The Paarthurnax debate in Skyrim is one of the most contested topics in The Elder Scrolls' community even a decade after launch, and Eragon author Christopher Paolini weighed in with his thoughts on what the correct choice may be. While the Civil War in Skyrim has similarly split the fandom into Stormcloaks and Imperials, Bethesda (somewhat bluntly) attempted to pose a question with Paarthurnax on whether atonement was possible without punishment.