Summary
The Paarthurnax debate inSkyrimis one of the most contested topics inThe Elder Scrolls' community even a decade after launch, andEragonauthor Christopher Paolini weighed in with his thoughts on what the correct choice may be. While theCivil War inSkyrimhas similarly split the fandom into Stormcloaks and Imperials, Bethesda (somewhat bluntly) attempted to pose a question with Paarthurnax on whether atonement was possible without punishment.
Paarthurnax was the younger brother of Alduin and his trusted lieutenant in the Dragon War – where he committed countless atrocities. He eventually chose to betray the World-Eater due to his increasingly tyrannical ambitions of conquering Mundus. Together with a group of ancient Nordic heroes and an Elder Scroll, Paarthurnax taught his allies how to use the Thu’um to banish Alduin into the Fourth Era. While the version of Paarthurnax that players meet inSkyrimis repentant, it could be argued that he never had a chance to repent for any of his sins. This is ultimately the crux of the debate amongSkyrimplayers, and though they tend tofavor Paarthurnax over siding with the Blades, time has proven that the choice isn’t as clear-cut as it may appear at first glance.
Christopher Paolini, the author of the Eragon book series, seems to strongly believe that Paarthrunax deserves to live. In a reply to Tyler Richmond on Twitter, Paolini chastised Richmond for siding with the Blades and killing Paarthurnax in every single one of hisSkyrimplaythroughs. While Paolini being the author of a dragon-centric saga could be skewing his viewpoint, Paarthurnax plays a major role in helping the player face Alduinover the course ofSkyrim’s main quest, and he openly discusses his problematic past.
By contrast, Delphine and Esbern swear allegiance to the Dragonborn, yet present them with the ultimatum of killing Paarthurnax soon after. While siding with the Blades inSkyrimdoes have its benefits, such as increased damage against dragons, many players find killing Paarthurnax to be akin to betraying an ally.
SeveralSkyrimmods have attempted to add nuance to the Paarthurnax dilemma, as there are effectively no consequences for ignoring the Blades' request. Meanwhile, killing Paarthurnax locks the Dragonborn out of receiving the Radiant quests that point towards unclaimed Word Walls, and given thatDragon Shouts inSkyrimplay a major role in combat, siding with Paarthurnax is the most valuable choice from a pure gameplay perspective. Ultimately, fans hope that Bethesda will introduce more layered choices in the nextElder Scrollstitle, which is currently in early development.
Skyrim
WHERE TO PLAY
Skyrim is a beloved game for a reason. There is so much to do in the game, and with the new anniversary updates, even veteran players will have a fresh experience if they haven’t played it in a few years. The modding community around the game is beyond active with some fans even using Skyrim’s foundations to rebuild previous entries into the Elder Scrolls series.Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail. The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features like remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.Skyrim Special Edition also brings the power of Bethesda Game Studios Creations to PC and consoles. New quests, environments, characters, dialogue, armor, weapons and more – with Creations, there are no limits to what you can experience.
