Were You Wrong About Skyrim's Story This Entire Time?

This Skyrim theory might change the way you see Skyrim's story forever! Let us know why you think Akatosh sent the Dragonborn to stop Alduin!

[Romanticoutlaw]

basically, alduin was having too much fun with the side quests to finish his main quest

[FrancoGazzetta]

Alduin: I'M THE WORLD EATER, HEAR MY VOICE AND DESPAIR
Nords: double it and give it to the next person

[farkasmactavish]

Arngeir actually does mention this after you defeat Alduin.

"I can see it in your eyes - you've seen the land of the gods and returned. Does this mean... is it done? Is Alduin truly defeated?"

I hope so. But I don't know if Alduin can ever be completely destroyed.

"Perhaps, perhaps not. Dragons are not like normal mortal creatures, and Alduin is unique even among dragonkind. He may be permitted to return at the end of time to fulfill his destiny as the World-Eater. But that is for the gods to decide. You have done your part."

[sdsdfdu]

Paarthunax literally tells you this the first time you meet him. He said that the ancient nords did not defeat Alduin, but sent him forward through time. He said he knew exactly where Alduin would return but not when, and so he waited at the throat of the world

[duskycat]

Bro imagine being Paarthunax seeing alduin just *pop* right into existence in front of you and asks you "what year is this?!"

[trevorkraft]

So that means by refusing to do main quests I am indeed preventing the end of the world

[benjaminwilson]

"Those who try to hasten the end, may delay it. Those who work to delay the end, may bring it closer."

[Beansidhe]

Paarthurnax pretty much comes out and says this exact thing, " Those who seek to bring about the end may delay it, while those who seek to delay the end may bring it closer"

[camarobro]

Remember what paarthurnax said "those who work to delay the end may actually bring it closer and those who work to bring the end may actually end up delaying it."

[kristofevarsson]

This is the equivalent of an ancient Babylonian zoning out for a minute and coming-to during the Gulf War.

[streetroach]

I’m pretty sure that’s actually stated by Paarthurnax when Alduin goes to Sovngarde. He’s not supposed to be there, that’s not his job. He totally could destroy the world, but he doesn’t want to. I feel like the idea behind the Dragonborn’s talk of philosophy with old party snax isn’t about Alduin destroying the world, but how far is the Dragonborn willing to go to protect it. Alduin is meant to be the destroyer, it’s his job, but Paarthurnax talks about him almost as if he’s disappointed in his brother’s decisions

[idipped]

Yes this is the dominating version of alduin, not the world eating version. The Dragonborn was sent to destroy his current form and set him on the right path.
Edit, I might start doing lore videos, lmk if anyone wants me to, my insight seems to get a decent amount of interaction across the elder scrolls community, so it may be a good idea

[johab]

I hadn't considered that it was literally only seconds for alduin, dude was probably so fkn confused

[nonkcolasmorle]

Alduin is also ridiculously powerful, which isn't really portrayed well in the games. He turned the Leper king into Mehrunes Dagon. And I believe he bested two other deadric princes in combat.

[gordon.sarratt]

So alduin was taking a long time to finish important tasks because of an abundance of extra things to do…

Alduin was just…

Playing skyrim…

[antiochus]

Well then let's have a mod for the Civil War:

"Well actually I'm gonna side with the World Eater and conquer Skyrim in his name as his chief Dragon Priest, with an army of draugr!"

[BeardedBeerMan]

The Dragonborn becomes a vampire and waits in secret location waiting until Alduin comes back so he can kill him again. That’s how we make it to the 2023rd year of the Common Era.

[CasualPrince]

"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."

[richard]

Send him even further through time.

Frontier cruising through space and a giant black dragon just pops from a rift. “Th’ FUCK?!”

[lordhellstrande]

Even when you ask the Greybeards about not absorbing Alduin's soul, he says something to the effect of Alduin will return to fulfill his duty as the World Eater because that's who he still is