Paarthurnax is an ancient dragon and the true master of the Greybeards, living alone on the summit of the Throat of the World. His name in the dragon tongue means roughly “Ambition – Overlord – Cruelty”, and that is not a coincidence: long ago he was one of Alduin’s lieutenants, and he admits to terrible deeds in that age.
The dragon who changed sides
During the Dragon War in the Merethic Era, Paarthurnax turned against Alduin and taught mortals the Thu’um – the Voice – so they could fight back. Ever since, he has lived on the mountain, meditating on the Way of the Voice and fighting his own dragon nature, which he describes as a constant urge to dominate.
Role in the main quest
You first meet him in The Throat of the World, where he greets you with a Thu’um and teaches you a word of Fire Breath. He explains that Dragonrend cannot be learned from a dragon, and sends you after the Elder Scroll in Elder Knowledge. In Alduin’s Bane he fights by your side against his old master.
Kill him or spare him?
Later, Delphine and Esbern refuse to help the Blades any further unless you kill Paarthurnax for his past crimes. It is one of Skyrim’s most debated choices: the Greybeards will never forgive you if you do, and you lose access to his meditations.
Services
Paarthurnax can teach you to meditate on Words of Power, giving permanent bonuses tied to Unrelenting Force, Whirlwind Sprint and Fire Breath.
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