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| “ | 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 |
| “ | There's no shame in such thoughts. A man without doubts is a man without a conscience. But rest assured, We've won Skyrim's right to determine her own future. And for that, every Nord praises us. But I will heed your wishes. Come, at the very least walk out with me | „ |
| ~ Ulfric to The Player after the Battle for Solitude should the player state that he or she is unsure if it was worth to have an Stormcloak victory or unsure of an independent Skyrim`s future |
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.
He was voiced by Vladimir Kulich.
Personality[]
Ulfric is a well-respected Jarl in Skyrim, in fact many, including his enemy General Tullius at one point, considered him a hero. However, like many monarchs, he also has opposition as well; many Imperial loyalists see him as an oppressed leader and seeing him nothing more than a political enemy to the Empire.
To his fellow Nords, he treats them with full respect, and is shown to give them the potential benefits they need. He is known throughout Skyrim to be a powerful, courageous warrior, as shown in battle, and also from the fact that he is willing to break away from the Empire. However, despite the respect he shows towards his Nordic kin, he is also known to be quite racist, as to all other people of other races (save for the Dragonborn if they are a non-Nord race and supporter of him), he expresses his displeasure to them. He does however hold less of a grudge on those races that do support him however.
Rikke had accused him of slaughtering fellow Nords in Karthwasten, something he has done several times before. During his raid of Markarth to retake the city from the Forsworn, he slaughtered and tortured all civilians who worked for the Forsworn in any way, and also killed anyone (be it man, woman, or child) who didn't immediately raise up arms against the Forsworn occupiers when he laid siege to the city.
He rebels against the Empire for their role in the White-Gold Concordant, outlawing the worship of Talos. His naive and reckless actions have led to a weakening of the Empire, and therefore the Thalmor have determined that Ulfric is an asset, since his civil war is weakening the Empire further. Meaning that Ulfric has been unknowingly strengthening the Thalmor's position and making it easier for them to invade in another war. Ulfric is, of course, oblivious to this.
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 after watching the first of his soldiers captured with him be beheaded before the Dragonborn steps up to be beheaded next, 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 at the Serpent Stone. The Dragonborn succeeds in the mission, and is then officially initiated into the Stormcloaks.
However, he is called for negotiation with the Imperials at the Dragonborn and the Greybeard's behest (so that the Dragonborn can use Whiterun's ancient dragon trap to capture a dragon). If the Dragonborn can handle it correctly, the Imperials get high compensation for the Karthwasten massacre while the Stormcloaks take control of Markarth, Skyrim's economic hub, which effectively relieves Balgruuf's burden off both sides pressuring his city. Though this can change if the Stormcloaks already captured Whiterun, putting Vignar Grey-Mane in charge as Jarl in place of Balgruuf.
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 Whiterun 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 General Tullius and his right-hand Legate Rikke, killing the latter and incapacitating the former. There, after a brief discussion of how the Imperials are "not the bad guys", Ulfric then replies by stating that it maybe true, but neither are they "the good guys", to which Tullius reluctantly agrees. Ulfric then asks the Dragonborn to finish off Tullius 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, High King Torygg's widow, 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.
See also[]
Ulfric Stormcloak on Villains Wiki
