Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-1600847-20161103125247/@comment-30011802-20161108182126

There’s been an idea floating around since the very first day Skyrim was released, that most veteran players know is Oscar Mayer Baloney, but unfortunately many new fans have bought into and constructed from a desire to demonize the Stormcloaks beyond all reason.

That idea is that Ulfric Stormcloak is the reason that Alduin decided to return.

This idea isn’t even up for debate, it’s flat out wrong, and you don’t even have to play Skyrim to know that, but it would certainly help.

The Elder Scroll prophecy is as stated here:

When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped When the thrice-blessed fail and the Red Tower trembles When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne, and the White Tower falls When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn.

Now three points. First, there’s many conditions to this prophecy, so if you believe the final one is Ulfric’s fault, then you believe the Dunmer who lost faith in Vivec are also at fault, for the Red Tower is the Red Mountain, and the Ministry of Truth falling and causing the Red Mountain to erupt is what the prophecy speaks of. You also believe the Empire failing to recognize the Thalmor as a real threat even though they had fair warning also caused his return.

Second point, the World Eater is a god. He is an aspect of the Time Dragon, the Aka spirit that the imperials call Akatosh. If Alduin is supposed to come back, he WILL come back, no prophecy fulfillment can hold him, nothing in the world can prevent his return, only delay it.

And the third and final point is, the prophecy is only a PREDICTION of his return, not a CONDITION. His return is inevitable. If you played the game from start to finish, you’ll remember that the Elder Scroll is only able to see possible outcomes firstly, and you’ll also remember that Alduin was thrown through time by the power of the Elderscroll. He cannot be banished from time and locked away, he is a dragon. He is Time itself, he is inevitable. Ulfric could not hold back his return even if you went back in time and told him that Alduin would return, and you told him his rebellion would cause it. Which it wouldn’t. All that would happen is the prophecy would be wrong, and Alduin would come anyway.

Irrefutable lore fact.

Sorry kiddos, you’re just going to have to find a different way to demonize Ulfric.