Why do the Stormcloaks attack Whiterun?

[RighthandofSithis]

Balgruuf was derelict in his duties IMO. This is a Jarl of one of the most strategic holds in Skyrim and instead he watches as his hold gets demolished - and the only reason it does is because he would rather sit on the fence. By the time he makes a decision (and the only reason he does is because he's forced to) there is absolutely nothing he can do to defend his city.

I know Helgen does, but that was caused by a Dragon, and that one watchtower does, by another dragons, I cant think of a single thing, non-dragon related, that shows he is weak in his duties, or that anything he owns gets destroyed.

 

Helgen is part of Falkreath.

[The7Sins]

Balgruuf was derelict in his duties IMO. This is a Jarl of one of the most strategic holds in Skyrim and instead he watches as his hold gets demolished - and the only reason it does is because he would rather sit on the fence. By the time he makes a decision (and the only reason he does is because he's forced to) there is absolutely nothing he can do to defend his city.

What part of his hold gets "demolished" exactly?

 

I know Helgen does, but that was caused by a Dragon, and that one watchtower does, by another dragons, I cant think of a single thing, non-dragon related, that shows he is weak in his duties, or that anything he owns gets destroyed.

 

Helgen is in Falkreath hold by the way.

 

And I agree nothing of his hold except the tower gets destroyed before the attack on Whiterun.

[SFBryan18]

I think Balgruufs role in the Imperial story is just retarded since he pretty much asks Ulfric to attack his city.

 

Maybe delivering the axe was his prefered method of just telling Ulfric "hey, I've made my decision, and it's not you, you jerk"?

 

I don't see much of a difference. He didn't have to send any message, but the game required that the story keep the same path as the other side, so they gave Balgruuf the role that made more sense when it was Ulfric carrying it out. It's just another small example of a flaw in the story due to the fact that it's a game. Ulfric sending an axe symbolized that Balgruuf was being forced to chose a side. Balgruuf sending the axe was supposed to be about telling Ulfric, "Hey, here's my axe, now you know." There's a big difference between the two scenarios and Balgruufs was pretty dumb. Realistically, Ulfric would have sent the axe in both story lines, but they didn't want to force you to travel to Windhelm twice.

[IsharaMeradin]

I think Balgruufs role in the Imperial story is just retarded since he pretty much asks Ulfric to attack his city.

 

Maybe delivering the axe was his prefered method of just telling Ulfric "hey, I've made my decision, and it's not you, you jerk"?

 

I don't see much of a difference. He didn't have to send any message, but the game required that the story keep the same path as the other side, so they gave Balgruuf the role that made more sense when it was Ulfric carrying it out. It's just another small example of a flaw in the story due to the fact that it's a game.

It doesn't have to be a flaw. It's part of the Nord tradition and the meaning is not specifically stated. When asked you are simply told the other party will know what it means.

 

The way I see it when Balgruff sends the axe he's telling Ulfric that he needs to decide what he is doing.

A. Send the axe back and attack

B. Keep the axe as a gift and leave Whiterun alone

 

Since Ulfric & his confidant are talking about anyone who isn't with them are against them, then he has no choice but to attack and so sends the axe back.

 

It might seem better from the stormcloak side, but there is nothing stated to rule out a dual meaning in a situation like this.

[SFBryan18]

Strategically, you don't tell your enemy that you're going to attack. In fact, Ulfric most likely would have kept the axe, and laughed at Balgruuf. Since Ulfric is the agressor in the battle, Balgruuf would have never sent a message. He would have fortified his city and waited for the worst. This is a matter of what would really happen, and the Imperial role of Balgruuf simply was bad script in the plot.

[sajuukkhar9000]

Helgen is part of Falkreath.

Helgen is in Falkreath hold by the way.

Physically it is in Falkreath hold, but it is obliviously under the jurisdiction of Whiterun, as it is whiterun that sends soldiers to protect it, and the people of Falkreath treat Balgruff as their ruler.

Edited October 6, 2012 by sajuukkhar9000

[SFBryan18]

Actually, Whiterun sends troops to protect Riverwood. I never remember anyone returning to Helgen.

 

In a quick google search, this map clearly shows that Helgen is almost in the center of Falkreath...

 

http://tamrielma.ps/skyrim/

 

Not sure what this had to do with the topic.

[sajuukkhar9000]

Actually, Whiterun sends troops to protect Riverwood. I never remember anyone returning to Helgen.

 

In a quick google search, this map clearly shows that Helgen is almost in the center of Falkreath...

 

http://tamrielma.ps/skyrim/

 

Not sure what this had to do with the topic.

...........

 

**** yeah my badm you can tell how long its been since I played the game.

 

I was combing riverwood and Helgan in my mind for some reason, my bad.

[Stemin]

So I guess the Imperials are idiots for not trying to take Whiterun.

 

They shouldn't have to. Skyrim is already part of the Empire, and therefore so is Whiterun. If Bulgruff (sp?) were to support the Stormcloaks he would be committing treason, the same thing Ulfric was sentenced with.

Balgruuf was derelict in his duties IMO. This is a Jarl of one of the most strategic holds in Skyrim and instead he watches as his hold gets demolished - and the only reason it does is because he would rather sit on the fence. By the time he makes a decision (and the only reason he does is because he's forced to) there is absolutely nothing he can do to defend his city.

 

Having dragons destroy an entire city just a bit south of your province and then attack your watch tower sortof makes one preoccupied and honestly since this is the days of couriers and whatnot, he has no reason to suspect Ulfric has even made it to Windhelm at this point since his escape at Helgen, or if he currently resides in Alduin's stomach.

 

Strategically, you don't tell your enemy that you're going to attack.

 

There was no war with Ulfric, so there was no planned attack up until Ulfric decided to return the axe. It wasn't a wartime strategy, it was a political negotiation.

[Tidus44]

What I don't get is the reason for that attack.

So I'm asking, what is the reason for the Stormcloaks's attack on Whiterun?

How does conquering that city help them?

In what way is Jarl Balgruuf's neutral stance in the conflict a problem for the Stormcloaks?

 

The attack on Whiterun by the Stormcloaks makes very little sense from any number of perspectives and certainly isn't meaningful in any way to the game or the outcome of the Civil War. One would think Ulfric would have simply attacked Solitude, captured the seat of power in Skyrim and defeated his enemy rather than fool around with Whiterun and risk having soldiers killed for no particular reason other than to get Balgruuf. Political posturing achieves nothing for Ulfric.

 

Even from a strategic or tactical perspective attacking Whiterun makes no sense and does nothing to help Ulfric.

 

About the only reason I can think of is because it was a place a larger battle and trebuchet would fit easily onto the landscape of the game and the developers needed to have some sort of quests for the Civil War.