In a nutshell, I drag one of my DB followers (I am finished with that questline) to the pillar and activate it, but when I try to kill my follower he is essential!! He cannot die! Can't even [` kill] him!

This is exactly what the strat guide says to do and it won't work. This is with the most recent patch.

???

use Lydia? or some other merc from Whiterun
You have the dark elf in The Drunken Hunter and the one in the Bannered Mare
tons of mercs around everywhere which you can use I guess

thanks.

I know I can get others, but I wonder why an initiate (who respawns) is set to essential?