Skyrim: What Happens If You Don't Kill Paarthurnax

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One of the most impressive reveals in comes from meeting the game's friendly dragon, Paarthurnax. After having encountered only hostile dragons, this encounter gives players the chance to not only converse with a dragon directly, but also to see one up close and appreciate its design. As the leader of the Greybeards, Paarthurnax is an excellent representation of balance and a juxtaposition to the antagonist, Alduin.

Paarthurnax is the game's sole white dragon, and rests atop the Throat of the World. He teaches the Greybeards in the Way of the Voice and, as their leader, offers the player counsel as well as Dragonborn power buffs. However, the Blades ask the player to kill him if they wish to continue moving forward with the band of dragonslayers' quest line. It's not immediately clear what players can expect if they choose not to kill Paarthurnax, or why the Blades want Paarthurnax killed in .

Bethesda celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Elder Scrolls franchise by sharing a retrospective and some updates for the upcoming title.

The Blades come from a long line of dragonslayers who became the king's personal guard force once dragons had become extinct. They debuted in, but with their return in, the Blades once more seek to take up arms against their sworn enemies. During the quest line to be recruited into the Blades, one member, Esbern, discovers the player is being advised by Paarthurnax and refuses to move forward with their initiation until the friendly dragon has been killed. As with most of 's quests, the player can choose whether they carry out the act or not, with differing effects from either option.

Should the player kill Paarthurnax in, they'll have effectively chosen to side with the Blades. The most immediate effect, of course, is that Paarthurnax will no longer be able to grant the player meditation bonuses to their Shouts. Killing Paarthurnax will also anger the Greybeards, and they'll revoke the player's status as an honorary member. While they