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Paarthurnax (optional)

Author: 
Fiore1300
Librarian Comment: 

This page remains a work in progress. Nothing here is a final edit.

Player Character

After the council of peace at High Hrothgar, I am approached by Delphine.

Delphine

There's one more thing. We know about Paarthurnax.

Player Character

You know... what?

Delphine

Paarthurnax. The dragon, that the Greybeards have been protecting for all these years.

He needs to die. He deserves to die. And it falls to you to kill him.

Until he's dead... well, I'm sorry, but we would dishonor our oaths as Blades if we continued to help you.

Player Character

About Paarthurnax...

Delphine

Make your choice, Dragonborn. You're either with us or against us.

Player Character

Why does he need to die?

Delphine

Here's the big picture. He helped Alduin enslave our ancestors. He may have betrayed Alduin in the end, but that makes him worse, not better.

We can't afford to give Paarthurnax the opportunity to betray us in turn, and return to his old master.

(I approach Arngeir to tell him what the Blades are asking of me)

Arngeir

You did well here today. I don't think the truce will last long, but that will not be on your account.

Player Character

The Blades want me to kill Paarthurnax

Arngeir

Now you see why I've warned you against them! Bloodthirsty barbarians!

Player Character

Is it true what they said? Was he Alduin's ally?

Arngeir

Yes. But understand - during the days of Alduin's rule, all dragons were his allies. There was nothing else they could be.

If not for Paarthurnax, Alduin could not have been overthrown. It was he that first taught men to use the Thu'um.

Player Character

I haven't decided what to do yet.

Arngeir

You're learning, Dragonborn. Doing nothing can be the wisest choice, although strangely often the most difficult.

I trust that you will make the right choice, in the end. Listen to the Voice that Kynareth has placed within you, and your path will be clear.

(I need to think about this. Once Alduin is defeated, I return to Sky Haven Temple to tell the Blades the good news)

Esbern

Please... Delphine has been very worried about you.

Delphine

We heard the news from Whiterun - that you left the city on the back of a dragon!

That's a little... showy, even for you.

Since you're still alive, I assume you have good news to report?

Player Character

Yes. I used Alduin's portal to travel to Sovngarde. He's dead.

Delphine

Gods above... that's better news than I had hoped!

When you walked into my inn that day, I never imagined where it would all lead... dragons out of legend... Sovngarde...

Esbern

You've done it... just as the prophecy said...

I knew you could do it... I believed in you, and yet... I still didn't think I'd live to see this day.

Thank you. Thank you, Dragonborn. You've done a great service for us all.

Delphine

There's still the matter of Paarthurnax. I'm not ungrateful for what you've done. Esbern speaks for both of us.

But our oath as Blades binds us. Paarthurnax must die. There's no excuse now that Alduin is dead.

Esbern

I'm afraid she's right. I'm deeply sorry that this has to come between us.

But just as Paarthurnax's later deeds do not expiate his crimes, your deeds do not allow us to ignore our duty.

I hope you will return to us soon with the news that justice has finally been done.

With both Alduin and Paarthurnax dead, a dark chapter in history will finally be closed.

Player Character

About Paarthurnax...

Esbern

Justice can be harsh. But it is still justice. Paarthurnax deserves to die.

Player Character

Why does he need to die?

Esbern

Paarthurnax was the author of many atrocities during the Dragon War - crimes great enough to be remembered for thousands of years.

True, he turned traitor to Alduin and helped overthrow the Dragon Cult, but that does not excuse or expiate his previous deeds.

Whether or not he has truly repented, or merely acted to save himself, justice demands that he pay with his life.

(I leave Sky Haven Temple to see what Paarthurnax has to say about his past crimes)

Paarthurnax

Drem Yol Lok. Greetings.

Player Character

The Blades say you deserve to die.

Paarthurnax

The Blades are wise not to trust me. Onikaan ni ov. I would not trust another dovah.

Player Character

Why shouldn't they trust you?

Paarthurnax

Dov wahlaan fah rel. We were made to dominate. The will to power is in our blood. You feel it in yourself, do you not?

I can be trusted. I know this. But they do not. Onikaan ni ov dovah. It is always wise to mistrust a dovah.

I have overcome my nature only through meditation and long study of the Way of the Voice.

No day goes by where I am not tempted to return to my inborn nature. Zin krif horvut se suleyk.

What is better - to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?

Player Character

I wish to meditate on a Word of Power.

Paarthurnax

Which calls to you , Dovahkiin? Fus, Feim, or Yol?

Player Character

Yol

Paarthurnax

In your tongue, the Word simply means "Fire." It is change given form. Power at its most primal.

That is the true meaning of "Yol." Suleyk. Power. You have it, as do all dov. But power is inert without action and choice.

Think of this as the fire builds in your su'um, in your breath. Su'um ahrk morah. What will you burn? What will you spare?

(I decide to kill Paarthurnax. After Alduin, he is no match for me, and I absorb his soul into my being. I return to High Hrothgar, only to be turned away)

Arngeir

This is how you repay our trust? Paarthurnax's trust?

His noble spirit... the wisdom of ages... his deep understanding of our existence... all gone, and for what?

A mindless vendetta urged on you by a cabal of Akaviri barbarians!

Begone, before even my philosophy is tested beyond the breaking point. We are men of peace, and you are not.

We have nothing to say to each other. Paarthurnax's murder is beyond my powers of forgiveness.

(It looks like the Greybeards will treat with me no longer. I leave High Hrothgar for Sky Haven Temple. I find Delphine patrolling the corridors)

Player Character

About Paarthurnax...

Delphine

Have you decided to do the right thing, Dragonborn?

Player Character

It's done. Paarthurnax is dead.

Delphine

I knew we could count on you! Glad to have you back on our side.