Board Thread:Skyrim/@comment-105.158.238.148-20140417030552/@comment-4221851-20140520205441

I chose not to kill Paarthunax. Let's break down this argument by looking at the roots of both the Blades and Paarthunax.

The Blades started out as Akaviri warriors living in Akavir and created the Dragonguard, which was meant as the Akaviri people's defense against the dragons that were native there. It was a response to the threat the dragons were, not the potential threat. When the Dragonguard encountered Reman Cyrodiil and discovered he was Dovahkiin, they pledged their lives and service to him. Thus came the Blades and their subservience to the Dragonborn they were searching for. Now, Reman became the first Emperor of Tamriel, and subsequently all of his descendants had dragon blood, which was what made the Blades the protection force of the Emperors. Add in that with the first defeat of Alduin, most dragons either scattered or were hunted by Reman and the Blades. Thus, the Blades were guardians and servants of the Dragonborn, for their own prophecies fortold them of the Dovahkiin and his/her thu'um.

Paarthurnax started out as all dov do, bending to those whose thu'um was mightiest. For remember, to a dov, Strength is Truth. Might is Right, essentially. Among the dov, Alduin was strongest and so Paarthunax followed him as his lieutenant. Paarthurnax was not Alduin's true brother, for he is not a World-Eater or World-Savior or any such similar status, though he may be able to claim that he was "Second Born". Regardless, he did follow Alduin's creed, and when the Dragon War raged he at first razed the lands of men and slew thousands alongside other dragons. However, when Alduin proclaimed himself a god and Kyne asked him to aid mankind, he turned from him and helped mankind. Without Paarthurnax's aid, the Dragon War would have lost to Alduin and his Dragon Cult. Since then, he retired to the Throat of the World to hold in check the instinct for Dominance that all dov have, and with Jurgen Windcaller, created the Greybeards, which preached using the thu'um as a means for meditation and glorification of the gods. He spent thousands of years meditating in seclusion. Then, when the Greybeards allowed the Last Dovahkiin to ascend to the peak of High Hrothgar and meet with him, he gave the Dragonborn much wisdom and guidance, and played a key role in destroying Alduin.

Now, when Delphine gives the order to kill Paarthurnax, she uses his past sins and the fact the Greybeard's "fear" the Dovahkiin's power as reasons. Granted, Paarthurnax has blood on his talons, and that will never change, but by defying his own innate nature and aiding both mankind and the Dovahkiin, he has at least worked for his continued life, in my opinion. Now Delphine is another matter. Her role is meant to be subservient to the Dragonborn, to protect him and obey him akin to a housecarl. Esbern is an archivist who holds knowledge of the ancient Akaviri. If Reman and the ancient Blades did not hunt down Paarthurnax--if the Ancient Nord Heroes after the defeat of Alduin did not slay Paarthurnax once his usefulness was over-- THERE IS NO WAY THAT SUCH AN ORDER CAN BE GIVEN BY THESE TWO BY THESE FACT ALONE! That's akin to Lydia ordering around her Thane, or the Jarls ordering the High King. By refusing to help the Dragonborn since they wont kill Paarthurnax, not only does she violate her oath that her predecessors gave to Reman and their prophesized Dovahkiin, but she also endangers all of mankind since, in-game, dragons still attack the holds of Skyrim since most go their own way [we cannot become the new Thuri of the dragons and few will obey Paarthurnax, as noted by Odahviing] and the Dragonborn is left to defeat them on their own, with at best the help of a few hold guards and a follower. In conclusion, f**k Delphine and these renegade Blades. My thu'um to their flesh!