Ulfric Stormcloak

"I fight for the men I've held in my arms, dying on foreign soil! I fight for their wives and children, whose names I heard whispered in their last breath. I fight for we few who did come home, only to find our country full of strangers wearing familiar faces. I fight for my people impoverished to pay the debts of an Empire too weak to rule them, yet brands them criminals for wanting to rule themselves! I fight so that all the fighting I've already done hasn't been for nothing! I fight... because I must."

- Ulfric Stormcloak Ulfric Stormcloak is the Jarl of Windhelm and the leader of the Stormcloak rebellion in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He believes that Skyrim should free itself from the Puppet government of the Empire. Some believe Ulfric to be a hero, while others label him an opportunist, leading him to play the role of one of the main anti-heroes/villains in the game.

Role
Ulfric is first seen by the player (who is later revealed to be the Dovahkiin) at the beginning of the game captured and condemned to death in the town of Helgen by the Empire. Right before he believes his rebellion has ultimately failed, a black dragon attacks the small community, freeing Ulfric and many of his men, allowing them a second chance to revolt against the Empire once more. If the Dragonborn decides to join the Stormcloaks in the rebellion, he has his right-hand man Galmar Stone-Fist send the Dragonborn to slay an ice wraith located just outside of Winterhold. The Dragonborn suceeds in the mission, and is then officially initiated into the Stormcloaks.

He then sends the Dragonborn, Galmar, and several of his men to obtain the Jagged Crown hidden in a nordic crypt called Korvanjund before the rebellion begins. Despite the many strenuous obstacles they encounter inside the tomb, they succeed in obtaining the crown and return it to Windhelm, where now the rebellion officially begins with the invasion of Whiterun.

After successfully invading Writerun and overwhelming the other holds controlled by the Empire, he and the Dragonborn begin final preparations on the invasion on Solitude. They make their way through the battle-ravaged city and confront the military commander General Tells and his right-hand Legate Rikke, killing the latter and incapacitating the former. Their, after a brief discussion of how the Stormcloaks are "not the good guys", Ulfric then replies by stating that it maybe true, but neither is the Empire, which Tellius reluctantly agrees. Ulfric then asks the Dragonborn to finish off Tellius with his personal war axe, which the Dragonborn carries on with, effectively ending the Civil War.

Afterwards, Ulfric, now the unofficial High King of Skyrim, gives a speech stating that Elisif will be spared and carry on her duties as Jarl of Solitude, and states that once the Moot meets in the near future, he will officially become High King. He then thanks the Dragonborn for his/her loyalty and effort in the rebellion, and tells them that he is in their debt.

Alternatively, the Dragonborn can side with the Imperials and overtake Windhelm and eliminate him.