u/HartofHarts

I feel like this place shot into infamy during the Ninisanji x Selen stuff and ever since, there was maybe a year or so where people would share interesting stuff or credible news with sources.

But for the past six months.and esoecially the last 39 days, the posts have really taken a sharp downturn in quality. Bearing in mind 'quality' to me means at least sharing a link to the source.

Now it's regularly posts making stuff up, clips out of context from years ago and accounts promoting 'news vtubers' who are reporting without any sources either. That's also before including some really, really horrible comments that border on death threats to talents.

Anyways, peace out. I highly recommend just muting this sub if you feel annoyed by it lol. I certainly am.

https://preview.redd.it/fzv8awg39plh1.png?width=736&format=png&auto=webp&s=21bcc3a2f475f5fb132a7c226e3a8ff67f0ca4e7

Quick Context: I have been playing Skyrim on and off for years. For the first time, I decided to do a full longplay of Skyrim and its main quest after 12+ years of owning it. This means it was my first time actually playing everything until Alduin was properly killed including the Paartunax Dilemma. So up until now, my exposure has only been the previous games and memes about Delphine.

Cut to when I finally reached Sky Haven Temple then witnessed Alduin's past banishment via the Elder Scroll. I return to Sky Haven Temple to consult how I may reach Alduin in Sovngarde. This prompts two things:

1. Delphine asks me to slay Paarthunax is I wish to proceed with the Blades helping me. Otherwise, we are at an impasse and the Blades will not provide assistance. This makes sense to me with Delphine's provided context. A) Dragons are literally manifestations of death, subjugation and tyranny since early recorded history that *founded* Skyrim and arguably Men, B) Paarthunax was Alduin's right-wing dragon up until his banishment - basically dragon Himmler, C) The Blades were founded with the SOLE purpose and oath of exterminating dragons to protect the realm.
2. Esbern backs Delphine up by giving more context with a throwaway idle line. Esbern also gives me Odahviing's name so I proceed with the quest anyways.

I was genuinely surprised by the conversation with Delphine because of how... reasonable it all was. She doesn't really get mad? I don't really hear that in her voice. Her conversation is simply stating the facts. You joined the Killing Dragons Organization. To proceed, we need to kill the second baddest Dragon before we bolster our forces. There wasn't any yelling or unreasonable demands or threatening to take me down as the Dragonborn or anything. ALSO, I'm just some random guy who happened to gain the blood of dragons. Sure, I'm ordained by destiny but I'm still a random guy AND I was ordained by destiny to SLAY DRAGONS. So I don't really see this as Delphine throwing authority at me. She's just explaining how the Killing Dragons Organization needs to Kill Dragons.

So I travel back to Paarthunax to ask for his thoughts. Paarthunax pretty much goes "YEAH ngl, I gotta meditate everyday to fight those instincts." He affirms Delphine in some ways and agrees killing him might bring security. But he also asks us to consider his deeds since Alduin's banishment. This is backed up by how long he's been there nursing High Hrothgar alone.

Okay cool! So I make up my mind to not slay Paarthunax. What's next? Let's talk to Delphine. Double my surprise when I find out... nothing happens. You don't really get to converse with Delphine about it. The optional quest kinda just stays there like leftover bread. No argument, no fighting, no negotiation. Simply nothing. Which yeah, makes some sense because Delphine did say there wouldn't be much to do if Paarthunax stays unslain. Also, it doesn't impact me much when I already have the means to call Odahviing and this seems a lot like a solo no-turning-back phase of the main questline.

I'm surprised again when I look up what happens if I slay Paarthunax. You pretty much get to recruit three people to be Blades, get permanent buffs for dragons and... play radiant dragon-slaying quests. I cannot find a word to describe how less than boring that is.

So yeah, I've been enjoying myself in Skyrim and even started a second character. I just wanted to write this and share my thoughts because it genuinely surprised me. I think the Paarthunax quest really encapsulates how Bethesda's writing directions and goals switched towards quantity, simplicity and dramatic set-pieces. I repeatedly felt slightly dissatisfied how short and simple quests were (don't get me started how short the main questline is) despite enjoying myself in the gorgeous and interesting world. A lot of quests feel like they have this single-minded A to B feeling with very little branching paths or wider context to affect how you might approach the tasks. Usually what stood out was it involving a prettier dungeon.

I'm also surprised how many memes and the mods which exist go out of their way to almost paint Delphine in the worst possible light in this scenario. There's so much unwarranted stories about yelling over her, killing her or shutting her down with dialogue you would find in a Dhar Man video. (I reckon her being a female character with the barest hint of being paranoid, strict and not kissing your ass didn't help. Compared to Esbern who upholds the same impasse but has even less lines than Delphine).

Personally, I would have loved just a few more lines prodding Delphine and Esbern's feelings and philosophies about being Blades. Not lines to argue back or persuade them. Just more lines to build a relationship with both of them. Because up until Sky Haven Temple, I have never felt an inch of bonding with these REALLY interesting people. Like come on! Former dragon-killer spy and scholar from an ancient order stretching back to the savior of realms? That's SO COOL.

Anyways, I'd appreciate your thoughts and your feelings the first time you bumped into the Paarthunax potions of the questline!