Do You Have To Kill the Twins in Dishonored? A Deep Dive into Pendleton’s Fate
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No, you absolutely do not have to kill the Pendleton twins, Treavor and Martin, in Dishonored. The game provides a satisfying and morally complex non-lethal alternative to eliminating them. This alternative is often considered one of the most fascinating and darkly humorous aspects of the game, showcasing the player’s agency in shaping Dunwall’s fate. Understanding this choice and its implications is crucial for experiencing the full depth of Dishonored’s narrative.
The Allure of Non-Lethal Gameplay in Dishonored
Dishonored thrives on choice. Every mission presents multiple paths to your objective, from stealthy infiltration to outright carnage. But the decision to kill, or not to kill, carries significant weight. Your actions directly influence the game’s Chaos system, which in turn affects the world around you, the story’s conclusion, and even the behavior of non-player characters (NPCs).
Choosing the non-lethal route for the Pendleton twins is a prime example of this. It reflects a more nuanced approach to justice and allows you to experience a different facet of Dunwall’s underbelly. It also contributes to a Low Chaos playthrough, leading to a better ending for Corvo and Emily.
The Pendleton Twins: Who Are They and Why Do They Matter?
The Pendleton twins are key figures in the conspiracy against Empress Jessamine Kaldwin. They are wealthy, influential, and deeply involved in the political machinations that plunge Dunwall into chaos. Treavor and Martin operate the Golden Cat, a high-end brothel, which serves as both a source of income and a base of operations for their nefarious activities.
Eliminating them is crucial to destabilizing the conspiracy and paving the way for Emily’s return to the throne. However, the method you choose to eliminate them – lethal or non-lethal – has far-reaching consequences.
The Lethal Route: A Quick and Dirty Solution
The simplest way to deal with the Pendleton twins is to kill them. You can use your array of supernatural powers and deadly weapons to dispatch them in a variety of gruesome ways. This approach is straightforward and efficient, but it comes with a cost. Killing the twins contributes to High Chaos, leading to increased rat swarms, more aggressive guards, and a bleaker overall atmosphere in Dunwall.
The Non-Lethal Route: A Fate Worse Than Death
The non-lethal method of eliminating the Pendleton twins is significantly more complex and, arguably, more satisfying. It involves completing a side mission for Slackjaw, the leader of the Bottle Street Gang.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Meet Slackjaw: Find Slackjaw in the Golden Cat district. He’s a gruff, streetwise character with his own agenda.
- Complete Slackjaw’s Initial Mission: He’ll task you with a mission, usually involving dealing with Granny Rags. Completing this mission is essential for unlocking the non-lethal option for the Pendletons.
- Find Bunting’s Safe Combination: After completing the mission, Slackjaw will task you to find Bunting, an art dealer also in the Golden Cat district. Bunting has the safe combination which will allow you to implicate the twins.
- Interrogate Bunting: Locate Bunting and obtain the safe combination from him, you can pay him, or choke him out.
- Return to Slackjaw: Provide Slackjaw with the safe combination.
- Slackjaw’s “Solution”: Slackjaw will then enact his own brand of justice. He kidnaps the twins, cuts out their tongues, shaves their heads, and forces them to work in their own silver mines as slaves.
This fate is arguably worse than death, and it highlights the moral ambiguity that runs throughout Dishonored. While you avoid directly killing the twins, you indirectly condemn them to a life of misery and servitude.
Why Choose Non-Lethal? The Advantages and Implications
Choosing the non-lethal route offers several benefits:
- Low Chaos: Maintaining Low Chaos is crucial for achieving the “good” ending in Dishonored.
- Moral Consistency: If you’re playing a character who is hesitant to kill, the non-lethal route allows you to stay true to that role.
- Unique Story Elements: The non-lethal path often unlocks unique dialogue and story elements that you wouldn’t experience otherwise. It allows you to engage with Slackjaw and other underworld characters more deeply.
- A Different Kind of Satisfaction: There’s a certain satisfaction in outsmarting your enemies and delivering a fate that is arguably more fitting than a simple death.
The Moral Implications of Your Choice
The non-lethal option for the Pendleton twins raises complex moral questions. Is it more ethical to kill someone quickly and painlessly, or to condemn them to a life of suffering? Is it right to inflict such a cruel punishment, even on those who deserve it?
Dishonored doesn’t provide easy answers to these questions. Instead, it forces you to confront the consequences of your actions and to consider the broader impact of your choices on the world around you. You can learn more about games and ethics at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does killing the Pendleton twins automatically lead to High Chaos?
No, killing the Pendleton twins doesn’t automatically guarantee High Chaos, but it significantly contributes to it. Chaos is a cumulative system, so multiple lethal actions will ultimately push you into High Chaos.
2. Can I still get the “Clean Hands” achievement if I choose the non-lethal route for the Pendletons?
Yes, absolutely. The “Clean Hands” achievement requires you to complete the game without killing anyone. The non-lethal route for the Pendleton twins is perfectly compatible with this achievement.
3. Is it possible to accidentally kill the Pendleton twins while trying to subdue them?
Yes, it’s possible, especially if you’re using explosive gadgets or fighting near environmental hazards. Be careful and use non-lethal tactics like choking or sleep darts.
4. What happens if I kill one twin and then try to do the non-lethal option for the other?
You can not combine eliminating them. If you kill one of them you will not be able to eliminate the other non-lethally
5. Does the order in which I complete Slackjaw’s missions matter?
The primary mission you do for Slackjaw has to be completed before you can get the non-lethal objective.
6. Can I get the safe combination for Bunting without talking to Slackjaw?
No. He tasks you to find Bunting. You need to talk to Slackjaw before being able to locate Bunting in the Golden Cat district.
7. What’s the easiest way to get the safe combination from Bunting?
You can use bribery, intimidation, or stealth. Stealth is a good way to take him out, or if you have enough coins, just pay him.
8. Does Granny Rags have any involvement in the Pendleton twins’ fate?
Granny Rags might get involved in the Slackjaw missions if you want to go that way, and in this case she will hinder you finding out the safe combination.
9. Does the difficulty setting affect the availability of the non-lethal option?
No, the difficulty setting doesn’t impact the availability of the non-lethal option for the Pendleton twins.
10. Can I use the non-lethal option and still get the achievement for killing all the main targets in the game?
No, as the question implies, you have to eliminate all of the main targets, so that means they will die.
11. Are there any differences in dialogue or gameplay based on whether I kill or spare the Pendletons?
Yes, choosing the non-lethal route opens up unique dialogue options with Slackjaw. You’ll also get unique conversations, which you would miss by going for the lethal solution.
12. If I choose to kill the twins, does Slackjaw become hostile towards me?
No, Slackjaw doesn’t become hostile. He might comment, but he continues his business.
13. Is there a specific point of no return after which I can’t choose the non-lethal option anymore?
Once you kill one of the twins, you lose the chance to utilize the non-lethal solution. Plan accordingly.
14. Are there any benefits to completing the non-lethal route besides achieving Low Chaos?
Besides Low Chaos, you earn Slackjaw’s gratitude, which can be useful throughout the game, and you might get discounts or favors from him.
15. Is the non-lethal approach to the Pendleton twins considered the “canon” outcome of the game?
While Dishonored has a broadly accepted “canon” ending of Low Chaos, the specific fate of the Pendleton twins is left to the player’s interpretation. It is implied.