I really can't see approaching this decision from a moralistic viewpoint, because it's all relative in the end. I agree that the decision to kill Paarthurnax need to be based on practicality, and whether or not his presence in the world is beneficial or not.

I also don't think it's fair to use the argument of Paarthurnax's so-called "nature" against him. Depending on how you are playing Skyrim, your Dovahkiin could have be of a potentially corrupt and power hungry nature that he/she may or may not be fighting, depending on your role playing style. Especially in a universe like TES where death is such a common feature of every-day life.

Personally, I've never been able to justify killing Paarthurnax. My Dovahkiin has only ever known Paarthurnax to be an ally, and a valuable one at that. For the time being, I don't see any immediate danger in letting him live. The only danger would be in assuming that will never change. And frankly, that's how I would approach anyone in the TES universe.

mmmm i left him alive for future plot..................................................................................Nah tbh it was the Blades that pissed me off, not wanting to follow me because i wont kill a CERTAIN dragon...nevermind that i killed 20 dragons before that and the current Blade members...none Me-20, Blades-0, i wont shed a tear if soemone else kills him so the blades can go for it all they want against him, he helped me out ill let him live, because i really doubt the lil bi-polar blade members will be able to do it.

I couldn't justify it either. Paarthurnax was helpful and Delphine was a female dog through the whole game. Also nothing matters, Alduin's soul was not absorbed long after the dragonborn dies, during the true end times, he will come back and consume the world anyways.

The question is if a Skeever didn't attack you first, would you kill it?

I wish the game did give you the option to tell them to shove it. Along with an option to finish what the thalmor started. Unfortunately I helped them before this outrageous demand of theirs so it would have been a bit of a bloodbath. I now think their time has been and gone.

I did not do as they asked, their reasons from what I remember all related to his past deeds. Paarthurnax however, he's for the time being an ally and I'll give him a chance.

just don't kill him, it is hard if you are under level 20

I hope that Bethesda remember's this. The blades need to either buck up, die off, or return as the BAD GUYS in TES6... we're fed up of them being half arsed and fair-weather friends

Very, very well said! The thought crossed my mind that Paarthunax might become the next world eater. I went with my heart though, and didn't kill him, because he's wise, good and willing to help (for the moment). I guess it is true what I told him "The next world will have to take care of itself."

@ the OP: Btw you don't have to kill him, forget the Blades. Paarthunax or one of the Greybeards can help you further your goals.

The Blades just want to kill Paarthunax for his PAST transgressions, they are not looking toward the future. Let another hero be born to deal with Paarthunax - for now, he is not posing a threat (to me).

I don't know if I will ever kill him, in any play through. I love dragons! (unless they attack me first lol)

(I actually considered just killing the 2 Blades LOL)

Flemeth is a bad comparison, all things considered. She never once tries to fight her nature, and her goals are actually fairly clear-cut if you read all the lore... Paarthurnax? I wish I could have done Ice Form shout on Delphine and rolled her down High Hrothgar, if I cant get rid of her permanently.

I would have loved to see Paarthurnax be in the next ES game, but then Bethesda went and killed him off.

Killed him since quite frankly I found him supremely boring and he talked far too slowly, plus he's a dragon. Damn dragons.

Ride with the dragon ! After all you are Dragon born !!

The problem with the reasoning that you are the last dragonborn is that people don't need to be dragonborn to kill dragons.

If the dragonborn kills all the rampaging dragons, you still have the blades order after he dies. If Paar reverts to his old ways, there'll be another great dragon hunt until there are no more rampaging dragons again.


Hell I should be killing everyone in Nirn because they might possibly become a bandit someday. Rikke, Ulfric, Galmar, and Tullius too. They killed lots of people in the great war, so they deserve to die.

I always held the Blades in the highest regard. Until now. The Blades need to think about the reasons they exist. Is it to kill dragons? Is it to protect and guide the Dragonborn? Would any of the Blades in the past have dared to place this kind of an ultimatum on Tiber Septim? On any of the Emperors? I don't serve them. They serve me, the only known living Dragonborn. They don't even realize they've betrayed me.

I'll base my decision on what I know about Paarthurnax's character. Even though he superficially appears to be walking Alduin's walk, I don't think he wants to be like Alduin. I think he's the yin to Alduin's yang. I think that to mantle Alduin, he would need to desire to be Alduin. I don't think he does. I can't condemn him for something he might or might not do, nor can I condemn him for something he did eons ago, after seeing his present nature. Paarthurnax is my bro.

If I had the choice, I would call the Blades out, and if they refused to submit, put them to the sword. They're lucky the game mechanics protect them.

This is actually very true. And a good reason to get rid of him while you can.

Oh Alduin will return alright. Just not immediately or anytime soon.

I fus ro dah'ed Delphine down the mountain from High Hrotgar after she told me to kill Paarthurnax

Isn't this the beauty of a Role-Playing Game?
That our actions are based on a set of morals, real or in-game only, and that our actions have defined and grave consequences?

This makes the game slightly more "life-like":
"Salvation can only be achieved through the church, right? Else you are doomed to hell!"
"If you are not with us, you are against us!"
"Cannabis (an HERB!) is as bad to you as chemically processed drugs like morphine, cocaine, or meth - that's why it's classified as a deadly drug instead of a spice in the supermarket aisle."

All of the above represent choices with consequences, just like killing or not the dragon that started evil and then repented and now strives to be the first dragon-monk.

I let him live, for the record.
The minute the Blades conditioned their help to his death, I realized I was not talking to the heroes of old, just a group of blood-thirsty dragon-hunters.



"

I kinda liked Delphine until now, I cant justify killing Paarthurnax after all he has done. As mentioned before he seems to have changed his ways and controls himself by meditation. I suppose relative to human years his past wasn't that long ago, but I still wont kill him.

It is only in Skyrim that ALL Dragons (except Paarthurnax) have been destroyed in the past. I don't like to spoil. Look in the game for your answer. It is there if you follow the path. There is more than two choices.

It's funny, I could never justify NOT killing him. His treachery against Alduin only made him seem more suspicious to me.

I don't like the Blades - never have. I do not take orders from this pathetic bunch of has-beens. If the game had allowed me to I would have slaughtered the idiots without a second thought. As it is they can just stay in their draughty, forgotten hall and do exactly what they are good at - which is nothing.

QFT. I've disliked them since the starting prison in Oblivion....

Problem. Here some reason as to it:

--He's a dragon, like Alduin

He is X speice, just like his older brother. Therefore, he is bad. Thats like saying that Meridia is evil because she is a Daedra Lords or the Underking is evil because he is undead/lich/whatever the hell he is. Beside, the Dragons serve the Empire right after Alduin defeat.

--He wants to lead the other dragons like Alduin - Check

And Ulfric Stormcloak want to lead the Nords like their ancestor to free themselves from the Empire to worship Talos. Or Gortwog gro-Nagorm want to lead the Orsimers to be equal in every race eyes. Just because they lead a group of the same race doesn't always mean bad things will occur.

--He has a human cult who will obey his command (Greybeards), like Alduin did (The dragon priests) - Check

Every Daedra Lords, every Divines, every Local Gods like the Tribunal have worshippers like that. Does that make them all bad?

--He has an intrest in humans and dragons working together (like Alduin once ENFORCED) - Check

So did the Empire and the dragons gotten riches and security in exchange for military service.


There is more then one way to end the world, Alduin just so happens to being one of them. The other way is destroying all towers that hold Mundus together, which is the plan Thalmor wanted if they ever want to be gods themselves again.

Beside, if Paarthunax wanted to see the world end, he would have not waited thousands of year to help the PC out and betray his own brother. IF anything, the end of the world would happen back then and we would not be in this kalpa right now.


Indeed. Without Alduin, dragon cannot be resurrected again and the extinct of the race can occur.

Well, if it wasn't for Delphine and Esbern, then you wouldn't have even been able to get started on this path in the first place! So shouldn't you listen to Esbern?