S̴T̴O̴R̴M̴C̴L̴O̴A̴K̴
__________________________________________RISE OF TYRANNY
The year is 4E 205. Skyrim now stands alone, separated from the Empire as Ulfric Stormcloak takes the throne in Solitude. Voted unanimously as new High King by the Moot, Ulfric has taken the crown and now rules with an iron fist. The former Jarls who did not support him during the civil war have now been exiled with their families to Cyrodil and High Rock. The East Empire Company and other vocal supporters of the Empire were likewise driven over the surrounding borders, their properties and wealth confiscated.
Following the expulsion of Imperial sympathizers Ulfric then by royal decree absorbed the various chapters of hold guard into the Stormcloak army and - aside from ceremony - declared that the only banner to fly over any city, fort, or outpost in Skyrim would be the Stormcloak banner. One kingdom, one people, one banner.
This was followed by the crown’s “appropriation” of all shipping and mining across the holds. The labor for this reformed industry was in fact taken from Windhelm, specifically the Argonians and Dunmer who dwelled in the slums of the ancient city. The Argonians work the shipping industry while the Dunmer work the mines, allegedly in chains and under heavy guard. Many speculate this to be a sort of retribution for their not participating in the war against the empire while others attribute it merely to the xenophobia and exploitation of the new regime.
Ulfric may be the new High King, but the country is far from unified even with the Empire gone. The Forsworn have doubled their attacks in The Reach what with the freeing of their own king, Madanoch. The Orsimer strongholds are feeling the pressure of Nord expansion as emissaries from Windhelm and Solitude heckle their chieftains month by month, leading to dangerously frayed relations between the tribal Orcs and Skyrim. The various guilds and many among the nobility are also poorly adjusting to the new monarchy which leads only to Ulfric tightening his grip.
The new Jarls - all eager to both win Ulfric’s favor and leave their own imprint on this new Skyrim - have taken to their own rather drastic measures. Marshal law in Markarth, land confiscations and heavy taxation in Falkreath, heavy militarization in Dawnstar, tariffs on incoming goods in Riften, and the list continues.
Rumors circulate across Tamriel of the alleged tyranny of the new High King, particularly in regards to the acclaimed injustices against non-Nords. Skyrim’s neighbors are taking interest in this, Cyrodil and Morrowind particularly as well as certain parties in High Rock and Hammerfell. Indeed spies, operatives, and even assassins are finding their way over the hardened borders into Skyrim for various reasons.
But foreign interlopers are not the only concern for Ulfric Stormcloak. An underground resistance is forming against his his harsh rule, all it needs is a spark.
Welcome to Stormcloak : Rise of Tyranny, a The Elder Scrolls inspiration taken direct from the TES V Skyrim. With the Empire having lost the war, Ulfric Stormcloak is now the High King of Skyrim. With Windhelm as his capital Ulfric has effectively nationalized most of the country. Guard chapters and militias have been absorbed into the new Stormcloak army with Galmar Stone-Fist as general. Mining, shipping, and specific aspects of the economy have been seized by the crown with indentured laborers taken from the slums and spread across Skyrim to work. Stormcloak propaganda pamphlets and advocates are everywhere and the dread Gray-Watch has eyes and ears in every city and every district. Mer, Argonians, and Khajit are treated as third class citizens and in some cases outright abused by the new Jarls and their courts.
In response to this an underground resistance if forming. Brunwulf Free-Winter, a veteran of the Great War and sympathetic to those suffering under Ulfric’s boot, and several others have banded together behind closed doors. For now they are focused solely on recruiting, stockpiling resources, and procuring armaments. Free-Winter has contacts in every hold capital in Skyrim who keep an eye out for any who are disgruntled by Ulfric or outright suffer under his rule. From this the Resistance will grow and soon proper action can be taken aside from scattered raids and subterfuge.
Ylva Gray-Watch - Ulfric’s spymaster - likewise regularly recruits operatives and any who share the “Skyrim for the Nords” ideal. Charged with rooting out enemy spies, taking down bandits and would-be guerrillas, and generally coming to her call, agents exterior to the military are invaluable resources for Gray-Watch.
This RP will be a mixed back of open battle, espionage and assassination, and classic dungeon clearing. All character classes and races can find a suitable role benefiting one side or the other. Even non-Nords if able enough can be taken on as Stormcloak operatives if nothing else to gain favor or avoid the eyre of the crown.
Players will ultimately have to choose a side - the Resistance, or Ulfric Stormcloak.
WORLD STATE AND RULES
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