I’ve been thinking for the longest time about this idea in my head, so I thought I’d throw it out there in case others had been thinking the same thing.

In a world where you aren’t the center of the universe, it just makes so much more sense for Ralof to be the Dragonborn instead of you. First of all, let’s thing about everything you two have in common. Both of you were caught up in an Imperial ambush while hanging around the border. You both were taken by carriage (the same one as Ulfric Stormcloak, a major political figure at the time) to Helgen, where the Imperials intended to behead you, regardless of being a follower of Ulfric or not. This means that at this point, his status as a Stormcloak is completely irrelevant. Just look at what he says to the horse thief, “We’re all brothers and sisters in binds now."

After the dragon attack, a sight that presumably both of you would have the same view of if you weren’t present, you both run into the nearest tower and look to Ulfric for wisdom. You both at this point know of the rumors about him being able to shout, so it makes perfect sense to consider his advice valuable. After that, Ralof knows exactly how to move, when to hold back, and where to go to ensure survival. It’s as if the gods needed him to survive the attack, and if you think about it, it makes perfect sense for him to know where to go. Right as you were entering Helgen, he says that he grew up in the area and used to have a thing for a girl there. He knows all the ins and outs of the fort, he seems to have tons of wartime experience, and yet he still treats you like an equal. He even gives the Imperials the benefit of the doubt when inside the Keep and considers attempting to negotiate. Before the attack, he even says that the Imperials used to make him feel safe. Sounds like a great diplomat, right? If given the proper circumstances, his voice could change the course of history. His Voice. Get it?

After the events of Helgen, he immediately thinks of his people rather than himself, insisting that the Jarl of Whiterun needs to know that Riverwood is defenseless against a dragon. Had you thought of that? Of course not! You probably were ready to jump right into that Barrow he points out to you on your way down the hill. A no-name adventurer who lives on the border of civilization or was simply traveling through Skyrim to get from point A to point B would have no reason to put the people first. There’s no sense of urgency for you other than Ralof and his sister’s pleading for you to run to Whiterun for aid. Ralof has a family and home to defend, but you have almost literally nothing but the shirt on your back. He should be the one to take charge, not you. Especially since he seems to know exactly what to do.

But it goes even deeper than that. After helping out with getting the Dragonstone (which would help Ralof overcome his childhood fear of the ruins due to the need to protect his people) and the dragon attack on the watchtower (where Ralof could demonstrate his ability to lead the guards in the battle with his experience as a soldier), the Greybeards determine that you are the Dragonborn, an ancient title given to one who can harness the power of dragons by absorbing their souls. The last Dragonborn to be officially recognized by the Greybeards was Tiber Septim. The Nords still worship him as a god despite attempts from the Empire to insist that he was just a man. This would give Ralof the perfect opportunity to show the Imperials why Tiber Septim is worth worshiping. By wielding his same power, Ralof could use it to defend his people from the dragon threat and at the same time potentially bring a new level of understanding between the Nords and the Imperials. Unless you eventually decide to join the Stormcloaks and worship Talos yourself, you have zero connection to this second level of importance that comes with the title. And besides, wouldn’t it be better for someone with more experience dealing with both parties of conflict to take the burden of negotiations? Especially one with such demonstrated tolerance of the Imperial cause?

But wait, there’s more! The Blades have determined that the Thalmor are to blame for the dragons rising from the dead, and you are expected to be totally fine with breaking into their embassy and calling them out as being terrible people. This would either require complete trust in Delphine or an already built-up suspicion of the Thalmor and their schemes. Other than the fact that they come off as a bunch of arrogant elitists, we really have no grounds to uproot their whole organization here in Skyrim. But Ralof has already expressed disdain for the Thalmor and their tendency to get their hands in everything, specifically in regards to their negotiations with the Imperials. He’d be all for the idea of investigating, and he wouldn’t even need to trust Delphine to be interested.

Finally, skipping past time travel and unifying the powers that be, there’s that little part where you hitch a ride with a dragon to a portal to Sovngarde where you meet up with a bunch of dead Nord heroes and slay Alduin. While it’s really nice of the people there to assume that you have any idea who you are, let’s be honest, you were probably clueless. Guess who would be totally starstruck? Yep, you got it. Ralof has probably been hearing stories about these guys and girls for decades, and when he finally has a chance to meet them in the afterlife, they’d probably feel like old friends to him. Being able to fight along side you childhood heroes is absolutely a dream come true, and it’s the perfect ending to the epic tale of Alduin’s defeat. Except when you do it, it feels silly, often out of character, and you usually are disappointed that there isn’t a reward. Ralof would feel right at home, and being able to see his future home in the afterlife and spending time with the people he had imaginary adventures with when he was five would really put the icing on the cake.

The sense of accomplishment and pride that Ralof would feel after killing Alduin is totally unimaginable to us because we don’t have the same connections to the world that he does. If I was caught up in an Imperial ambush and somehow wound up in the same situation as Ralof, there’s no way I would sign up for that mess, but it really just makes total sense for him to jump head-first into it. And that’s why Ralof should be Dragonborn. Not you.