained previously that the Blades aka The Dragonguard, are suppose to protect the Dragonborn and not shoo him away because he/she won't fulfill one of THERE requests. And I understand that spies and other types of shady people make up the Blades, but the core unit of "Warrior" blades are to protect. You would think that after so long for searching for a Dragonborn, and to find there meaning again, they would try and recapture there old prideful ways and not act all jerkface. The Blades in Oblivion were real Blades, Delphine should do some research.

I rather liked Caius. I always thought the moon sugar thing was a cover.

What bothers me, is by their own admission, they are sworn to protect, and obey the Dragonborn. However, they do so only when it suits their purpose. It's realistic, but frankly, they don't deserve to be called Blades. Most of my characters would rather wipe them out, then form a new order of a Blades that are actually loyal to the Dragonborn.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Like i said before, they are a disgrace to the memory of the true Dragonguard.


And Caius is in my top 5 favorite NPC's. I wish he would have made an appearance in Oblivion

To people getting hissy about the Blades wanting you to prove that you are loyal to their cause... you are consorting with someone whom they have evidence killed God-knows how many people and served as Alduin's right-hand man; even Paarthurnax says they have reasons to be suspicious. You know if Uriel Septim in Oblivion had turned out to be a Deadric Lord or whatever I would like to think that Jauffre would have had the sense to switch sides too, same applies. God forbid that they, the Dragonslayers, might be a little dubious about having a leader whom frequently consorts with a Dragon of such high rank.

But I guess your right, the sign of a good leader is to obey orders without question and indeed never question whom they might come from even if that person is completely against what you stand for :rolleyes:

Tiber Septim didn't kill all the dragons. He even let one serve in his army. He was also allied with the Greybeards who were led by Paarthurnax at the time (though whether this was known, I can't say, but the Greybeards didn't particularly keep it a secret once they knew you were Dragonborn).

The fact is, you're a Dragonborn. A real one. That makes you, or should make you, as good as an Emperor for them. We're talking about what was once the Dragonborn's elite bodyguard, the people who would obey any order without question. Certainly, questioning orders is a good thing, but this is an Empire. You are their military superior. Without you, literally, the word will end, and they are two of the few people who know how massively important your character is. If Tiber Septim, Martin, told a Blade to jump, that Blade would jump. It's their duty. Without it, they aren't Blades, they're just a group of rogue Dragonslayers. The Blades started off as a cult that literally worshiped the Dragonborn. Now, I can understand why they would question you. It's only human nature. But it's their duty to be absolutely loyal to the Dragonborn.

And the Blades had left Dragon-Slaying behind them by then - given that they were almost all dead - so what's your point? Dragons are tearing [censored] up now so that remaining Blades have gone back to their roots - given that they no longer officially exist and can't exactly guard the Emperor - Paarthurnax has been identified as a possible threat and not without good reason.

Given that almost everyone on here has been like, "The Blades svck because Paarthurnax didn't seem like a bad-guy", testing the loyalty of their supposed leader seems to have been a move in the right direction. The Blades - and the T'saesci before them - believed that a Dragonborn made the best Dragon-Slayer, when Dragons are roaming freely and tearing [censored] up they want to follow someone who will kill Dragons, not let personal feelings get in the way of what they consider justice. That is probably why they say they won't trust you till you kill Paarthurnax.

EDIT: I've just came to a thought. On all of these threads people have been moaning about the Blades wanting you to be their pawn in killing Paarthurnax. What you all also seem to want is for the Blades to serve you unquestioningly because you are the Dragonborn. Thee Blades follow a Dragonborn because that Dragonborn is the ultimate Dragonslayer, if he doesn't want to do that but save the Dragons then how can you expect them to still follow your orders. Except you still seem to want them to because they are sworn to follow the Dragonborn apparently, who's using who as a pawn here? You, for wanting the Blades unquestioning loyalty even when doing the complete opposite of what their order stands for.

IIRC, there were a number of dragons around in the late second era/early third (I remember someone mentioning this, as described in the pocket guides, I'll try to look it up). My point is, they were okay with letting Tiber Septim spare some dragons, so why can't they do the same with you? It's not like you're refusing to kill dragons at all, just those that are trying to be nice.

I don't think it's unnatural that two Blades would be a bit unlearned as to exactly how obedient they are supposed to be, given the era they've been alive in and their status as lonely fugitives for much of their lives. Esbern's studying told him and Delphine they must find and guide a Dragonborn, but Blade history also says to kill all dragons. They are human beings and they are conflicted, I don't see where all this Blade-hate is coming from given all the Blades have been right about in the past.

These two Blades have stayed alive by being distrustful. There's a reason they're scared enough that they refuse to help even the Dragonborn. If it means the Blades - a band of dragonslayers - must consort with dragons, and to their knowledge there are only two blades left, it is too big of a risk. The entire future of the organization rests on their shoulders. There's also a reason why the Nords of old didn't include him in their councils. You're supposed to distrust dragons.

They have two options; kill the second most powerful dragon, who may or may not be a threat in the future, or risk everything on this dragon staying true to the Path of the Voice, something even most men cannot achieve, let alone dragon. Esbern and Delphine are just playing it safe and cautious.

As to the original post, I do think the Blades will continue to survive. Replace the Penitus Oculatus? Remains to be seen what role the Dragonborn will serve in any possible new Empire.

EDIT: The Enclave's last paragraph two posts above this also excellently describes the conflict Esbern and Delphine are in.

Who knows? Just sounds like a Bethesda lore screw-up if anything. Maybe they don't consider you as wise as Tiber Septim? Or maybe that Paarthurnax is just using you?

I mean that makes sense doesn't it? They've been all but destroyed and their home-coming leader could be telling Paarthurnax anything for all they know, they barely know the guy after all.

Then maybe they should meet him? Their ignorance hardly absolves them of coming to a reasonable decision considering that there are ways for that ignorance to be overcome. If Parthy attacks then at least they've got the Db on their side.

It just seems odd plot wise that the remaining Blades are perfectly fine letting an unrepentant more recent right hand of man who is a guaranteed to re-offend once the protagonist is gone. Its not just a lore fault, its almost a plot hole in that they are very inconsistent in what they want when they supposedly have an unwavering duty. Not to mention they believe traitors are worse somehow even if it was for good, so if you betray groups that are helpful what does that mean in their perspective.

Also highly doubt Paarthurnax is using you as he is pretty upfront about his nature, philosophy,etc. he doesn't even expect you to trust him either. Not to mention his translated name, and his reasoning for his change makes much more logical sense than most characters. Also Alduin didn't seem to like what Paarthurnax did judging by what was said in the flashback.

My problem with the Blades isnt that they dont have an unquestioning faith in the protagonist, it is that their thought processes seem to be insane and I don't know how one should encourage the redevelopment under that leadership. It may be that over the years they have become "different" but if they dont want to listen to reasoning (they even say it) then they probably are damaged psychologically.

I found artificial brilliance in the system when the game bugged out on Alduin's wall and using setstage 280 somehow resulted in a no more Blade play-through even the ownership of the Temple reset and they still showed up where critical but didn't act rude at the peace conference. They also were carrying cave torches for some reason or another. After that they never returned its like the game rewrote itself through bugs. Alduin was also late in the flashback but he came eventually.

They also don't sit there and give their leaders stupid a$#% orders.... They know there place and its to follow.

It's kinda sad really. I was really liking them up until they asked me to kill you know who for something he did thousands of years ago and btw has led a peaceful life since then.. That was pretty lame

I still don't understand this, why was it lame? They asked you to kill a mass murdered and somebody that basically commited genocide. I see no problem with their request, in fact it's completely understandable. Especially because the guy is a Dragon and dragons by their very nature seek to dominate and control.

You might not agree with them, but from their standpoint it sounds completely logical to want to the guy.

Honestly could have be presented so much better. Instead of btw, you know that guy with all those major lines and plot involvement, hes bad go kill him plz?