History Characters / SkyrimCivilWar

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He's a bit of an asshole, but he's loyal to his Empire and does his duty without qualm (well, the occasional general complaint is there) and there's also how you interpret his decision to increase his men's pay at the end of the Civil War. During the negotiation in "Season Unending", he generally acts a bit more collected and less aggressive than Ulfric.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Ulfric is the leader of the Stormcloak rebellion and one of the fiercest warriors in Skyrim. He expects this of other leaders also, offering this reasoning for his actions at the Blue Palace. Somewhat tellingly, out of all the Jarls in the game, Ulfric is the ''only'' one who actually acts like a Germanic king.
-->'''Ulfric:''' I killed him to show our miserable condition. How could Torygg protect his people if he couldn't even protect himself?

* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: In a sense. Ulfric learned the Thu'um from the Greybeards, but he violated their core tenet of "speaking only in True Need" when he used the Thu'um to kill King Torygg (he was already a far more capable combatant than Torygg without the Thu'um). However, he admits that he's aware he's strayed from their teachings, and does believe the Thu'um should not be used lightly.
%%* RebelLeader: Self-explanatory by this point.

** Traditionalist and nativist Nords in Imperial-aligned territories have this reaction when he and his warriors liberate the country.

* RealMenLoveJesus: When asked about her opinion on her faith, she curtly cuts you off, saying it's not up for discussion. [[spoiler:After the deed is done on Ulfric, she gives him the parting words "Talos guide you."]]

%%* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking

%%* BeardOfBarbarism: Because Nords.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero[=/=]NiceJobFixingItVillain: Which is which depends on how you view the civil war, but what's certain is that she does ''not'' help the Empire's case by trying to execute some random civilian for the crime of being in the vicinity of Ulfric at the wrong time.
** She wanted to make sure Ulfric and his lieutenants were going to be executed, to the point of ordering the death of an InnocentBystander ([[PlayerCharacter the Dragonborn]]) just to be sure. Although it is ultimately up to the player, that incident incited ''a lot'' of players to join [[LaResistance the Stormcloaks]], as well as making the Empire look like a bunch of bloodthirsty, oppressive invaders in the eyes of newcomers to the ''Elder Scrolls'' series (which are likely many, considering ''Skyrim'''s numerous re-releases over the years). Threads discussing the motivations to join one side over the other will often be littered with ''"I joined the Stormcloaks because the Imperials tried to cut my head off !"'' Hell, given that the game [[GameplayAndStorySegregation will have Hadvar act as if you escaped with him if you joined the Empire, even if you escaped with Ralof]], it's not uncommon for players who plan on joining the Empire to escape with Ralof ''just for the chance to kill her''.

* NiceJobFixingItVillain:

* DropTheHammer: He likes using an iron warhammer.

* DirtyCoward: General dialogue between her and her steward reveals that Laila has an emergency carriage at the ready for her to escape should a dragon attack Riften. Of course, given what happened to Helgen, one can argue that her preparations are more between this and just having common sense, especially given how small Riften is compared to other major cities.
** As the cut content shows however, she was perfectly willing to remain in the city during the civil war and face off against a Dragonborn led Imperial assault.

* LesCollaborateurs: Part of Ulfric's justification for his rebellion is claiming that the entire Empire has become this to the Aldmeri Dominion. While that's a hyperbolic accusation, there are quite a few prominent Empire-affiliated nobles at the Thalmor Embassy party[[note]]Jarl Siddgeir, Thane Erikur, Maven Black-Briar and Vittoria Vici[[/note]] who are downright chummy with the Thalmor, or are at least quick to bury the hatchet with them for the sake of commerce and personal gain. General Tullius, also begrudgingly attending the party, is fully aware of this and disgusted by it.

* TheHighQueen: She's in the running for the title, anyway. While she's still young and inexperienced, thus presently lacking the wisdom this trope implies, she has the right disposition and attitude for the role.

* LesCollaborateurs: Ulfric justifies his rebellion by accusing the entire Empire of having become these to the Aldmeri Dominion. While that's a gross exaggeration, there are quite a few prominent Empire-affiliated nobles at the Thalmor Embassy party[[note]]in particular: Jarl Siddgeir, Thane Erikur, Maven Black-Briar and Vittoria Vici[[/note]] who are quick to bury the hatchet with the Thalmor for the sake of commerce and personal gain, if not downright chummy with them. General Tullius, also begrudgingly attending the party, is fully aware of this and disgusted by it.

* TheHighQueen: She's in the running for the title, anyway. But while she has the right disposition and attitude for the role, she is still young and inexperienced, lacking the wisdom this trope implies.

* ElectiveMonarchy: Defied. Skyrim is supposed to have this, with the High King or Queen being elected by their fellow Jarls at a Moot. The Civil War is understood by the participants to be, at its core, an attempt to rig the process via conquering Holds and replacing Jarls until they are all in favor of the chosen candidate. This is lampshaded during a Stormcloak victory with Ulfric publicly announcing he won't claim the throne until properly elected. He and Galmar privately note afterward that it's a meaningless distinction given they have just guaranteed his election.

* TheHighQueen: Her official title, but subverted, as she has the disposition and attitude but not the experience this trope implies.

* BrutalHonesty: When spoken to at Elenwen's party, he's very candid about how the Empire will eventually crumble under its own decay (which though an opinion, is one many non-Thalmor share as well) but more importantly says that the peace between the Empire and the Dominion only exists for as long as they want it to exist. He accurately likens it to a "calm between storms" and says "the next storm, I think, will be far deadlier than the last". Most Thalmor take on a smug persona that, while aggravating, has a surface level subtlety of "Yes we're at peace now!".

* BloodBrothers: With the Dragonborn, should you take the side of the Stormcloaks. Just before the last mission of the Stormcloak campaign, he says as much outright:
-->'''Ulfric:''' I name you Stormblade, and as close to me as my own kin.

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* {{Foil}}: To her Stormcloak counterpart, Galmar Stone-Fist. Both rank very high in their respective factions and are at the front lines throughout their quests. But that's where the similarities end. Unlike Galmar, who relishes every opportunity to savage the Legion that he and Ulfric once served, Rikke is able to empathize with the plight of the Stormcloaks, even though she believes their methods are wrong.

** Brunwulf Free-Winter supports the Empire because he's against Ulfric's nationalist views.

* GutturalGrowler: What did you expect from someone voiced by Jim Cummings?

* LargeHam: He gives a hell of a speech, and likes his victories and defeat to be magnificent and worthy of remembrance if possible. It should be noted that he doesn't let this love for the dramatic encroach upon practical military stratagems, and he has no illusions about the [[WarIsHell negative aspects of war]]. That said, when this man wishes to make a speech, a speech shall be made! Complete with [[GutturalGrowler growling]], shouting, and testosterone-laced rhetoric.

* GutturalGrowler: His voice is so deep you could swear his voice actor could be hurting his vocal cords

* HateSink: Organization-wide. They are essentially [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Elf Nazis]] whose main goal is the [[OmnicidalManiac destruction of Tamriel]] and viewing every other race as beneath them. They are hated by literally hated by every other race and faction, even by other Altmer, and even their alliance with the Empire is born out of pure convenience.

* AffablyEvil: Can come off this way to Imperial-aligned players. When you deliver Balgruuf's axe, you are free to ask him questions about his backstory, and he responds candidly.