I am wondering what people think about this. I am playing as one now, joined the faction and got one of the npc's to follow via the console, doing the mq. Just hit Ivarstead, went to the inn as it is too late to climb to High Hrathgar and heard about the ghost in the barrow. so she solved that little Scooby Doo mystery, but should I go into the barrow again clear it all the way out?

On one hand it is a sacred burial ground and the dead generally only walk when disturbed or to stop robbers so it doesn't seem right to go in and disturb them just to kill them. On the other hand the power that makes them able to defend the burial place is necromancy and who is to say they couldn't spill out into the town? Don't know how to act here....

Most of the barrows you encounter aren't really sacred, as far as I can tell. They date from the dragon wars, and have people associated with the Dragons (the badguys) interred.

In all liklihood, a Vigilant won't go out of their way to cleanse a barrow, but if they are there for another reason, they would.

I would think that depends on your character's motivation. But remember this is a RPG, so just because no one in Iverstead told you about the undead walking around doesn't mean your can't RP that they did. Maybe that's why the Innkeeper gave you the claw, so you could check it out. Maybe your "job" is to check out all the Barrow's and make sure that their are no Necromancers doing their "dirty deeds" in the barrows.

yeah she already investigated it and solved the mystery of the fake ghosts and got the claw, which she knows how to use because she did do bleak falls barrow. so what i am deliberating is whether to go thru the rest of the barrow or just let sleeping draugr lie.

Well I guess if I was rolling a Vigilant character, I would probably check out all the Barrow's and any place with Known Necromancers or Vampires. The line they give about "dragging ppl into the light" makes me think they don't sit back and wait for the "baddies" to show up, but go out and find them. And it's pretty well known that the dead walk around in the Barrows. JMO

That is a good point. Now I remember seeing something about the draugr where just the followers of the dragon priests. for now she will just enter the ones involved in the mq mostly. after she gets done she may have to go cleansing. On a side note she now has Keeper Carcette as a follower and it is pretty awesome.

Just remember that almost every Dragon Priest Barrow is close to the edge of the game world, the ones in the middle area of the game are usually quest/faction locked, or are targets for an enterprising Vigilant.