#Skyrim ulfric

[moodcrab]

Fixing Delphine

This bitch.

I actually like that they made a character that is on your side but is somewhat unlikable, Delphine is Team Dragonborn, but she's not really one of the good guys. And that's cool, conflict means drama. So what's the problem? Well unfortunately, this drama is surface level and isn't used to drive the story, so It's kind of just annoying.

People oversimplify their hatred of Delphine into "She wants you to kill Paarthurnax," because unlike Delphine, people actually like Paarthurnax. Understandable, but barely scratches the surface. We'll get to The Paarthurnax Dilemma in time, but that quest is a symptom, not the illness itself.

If I could sum up Delphine in a word it would be "inconsistent." For example, she's a fugitive waging a one woman war on the Thalmor from the shadows, who's only survived this long from sheer paranoia - but she also uses her real name and leaves a note in Ustengrav for whoever happens to pick it up with directions and a pass word to her secret hide out.

She needs to go through her super secret contact Farengar to use the Jarl's resources to go into Bleak Falls Barrow, a tutorial level dungeon she can see from her house, and she's impressed that you did it - but she also goes personally to the other side of the country to delve alone into the massive Ustengrav to steal the Horn of Jurgan Windcaller, no issues, just a quick in and out twenty minute adventure.

She takes the fact that you found her Ustengrav note as proof you're the Greybeard's new guy and not some Thalmor plant even though she herself, a non Dragonborn, had also completed Ustengrav and taken the horn proving it's totally possible. She even points this out in her own dialogue then demands we prove who we are, even though that was the whole point of the Ustengrav note. It's also a pretty big assumption that just because I'm the guy the Greybeards call Dragonborn that I can't ALSO be with the Thalmor.

We are left with this awkward sense that the writers are flailing to make us think this woman is competent and objective, without actually having her do anything that clever. Just act like the dumb thing was smart and have her act like a cocky brat if questioned about it.

Inconsistency. It's her thing. Does she hate the Thalmor? That would make sense given what we know about her. But that gets dropped half way through the main story and suddenly she hates The Greybeards, for absolutely no reason at all. She gives a reason, but it's bullshit.

In her own words, "If the greybeards had their way, the dragonborn would sit on a mountain talking to the sky." But that's not true is it. We know The Greybeards, they encouraged us to fulfill our destiny. Even if you say you want to follow their Way of the Voice, they'll be glad to hear it but warn you not to let it get in the way of what needs to be done. Delphine even uses Tiber Septim as an example, which is even stupider because The Greybeards actively encouraged Tiber to conquer Tamriel. Have I read more in game books than the dialogue writers??

But that's not the end of it, when it becomes convenient for the plot this hatred is flipped once again from The Greybeards onto dragons. Not Alduin. All dragons. Despite the fact that, as a Blade, she should know about Nafaalilargus, a dragon ally of the Empire and the Blades for thousands of years, and the Blades don't just indiscriminately kill all dragons no matter the circumstances, and that Tiber Septim himself almost certainly met Paarthurnax at some point, she suddenly seems to be acting like she has a personal grudge against dragons. Which brings us to the Paarthurnax Dilemma...

See here's the thing, you could easily write off the frustration everyone feels towards this quest as Bethesda's crappy design, where there is no conclusion other than to kill Paarthurnax, or else leave an unfinished quest languishing in the menu. Bethesda apparently didn't consider the idea that anybody would actually prefer to turn on the Blades, even though the Blades have become a bit of a running joke among the fans, or that anyone would take umbrage with Delphine giving out orders and ultimatums.

But no, it's so much worse than that. Delphine being a surly unlikable c u n t from the day we met her is one thing, but the fact that she has been wrong about almost everything she's ever said in game, and still having the AUDACITY to treat us like her work bitch and us never, not once, getting the opportunity to put her in her place... That's not poor quest design, that's the game gaslighting us.

Let's do a quick list of every one of Delphine's theories, and how many were actually correct shall we:

You are not the Dragonborn ❌

The Greybeards shouldn't be trusted to identify a Dragonborn ❌

The dragons aren't just coming back, they're coming back to life ✅

The Thalmor have something to do with the dragons returning ❌

Esbern is dead ❌

The Greybeards just want the Dragonborn to sit on a mountain and meditate ❌

The Greybeards wanted Tiber Septim to just sit on a mountain and meditate ❌

Paarthurnax, having lived in exile for thousands of years, deserves corporal punishment ❌

As ACTING Grand Master of the Blades, she gets to boss around the Dragonborn ❌

She deserves a seat at the peace negotiations ❌

And these are just the things that are factually wrong, leaving aside opinions on her morality and shitty attitude. This is the woman the game presents to us as a shrewd strategist.

BUT I CAN FIX HER!

Like I said I like the idea of a character who is on your side but is somewhat unlikable. It actually won't take much to make Delphine endearing to the fans. We have to do a Boromir on her. A Lot of people dislike Boromir throughout the Fellowship of the Ring but weep at his death. We have to tweak three things to have the same thing happen to Delphine:

1. Make her actually competent and useful so that while we don't agree with her we can see why she does the things she does, and desire to keep her around.

2. Have her mistakes called out and have consequences.

3. Have her redeem her mistakes with a badass honourable death.

[ladyqahnaarin]

The Stormcloaks claiming that Alduin's arrival at Helgen was meant only to save Ulfric from execution

Alduin and the Dragonborn not even knowing who Ulfric is:

[rosiesmcposies]

Do you still do X Reader requests? If so, could I please get headcanons of Miraak, Serana, and Ulfric Stormcloak (separate) having feelings for the Dragonborn, only to realize the DB already has a significant other?

yup! I still do x reader stuff and I’m now open for fallout 4 characters now to! :D I’m using tumblr on mobile browser so sorry if the formats off but thank you for the request!

Miraak

honestly accepting he had feelings for the Dragonborn was hard enough and then finding out they have a s/o? He is going through it. He’s mainly filled with anger in some sense mixed with jealousy. He’s constantly going back and forth in his mind from being mad at himself for even having these feelings to being mad at their s/o, in his eyes they will never be good enough for the Dragon born. Miraak is definitely not one to tell the Dragon born EVER though. He tries to contain his emotions so it’s not obvious but if you look hard enough it’s pretty easy to tell. He’s praying for the downfall of the relationship, but also he’s like “as long as their happy I guess but don’t settle for less.” He’s the biggest hater out there.

Serana

Serana also had a hard time accepting her feelings but for much different reasons, she didn’t want to be vulnerable in that way. She had planned on telling the dragon born but she kept on pushing it off mentally going back and forth on wether she should tell them or not. After finding out they had a s/o Serana was sad but relieved she found out before she told them. She was happy they had someone but it was still a lot to deal with. Serana will tell them eventually, but she isn’t asking them out, she just wants to communicate how she feels about them, which is still really hard but she’s less stressed than before. She has an open and honest talk and hopes the feelings go away, she does isolate herself for a bit, just so she can be alone with herself and her thoughts.

Ulfric

honestly I don’t know much abt ulfric but I think he’d just like accept it. He’d be upset for sure but idk I think his confidence would like prevent him from being…distraught? He’s just a little sad by it and like gives himself a pep talk like “you are strong and could have anyone you want. Do not stress.” Idk I don’t know ulfric well bc I don’t rlly talk w him in game so that’s just what I imagined.

[whitegoldtower]

How hugging my least favourite NPCs would go:

Harkon: he wraps you up in his arms and sways you from side to side, and it would be nice if only you didn’t know that you were being lulled into a false sense of security. He tells you sweet things, he tells you he’s so proud of you, but you know that he is only saying such things because he views you as his prized possession. You’re not a person, you’re an object. You’re his object. He might tell you that he loves you, but you can see it in those hollow, unfeeling eyes that whilst he appears to be looking in yours, he’s admiring his own reflection. Because mirrors do not work.

Isran: as your arms close around him, you feel cowardice and rage emanating from him. You are merely a means to an end, a dog to do his dirty work. He only holds you to be polite, and you regret thinking that you could squeeze any sort of affection out of him, for his embrace is colder than that of any vampire. He is stiff and unforgiving. You can feel that he doesn’t care, and that your sentiment irritates him.

Astrid: She leans into you out of cordiality, yet something tells you that she feels threatened by your very presence. She squeezes you, holding you in such an uncomfortably tight embrace that you feel as if any tighter, and your ribs would crack. You get the impression she is trying to assert some sort of dominance over you, and when you lean back, she simply says “Brother/Sister.” And plasters on a very rehearsed smile. It would be a lovely smile, if it reached her eyes. If her eyes weren’t black as the night. If she didn’t look at you like a blood-sniffing shark. You’re sure that if you were truly alone, you would have pulled back to find a blade running you through.

Ulfric: He pulls you in and roughly slaps your back with all the grandiose machismo of very worst of men. His embrace exudes a false sense of equality and brotherhood, but he doesn’t believe that for a second. He believes that you are thick as thieves, that you’re his friend. He reeks of ale and mead, and somewhere underneath all of it, you feel a peculiar sort of emptiness. He might be a broken man, masking it all with a need for control and a drive for power. He thinks your love for him is unconditional.

Orthjolf: Of all the vampires in Harkon’s court, he is the worst, next to Harkon himself. The way he grips your arms is a threat, and if you weren’t already dead, you’re sure he’d leave bruises. He doesn’t ask you if you’re loyal to him. He tells you. You feel insecurity radiating from him somewhere underneath it all. Insecurity and disgust. Whether his disgust is aimed at you, or himself, you will never know. Over your shoulder, he is looking at Harkon, and you feel his envy, his idolisation of the Vampire Lord. He wants to be him. He wants to be Harkon, he wants that power over everyone, including you, and he wants you to be his favourite pet. You’re nothing more than a blood-bank to him, and someone to validate his heinous personality. You’re a fool if you think he loves you.

Mercer Frey: He lets out an uncomfortable parody of a friendly laugh. He reeks. He stinks of ale, of body odour, of damp corridors and muggy rooms. There’s something slimy and underhand about his body language, and you realise that - as you painstakingly hold him - he has never felt the touch of a man or woman. His hands are tempted to wander, to claim. His breath would make you recoil in disgust if you weren’t so polite, remnants of vomit from the morning’s hangover clinging to his lips. He smiles at you, and his teeth are caked with filth. He almost refuses to let go of you, and for a moment, you feel like you are in danger. He tells you not to be a stranger, and your guts roil with repulsion. You are left feeling somewhat violated.

[pitiable-arisen]

[matri4rch]

"The Amulet"

🤍🐻‍❄️AO3 LINK🐻‍❄️🤍

Snippet:

"Ulfric's voice echoed in his mind as the image of her face gradually dissipated into a clouded abyss of shadows and darkness. A chill ran down his spine as her godly form slowly slipped away from his grasp.

"Tell me who you are, spirit..." he pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper. "What do you want from me?" The silence that followed once again was deafening as she continued to retreat from his touch, her hands transforming into shimmering snow that engulfed him in its icy embrace before finally letting him go.

For what felt like an eternity, Ulfric's body drifted into the freezing abyss of unconsciousness. Then, as slowly as he fell under the spell, the Jarl of Windhelm slowly returned to Nirn as he opened his eyes once again. Squinting as a deep orange and red glow blinded him, warmth caressed his frozen skin. And the overwhelming silence was drowned by the faint sound of a cracking fire."

[your-fave-is-being-blended]

can you blend ulfric stormcloak from skyrim?

Ulfric Stormcloak from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is being blended!!

You cannot save him.

[volno]

Learning how to use blender was a slippery slope leading up to the moment that I modded an Ulfric body pillow into skyrim. The hard part of this mod is done, I just need to fix up a few things with the nif and add some more appropriate art to it. And because I'm committing to this shitpost I'm also taking suggestions for other characters to add, right now I'm planning on adding at least adding Tullius and Elenwen, but as I said, I'm open to suggestions. When I do eventually upload this somewhere I'll also include a PSD template and instructions on how to use it to make your own textures. Now, why you would want to do that, I have no fucking idea, I'm not a cop I'm just giving you the option. Bonus:

[kyotamination]

ulfric sketch

[crysdrawsthings]

Not so long ago, basically yesterday a good friend @blossom-adventures had a birthday and so I drew a lil Birthday Ulfric for her :D

[moodcrab]

Fixing Skyrim's Main Quest

Part One, Setting

Obviously it's set in Skyrim, but let's tweak it a bit.

Time

First of all, if there's one thing we can all agree on from Skyrim and Fallout 4 it's that Bethesda doesn't know how long 200 years is.

It's a very long time.

For reference, two hundred years back from the time of writing this Mad King George was king of England, it wasn't even the Victorian Era yet. The American Civil War was decades away from starting. The entire industrial AND technological revolutions as well as BOTH World Wars and the collapse of the British AND Ottoman Empires happened in that time, with plenty of room to spare.

It's a VERY long time!

Placing a two hundred year gap between Oblivion and Skyrim was a bad decision considering how very little actually happened. Tamriel should be drastically different, like they should have cars by now.

The major events that did happen, the Rise of the Medes, the Rise of the Thalmor, The Red Year, The Infernal City, The Void Nights, The Great War and White Gold Concordat could easily happen within one lifetime, so we're going to say the events of Skyrim take place in 4E64.

From a writing point of view, this small change makes it a lot easier to keep track of things that were a bit of a mess in vanilla, like the life of Ulfric, or the backstory of Gaius, Karliah and Mercer, which were all over the place if you were actually paying attention. It also means you can talk to people who actually remember these things happening, who were children during the Oblivion Crisis. You could even change Esbern's name to one of the younger Blades members you meet in Oblivion seeing as Esbern has the role of lore depository.

Religion and Culture

The next setting change is to remember this is Skyrim, not Cyrodiil. The Nords don't worship the Nine/Eight. In fact, the only reason the Nine/Eight exists as a pantheon at all because of the Nords stubbornness around the worship of foreign gods.

The Temple of Kynareth is now The Temple of Kyn, and Gildergleam Sanctuary is the home of Kyn's Holy Order. The College of Winterhold is no longer Hogwarts but the Chantry of Jhunal (a 'college' is a place of study, research and academia, not just a school). You might meet The Vigilant of Stuhn on the road, who don't live in a hut but a temple. Instead of a priest of Arkay in the Halls of the Dead we have priests of Orkey. Tsun, a god we actually meet in vanilla but has no shrines or altars, will replace Zenithar. And, most interesting to our story, a cult of both Alduin and Herma Mora - our two villains - gods to be placated rather than worshipped.

This said, the Imperial Cult will definitely have a strong presence in Skyrim and Talos, being an Ysmir, is particularly venerated (as is Ysgramor and Wulfharth). Yes, over the centuries the Imperial Cult and will obviously have spread into Skyrim, we can lean into this with the Civil War, putting a much bigger emphasis on the more "Imperialised" Holds siding with the Empire and the old school Atmoran Holds siding with the Stormcloaks. It never made much sense to me that the "true Nords" were more upset than the Imperials over the whole Talos situation, this change makes it so that while both sides are pissed off, one reacts with frustrating diplomacy and patience while the over reacts with stubborn honour and impulse, a more cultural divide rather than a pro/anti Talos one.

The Imperial position would be to play along with the Thalmor in the open, but to secretly fund and organise cults to other men-turned-gods and Imperial/Nordic hero gods such as Pelinal, Wulfharth, Ysgramor, Reman, Alessia and Martin, as well as the concept of Ysmir (which would actually include Tiber Septim and The Last Dragonborn). They would not openly support nor allow any arrests or persecutions of these cults by Justiciars. The Stormcloak position will remain "Fuck that bitch this is Skyrim."

Geography

This might sound crazy, but Skyrim was too hot.

No I'm kidding, I'm not so in love with the lore that I think a game of endless snow would be anything but boring. But there are some things that were cut out of the land that left Skyrim wanting. For instance there are hardly any settlements. Amber Guard, Granitehall, Nimalten City, Reich Corigate, Lainalten, Oakwood, Pargran Village, Laintar Dale, Dunpar Wall, Dragon Wood, and North Keep are all Skyrim cities that are missing from the game. Like not even abandoned ruins, they're just not there.

I totally understand there are size limitations but this is meant to be a country. It has five town sized cities and three village sized cities. And some villages. And they mostly look like Riverwood. Seriously, what exactly is the difference between Karthwasten, Falkreath, Shor's Stone, Winterhold and Riverwood, all towns from different Holds? It's like if shopping malls were made of wood.

The other thing about the vanilla settlements I didn't like was Bethesda seems to be stuck in Fallout style post apocalyptic design. Solitude has been there for thousands of years but no one has ever thought to shift these boulders from out of the middle of the street? There are ruins in better shape than Windhelm and Markarth? You can sum it up with Whiterun's Western Watchtower, which looks exactly the same after a dragon destroys it. Surely the ravages of civil war and the dragon crisis would have a bigger impact if things weren't already destroyed.

In fact, let's address the Imperial Fort situation. At the start of the game only 3 forts were occupied by actual soldiers, two of which were destroyed in the early game (Helgan and the Western Watchtower). Literally ALL other forts are in ruins and occupied by bandits or other undesirables. Consider that Skyrim is a country that recently took part in the Great War, but is currently dealing with a Civil War. Forts are not easy to build, and are insanely useful for medieval warfare. It truly beggars belief that practically none of them are maintained and fortified until the Player Character decides to get involved. To strain credulity further, many of the war camps you encounter in the wilds are literally in the shadows of major fortifications that have been left to rot. There is even a side quest to reclaim a Nord's fort from bandits, which is also a ruin. Is the implication that the man lives in a ruin? Or is it that in the short time the bandits have been there they've done a century or two of damage? Why would they do that?

Skyrim has a lot of dungeons, and a lot of quests that are basically "clear dungeon", we can't sacrifice some of this boring content for some more towns or forts, with characters, and things to do?

[deadlygoldfish22]

Palace of the Kings became a circus show very quickly

That shout was not me

[fandom-imagines]

Most people, if not everyone, longed to meet their soulmate; the person that they had been bound to by the heavens, and Y/N was no different, but somehow meeting hers whilst covered in blood wasn’t exactly the plan.

Her eyes stared towards the man, who coincidentally was also covered in blood, as the dragon lay at their feet, painting both of them with its blood. The only part of them which wasn’t covered in blood was the tattoo on their wrists, linking them to each other.

“So, you’re my soulmate,”

“Seems that way,”

[altbite]

the way ulfric stormcloak is starting to have a grip on me oml i would do anything for that man

[matri4rch]

High Hrothgar

🤍🐻‍❄️ AO3 LINK 🐻‍❄️🤍

THE DRAGON, SHE IS HERE. it only took like a month and a torn muscle for me to sit down and think what the fuck I wanted to do with these two eloquent noble bears, but HAH. I did it!

Galmar my beloved. *kiss*

Why am I always sick or wounded, lmao

Ik I said I'd have them tussle and beat each other up but I couldn't write the damn scene. I hate fighting scenes smh.

[the-daily-male]

Today's daily male is Ulfric Stormcloak from Skyrim!