Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-26213507-20150715194939/@comment-26356342-20150909171208

I'm gunna have to agree with Bronkiin on this one, While I could make the argument Ulfric's rendition of the Axe ritual implys more "Fight with me or against me" and Balgruuf's is more "War or peace" the 2 of them have the same basic meaning, and as he pointed out, The empire isn't much better in this situation then Ulfric. They were both pestering Balgruuf for support. And i think I recall the Empire even sending false reports of stormcloak activity to try and lean him to their side. But either way, siding with the Empire, Tullius sends you with a note to whiterun, Balgruuf then asks you to deliver the axe, Ulfric refuses, and it's a battle. On the stormcloak side there is no message, ulfric just asks you to deliver the axe, you deliver, Balgruuf will take the axe, then tell you he's siding with the empire, and hand the axe back, followed by him drafting the letter to the empire to join forces.