From experience with Bethesda games I know that there can come a time, a quest or an event that marks some kind of "point of no return". Usually you find some special remarks on these quests on the official or unofficial wikias for the game, but in this case there's (substancial) nothing there.

Still, I'd like to be sure, so I ask here:


I'm about to trigger the Battle for Whiterun. My question is if there is any reason I should postpone this quest until later, until I've done all guild-quests for example or because of reasons I didn't think of?


I already know that a minor thieves guild quest becomes unsolvable (a heist job from Vex), but since these can be cancelled in order to get another target it's not a big deal (I guess). And I know that some people who fled Whiterun towards Solitude might not like to see me when I visit the northern city on the ark.

But that's about all the wikia gave me. Is there anything you'd like to add, before I plunge Skyrim into full blown war?

Thanks in advance.


PS: Yeah, postpone, without an "h". ^^

Which side are you doing?

If you're doing stormcloaks, then

Since I've sided with the stormcloaks I basically have no problem in dethroning the current Jarl. And the Ebony Blade is already in my reach, it's just that I've decided not to take it. I will leave it there and will guard that door until the end of my life. No one can pass! XD


Another question, that is even more important to me:


When the Battle for Whiterun is finished, will I still be able to negotiate peace in the quest "Season Unending"? Or is this only possible when Whiterun is still in the hands of the old Jarl?


From the UESP-wiki it sounds like this quest is ONLY triggered when the Jarl of Whiterun refuses to help me in the dragons-quest.

the quest for the ebony blade does not get broken if u dethrone the jarl

Just a comment: You will thus fail the Daedric Achievement to collect the Daedric artifacts.

Um...yeah thanks for the infos, to both of you. But I'm not playing for getting achievements. And I'm roleplaying a rather good character, which means I'm not helpin all of those deadra svckers. *g*

Well, I hope someone is able to answer the real important question above. ^^ Again, thanks in advance.

Dethroning Balgruuf may cause Odahviing to not come to Dragonsreach in the Main Quest: The Fallen.

As for the Ebony Blade, wouldn't it be better protected inside Breezeholm? I mean, you've got Lydia there to guard at all times, as you may not be at that door 24/7.

As far as I can tell, there is no reason not to. I've done it on two characters and nothing bugged out. I was able to get the Ebony Blade afterwards, and was able to lure Odahviing without trouble.

No, according to the UESP wikia this'll always work. It's even easier when the new Jarl, the one of the faction you sided with, sits on the throne, since he will always agree to help.

But I'm asking about "Season Unending", the quest to do peace talks and to end the war without one side destroying the other. Is it still available once I conquered Whiterun for one side or the other?

Once the battle of Whiterun is fought, for either side, the Season Unending quest cannot occur. The reason for that quest is because the jarl of Whiterun is concerned about the impending battle for his city.

Good luck.

If you have started Season Unending, finish it before the Battle of Whiterun.

Mhm...I guess I'm going the way of the war then.

It just rather "naturally" happened that I'm more advanced in the civil war quest than in the dragon quest. You get the civil war quests earlier, they don't involve climbing up a huge mountain to start and so on.

It's just a bit sad though, and disappointed: Without the knowledge of how you can progress you have no way of knowing that some ways will close forever when you do a certain quest. You have to read it up beforehead. This is also rather typical for a Bethesda game.

Now I know. When I restart the game and play a new character I can do it differently. But of course the joy of experiencing the unknown, like when you play the game the first time, is gone.

Wait a minute...I just realized that the civil war quests can be continued - with either side gaining total victory - AFTER I've done all the dragon quests.

And from my standpoint this also makes sense. The dragon crisis is more important than the civil war, at least for now. Once it is ended the civil war must be concluded.

I think I will do it that way. It's the best of both worlds...