Who is the Best Follower to Sacrifice to Boethiah in Skyrim?

Choosing the right follower to sacrifice to Boethiah in Skyrim is a crucial decision, impacting both your conscience (if you have one in Tamriel) and your gameplay. The “best” follower for this grim task hinges on several factors: whether you prioritize minimizing emotional impact, optimizing gameplay utility, or simply finding someone expendable.

Ralis Sedarys emerges as a top contender. Located in Solstheim at Kolbjorn Barrow, Ralis is a Dunmer who ropes the Dragonborn into funding his archaeological dig, only to resurrect a powerful dragon priest. While potentially a useful follower after completing his questline, his questionable moral compass and ultimately betraying nature make him a justifiable sacrifice.

However, other factors play a role in your decision-making process.

Why Consider Ralis Sedarys?

• Justifiable Choice: His actions during the Kolbjorn Barrow questline provide ample justification from a role-playing perspective. He’s not an innocent caught in the crossfire.
• Limited Usefulness: After completing the quest, Ralis’s skills may not be essential to your gameplay. He’s a decent mage, but better options exist.
• Location: Since he’s located on Solstheim, the potential loss isn’t as impactful early in the game compared to followers acquired in Skyrim.

Other Considerations for Sacrifice Candidates

While Ralis is a strong choice, you might have different priorities. Here’s what to keep in mind when choosing a follower for sacrifice:

Prioritize Low Emotional Impact

• Mercenaries: These characters are hired help with no backstory or personal connection. They’re essentially tools, making their sacrifice less emotionally taxing for some players. Examples include Jenassa in Whiterun’s Drunken Huntsman or Vorstag in Markarth’s Silver-Blood Inn.
• Generally Disliked Followers: Some followers have reputations for being annoying or useless. Torvar is a prime example; many players find him irritating, making him a less regrettable sacrifice.

Optimize Gameplay Utility

• Followers with Duplicate Skills: If you already have a follower proficient in archery, sacrificing another archer doesn’t significantly impact your gameplay.
• Characters with Low Level Caps: Some followers have level caps below yours, rendering them less useful as you progress. Sacrificing one of these ensures you’re not losing a valuable asset.

Avoid Essential or Unique Followers

• Essential Characters: Essential followers, like Aela the Huntress or Serana (before curing her vampirism), cannot die and therefore cannot be sacrificed. The game will prevent you from even attempting it.
• Unique Followers: While not essential, some followers offer unique benefits or questlines. Sacrificing them can lock you out of content, so consider the consequences.

The Ethical Dilemma

The quest “Boethiah’s Calling” presents an ethical dilemma. Committing to this quest requires sacrificing a follower, a decision that might clash with your character’s moral alignment. The implications of such choices are areas that intersect the gaming world with education and understanding the way players learn and make decisions. The Games Learning Society (or GamesLearningSociety.org) provides valuable research and insight into these complex interactions.

Ultimately, the “best” follower to sacrifice to Boethiah is a subjective decision based on your personal values and gameplay preferences. However, considering factors like moral justification, gameplay utility, and emotional impact will help you make an informed choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sacrificing Followers to Boethiah

What happens after I sacrifice a follower to Boethiah?

Boethiah will possess the body of your sacrificed follower and speak to you, tasking you with eliminating her current champion. Upon completing this next task, you’ll receive the Ebony Mail, a powerful piece of armor.

Can I retrieve the items my follower was carrying after sacrificing them?

No. Unfortunately, any items your follower was carrying are lost forever. So be sure to remove any valuable or essential items from their inventory before initiating the sacrifice.

Is there any way to avoid sacrificing a follower during “Boethiah’s Calling”?

No, sacrificing a follower is a mandatory part of the quest. However, some players use console commands (on PC) to resurrect the sacrificed follower after completing the quest, though this can sometimes cause glitches.

Does my choice of follower affect the Ebony Mail I receive?

No, the Ebony Mail’s stats and enchantments are the same regardless of which follower you sacrifice. The choice only affects your personal role-playing experience.

What if I accidentally sacrifice a follower I didn’t mean to?

If you accidentally sacrifice the wrong follower, the best solution is to reload a previous save. Unfortunately, there’s no way to undo the sacrifice once it’s complete.

Can I use a pet or animal companion as a sacrifice?

No. Animals and pets cannot be used as sacrifices for Boethiah’s Calling. The game requires a humanoid follower capable of carrying items.

Does my follower’s race or skills matter when choosing a sacrifice?

From a gameplay perspective, no. The sacrifice is purely a plot device. However, from a role-playing perspective, you might choose a follower whose race or background clashes with your character’s values.

What level should I be before starting “Boethiah’s Calling”?

You must be at least level 30 to begin “Boethiah’s Calling.” If you arrive at the Sacellum of Boethiah before level 30, the quest will not trigger.

Can I marry a follower and then sacrifice them to Boethiah?

Yes, you can marry a follower and then sacrifice them. This is a truly evil act and might affect how you feel about your playthrough. Be warned, doing so might make you a target for karmic retribution in future playthroughs.

Are there any followers who will refuse to be sacrificed?

No, your follower will blindly follow your instructions, even unto their own death. They’ll stand on the Altar of Sacrifice as instructed.

Can I use console commands to bypass the sacrifice?

While console commands can be used to bypass the sacrifice, doing so may break the quest or lead to other unforeseen issues. It is not recommended.

Can I re-do the Boethiah’s Calling quest in a future playthrough?

Yes, “Boethiah’s Calling” can be completed in every new playthrough.

Is Boethiah considered an evil Daedric Prince?

Boethiah is often considered one of the “bad” Daedra, especially by the races of Tamriel who adhere to the Eight Divines. However, the Dunmer view Boethiah as one of the “Good Daedra,” an ancestor and teacher.

Does sacrificing a follower impact my standing with other factions?

No, sacrificing a follower does not affect your standing with any other factions in the game. The act is isolated to the “Boethiah’s Calling” quest.

What are the other ways to complete the quest without sacrificing a follower?

There aren’t any legitimate ways to complete the quest without sacrifice. In the vanilla version of the game, the sacrifice is mandatory to proceed. If you don’t want to sacrifice anyone, consider installing mods that alter the quest.