The Stormcloaks

From information revealed during the QuakeCon demos, we have some new details about a faction known as The Stormcloaks, which would perhaps seem to be the Rebel forces shown http://www.scharesoft.de/joomla/almanach/images/1/1f/Artwork_-_Art_of_Skyrim_-_Himmelsrand-Karte.jpg, which clearly shows REBELS based at Windhelm and EMPIRE based at Solitude.

From Andrew Reiner's Walkthrough:

an encounter with Stormcloaks on the banks of a river, north of Riverwood, in White Hold

"Continuing down the path on the other side of the river, I stumbled across a group of Stormcloak soldiers escorting a prisoner. When I approached the group a hostile soldier blurted out, "Citizen, I'm warning you." Then I was presented three of choices. I could do nothing, free the prisoner, or free the prisoner and give him an item, which I assumed in this case would be a weapon so he could defend himself against his captors. Considering that there were three guards with their swords drawn and I was a mere level one character, I opted to stay out of it. As soon as I moved away, the soldiers returned their weapons to their sheathes."
Source: http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_v_skyrim/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/05/skyrim-hands-on-impressions.aspx

The dialogue "Citizen, I'm warning you," suggests this faction is quite powerful, at least in the region of White Hold where the encounter took place. They seem to be an established military authority, rather than a group of rebel agitators lurking in the shadows.

Who do you think the prisoner is? An important member of the Loyalist Empire faction? If you help him escape, do you think that would that make it impossible for you to join the Stormcloaks later?

Also, if you look at the map, there is river that winds its way north of Riverwood, meandering to the Northeast, eventually pouring out into the sea North of Windhelm. Do you think the Stormcloaks control White Hold as well as Eastmarch (the Hold containing Windhelm)? Link to fan-created political map: http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/1641/skmapxyzpoliticalif7.jpg

Since the Companions are based in Whiterun, they must certainly come in contact with the Stormcloaks from time to time. Do you think they will be in conflict with them, supportive or neutral?

Also the description of this encounter suggests more nuance and shades of grey in terms of whether the Stormcloaks or the Empire are "good" or "bad". Granted, this is a small encounter and we know little about the motivations for these factions, but do you think this offers hope for some sort of moral ambiguity?


From Kevin Kelly's G4TV Walkthrough:

Rumors of the Stormcloak rebellion whispered by townspeople in Riverwood:

"Nearby was the town of Riverwood, where some inhabitants began telling me about the Stormcloak rebellion, and I was given a task to find and join that rebellion."

Source: http://www.g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/64714/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/articles/75197/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim-hands-on-preview-time-flies-when-youre-dual-wielding-fire-spells/#ixzz1UD8fGnef

This would certainly seem to suggest it is possible for the PC to join the Stormcloaks - one more joinable faction confirmed. Unless the author misunderstood some of the NPC dialogue.

1st, well its intersting, I think this will make the conflict better than just the rebels are lurking agitators.

EDIT: Though I do think Stormcloaks is kind of a bad name for teh army.

say do the storm cloaks wear cloaks? if so i will join them.

Interesting. In that picture of the map on the wall... To the right of it there's Orc Armour.. and it looks... AMAZING

Didn't Todd say most Nords support the rebellion?

Dude, what about the walrus' below the map. Arf! They look awesome, I hope they are in the game.

@ Sine Amore -Here is a better picture of the Orc Armor: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TUFlfgtiZ1I/AAAAAAAAAYE/g2GtrsgTo60/s400/artofskyrim_003_orc.jpg

I think this is the Nord prisoner: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TUFlwtX3jCI/AAAAAAAAAY0/L3ZQ1rnHA3g/s400/artofskyrim_009_prisoner.jpg

You know, we're truly screwed if either side in the civil war has the same role as the mythic dawn

At least, it seems we can join the Stormcloaks. We didn't have the option of joining the Mythic Dawn.

Here you can see a better view of the Horkers: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8613775/Skyrim/LedererPics/Studio3.JPG

Stormcloack reminds me on one Talos Stormcrow, which gets me really excited :celebration:

Yes, I'll join and support them if possible. Nords have always been the strength behind Cyrodiil, time for them to take the lead.

They still look like walrus' to me.

They appear to have flippers and slug like body. I dunno maybe thye aren't walrus'

Yeah we did....

With the downunder pricing, the Todd comment on Skyrim pricing and the Scroll Trademark I'm now being incredibly cynical with Bethesda at the moment.

I know I saw that too!!! :trophy: :goodjob: :bowdown: :celebrate: :celebrate: :foodndrink: :celebration: :celebration:

Those are definitely Horkers - this is kind of old news from May or June.

Morrowind Horkers:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/horker/Windurin/ElderScrollsHorker.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGUd5dV3YrQ/ThtS1iUwnVI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/X-CvWhJk0dA/s1600/450px-BM-creature-horker-2.jpg

I'm not convinced the guards themselves are rebels. I think the prisoner himself is a Stormcloak rebel, and the guards are just regular Stormcloak guards. I don't think all of Stormcloak is in rebellion.

I thought Horkers have a.. uh.. funnel? like snout/nose though? Like in Bloodmoon? Maybe there's multiple variants... Like CHAMPION HORKER

It depends on the overall storyline and how bad/good the empire is. It sounds very promising though. I'm fairly certain that since the word "join" was used it's a joinable faction. I wonder how you'd go about joining the empire. Would this mean you'd be a legion soldier or something?

EDIT: Going by the concept art, is that a spriggan? Maybe this means Spriggans are as good as confirmed too.

Interesting, so you think there are two different Stormcloak factions, Rebel Stormcloaks and Empire Stormcloaks?

I don't recall hearing that anywhere. Do you recall which interview?

Nope, else I would have linked it.

Anyway I will be joining the rebels if possible.

Oh [censored] you're right, Horkers are just Elder Scrolls walrus'. Aight that's cool with me.

Personally I hope any player role in the civil war involves working with both sides to bring the conflict to an end rather than throwing my lot in with one against the other. If choosing sides is the only way you can involve yourself, I'll probably try to stay out of it. If that's impossible, I'll probably be Empire. After all, I think this Esbern character is supposed to be an important advisor figure and he's a Blade, isn't he?

When I hear Stormcloak, I can't help but plan on naming a character Beric Dondarrion...

I agree, I hope it is possible to try to bring peace to the sides and nto have to throw your lot in with one or another.