This article is about the quest. For the dragon, see Paarthurnax dragon. Delphine and Esbern have discovered that Paarthurnax is the Kill blades skyrim of the Greybeards and an ancient enemy of the Blades. You can argue in Paarthurnax's defense, but both will reiterate the war crimes and atrocities committed by Paarthurnax.
In addition, Delphine thinks that his betrayal of Alduin actually makes him worse, because it could mean that he might betray the Dragonborn in turn. They will tell you that their oaths as Blades prevents them from giving you any further help until you kill Paarthurnax.
If you go to Arngeir and tell him that the Blades want Paarthurnax dead, he will tell you that Paarthurnax supported Alduin because all dragons were in league with Alduin at first, and that Paarthurnax could not help it. He will go on to say that Paarthurnax did eventually rebel against Alduin, and was instrumental in Alduin's first demise.
You are given the option to tell him that Paarthurnax must die or that you are going to spare the dragon. This will affect the conversation between Delphine and Arngeir if you are forced to negotiate a treaty in Season Unending. Alternatively, you can go to Paarthurnax at the Throat of the World.
He acknowledges that all dragons thirst for dominance and that the Dragonborn shares this thirst, though he believes that he has overcome this predisposition through the sheer power of will and that he can be trusted. You do not need to give an explicit reply.
If you choose not to carry out Delphine's order to kill Paarthurnax, the game withdraws this quest. It disappears from your quest log without any notice. Paarthurnax is an easy foe for those who are leveled sufficiently, comparable to the average Frost dragon.
You will receive a dragon soul and the usual set of dragon bones and dragon scales upon defeating him. Killing Paarthurnax will enrage Arngeir; if you return to High Hrothgarhe will angrily lecture you on your decision and even go so far as to threaten violence if you do not leave.
After this, the other Greybeards will also fail to acknowledge you. On the other hand, the Blades will talk to you again. The Blades do not reward you upon your return after killing Paarthurnax. Most of the gains come from the varied loot you find when searching Paarthurnax upon his death.
Jump to: navigationsearch. Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done. Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order.