- For other uses, see Paarthurnax.
Paarthurnax (Dragon Language: ), called "the Old One" by other dov, is the leader of the Greybeards. He served as Alduin's lieutenant during the Dragon War in the Merethic Era, during which he was said to have committed and witnessed unspeakable atrocities against mankind.[1]
Contents
- 1 Physical appearance
- 2 History
- 2.1 Merethic Era
- 2.2 First Era
- 2.3 Fourth Era
- 3 Interactions
- 3.1 The Throat of the World
- 3.2 Alduin's Bane
- 3.3 Paarthurnax
- 3.4 Epilogue
- 4 Meditation
- 5 Dialogue
- 6 Quotes
- 7 Gallery
- 8 Trivia
- 9 Bugs
- 10 Appearances
- 11 References
Physical appearance[]
Despite dragons being immortal, Paarthurnax shows clear signs of great age, including tattered skin on his wings and tail, broken and chipped horns and chin-spikes, dulled color in his skin and eyes, and several teeth missing.
History[]
Merethic Era[]
Paarthurnax claims it was Alduin's false claim of godhood that turned him against his older brother.[2] However, Nordic legend states that it was Kyne herself who intervened, and sent Paarthurnax to assist mankind.[3] Either way, Paarthurnax, along with several other Dragons, betrayed their former master and taught mankind to use the Thu'um.[2] Mankind eventually prevailed, and Alduin was banished from Mundus.
As with all Dragons, the lust for power was innate and still strong within him and if left unchecked, he would surely revert to his old ways. To overcome this, he retired to the peak of the Throat of the World and lived in seclusion so that he could meditate and focus on the Way of the Voice, a pacifist creed developed by Jurgen Windcaller that preached the Thu'um should only be used for the worship and glory of the gods rather than martial exploits.[4][5]
Jurgen Windcaller also founded the Greybeards, a monastic order dedicated to mastering the Way of the Voice. He built High Hrothgar,[3] located near the peak of the Throat of the World, which served as the monastery where the Greybeards meditated and perfected their Voice. Paarthurnax became the grandmaster of the Greybeards, but continued to live in seclusion at the peak of the mountain.[5]
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Length: | 0:07 | |
Description: | Paarthurnax speaking to the Dovahkiin |
First Era[]
Some time after 1E 420, he would often visit the legendary Dragon Numinex during his imprisonment in Dragonsreach. He recalls that Numinex was so lonely and disturbed by his captivity that he could not remember his own name.[2]
Fourth Era[]
The Blades kept a record of any known surviving Dragons from the Dragon War. According to the Atlas of Dragons, Paarthurnax is recorded as one of the only dragons that survived. Given his history and the atrocities he committed during the Dragon War, the Blades are very keen on killing him despite contributing to mankind's victory over his own kind.
Interactions[]
The Throat of the World[]
![Paarthurnax (Skyrim) (11) Paarthurnax (Skyrim) (11)](https://i0.wp.com/static.wikia.nocookie.net/elderscrolls/images/0/01/Paarthurnaax_%28night%29.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/200?cb=20111111233421)
After the Greybeards teach the Clear Skies shout to the Dragonborn, they use it to approach the summit of the Throat of the World, seeking Paarthurnax for information on the location of an Elder Scroll.
Paarthurnax is not surprised when the Dragonborn is confused over his form as a dragon. When this is mentioned, he replies with "I am as my father Akatosh made me." He teaches the Dragonborn the Fire Breath shout. If the first word has already been learned, he will teach the second, and if the first and second words have been learned, he will teach the third one. He can also help the Dragonborn to meditate on their shouts, giving them additional perks depending on the word chosen.
Alduin's Bane[]
After the Dragonborn recovers the Elder Scroll from the Tower of Mzark and reads it at the Time Wound, Paarthurnax helps the Dragonborn in defeating Alduin. After the latter escapes to Sovngarde, Paarthurnax will devise a plan to capture a dragon in Dragonsreach to find out where Alduin has gone.
Paarthurnax[]
After the Blades learn that Paarthurnax aided Alduin during the Dragon War, they seek to kill him. When the Dragonborn mentions that Paarthurnax betrayed Alduin, the Blades will state that this simply means that he has the ability to betray them and others as well. If he is not killed, he appears for a small speech in the Epilogue. This quest will not go away until the Dragonborn kills him, or until the Greybeards are sought out afterwards, sitting at their table at High Hrothgar. They will give the Dragonborn a debriefing on their excursion to Sovngarde and battle against Alduin, and they will hint at their fate and future accomplishments.
Epilogue[]
If Paarthurnax was not killed at the request of the Blades, he appears at the Throat of the World in this quest, which is immediately after Tsun sends the Dragonborn back to Mundus upon completion of the final quest, Dragonslayer. Despite Alduin's defeat, Paarthurnax is struck with grief as he is not happy that Alduin has fallen since he still considers him as his brother. Nevertheless, he notes that Alduin's defeat was necessary. Paarthurnax then speaks of his intent on bringing the "Way of the Voice" to all dragons and flies off. However, he can still be found perched on the mountain's Word Wall at any given time, and will still aid the Dragonborn in meditating on Shouts. Although Paarthurnax behaves at this point like an essential character, it is possible to kill him after meditating (see below) upon a shout, but a powerful Poison of Lingering Damage Health will be needed to overcome his healing rate. At such point, the Dragonborn may return to Delphine at Sky Haven Temple to further their progress on the Blades quests.
Meditation[]
- Main article: Meditations on the Words of Power
Paarthurnax will guide the Dragonborn in meditating on words of power. Meditating on a word grants a perk related to that shout until the Dragonborn meditates on a different word. There are three choices:
- "Fus" grants the "Force Without Effort" perk, which increases the Dragonborn's stagger resistance by 25% and causes the Dragonborn to stagger opponents 25% more. Note that this is for all forms of stagger, not just stagger relating to Unrelenting Force.
- "Feim" grants the "Ethereal Spirit" perk to the Dragonborn, causing 25% faster health regeneration while ethereal. The effect is only triggered while the Become Ethereal shout is active. No constant effect is added to the active effects list.
- "Yol" grants "The Fire Within" perk, which increases damage done by the Fire Breath shout by 25%.
Dialogue[]
Show: The Throat of the World |
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On top of the Throat of the World: "Drem Yol Lok. Greetings, wunduniik. I am Paarthurnax. Who are you? What brings you to my strunmah... my mountain?"
When learning Fire Breath: "By long tradition, the elder speaks first. Hear my Thu'um! Feel it in your bones. Match it, if you are Dovahkiin! Yol...Toor...Shul! A gift, Dovahkiin. Yol. Understand Fire as the dov do." If approached again: "So. You have made your way here, to me. No easy task for a joor... mortal. Even for one of Dovah Sos. Dragonblood. What would you ask of me?"
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Show: Elder Knowledge |
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On top of the Throat of the World: "You could learn Dragonrend from those who created it."
"Su'um ahrk morah." After obtaining the Elder Scroll: "You have it. The Kel - the Elder Scroll. Tiid kreh... qalos. Time shudders at its touch. There is no question. You are doom-driven. Kogaan Akatosh. The very bones of the earth are at your disposal. Go then. Fulfill your destiny. Take the Scroll to the Time-Wound. Do not delay. Alduin will be coming. He cannot miss the signs." |
Show: Meditation dialogue |
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On top of the Throat of the World: "Speak, I will listen."I wish to meditate on a Word of Power. "Which calls to you Dovahkiin; Fus, Feim or Yol?"
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Show: The Fallen |
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On top of the Throat of the World: "Lot krongrah. You truly have the Voice of a dovah. Alduin's allies will think twice after this victory."
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Show: Paarthurnax |
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On top of the Throat of the World: "Drem Yol Lok. Greetings."
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Show: Epilogue (Skyrim) |
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On top of the Throat of the World: "So, it is done. Alduin dilon (Alduin's dead). The Eldest is no more, he who came before all others, and has always been."
"But I forget myself. Krosis (pardon). So los mid fahdon (Sorrow is (a) loyal friend). Melancholy is an easy trap for a dovah to fall into. You have won a mighty victory. Sahrot krongrah (Mighty victory) - one that will echo through all the ages of this world for those who have eyes to see. Savor your triumph, Dovahkiin. This is not the last of what you will write upon the currents of Time." The conversation ends as Paarthurnax leaps off the wall and ascends to the skies. "Goraan! I feel younger than I have in many an age. Many of the dovahhe (dragons) are now scattered across Keizaal (Skyrim). Without Alduin's lordship, they may yet bow to the vahzen (truth)... rightness of my Thu'um." Paarthurnax pauses in mid-air, and will face the Dragonborn. Paarthurnax: But willing or no, they will hear it! Fare thee well, Dovahkiin!" |
Quotes[]
Quote | Audio |
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"Dov wahlaan fah rel. We were made to dominate. The will to power is in our blood. You feel it in yourself, do you not?" (Dov wahlaan fah rel. = "Dragons were created for domination.") | |
"I can be trusted. I know this. But they do not. Onikaan ni ov dovah. It is always wise to mistrust a dovah." (Onikaan ni ov dovah. = "Wisdom is not trusting a dragon.") | |
"I have overcome my nature only through meditation and long study of the Way of the Voice." | |
"No day goes by where I am not tempted to return to my inborn nature. Zin krif horvut se suleyk." (Zin krif horvut se suleyk. = "Honor (is) fighting the lure of power.") | |
"What is better - to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?" | |
"They were mighty, in their day. Even to attempt to defeat Alduin... sahrot hunne. The Nords have had many heroes since, but none greater." (sahrot hunne = "mighty heroes") | |
"This is the most sacred mountain in Skyrim. Zok revak strunmah. The great mountain of the world." (Zok revak strunmah. = "Most sacred mountain.") | |
"Here the ancient Tongues, the first mortal masters of the Voice, brought Alduin to battle and defeated him." | |
"Drem. Patience. I am answering, in my way." | |
"Yes and no. Viik nuz ni kron. Alduin was not truly defeated, either. If he was, you would not be here today, seeking to... defeat him." (Viik nuz ni kroon. = "Defeat but not victory.") | |
"The Nords of those days used the Dragonrend Shout to cripple Alduin. But this was not enough. Ok mulaag unslaad." (Ok mulaag unslaad = "His strength (is) unending.") | |
"It was the Kel - the Elder Scroll. They used it to... cast him adrift on the currents of Time." | |
"Hmm. How to explain in your tongue? The dov have words for such things that joorre do not." (dov = "dragonkind," joorre = "mortals") | |
"It is an... artifact from outside time. It does not exist, but it has always existed. Rah wahlaan. They are...hmm... fragments of creation." (Rah wahlaan. = "Gods (of) creation." or Creator gods.") | |
"The Kelle... Elder Scrolls, as you name them, they have often been used for prophecy. Yes, your prophecy comes from an Elder Scroll." | |
"But this is only a small part of their power. Zofaas suleyk." (Zofaas suleyk. = "Fearful power.") | |
"Tiid krent. Time was... shattered here because of what the ancient Nords did to Alduin." | |
"Yes. Alduin... zeymah. The elder brother. Gifted, grasping and troublesome as is so often the case with firstborn." | |
"True... But qostiid - prophecy - tells what may be, not what should be." (qostiid= "prophecy") | |
"Qostiid sahlo aak. Just because you can do a thing, does not always mean you should." (Qostiid sahlo aak. = "Prophecy is a weak guide.") | |
"If you can see your destiny clearly, your sight is clearer than mine." | |
"Dahmaan - remember, Alduin also follows his destiny, as he sees it." (Dahmaan = "remember") | |
"But, I bow before your certainty. In a way I envy you. The curse of much knowledge is often indecision." | |
"There is nothing else but philosophy to a dovah. It is no accident that we do battle with our Thu'um, our Voices." | |
"There is no distinction between debate and combat to a dragon. Tinvaak los grah. For us it is one and the same." (Tinvaak los grah. = "Talk/Speech is battle.") | |
"Hmm. Yes. They are very protective of me. Bahlaan fahdonne." (Bahlaan fahdonne. ="Worthy friends.") | |
"Alduin komeyt tiid. What else would you seek? Alduin and Dovahkiin return together." | |
"I am as my father Akatosh made me. As are you... Dovahkiin." | |
"They see me as master. Wuth. Onik. Old and wise. It is true I am old..." (Onik. = "Wise.") | |
"Drem Yol Lok. Greetings, wunduniik. I am Paarthurnax." wunduniik = "traveller" | |
"You are bold, wunduniik. You dare enter a Dovah's home without permission." | |
"You have it. The Kel - the Elder Scroll. Tiid kreh... qalos. Time shudders at its touch." | |
"Do not delay. Alduin will be coming. He cannot miss the signs." | |
"Odahviing will come to your challenge. Boziik. Krilot. He will not be able to resist your call, from the Hill of the Dovah itself... he will come." | |
"Lot krongrah. You truly have the Voice of a dovah. Alduin's allies will think twice after this victory." (Lot krongrah. = "Great victory.") | |
"Happy? No, I am not happy. Zeymahi lost ont du'ul Bormahu. Alduin was once the crown of our father Akatosh's creation." Zeymahi lost ont du'ul Bormahu. = "My brother was once the crown of our father." | |
"But I cannot celebrate his fall. Zu'u tiiraaz ahst ok mah. He was my brother once. This world will never be the same." (Zu'u tiiraaz ahst ok mah. = "I am sad at his fall.") | |
"So, it is done. Alduin dilon. The Eldest is no more, he who came before all others, and has always been." | |
"Dovahkiin, vosaraan! Use Dragonrend before Alduin consumes you!" | [?] |
"Use Dragonrend, Dovahkiin!" | [?] |
"He is too strong on the wing! Bring him to gol with Dragonrend!" | [?] |
"Use Dragonrend! It is the only chance to defeat him!" | [?] |
"Now, Dovahkiin! Now he is vulnerable!" | [?] |
"This is your chance, Dovahkiin! Strike with all your force!" | [?] |
"Hurt him while he is grounded!" | [?] |
Gallery[]
Paarthurnax concept art
Paarthurnax side view concept art
Paarthurnax head concept art
Paarthurnax concept art
Paarthurnax perched
Trivia[]
![Paarthurnax (Skyrim) (18) Paarthurnax (Skyrim) (18)](https://i0.wp.com/static.wikia.nocookie.net/elderscrolls/images/a/a7/Paarthurnax.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/200?cb=20120124052540)
- The name "Paarthurnax" may translate to "Ambition-Overlord-Cruelty" in Dragon Language.
- Paarthurnax is voiced by Charles Martinet, best known for his work as the voice of Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi among others, in the Super Mario Bros. video game franchise.
- When attacked and killed before the start of the quest "Paarthurnax," he makes a pose, typical for humanoid essential NPCs.
- Sometimes, one of the little girls running around Rorikstead, Sissel, may say, "I had a dream that there was a good dragon. He was old and grey but he wasn't scary." This is most likely a reference to Paarthurnax.
- If the Dragonborn kills Paarthurnax during the quest of the same name, then the dragon's skeletal remains will have two intact horns even though one should be broken.
- Paarthurnax will encourage the Dragonborn to use the Dragonrend Shout against Alduin during "Alduin's Bane," by repeatedly saying that Dragonrend is the only chance to defeat Alduin. In addition to that, when Alduin is under the effects of Dragonrend, Paarthurnax will remark that it is the Dragonborn's chance to strike Alduin.
- Once Dragonrend was used against Alduin and the effects are worn off from him, Paarthurnax will continue to encourage the Dragonborn to use Dragonrend against him, but will say so in a less stressful tone.
Bugs[]
This section contains bugs related to Paarthurnax (Skyrim). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:
- Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
- If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template 360/XB1, PS3/PS4, PC/MAC, NX/PS5, XS, depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
- Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.
- PC360PS3 When the Dragonborn is told by the Blades that Paarthurnax should be slain, Paarthurnax may remain essential.
- PC (Fix) To remedy this, simply open the command console, click on Paarthurnax with the cursor, and enter
Disable
. Paarthurnax will disappear and the game will act as if he was killed. The soul will still be absorbed, sometimes with sound and sometimes without. Fast Traveling right after disabling Paarthurnax will not stop the soul from being absorbed. - PC (Fix) Alternatively, open the command console, click on Paarthurnax with the cursor, and enter
setessential 0
. Paarthurnax will be rendered as non-essential, and then enterkill
to kill Paarthurnax.
- PC (Fix) To remedy this, simply open the command console, click on Paarthurnax with the cursor, and enter
- PCXB1 During the initial conversation with Paarthurnax, his flying animation can lock up, resulting in a rapid flailing which ultimately results in his disappearance. Even with Paarthurnax gone, the conversation proceeds despite the dragon being too far away to hear. The speech can be read if subtitles are enabled.
- Fix: Exit the conversation, and Paarthurnax will fly back down and land on the Word Wall he sat on before. Then, re-initiate the conversation.
- PCPS3 When talking to Paarthurnax, he might circle up above in the air or simply exit the conversation.
- 360 Followers may attack Paarthurnax on sight.
- 360 During the fight with Alduin atop the Throat of the World, Paarthurnax may get stuck in the ground.
- PS3PS4 If Paarthurnax is attacked while teaching "Yol," he may fly off and not return.
- XB1 Paarthunax may not spawn.
Appearances[]
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- The Elder Scrolls: Legends (Heroes of Skyrim)
References[]
- ↑ Dialogue with Delphine
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dialogue with Paarthurnax
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 7000 Steps Etchings
- ↑ Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Skyrim
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dialogue with Arngeir