Ulfric Stormcloak for High King. Not only is he willing to take the fight to the real enemy, the Thalmor, but he also represents a potential for the Nords of Skyrim. Ulfric is one of the only living people who has use/knowledge of the Thu'um, and does not follow the Way of the Voice (the pacifistic philosophy of Jurgen Windcaller, that the Thu'um should only be used for the worship of Kynareth, not war). The Thu'um is far too powerful of a tool/weapon to ignore in the upcoming Second Great War against the Aldmeri Dominion.
If Ulfric taught the Thu'um to one man, and that man in turn became a dedicated teacher of the Thu'um to a class of Nords (basically, the reinstitution of the College of the Voice), not only would the Nords regain their heritage and birthright, but they would also turn the Thalmor's greatest ally, time, into their greatest enemy. The more time that the Thalmor spend plotting and biding their time, the more Nords that become schooled in the Thu'um, and therefore the less chance that the Aldmeri Dominion have at defeating a Nord army in combat. Throughout Nirn's history, a Thu'um using Nord army has proven to be easily one of the most powerful military forces that Tamriel has ever seen. Even without the Thu'um, the Nords are one of the most powerful military forces in Tamriel.

As for the Empire side of things, if they won, i'd prefer to see Balgruuf the Greater as High King, he's the most reasonable of their Jarls. Elisif is not a ruler, she'd merely be a "Yes-Man" puppet for the Empire. Maven Blackbriar is corrupt, and not only has ties with the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood, but also with the Thalmor.

Windhelm is called the "City of Kings" for a reason.

Despite that as far as we know a High king hasn't used the city as their capital since the first era.

Uh Jorunn the Skald King...

I just assumed with the names on the walls all over a place, it was called that because that was where they were buried, like some sort of depressing necropolis.
Granted, with how Ulfric ended up in my games, that's an adequate metaphor.

You just changed the rules of your own criticism. So I'll assume that you acknowledge that he is a very popular Jarl, and probably the single most popular Jarl in Skyrim.

As for him not being a good or competent leader, his military track record and loyal supporters speaks for themselves. There's no evidence to suggest that Windhelm is bankrupt, but, if Ulfric is Bankrupt, and capable of still fielding armies and taking cities, then he can comfortably be considered some kind of political and military genius.

But bankruptcy is ultimately an economic non-issue for a guy aiming for an independent kingdom that would naturally have control over its own currency and the dictate the terms of its own legitimacy. To put this another way, if his temporary government isn't already rolling in minted precious metal coins, it will be after he takes the whole country over.

All in all, Ulfric is a totally competent and extremely popular dude.

I guess you've never done the bard's college or Companions...

Despite that the city is just in ruins. I dont thin it fit someone like a High King. Unless they use so many resources to repair it...

Can you provide a source saying he used Windhelm as a capital?



Ulfric doesn't have a military track record besides the retaking of Markarth otherwise he always ended up as a prisoner of war and Free-winter says that Ulfric drained the Windhelm treasury dry and it's probably possible that he also took money from Riften because Laila Law-giver makes note that she doesn't have the funds to fix riften and nothing about Ulfric suggests he is a political or military genius especially since he didn't use politics to further his cause to claim the High Throne and he didn't make allies with anyone before launching his rebellion. Also economy and money are a very important thing especially when running a rebellion because soldiers need to be fed and armed which costs money and just minting coins won't work because none of the other provinces would consider it currency.

Can you also provide sources proving that he will be a competent leader and being popular doesn't mean a leader is competent and he is still hated by half of the province as well as some stormcloaks believe he isn't the leader the stormcloaks should have.

Do you even know why the Argonians are segregated to the docks in Windhelm? It's because of the Dunmer in Windhelm. They hate each other. For thousands of years, the Dunmer raided Black Marsh and enslaved Argonians. When the Ministry of Truth fell and caused the eruption of Red Mountain, destroying most of Morrowind, the Argonians invaded Morrowind and began committing mass genocide against the Dunmer as retribution for millennia of slavery. The Dunmer refugees fled from the bloodthirsty Argonian hordes in the only direction they could, west into Skyrim. The Nords gave the Dunmer safe passage into Skyrim, and even granted them homes and land for free. The Decree of Monument.
I can guarantee you, with the lifespan of the Dunmer, there are several Dunmer in Windhelm who were present, and remember being harried the entire way from ruined Morrowind into Skyrim by genocidal Argonians. Because of this, they have an extreme hatred of the Argonians, and likely taught this hatred to their children.

Having both the Argonians and Dunmer intermingle within Windhelm, would be like throwing a house warming party, but inviting every Blood AND Krypt in your city to it. The result? A complete and utter bloodbath that would completely destroy your home.

Bards College yes, Companions, no. Was never in the cards for my characters.
I'm just saying Windhelm looks like the entirety of it would make a really really nice graveyard. It's a very depressing city.
And its Jarl is dead...And is currently doing Lotus pose.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Jorunn_the_Skald-King

His mother was High Queen of Skyrim and his sister was suppose to be her heir until they were killed in the Akaviri invasion. I believe Jorunn and his family are some of the only named Skyrim monarchs of the second era but that doesn't mean they didn't rule in Windhelm.

Then you would know at least where Olaf is buried. Falkreath is the graveyard city if that is what you want.


It seems you and Arondil have a lot in common.

Let us assume I do not know who Arondil is...

It's actually not because of the Dunmer, the Dunmer have shown no open hostility towards the argonians and Free-winter even states that the problem isn't the Dunmer it's the nords that supported Ulfric.



Yea I read that, nothing states he used Windhelm as a capital thus it's not a souce.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Arondil

LAST PARAGRAPH:

The Ash King, his purpose fulfilled, returned to Sovngarde. In Windhelm, three weeks later, Jorunn was crowned High King in the throne room of the Palace of Kings.

You know, I think Necrophilia, and desecrating a corpse with yoga poses to mock the assembled Stormcloak Traitors in the palace, are not exactly the same thing.
You may have the Kama Sutra, and Yoga confused.

Nice! And here I thought I'd be the only person voting for myself.

He was crowned in the throne room, doesn't mean he used windhelm as a capital.

I don't know or think I would want to know the "things" you do with Ulfric in your spare time.....

Why would he crown himself as high king in the city where his forefathers, predecessors and ancestors ruled and then choose to rule elsewhere? That makes no logical sense.

Tradition, but still nothing states he used Windhelm as his capital or lived there.

Sadly, I was not able to reanimate him and have him stand at attention in the foyer of Casa De Dragonborn with a bowl of sweet rolls for guests.

He definitely ruled in Windhelm, for the sole and simple reason that it fits nicely into the 'alliance' thing. Zenimax are able to restrict the area the player can visit, since Windhelm is conveniently located next to the border with Morrowind.

But still, no High King/Queen has ruled in Windhelm since the second era.