Main Quest: The Sacrifice (SPOILER)

Iluvrien

Varen

Varen, because it is all Varen's fault and he is already seeking redemption... even though I adore Michael Gambon's voice and wanted to keep him around.

Never Lyris, if only because of Jennifer Hale.

I did want to kill off Tharn at the beginning, but he has grown on me... not least because of Alfred Molina's superb work.

Sai didn't inspire feelings in me one way or the other even though I remain a fan of Kevin Michael Richardson's work (I mean really, the man has been in everything from Baldur's Gate to Lilo and Stitch). I never disliked Sai enough to kill him off, or like him enough to resolve to keep him safe.

Kredo

It's kind of irrelevant as ZOS just brings them back from the dead without any actual explanation so they can sell chapter copies

AcadianPaladin

Varen

Stupid Tharn could not explain why we couldn't free Manimarco and sacrifice him since he used to be one of the Five Companions. Grrr.

VaranisArano

Varanis Arano sacrificed the Prophet. It was a simple as him bearing the most responsibility to fix the mess he helped make. She's since seen him in Orsinium and at the New Life Remembrance rite.

My Silencer sacrificed Lyris, because Sai Sahan's stupidity annoyed her. I mean, hiding the amulet of kings inside a crypt when they're fighting a necromancer? How dumb can you be? Killing off Lyris was the best way to hurt him. At least, it was until Lyris came back due to Dev fiat.

alberichtano

I would say that the question is utterly meaningless. It has no consequence whatsoever. You could personally gut Sai or "snow-lily" at the end of that quest, and they would still waltz in to give you quests later.

But to still answer the question, I have mostly kicked Varen, when my just and noble alts were involved, but I have also whacked Sai and Lyris on occassion, when I played my full-blooded psychopath character, or my non-caring, restless one.

alberichtano

Iluvrien wrote: »

Varen, because it is all Varen's fault and he is already seeking redemption... even though I adore Michael Gambon's voice and wanted to keep him around.

Never Lyris, if only because of Jennifer Hale.

I did want to kill off Tharn at the beginning, but he has grown on me... not least because of Alfred Molina's superb work.

Sai didn't inspire feelings in me one way or the other even though I remain a fan of Kevin Michael Richardson's work (I mean really, the man has been in everything from Baldur's Gate to Lilo and Stitch). I never disliked Sai enough to kill him off, or like him enough to resolve to keep him safe.

Tharn is the one in the bunch that doesn't give me regurgitation-issues. He has character and personal motivations other than "I am a goodie-twoshoes hero for... reasons". What do Sai and Lyris actually WANT, other than to play the "will they won't they"-game?

Lugaldu

Varen

Varen is guilty and I can't tear the lovebirds apart

alberichtano

AcadianPaladin wrote: »

Stupid Tharn could not explain why we couldn't free Manimarco and sacrifice him since he used to be one of the Five Companions. Grrr.

You know what, that never really occurred to me, but you are right. Bang Manny DiMarco in the head, drag him along, sacrifice him, bam, you got a a two-for-one. Heh. Not to mention the sweet irony of handing Mollies rear end to him at the cost of his own failed servant. I mean, that would just be double sweet with extra chocolate on top!! 3:)

ADarklore

Varen

SidraWillowsky wrote: »

I do plenty of quests, but have never finished the main quest.

I don't care what they say, I'm not the Vestige u.u

SO... you've never gotten your soul back? At least finishing the last quest, you regain your soul. Being killed, re-awakening without your soul, then never finishing the quest to get it back... then denying you're just a vestige... I definitely couldn't live in denial like that. Besides, the MSQ was a lot of fun and I enjoyed thrashing Molag Bal at the end... and receiving my soul back to fully complete myself.

Iluvrien

Varen

alberichtano wrote: »

Iluvrien wrote: »

Varen, because it is all Varen's fault and he is already seeking redemption... even though I adore Michael Gambon's voice and wanted to keep him around.

Never Lyris, if only because of Jennifer Hale.

I did want to kill off Tharn at the beginning, but he has grown on me... not least because of Alfred Molina's superb work.

Sai didn't inspire feelings in me one way or the other even though I remain a fan of Kevin Michael Richardson's work (I mean really, the man has been in everything from Baldur's Gate to Lilo and Stitch). I never disliked Sai enough to kill him off, or like him enough to resolve to keep him safe.

Tharn is the one in the bunch that doesn't give me regurgitation-issues. He has character and personal motivations other than "I am a goodie-twoshoes hero for... reasons". What do Sai and Lyris actually WANT, other than to play the "will they won't they"-game?

Lyris always struck me as a follower. She needs someone in a position of authority whose orders she is required to obey. Her response to first Varen, and then Jorunn leads me to conclude this. In terms of her own motivations, I wondered if she subsumed them because of the whole "Daughter of Giants" thing, i.e. that she doesn't trust herself enough to make her own choices. I really wish this had been explored more, or more deeply. It could have led to an interesting tale or two.

Sai just beiged me to death.

VaranisArano

AcadianPaladin wrote: »

Stupid Tharn could not explain why we couldn't free Manimarco and sacrifice him since he used to be one of the Five Companions. Grrr.

Tharn shakes his head at the Vestige. "Look, have you seen the plot armor on that guy? Trust me, he won't work for the ritual. He shows up in later games."

"Wait, if I kill him, I get CP 160 Plot Armor? Are the set bonuses good?"

An hour later, a black hole rips open space and time, spitting the Vestige out of the Colored Rooms back into the Harborage.

"I did it, guys! Wait, where's Tharn?"

The Prophet says, "I'm sorry. He ran off with the Amulet of Kings and-"

"Nevermind the Amulet. Where's my plot armor?!"

Lyris explains, "He said something about needing it for a dragon fight."

"I'm gonna kill Tharn if it's the last thing I do."

Sai mutters, "Not with that plot armor, you won't."

"Next playthrough, Sai, I'm killing you off instead."

Blinx

All of them, at some point or another

glad to see someone voted Lyris, as she's my next target!

DP99

Varen

Iluvrien wrote: »

Varen, because it is all Varen's fault and he is already seeking redemption... even though I adore Michael Gambon's voice and wanted to keep him around.

Never Lyris, if only because of Jennifer Hale.

I did want to kill off Tharn at the beginning, but he has grown on me... not least because of Alfred Molina's superb work.

Sai didn't inspire feelings in me one way or the other even though I remain a fan of Kevin Michael Richardson's work (I mean really, the man has been in everything from Baldur's Gate to Lilo and Stitch). I never disliked Sai enough to kill him off, or like him enough to resolve to keep him safe.

Yes, how could you hate Sai! He's voiced by a fantastic voice actor! The guy has done two of the greatest DC Supervilains, the Joker and Trigon!

cynicalbutterfly

Varen

I always sacrifice Varen. His ambitions caused the whole mess and the way I see it, everyone else still has a life to live. If I had the choice I'd sacrifice Tharn though. He's got arrogant SOB that deserves to be knocked down a few pegs written all over him.

Sheridan

Varen

Varen is obvious and most logical choice, both story-wise and moral-wise. Moreover, five years later it turned out to be a canon choice as well, since Lyris and Sai Sahan returned alive and well all of a sudden. I'm glad I made the right choice (otherwise the events of Dragonhold or Greymoor would have destroyed my immersion in the game and devalued sacrifice in Coldharbour) and there was never any other option for me.

RaddlemanNumber7

All of them, at some point or another

Mostly Varen, but sometimes the others so I could see what was going to happen.

Destai

Varen

Sephyr wrote: »

Destai wrote: »

I find the quest bugs out less when I sacrifice Sai, but Varen has it coming.

I was ripping my hair out the other day because the last quest was super buggy on me.

Oh dude, it's only worked 2 times out of the 6 or 7 times I've played it. I had one time where I right after as I was going to kill Molag Bal, the game quest bugged, he disappeared, and the game itself was like, "Nah I'm done. Quest Complete." The base game really needs some TLC.

Sephyr

Varen

Destai wrote: »

Sephyr wrote: »

Destai wrote: »

I find the quest bugs out less when I sacrifice Sai, but Varen has it coming.

I was ripping my hair out the other day because the last quest was super buggy on me.

Oh dude, it's only worked 2 times out of the 6 or 7 times I've played it. I had one time where I right after as I was going to kill Molag Bal, the game quest bugged, he disappeared, and the game itself was like, "Nah I'm done. Quest Complete." The base game really needs some TLC.

For me, he picked me up and I beamed him. I fell down, everything was fine — except his giant self was standing there looking at me like I'm supposed to be doing something. Tried for 15 minutes to get something to trigger, but nothing did.

So after that I ported out and then back in and walked up to the spot where he's supposed to pick me up. Stuttered a moment, was picked up, rubberbanded to where I was put back down and he disappeared, but I couldn't move for almost eight minutes.

Eventually it let me move and he showed back up where I could kill him where I painstakingly just heavy attacked until he was dead.

It really does need some TLC for sure.

JobooAGS

Varen

Varen is the only logical choice, plus it also has a Martin Septim kind of feeling

LanteanPegasus

Varen

Varen.

Because it is the only fitting way for the story to go.
And because my character is an Imperial, too, respects him for what he tried to accomplish with the ritual in the first place, and understands his need to see it through to the end. I was very sad to see him go.

Lyris is a mild nuisance, and not really worth mentioning. Sai is a worthy comrade, but it was not his place to go instead of Varen. Let him and Lyris have their happy ending, they both still have other things to live for, but Varen had to end his quest, for his own sake. So I helped him do that.
Varen became the man that saved Tamriel. Abnur and I will keep trying to save the Empire. Sai will help, and Lyris can tag along if she likes. (Or not, I don't really care.)

(Well, that was the state of things after the main quest. The Elsweyr arc was both wonderful and even more sad for me, obviously...)

CaffeinatedMayhem

Varen

I did let Lyris sacrifice herself on my “bad choices” character, but Sai’s sad puppy eyes afterwards…. I couldn’t bring myself to experiment anymore.

waterfairy

Varen

Gleitfrosch wrote: »

Always Sai. Can't stand him.

why? he's an honorable warrior who loves his giant woman...what's to hate?

varen on the other handled gambled his empire and the world for power

Sarannah

Varen

Varen, as he is old and blind. And responsible for the mess in-game! So I like to put him out of his misery.

On the other hand, thanks to him I am leveling my CP and doing dolmens. Fun fun fun!

omnidoh

Sai

Sai because:
1) He's the most noble to die
2) Varen is Yoda, so I prefer him around
3) Lyris is a potential romance opportunity, so there's that...

waterfairy

Varen

Spoiler: nobody truly dies in game, even if you pick sai he will still pop up in the prologue and sing the love song to his giant woman