[Liv Staff]

"Balgruuf's Burning Greatsword of Whiterun"

Sounds like he's got the kind of discreet needs that require a visit to Ms. Bothela.

[Brooke Turner]

Sounds like he's got the kind of discreet needs that require a visit to Ms. Bothela.

Now, THAT would have been an interesting little sidequest...

(On a side note, ever since I found out about Nelkir having a different mother - something that apparently isn't official, meaning Nelkir is illegitimate - I have Balgruuf figured for a player of sorts. I mean, the man doesn't look too bad, and I can just imagine him inviting women up to his private quarters to admire the view from his bedroom balcony - and when they have done that, how he tells them that the view is even better in the morning )

[Averielle Garcia]

I dunno, I kinda have a feeling that "illegitimacy" may not carry the same stigma for the children that it did/does in many real world societies, seeing as how a good deal of that is tied into patriarchal traditions and hangups about men and women and six that don't seem to exist in a less sixist culture like Skyrim's. But I do think that there was something about the relationship between that kid's mother and the Jarl that wasn't quite... right. Either he's the result of an affair Balgruuf had while his wife was still around, or his mother was married to someone else, or something. It seems clear from the quest that involves him that there are family issues and he brings up the "different mother" thing too quickly for it to not be a factor at least in his own mind. I can see where something happened that may have caused a lot of head-shaking and gossip and bad blood and even if it's not directed at the kid himself, kids pick up on that sort of thing and know that they figure into it somehow.

At the very least, Balgruuf has kids by two different women (that we know of) and *neither* of those women is still around in any "official" capacity. Did they both just die of natural causes? I know it's a rough world but they presumably would have had all the advantages that wealth and position could provide, unless the Jarl is a complete ass or they had a good reason NOT to stick around and make use of them. I dunno.

[FITTAS]

Now, THAT would have been an interesting little sidequest...

(On a side note, ever since I found out about Nelkir having a different mother - something that apparently isn't official, meaning Nelkir is illegitimate - I have Balgruuf figured for a player of sorts. I mean, the man doesn't look too bad, and I can just imagine him inviting women up to his private quarters to admire the view from his bedroom balcony - and when they have done that, how he tells them that the view is even better in the morning )

Now I am picturing him laying on the pick up lines:
"How do like your eggs in the morning: scrambled, or fertilized?"
"Those clothes and my clothes would look good on my floor."
"You look cold. Want to use me as a blanket?"
"I'm not actually this tall. I'm sitting on my wallet."

[Lucy]

Now I am picturing him laying on the pick up lines:
"How do like your eggs in the morning: scrambled, or fertilized?"
"Those clothes and my clothes would look good on my floor."
"You look cold. Want to use me as a blanket?"
"I'm not actually this tall. I'm sitting on my wallet."

"Have you got any Nord in you? Would you like some?"
(from the balcony:) "See those two rutting deer out there? That's you and me, later."
"I'd sure like to climb your 7000 steps."

[Rex Help]

I dunno, I kinda have a feeling that "illegitimacy" may not carry the same stigma for the children that it did/does in many real world societies, seeing as how a good deal of that is tied into patriarchal traditions and hangups about men and women and six that don't seem to exist in a less sixist culture like Skyrim's. But I do think that there was something about the relationship between that kid's mother and the Jarl that wasn't quite... right. Either he's the result of an affair Balgruuf had while his wife was still around, or his mother was married to someone else, or something. It seems clear from the quest that involves him that there are family issues and he brings up the "different mother" thing too quickly for it to not be a factor at least in his own mind. I can see where something happened that may have caused a lot of head-shaking and gossip and bad blood and even if it's not directed at the kid himself, kids pick up on that sort of thing and know that they figure into it somehow.

At the very least, Balgruuf has kids by two different women (that we know of) and *neither* of those women is still around in any "official" capacity. Did they both just die of natural causes? I know it's a rough world but they presumably would have had all the advantages that wealth and position could provide, unless the Jarl is a complete ass or they had a good reason NOT to stick around and make use of them. I dunno.

I was using the word "illegitimate" instead of trying to find the right English words... Born outside the marriage would have been more neutral, I guess, since I agree that it's probably not that stigmatized in Skyrim. Anyway, my private theory is that Nelkir's mother for some reason couldn't take care of him - either she died giving birth or early on in his life, or maybe she simply was poor, sick or already married (or all of it) and felt she couldn't take care of the child, here you go, Balgruuf, now you'll reap what you've sown! Likely the mother of the older kids - who I presume were married to Balgruuf - was still around. I mean, Nelkir must have believed he had the same mother as the others until Mephala told him otherwise, implying she must have been alive and around when he was born.

Now I am picturing him laying on the pick up lines:
"How do like your eggs in the morning: scrambled, or fertilized?"
"Those clothes and my clothes would look good on my floor."
"You look cold. Want to use me as a blanket?"
"I'm not actually this tall. I'm sitting on my wallet."

"Have you got any Nord in you? Would you like some?"
(from the balcony:) "See those two rutting deer out there? That's you and me, later."
"I'd sure like to climb your 7000 steps."

I think Balgruuf's gonna get some, with you two as his advisors! Ulfric can keep his axe!

[I love YOu]

I mean, Nelkir must have believed he had the same mother as the others until Mephala told him otherwise, implying she must have been alive and around when he was born.

Hmm... I never really thought that it was Mephala who told the kid that he had a different mother. I must have missed that, I know he mentions it when you talk to him but I always just assumed that it was something he knew, either because he remembered her or else he was told at some point... but probably because there was too much whispering and gossip and things overheard for him not to realize it. And that this feeling of not being like the other kids was something he knew was true but it wasn't something anyone wanted to acknowledge overtly, leading to his... issues. Which then made him an easy target for Mephala.

I don't know, is it ever indicated that Balgruuf treats him *worse* than he does the other kids? I mean, let's face it, it's not like there are two little angels and this one kid is the Bad Seed. They're all obnoxious enough to be under the influence of some "evil" power IMO.

[Marnesia Steele]

I don't know, is it ever indicated that Balgruuf treats him *worse* than he does the other kids? I mean, let's face it, it's not like there are two little angels and this one kid is the Bad Seed. They're all obnoxious enough to be under the influence of some "evil" power IMO.

Balgruuf has a lot to learn about fatherhood, imo, lol. He seems to ignore Nelkir pretty much, and since all of them are attention-seeking little brats, I think it's safe to say he treats them equal. Yet another man who puts his career before his family...

[Ross]

But let's get back on topic:

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/142/e/0/dat_stormcloak_by_sparklyfarts-d50r4le.jpg

Ulfric in love! http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/142/7/3/smitten_stormcloak_by_sparklyfarts-d50rcue.jpg

[Beulah Bell]

But let's get back on topic:

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/142/e/0/dat_stormcloak_by_sparklyfarts-d50r4le.jpg

Ulfric in love! http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/142/7/3/smitten_stormcloak_by_sparklyfarts-d50rcue.jpg

Adorable!

[Veronica Martinez]

Ulfric Pwns.

[Fanny Rouyé]

I'm sorry to keep turning OT and bringing Balgruuf up, but after our discussion here, I giggled when I played the beginning on the MQ today (ok, I'm sick, therefore I can play Skyrim during the day). I had arrived in Whiterun for the first time and told Balgruuf to send help to Riverwood. So, when he told my quite good-looking, Marilynesque redhaired Dunmer witch that there was another thing she could do for him, something that suited someone of her special - disposition, I could help but imagine my Dunmer thinking "Wait? What? Hey, not ALL Dunmer women are promiscuous, you know! Stop staring at my boobs!"

[Sakura Haruno]

Marilynesque ... Dunmer

I've got serious cognitive dissonance going on here! I guess Balgruuf had his head or whatever on straight about that though.

[Lucie H]

I've got serious cognitive dissonance going on here! I guess Balgruuf had his head or whatever on straight about that though.

"Marilynesque" referred to her measures, not her colors. The original Marilyn had more hips, though, and probably weighted more. The people of Tamriel are so awfully fit.

[James Baldwin]

"Have you got any Nord in you? Would you like some?"
(from the balcony:) "See those two rutting deer out there? That's you and me, later."
"I'd sure like to climb your 7000 steps."

[to Ralof] Let's see those juniper berries.

Ok, I'm clearly not worthy of this thread.

[Cody Banks]

[to Ralof] Let's see those juniper berries.

Ok, I'm clearly not worthy of this thread.

How about: "I'd like to put my juniper berries in your mead..."

[Racheal Robertson]

How about: "I'd like to put my juniper berries in your mead..."

"Is that a bottle of mead in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?" (A classic Nord pick-up line.)

[Lady Shocka]

"After tonight, Ralof, your last thoughts will be of me."

[Katy Hogben]

OK, fine, y'all goaded me into it:

Lydia: "I am your sword and your shield."
Me: "How about more of sword and scabbard thing? "

[Dean]

OK, fine, y'all goaded me into it:

Lydia: "I am your sword and your shield."
Me: "How about more of sword and scabbard thing? "

It also works for male housecarls.

Btw, all my characters go when Hrongar says his "unsheath me and point me"-line. Male and female alike.

[Nany Smith]

Btw, all my characters go when Hrongar says his "unsheath me and point me"-line. Male and female alike.

I think everyone does.

[Elizabeth Davis]

Time to bump this thread, it's either that or start another "Tullius is a big poopyhead" discussion and frankly I just don't have the patience to deal with the consequences of that.

And now, a http://imageshack.us/a/img203/7774/ulfricscream.jpg from the Stormcloak News Network...

[Leonie Connor]

I'm not a guy who's into men or anything, but Ulfric's Nord charms>Tulius's grumpy old man vibe by far, lol.

[Chris Ellis]

And now, a http://imageshack.us/a/img203/7774/ulfricscream.jpg from the Stormcloak News Network...

Oh my LORD!!!

Now, let's take this thread to the post limit, so we can start a new, fresh one.

[Cagla Cali]

I just want to get back to playing again so I can take more lovely screenshots.

Got through level 55 on the last character before I started having some issues, oh well that playthrough was more of an experiment in modding anyway. I have a better idea of what I'm doing now and am currently rebuilding my mods list. Finally updated to 1.7 as well, kinda had to as I wanted the updated CK to see if it would get rid of problems with some modded interiors. Not looking forward to the problems with placing items manually in-game and if modding Hjerim still makes it impossible to leave the house without a console command I will be very, very unhappy. Altho teleporting myself directly into the Palace was kinda fun, I'll admit.