Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-24098614-20150903093108/@comment-1470368-20160203150140

168.29.16.40 wrote: Ifnsman wrote: The Blades are known to the Greybeards as those who've used the Dragonborn, not the other way around. They claim to serve the Dragonborn, but in reality the Blades manipulate the ultimate Dragon-slayer. Consider how the Greybeards manipulate you in turn. The Blades want you to use your dragon-slaying abilities to the full extent. The Greybeards want you to follow the Way of the Voice, and use your shout solely to worship the Gods.

Considering the Way, and its page, it decrees that the Thu'um must only be used for the worship and glory of Kynareth.

Have you used Unrelenting Force against some bandits? To push an annoying follower out of the way? Have you used Whirlwind Sprint to make it across a gap? Or to close the distance between you and a mage? Or fire breath? Or Ice Form? Or any shout outside of the "Worship and Glory of the Gods?"

Then you've gone against the Way of the Voice. There is a good arguement to be made for Angeir being level 150 and a man of peace, the strongest man in skyrim not choosing to fight, and holding your power back is true strength, but that is a waste of ability.

Onto the main point, I'd join the blades. You can find the Word Wall locations online or from the "Friend," but you need a dragon soul to learn them. Dragons, at least for me, become pretty scarce after a while, so having a steady source of bones, scales, and souls is valuable. The Greybeards don't manipulate you at all. They teach you the Thu'um and tell you that, as Dragonborn, you are the exception. You are not bound to the Way of the Voice as they are.

I've very rarely ever used Shouts in the game. Only when I absolutely needed them to progress. Aside from that, your argument has little weight regarding the privilege of a special individual.

Arngeir had spent his entire life learning how to control his Thu'um, as all non-Dragonborn mortals will if they choose to learn it. The other Greybeards can easily kill with but a whisper, because they can't control their Thu'um nearly as well as Arngeir can.

I'd only get the Dragon Infusion perk from a special potion that Esbern provides. Nothing else is of value from the Blades. The Greybeards are the far better faction.