March 9, 2015 10:15 AM EDT
I HATED this quest because of this decision. Up until now, I went so out of my way, even never going into Arnleif and Sons Trading Company, so Eltys wouldn't talk to me. I hated the choice. But now my mind is made up. I side with the Silver-Bloods. I do hate them. BUUUT... Thonar does run Markarth's economy, and while it wouldn't effect anything gameplay-wise, it would story-wise. Everyone (except the lower class) hates me when I free Madanach. And yes, Thonar does make Madanach send people to his death, but so does Madanach himself. He has let his own people die for him for more than 20 years, I think, just so he can live himself and run his little revolution, the spirit of it having died a long time ago. Plus Madanach is like Ulfric in his racism, except for natives of the Reach. And finally, they are genocidal bandits. Homie don't roll with genocidal bandits.