Whoa, did they really?!?! Actually, I shouldn't be so surprised, that's totally a thing they would do. I suppose it wouldn't make Aelberon like them any more (quite the opposite, huh?).
Lol, I'm surpsried that amongst all the different characters you've never played a Thalmor one))
I always make stories for my characters. Naturally, the Redoran Boethiah-worshipping Dragonborn from one of my stories would act differently than the Thalmor Justiciar from another, or a Nord necromancer from the third. But I have to admit, that when I make a story, I must like my character, at least a little, so my Dragonborns won't the the types of characters I find disgusting. So it's highly unlikely that I'll play an Astrid-like character.
I like No Stone Upturned too, and some day I'm going to do it with a thief character, just not yet) The ironic fact is that my Thalmor guy is a sneaky illusionist, he could make an ideal member of the Thieves Guild, but no, it would be totally unbefitting of a noblemer he is, lol))
Wanted to ask you for a long time about the Saadia/Kematu quest. How did you do it?
The prospect of killing the Emperor doesn't seem much fun to me, especially since I know that there's a lot of another innocent people you have to kill before the Emperor. So I don't really want to do that.
The Volkihar guys on the other hand seem quite interesting, though the only way to talk to them is to join them((
With Runil and Erandur, it is quite clear that they do show some remorse for their actions and are working to redeem themselves. Runil is now, very curiously, a priest of Arkay, something that, if he were a member of the Aldmeri Dominion is a very strange outcome, since Arkay is not an Altmer god. You can also see that he does his part for the community. Erandur, yes formally a priest of Vaermina is now a priest of Mara. Some in game dialogue with the miner at Shor's Stone suggests that he healed her and he does seem to sincerely want to help the people of Dawnstar. Does this justify keeping them alive? Up to the player, none are essential, so have at it.
Depends on the build the player is playing, I say. Is redemption for past crimes enough? Paarthurnax, either himself, or through Kyne teaches Nords the thu'um. By those actions, how many lives are actually saved? A lot. As many as those who died under Paarthurnax? Who knows? The question to ask is whether or not in the player's eyes, does this atone for the lives he's destroyed.
What wergeld do Paarthurnax, Erandur, and Runil have to pay?
Fascinating questions are coming from this thread.
The only information we have about Imperials and Stormcloaks killing civilians are the accusations of masssacre Galmar and Rikke mention during the quest Season Unending.
As for myself, my lawful/neutral/chaotic Dragonborns always live by a code: If one doesn't harm innocents, then it's not my problem. That's why I don't kill Paarthurnax, Runil and Erandur.
Thalmor don't kill civillians either, unless they are criminals or members of dissenter factions (which, as I see it, means that they aren't exactly civillians).
My Thalmor Dragonborn, whose alighnment is ambiguous even to me, wanted to kill Galmar's disgusting brother, but damn, that guy is essential for some unknown reason((( But people like Erandur, Runil and Paarthurnax he definitely won't kill.
I fought Miraak with a mod that changes Fire and Frost Breath to make it look like what the Dragons are using.I didn't know it also effects NPC until I got killed by his OP Fire Breath so basically we fought by exchanging Fire Breaths and me blocking them with wards.
The fun part was that the mod reduces the Fire/Frost Breath cooldown to 25 seconds (all three words).So you'll probably imagine how hectic it gets. 10/10 would battle Miraak again like that at Master.
Still far away from battling Ebony Warrior.I'm right now lv.62 and god it takes ages to reach lv. 81.
Alduin is the first dragon, the proto-dragon. All other dragons acknowledge his mastery. Depending on your interpretation of what a dragon is all other dragons could be said to have been made in his image.
What I am saying to you Thorien is that a dragon will do evil things simply by virtue of being a dragon and as sweet and innocent as you think Paarthurnax is the fact remains that he is a dragon with a self confessed evil nature. Fair enough you trust him but that there is a sitting time bomb and the nearby villagers of Ivarstead may well pay the ultimate price for your trust.
Anthropomorphising these creatures and ascribing to them a moral standard we judge humans on doesn't work. I totally get your point about humans being capable of doing terrible things but we are also capable of doing incredible good in the world. You can find humans working in temples curing the sick and injured, humans roaming the land protecting the innocent.
In contrast you only ever see dragons being dragons.