Skyrimis a true RPG; it is just stuffed to the brim with story! On top of the main questline (which, let’s be honest, most of us ignored for an unreasonably long time), there are multiple incredible factions to join, a literal war to fight in, and countless side quests that investigate this world’s deepest lore.
RELATED:Skyrim - All Hireling Followers And Where To Find Them
With all that story crammed into one place, it’s no surprise that the writers managed to catch us by surprise sometimes. Here, we’re going to detail some of the best, most shocking plot twists in the game.
5The Companions Are Werewolves
Joining the Companions isn’t a very hard endeavor.For one thing, their base, Jorrvaskr, is located in the very first major city the game directs you to: Whiterun. For another, there are basically no limitations on who they’ll accept or why (unlike the other factions you can join in Skyrim). So, if you’re invested, you’re bound to start completing the Companions' quests pretty early on to get better gear and earn some experience for your skills.
So, you’re a fresh-faced Skyrim player who hasn’t seen most of the world yet.Your new friends seem a little intense, but undoubtedly trustworthy,considering how much importance they place on honour and respect. You head out on aseemingly ordinary quest with your buddy Farkas to test your abilities. Before you know it, you’re trapped behind metal bars andFarkas has just morphed into a giant werewolf!
If you’d played more of the game before this point, it might seem a little less revolutionary. However, the game is set up to encourage you to choose it asone of the first ways you interact with the world!You’ll learn quickly after that not to take everything at face value.
4Astrid Set You Up
As you progress through the Dark Brotherhood quests, an unmistakable sense of excitement builds. You learn that you’re going toperform one of the most difficult assassinations ever: killing the Emperor himself.This requires a lot of preparation that you have to execute perfectly, or everything will be ruined. You get a real sense of progress and can nearly taste your victory, even as the Emperor’s bodyguards, the Penitus Oculatus, are closing in around you.
RELATED:Video Game Bugs That Became Features
Except, after one fateful quest,everything goes up in flames. Literally.You return to the Dark Brotherhood’s Sanctuary to find it under attack by the Penitus Oculatus, fire blazing in every hallway. You only manage to survive by climbing in with the corpse of the Night Mother, the wife of the god Sithis.
When you emerge, you find Astrid, burned beyond recognition. She admits thatshe wanted to trade you for the Dark Brotherhood’s safety,but was betrayed herself when they attacked the Sanctuary. Now, she has performed the Black Sacrament and called out a hit - on herself.
3Mercer’s Betrayal
When you join the Thieves Guild in Riften,you know what you’re getting into. Everyone around you is an accomplished thief, burglar, pickpocket, fence, or some combination thereof. However, they seem to genuinely want their organization to thrive, so you may’t help but root for these no-good hooligans.
Mercer Frey, the leaderof the bunch, is extra hostile to you when Brynjolf brings you along, but you can tell that the Guild has been under hard times lately, so you brush him off.Things start to look up as you complete more quests and earn their trust!Mercer never becomes warm and friendly, but you know he recognizes your value.
That is,until he stabs you in the gut.
During the quest Speaking with Silence, you and Mercer track down and confront Karliah. In reality, you’re quickly shot with an arrow, and forced to listen to Karliah and Mercer have it out with each other. Afterwards, Mercer comes by to finish the job the arrow started - or, so he thinks. In reality,the arrow is what saved your life.
2The Emperor Knew The End Was Near
Even after Astrid’s untimely death,the Dark Brotherhood still strives to fulfill its contract and assassinate the Emperor.This is no small feat; you have to board his ship, The Katariah, anchored in the water beneath Solitude. The Emperor’s cabin is at the very top, so you’ll need to sneak and fight your way there. As you spend time carefully creeping past guards and killing the ones who spot you as quietly as you may, your mind is always focused on the end goal.
When you finally reach the Emperor’s door, the tension is palpable. You enter, expecting to have to subdue this old man, at least a little. Instead,you find him waiting for you. The Emperor knew you were coming.He calls it hisdestiny. For those who played Oblivion, it will eerily remind you of the start of that game, when the former Emperor was killed.
This man, who you have spent all this time preparing to kill, has just one request. He doesn’t beg for his life.He just asks that you kill whomever assigned the contract against him.With that, he turns to look out the window, and doesn’t see it coming when you finally end his life.
1Paarthurnax Must Die
When you do eventually follow Skyrim’s main story, you’ll find yourself helping two characters, Delphine and Esbern, rebuild The Blades.The Blades is a faction of dragon huntersand the Emperor’s protectors that can offer you help to defeat Alduin. However, they have an ultimatum.In order to get their help, you need to kill Paarthurnax.
Paarthurnax isthe elderly dragon leader of the Greybeards,an ancient order of silent monks who attain mastery of the Thu’um. Paarthurnax has become an ally by this point in the game, and the thought of killing him feels evil. However, Delphine and Esbern have learned that Paarthurnax was one of Alduin’s lieutenants during the Dragon War. Though Paarthurnax ultimately betrayed Alduin, they believe he cannot be trusted.
Technically, you don’t need to kill Paarthurnax to complete the game. However, you do need to if you want to continue the Blades' story line and join that faction (unless you use PC console commands). Plus, it can sure feel like it’s a requirement in the moment.Those first few blows against this old dragon feel like cuts in your own soul.
