"Krr-ghhh..."
After a fierce struggle with the Draugr Death Overlord, I finished him off and successfully retrieved the crown he wore on his head.
Behind the throne where he had been sitting, I found a Word Wall containing ancient knowledge.
As Choi Ha-neul stepped closer, the ancient essence swirled around her, and she learned a new Shout.
"It's just like what happened back at the first barrow!"
For the record, the Shout you learn in the depths of Korvanjund is Slow Time.
"It's a new one. It has the power to slow down time around you."
Ha-neul marveled at the utility of the ability. Since she still had a dragon soul left over from defeating Sahloknir, she unlocked the Shout immediately.
With our business concluded, we escaped the ruins and returned to Solitude.
We entered Castle Dour and delivered the crown to General Tullius. Strangely, Rikke was nowhere to be seen.
"You actually brought the crown. I expected that place to be crawling with rebels and monsters. Excellent work."
"Does this mean you'll accept us into the Imperial Legion now?"
"Of course. Your loyalty to the Empire and your competence have been proven beyond a doubt with this mission."
Tullius gave his approval readily. With that, we officially joined the Imperial Legion.
'I hated the military back on Earth. I never thought I'd end up volunteering for it here.'
I just wanted to get the Civil War quests over with as quickly as possible.
"By the way, I don't see Legate Rikke around."
Lydia asked the same question I was wondering about.
In the game, she almost never leaves Castle Dour unless a quest is active, so I hadn't a clue where she might have gone.
"She's headed for Whiterun. Word is that Ulfric has sent a message to claim the city for himself."
Whiterun is located in central Skyrim; its geographical position makes it a vital military chokepoint.
Controlling it gives a faction a massive advantage in the war.
That's exactly why both Ulfric and Tullius were so desperate to secure the territory.
It was finally time for the first highlight of the war questline: the Battle for Whiterun.
If a player chooses the Stormcloaks, they have to invade rather than defend.
That path results in the Jarl of Whiterun being replaced and all the city guards being swapped for Stormcloaks.
Many players chose the Empire specifically because they didn't like the idea of Balgruuf being kicked out.
"We'll head to Whiterun as well and join the defense."
Tullius looked surprised and double-checked.
"I have no objections, but volunteering for the front lines barely a day after enlisting? You're brave. Wait just a moment."
He pulled a piece of parchment from his desk, wrote out a document with his personal signature,
and handed it to us along with a silver token.
"Legate Rikke is currently in charge of protecting Whiterun and securing the region. I'll officially assign you to her unit."
He told us to show the authorization to Rikke once we arrived.
Now that Ulfric had declared his intent to take Whiterun, an attack could happen at any moment. We needed to get back fast.
Before we left, Tullius reminded us that since we were official soldiers now, we should draw our supplies.
If we showed the silver token to Beirand, the Solitude blacksmith, he would provide our gear.
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"Good luck to you."
After a brief goodbye to Tullius, we stopped by the forge and presented the token.
"Haven't seen you before. New recruits, I take it?"
"Just signed up a moment ago."
"Ah, you'll be wanting your kit. What'll it be? Light, medium, or the heaviest we've got? You only get one set per token, so choose carefully."
Since Eloise was a healer, she didn't need armor, and Lydia already had her own custom plate, so they didn't take anything.
Ha-neul and I debated over the uniforms. My boots and hood were still new, so I kept those and just took a pair of leather gauntlets and a set of light Imperial armor.
Since Ha-neul was a mage, she kept her robes but swapped her shoes for a pair of heavy Imperial boots.
"Mister, that outfit is seriously tacky."
The Imperial Legion uniform was modeled after Roman-era armor, so it wasn't exactly 'pretty' by modern standards.
Still, the tailoring and materials were top-notch, so the stats would be solid.
Regardless, standing there in a middle-aged Nord's body wearing full Legion gear, I looked like every generic Imperial soldier in Skyrim.
Once we were geared up, we headed for Whiterun. Between all the portals I'd opened lately, my soul gem stash was bone-dry, so I'd need to buy some in the city.
We teleported to Dragonsreach and went straight to the Jarl's study.
Inside, I saw Jarl Balgruuf, Proventus Avenicci, and Irileth locked in a grim discussion.
Legate Rikke was there too, standing to the side with her arms crossed.
"—But it's simply too dangerous!"
"Proventus, Ulfric won't wait much longer. I have to face him like a man or declare my intent."
"I agree, Jarl."
It seemed they were split over Ulfric's declaration of war. We approached the group to announce ourselves.
"Good day to you."
"Hello!"
Hearing Ha-neul's bright voice, Balgruuf turned and greeted us warmly.
"Ah, the Heroes of Whiterun have arrived exactly when we need them!"
"What's the situation?"
"Ulfric has sent me an axe. It carries only one meaning."
Surrender Whiterun and submit to him. Refuse, and he would take it by force.
That was the message contained within the axe Ulfric had sent.
Balgruuf stared at the axe with a trace of longing before his expression hardened with resolve.
"I will reject Ulfric's offer."
"What? But Jarl, Whiterun could burn!"
"I cannot avoid this forever. Proventus, write a letter to General Tullius requesting reinforcements immediately."
In the end, Balgruuf chose to trust the future of Whiterun to the Empire.
"Could I ask you to deliver this axe back to Windhelm?"
Having made his difficult choice, Balgruuf singled me out with the request.
Ding!
[Delivery Quest]
ㄴ Return Ulfric's axe.
ㄴ Reward: +10 to a stat of your choice.
That was a first—the act of delivery itself becoming the quest. Of course, I would have helped Balgruuf even without the system prompt.
"Of course."
"Thank you."
"Are you really going alone, Mister?"
I didn't have a soul gem marked for Windhelm, so I had no choice but to go on foot.
And since it was just a simple matter of handing over an item, moving all four of us was unnecessary. It was better if I went alone.
Besides, I was faster on my own anyway.
"Ysmir watch over you."
"Be careful...!"
Lydia and Eloise saw me off. They decided to stay in Whiterun with Rikke while I was away.
'It's been a while since I've had to do my job as a proper courier.'
I climbed onto my horse and snapped the reins, galloping out of the city.
As I neared Windhelm, I cut across the fields, braving a fierce blizzard.
"Hold it right there!"
Luck wasn't on my side; moving solo had led me right into a bandit ambush.
Fighting them alone would be a hassle and I didn't have the time to spare, so I summoned an atronach to act as a meat shield while I spurred my horse to a full gallop and fled.
'Made it.'
Windhelm. In the game, this city is a hub for all sorts of business.
And one of those tasks was this very message delivery for the Civil War questline.
Arriving faster than I would have with a group, I scanned the city.
Windhelm was as freezing as ever, and the Nords were busy engaging in their usual discrimination.
I shouldered the bag containing the axe and walked toward the Palace of the Kings with a grim face.
"What's this? You've got a lot of nerve walking in here like you own the place."
A Windhelm guard blocked my path, his hand on his weapon.
I couldn't blame him—I was wearing a full Imperial Legion uniform, after all. His hostility was only natural.
"I have a message from Whiterun. Move."
"We'll be watching you."
The guard glared at me but opened the doors.
At the far end of the palace, I saw Ulfric sitting on his throne, resting his chin on his hand.
He looked fierce, yet carried an undeniable dignity. That was my first impression of the man.
He spoke as he watched me approach slowly.
"Finally. Tell me, what is Balgruuf's answer?"
Without a word, I pulled the axe from my bag and showed it to him. Ulfric fell into deep thought, and after a brief silence, I spoke.
"This is the Jarl of Whiterun's response."
He let out a scoffing laugh as if he found the gesture pathetic.
"Ho... look at this. I'll show him what happens when he rejects my offer. There will be quite a spectacle in Whiterun very soon."
It seemed Ulfric was now certain about the invasion. I looked at his arrogant posture and spoke up.
"You're going to lose."
Ulfric replied dismissively.
"We'll see about that. I'll see you shortly."
I handed the axe to Ulfric and walked out of the Palace of the Kings.
Inside the Palace of the Kings, shortly after I left—
"So, what's the plan?"
Galmar Stone-Fist asked Ulfric, arms crossed.
As Ulfric's right hand and second-in-command of the Stormcloaks, the two shared a bond of absolute trust.
They had known each other since their days in the military, allowing them to speak informally in private.
"Call the men. We strike Whiterun at dawn tomorrow."
Galmar nodded in agreement with Ulfric's decision.
"If he isn't with us, he's our enemy."
Ulfric sighed and spoke in a low voice.
"It was a hard choice. I'd rather not have blood on my hands if I could help it."
"It's the only choice if we want to win this war."