When he's done thinking of what excuse he'll use to explain why his promises turned out to be hot gas.

Or better yet, when I grow pointy ears.

Who's saying anything about murder? Its NECESSARY for a Nordic leader, or any leader during this time of Thalmor supremacy, to be actively ready to fight, and possibly throw the first punch. Hesitation to throw a blow could cost thousands, and the destruction of entire cultures.

And I just don't have faith in Brunwulf to be ready and willing to act as an aggressor if need demands it.

"Every day is a struggle, but a Nord doesn't back down from a fight when the cause is honorable" - Brunwulf

No reason to suggest Brunwulf wouldn't do something if need demanded it. He's not a coward and is willing to fight for his people.

So fighting for your kinsmen and for religious freedom, that's not honorable for him, I guess. He spends all that time whining over the great war, and the great war was simply defending from the Thalmor. Seems honorable to me. What a belly acher.

Nords don't back down from a fight, period.

No reason to suggest he will, since he gives no indication that the Thalmor are any concern or priority of his.

People always focus on Ulfric's priorities, but Brunwulf's get a pass because it's touchy-feely and hey, the legion will save them anyway. /famouslastwords

The man is gently re[dacted].

This would be the part where I make a joke about the common Nord's intelligence and how he'd be the perfect king, but come on.

He says there was no glory in the war. Which in war there often isn't, it's bloody and desperate.

If Nords don't back down from a fight, ever. Then how was Ulfric taken alive by Tullius, not just taken alive but surrendered without a fight. Even though he's apparently the 'truest version of a Nord' by many Stormcloak supporters. For true Nords, there are more Stormcloak prisoners than there is for Imperial 'Milk-drinkers'.

Many NPC's give no indication the Thalmor are any concern or priority. His dialogue is very little compared to Ulfric, most Jarl dialogue Brunwulf has is about Windhelm.

War lessons 101

That's not backing down from a fight, that's trying to continue the fight. Ralof mentions they thought they'd be taken to Cyrodiil for trial. It's mentioned several times the possibility of Ulfric wanting to be a martyr. Tullius of course, as we know decides not to let that happen.

There's a big difference between being surrounded and trying to continue the war effort by being a martyr, and being a pansy, afraid of war, which Ulfric clearly is not. Ask Markarth.

Now this is a true Nord.

http://cs.uesp.net/index.php?game=sr&formid=0x00065939

Except High Treason is death under Imperial Law, and very rarely do trials happen in TES. So they would of been executed anyway, and Ralof mentions he thought there were being taken to Cyrodiil to be paraded in front of the Emperor. He says they wouldn't give Ulfric a 'fair trial' but I highly doubt if Ulfric was indeed given a trial in Cyrodiil, the Nords would be all "Yeah it was fair, alright time to stop fighting and go home."

He surrendered pretty meekly, too. So much for his death-or-glory reputation.

Also, there's no Imperial prisoners because Stormcloaks don't take prisoners and torture them, that we know of. Just because a man is taken prisoner doesn't mean he surrendered. A lot of times, prisoners are injured incapacitated soldiers on the battlefield.

They have potential. They have the battle-resolve, but their faith is backwards, misguided, and blatantly heretical. A little guidance, and they can be made into proper Atmorans.

Not much I can do from my "current situation" I'm afraid. *Ahem...* Skyrim and the Nordic ways are doomed. AL-DU-IN devour what's left of my soul now please.

Of course, you don't know that. All we know about how Ulfric was captured is that they walked into an Imperial ambush, doesn't say if there were casualties, or how much of a struggle it was.

In what, gameplay? How would you know, lorewise? Ralof expected a trial, so I'm gonna go ahead and take his word over your expert observation.

The point wasn't to be judged innocent, but to spread the word of the rebellion to get others to fight. Use your head.

Where ya been you old lich? Us modern day nords need some training in the old ways~

There are Imperial prisoners, during the Civil War questline. The Stormcloaks had taken several legionaries hostage.

Without much of a fight I should say, there was a small struggle.

Ulfric ordered us to stop fighting. Didn't want us all to die for nothing, I guess.

He surrendered pretty meekly, too. So much for his death-or-glory reputation.

Any act against (whether directly or indirectly, or any nonaction which results in circumstances, directly or indirectly, against) a allegiated sovereign or by a vassal to a liege, resulting (or what a reasonable person would assume would result) in physical, emotional, mental, or magical harm or injury in said sovereign or liege. The punishment for this crime will be death.

Lorewise, it's right there. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Legal_Basics

An Elder Council member was once also executed for High Treason.

The penalty can still be given after a trial, guy. To say that the person in question is guilty of said crime as a formality if nothing else. It's quite possible that at the very least, people of high esteem like Jarls are given trials, since a Jarl being like a king, and committing a crime isn't an every day occurance and is a special case. The devs had him mention a trial for a reason. Your source doesn't say there's no trials... try again.

Ask Valdar...

"All are guilty until they have proven themselves innocent."

Ulfric killed the High King, we know it, they know it, he doesn't deny it. Tullius as the Military Governor, gave what could be a 'trial' in the loose sense. Judged him, and sentenced to death. The source doesn't say there's no trials, of course. There is source of another executed for high treason who was summarily tried and executed.

The devs also had a woman mention taxes about the Dunmer, but a random citizen apparently doesn't know about the law. So why is Ralof's word suddenly taken as the authority of the law?

"Proven themselves innocent" insinuates they get a chance to prove it. Hence, proof of a trial. Even if Ulfric didn't deny the killing, he could still say why it wasn't treason to them, even if it was by imperial law. Bottom line though, "Until proven innocent" is proof of some sort of trial.

The deal with the citizen wasn't that she didn't know the law, though that is a possibility given its an ancient decree. It's that because the dunmer was a business owner, it's possible she's referring to taxes on his business, not him as a citizen.

You can't prove why it isn't treason under Imperial law. He killed the High King, no matter what circumstances, he committed High Treason against the Empire.

Ulfric did say something, though he was gagged and it was muffled. So his defense was not accepted.

It doesn't matter, the point is he indeed would get a trial, according to "until proven innocent", even if it is just a formality.

If Tullius took him to Cyrodiil. You know it makes sense, be honest. Even if something is technically illegal, there have been instances where the law was challenged in real life to say it is unfair, and then they judged the person's need of punishment based on that.

An Elder Council member was once summarily tried and executed for High Treason. He kept saying he was innocent too. Except Tamriel isn't real life, law and justice is harsh and often times cruel and unfair.

Ulfric is always going to Cyrodiil, well his head anyway. If they took him to Cyrodiil, it just means his head was going on the wall quicker after execution.

Edit: They were most likely just going to make a show out of it, having a large crowd gather around to watch the execution. Like the one in Solitude except much much larger. It's to make an example out of him, with the Emperor sentencing him to death. That makes sense.

There you go, he got tried and a chance to speak. That's the point. Ulfric would have gotten the same, then he could speak and say why he did what he did, and thus become a martyr, and possibly continue the fight after his death, which is something Tullius expresses fear for in game.

He couldn't get that chance if he's just slain like a common bandit out in the middle of nowhere with no audience. This way, by going to Cyrodiil, he can go out like Braveheart and inspire others to take up his torch.

edit:

Oops, missed summarily tried. An exception to the rule doesn't mean it's the norm. Ulfric was given the same, yet Ralof insinuates this is not normal.

Here's another mention of trial:

"In the midst the victory celebration, Potema heard the news that her son the Emperor had been killed by an angry mob before he had even made it for trial in the Imperial City."

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Biography_of_the_Wolf_Queen