If the title of this post pisses you off, I understand. Brunwulf is an immediately likable character, and when a person seems willing to stick up for the downtrodden, we want that to be real.
But the more I play Skyrim, the more I notice that some of his claims just don’t line up with my firsthand experiences, and I tend to believe observable events over unverified hearsay. So today, I thought I'd take a break from talking about my art and stories, and share my musings about someone else's.
In this post, I’ll share a few of Brunwulf’s claims, and the experiences that caused me to doubt them. If you have any lore that supports or contradicts my observations, please feel free to chime in!
Claim 1:
“He’s tough, loyal to his men and a good leader, but if you’re not a Nord, Ulfric will never trust you.”
My experiences and observations:
I’ve played through the Stormcloak questline as an Altmer and a Dunmer – two of the races Ulfric’s detractors would expect him to distrust the most. By having Galmar ask “Why’s an (insert race here) want to fight for Skyrim?”, the developers went out of their way to make it clear that the Stormcloaks know what you are.
And yet, once you’ve proven your mettle and commitment, you’re entrusted with delivering a message to Whiterun, acquiring enemy intel and delivering a forged replacement, blackmailing a government official, and more. I think it’s safe to say that Ulfric – or at minimum, Galmar – trusts you.
Claim 2:
“Whenever a group of marauders attack a Nord village, Ulfric is the first to sound the horn and send the men. But a group of Dark Elf refugees gets ambushed? A group of Argonians, or a Khajiit caravan? No troops. No investigation. Nothing.”
My experiences and observations:
A few days before I wrote this, I collected a bounty on the giant at Steamcrag Camp. For those who aren’t familiar with it, there are a few things you should know:
1. It’s nowhere near Nord land.
2. There’s an “Official warning” sign nearby, which says:
“Attention citizenry
The giant here has been given leave to keep his camp. Please do NOT attempt to make trade, disrupt the mammoths, gawk at, or otherwise disturb the giant. Resting here is not advised.”
This implies that the giant has been behaving himself, until the events of #3.
3. Right beside the giant camp, there is a dead Khajiit, and a wagon whose severely smashed-up state strongly suggests a giant attack. There’s a second dead Khajiit inside the camp, as well as horse meat, presumably taken from the travelers’ slain horses.
4. Someone put a bounty on the giant who lives there, and it wasn’t Brunwulf. It was Ulfric.
Now, one could argue that “kill the giant” is a radiant quest, so it doesn’t really reflect on Ulfric’s character or intentions. But is that really going to be your in-universe explanation?
A giant who was officially allowed to keep his camp gets a bounty on his head after killing two Khajiit and their horses, and the only reason Ulfric put a bounty on him is because the Random Number Gods made him do it? You’re free to choose your own headcanon, but that’s sure not the one I’m going with.
And yes, one could argue that Brunwulf was right about Ulfric not sending the troops to deal with it, but how often do we actually see ANY Jarl on EITHER side of the war send their own troops after bandit camps, giants, or other such menaces outside their city walls? In Skyrim, leaving some paper at the inn and waiting for a random bounty-hunter to solve the problem is a bipartisan strategy.
That said, I do know of at least one instance where Ulfric (or someone under his command) DID send the troops. It’s an unmarked location known as “Trolled Stormcloaks Darkwater Overhang,” and in it, you find two dead Stormcloaks and the troll that killed them, as well as a note that says:
“Captain,
There have been multiple complaints about attacks near the river northwest of The Rift. We could use some more civilian support from that area for the war effort, so send a few men to investigate. It's probably just a couple of wolves, so you'll only need to send at most two men.
Happy hunting”
It doesn’t say anything about the race of the people complaining. It just says they need civilian support for the war – something settlements are better equipped to provide than travelers.
That, combined with the bounty on the Khajiit-killing giant, makes me wonder if Brunwulf is mistakenly assuming that Ulfric’s troop deployment decisions are based on race, when they’re really based on wartime strategy.
Claim 3:
“If Ulfric had his way, anyone who wasn’t a Nord would be shipped right out of Skyrim.”
My experiences and observations:
I’ve finished the Stormcloak questline twice, and the only indication that anyone besides the Thalmor and the people still fighting for the Empire was getting deported or otherwise kicked out, either during the questline or after, was the following line of dialogue from Stormcloak commanders:
“Soon we’ll rid Skyrim of elves, their bloody Justiciars, and the Jarls in their pockets.”
I can definitely see how that would lead people to assume that all elves will be unjustly deported, and it is undeniably wrong of these commanders to make innocent elves worry for their futures like that.
But I can’t recall hearing or reading a single line of dialogue from Ulfric or Galmar that indicates that either of them intends to banish any elves besides the Thalmor. In fact, an Altmer named Niranye is heavily implied to have moved into Windhelm and bought a house there during Ulfric’s reign, and the people who mix Windhelm’s medicines are an Altmer and/or an Imperial.
Based on those facts, I believe that by “elves,” those Stormcloak commanders meant “Thalmor.” If that is the case, of course, they should just frikkin’ SAY “Thalmor,” but the fact that they’re careless with their phrasing doesn’t mean Ulfric is going to deport all non-Nords from Skyrim, or even that he wants to.
Claim 4:
“All I did was talk to Ulfric.” (I couldn’t find a line of dialogue that neatly encapsulated the whole thing, but several related lines of dialogue indicate that Malthyr Elenil asked Brunwulf to talk to Ulfric about the Windhelm Dunmers’ problems, and Brunwulf claims that he did so.)
My experiences and observations:
I believed this one was true, until I heard the following dialogue:
Jorleif: “Sir, there continues to be unrest in the Gray Quarter.”
Ulfric: “Blasted dark elves. I don’t suppose you could tell them that I presently have larger concerns? Such as all of Skyrim?”
Jorleif: “They don’t seem to be very sympathetic to our cause, sir.”
Ulfric: “Let me know if you hear anything more substantial.”
Jorleif: “Of course, my lord.”
While this isn’t a great response to the revelation that your citizens are upset, it strongly implies that Ulfric doesn’t know the specifics of the Dunmers’ concerns, but that he actually WANTS to. Why would he ask for more substantial information if Brunwulf had already given it to him?
Ambarys Rendar’s line, “I tried to get Ulfric to even come down here to see the squalor, but the High Lord of His Mightiness couldn’t find the time,” implies that Ambarys – not Brunwulf – told Ulfric about the Dunmers’ displeasure with the state of the Grey Quarter.
But given that even the steps leading up to the Palace of the Kings are in disrepair, AND the fact that Brunwulf himself isn’t able to start repairs right away if the war ends with him becoming Jarl, I think it’s safe to say that, as with the deployment of troops, the decision not to renovate the city in the middle of a war is based more on tactical and logistical considerations than racial ones.
All in all, I can’t help but question whether Ulfric has even been made aware of the issues, such as Rolff and Angrenor’s harassment, that he could realistically address during a war.
Did Brunwulf actually speak with him, and if so, did he give him anything specific and realistic enough to even be actionable? Given all the other questionable claims he’s made, I’m not convinced that he did.
Add in the fact that he's in love with the blatantly racist Elda Early-Dawn, and his credibility sinks even further.
So, what do you think?
Is Brunwulf Free-Winter lying? Is he telling the truth, based on information I missed? Did he make a few superficial observations, base some sweeping assumptions off of them, and never bother fact-checking them before sharing them with anyone who would listen?
If you’ve got any lore to support or further refute his claims, I’d love to see it.
But the more I play Skyrim, the more I notice that some of his claims just don’t line up with my firsthand experiences, and I tend to believe observable events over unverified hearsay. So today, I thought I'd take a break from talking about my art and stories, and share my musings about someone else's.
In this post, I’ll share a few of Brunwulf’s claims, and the experiences that caused me to doubt them. If you have any lore that supports or contradicts my observations, please feel free to chime in!
Claim 1:
“He’s tough, loyal to his men and a good leader, but if you’re not a Nord, Ulfric will never trust you.”
My experiences and observations:
I’ve played through the Stormcloak questline as an Altmer and a Dunmer – two of the races Ulfric’s detractors would expect him to distrust the most. By having Galmar ask “Why’s an (insert race here) want to fight for Skyrim?”, the developers went out of their way to make it clear that the Stormcloaks know what you are.
And yet, once you’ve proven your mettle and commitment, you’re entrusted with delivering a message to Whiterun, acquiring enemy intel and delivering a forged replacement, blackmailing a government official, and more. I think it’s safe to say that Ulfric – or at minimum, Galmar – trusts you.
Claim 2:
“Whenever a group of marauders attack a Nord village, Ulfric is the first to sound the horn and send the men. But a group of Dark Elf refugees gets ambushed? A group of Argonians, or a Khajiit caravan? No troops. No investigation. Nothing.”
My experiences and observations:
A few days before I wrote this, I collected a bounty on the giant at Steamcrag Camp. For those who aren’t familiar with it, there are a few things you should know:
1. It’s nowhere near Nord land.
2. There’s an “Official warning” sign nearby, which says:
“Attention citizenry
The giant here has been given leave to keep his camp. Please do NOT attempt to make trade, disrupt the mammoths, gawk at, or otherwise disturb the giant. Resting here is not advised.”
This implies that the giant has been behaving himself, until the events of #3.
3. Right beside the giant camp, there is a dead Khajiit, and a wagon whose severely smashed-up state strongly suggests a giant attack. There’s a second dead Khajiit inside the camp, as well as horse meat, presumably taken from the travelers’ slain horses.
4. Someone put a bounty on the giant who lives there, and it wasn’t Brunwulf. It was Ulfric.
Now, one could argue that “kill the giant” is a radiant quest, so it doesn’t really reflect on Ulfric’s character or intentions. But is that really going to be your in-universe explanation?
A giant who was officially allowed to keep his camp gets a bounty on his head after killing two Khajiit and their horses, and the only reason Ulfric put a bounty on him is because the Random Number Gods made him do it? You’re free to choose your own headcanon, but that’s sure not the one I’m going with.
And yes, one could argue that Brunwulf was right about Ulfric not sending the troops to deal with it, but how often do we actually see ANY Jarl on EITHER side of the war send their own troops after bandit camps, giants, or other such menaces outside their city walls? In Skyrim, leaving some paper at the inn and waiting for a random bounty-hunter to solve the problem is a bipartisan strategy.
That said, I do know of at least one instance where Ulfric (or someone under his command) DID send the troops. It’s an unmarked location known as “Trolled Stormcloaks Darkwater Overhang,” and in it, you find two dead Stormcloaks and the troll that killed them, as well as a note that says:
“Captain,
There have been multiple complaints about attacks near the river northwest of The Rift. We could use some more civilian support from that area for the war effort, so send a few men to investigate. It's probably just a couple of wolves, so you'll only need to send at most two men.
Happy hunting”
It doesn’t say anything about the race of the people complaining. It just says they need civilian support for the war – something settlements are better equipped to provide than travelers.
That, combined with the bounty on the Khajiit-killing giant, makes me wonder if Brunwulf is mistakenly assuming that Ulfric’s troop deployment decisions are based on race, when they’re really based on wartime strategy.
Claim 3:
“If Ulfric had his way, anyone who wasn’t a Nord would be shipped right out of Skyrim.”
My experiences and observations:
I’ve finished the Stormcloak questline twice, and the only indication that anyone besides the Thalmor and the people still fighting for the Empire was getting deported or otherwise kicked out, either during the questline or after, was the following line of dialogue from Stormcloak commanders:
“Soon we’ll rid Skyrim of elves, their bloody Justiciars, and the Jarls in their pockets.”
I can definitely see how that would lead people to assume that all elves will be unjustly deported, and it is undeniably wrong of these commanders to make innocent elves worry for their futures like that.
But I can’t recall hearing or reading a single line of dialogue from Ulfric or Galmar that indicates that either of them intends to banish any elves besides the Thalmor. In fact, an Altmer named Niranye is heavily implied to have moved into Windhelm and bought a house there during Ulfric’s reign, and the people who mix Windhelm’s medicines are an Altmer and/or an Imperial.
Based on those facts, I believe that by “elves,” those Stormcloak commanders meant “Thalmor.” If that is the case, of course, they should just frikkin’ SAY “Thalmor,” but the fact that they’re careless with their phrasing doesn’t mean Ulfric is going to deport all non-Nords from Skyrim, or even that he wants to.
Claim 4:
“All I did was talk to Ulfric.” (I couldn’t find a line of dialogue that neatly encapsulated the whole thing, but several related lines of dialogue indicate that Malthyr Elenil asked Brunwulf to talk to Ulfric about the Windhelm Dunmers’ problems, and Brunwulf claims that he did so.)
My experiences and observations:
I believed this one was true, until I heard the following dialogue:
Jorleif: “Sir, there continues to be unrest in the Gray Quarter.”
Ulfric: “Blasted dark elves. I don’t suppose you could tell them that I presently have larger concerns? Such as all of Skyrim?”
Jorleif: “They don’t seem to be very sympathetic to our cause, sir.”
Ulfric: “Let me know if you hear anything more substantial.”
Jorleif: “Of course, my lord.”
While this isn’t a great response to the revelation that your citizens are upset, it strongly implies that Ulfric doesn’t know the specifics of the Dunmers’ concerns, but that he actually WANTS to. Why would he ask for more substantial information if Brunwulf had already given it to him?
Ambarys Rendar’s line, “I tried to get Ulfric to even come down here to see the squalor, but the High Lord of His Mightiness couldn’t find the time,” implies that Ambarys – not Brunwulf – told Ulfric about the Dunmers’ displeasure with the state of the Grey Quarter.
But given that even the steps leading up to the Palace of the Kings are in disrepair, AND the fact that Brunwulf himself isn’t able to start repairs right away if the war ends with him becoming Jarl, I think it’s safe to say that, as with the deployment of troops, the decision not to renovate the city in the middle of a war is based more on tactical and logistical considerations than racial ones.
All in all, I can’t help but question whether Ulfric has even been made aware of the issues, such as Rolff and Angrenor’s harassment, that he could realistically address during a war.
Did Brunwulf actually speak with him, and if so, did he give him anything specific and realistic enough to even be actionable? Given all the other questionable claims he’s made, I’m not convinced that he did.
Add in the fact that he's in love with the blatantly racist Elda Early-Dawn, and his credibility sinks even further.
So, what do you think?
Is Brunwulf Free-Winter lying? Is he telling the truth, based on information I missed? Did he make a few superficial observations, base some sweeping assumptions off of them, and never bother fact-checking them before sharing them with anyone who would listen?
If you’ve got any lore to support or further refute his claims, I’d love to see it.
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