At the start of the game it looks like we are about to die. Hadvar, the Imperial Guard, realizes you shouldn't be for the chop but his superior, The Imperial Captain is determined that your head should roll in a cold impersonal manner. Hadvar seems genuinely unsettled about this and apologizes but has to carry out his duty.

When the execution is interupted, I am desperate to free my hands, not because of the rampaging dragon, but so I can get my hands on that Imperial Captain. I think it's funny how I could not take it personally when Hadvar seemed apologetic but got vengeful at The Imperial Captain, even though they both had a part in my intended demise.

Have you had any contrasting feelings like that in the game?

How did that event effect you? Did you refuse to follow Hadvar later because of it? Did you hope the Captain you slew in Helgen Keep with Ralof was the one who so calousely condemned you before the attack?

I find that the emotions are strong in the beginning of the game, but that it doesn't last very long...

If I'm undecided it may affect me but it normally doesn't.

When I saw Hadvar standing in front of Alduin just moments after my failed execution and after he helped that kid to get confidence and move out from Alduin fire's breath, I knew I couldn't hold a grudge against him, so I followed him.

@Yoomazir: Good point. Thanks for that!

@Skylar_bozmer & The Terror of Death: I talk to some Imperial Officers in camps who hate what the Thalmor are doing and others who think the Nords are the trash of Tamriel. I am pushed to the side of the Stormcloaks but always remember people like Hadvar. So I'm undecided also.

But the emotions pushing me one way and then another are generated from the NPC's attitudes rather than by the causes themselves. I find that interesting about the game.

I love Hadvar. He's such a great guy. I didn't really understand why he liked me so much and wanted to help me (well,maybe he thinks my character is really cute), but I was happy to have the help since my hands were tied and there was a dragon attacking.

I guess i have to agree, each person i guess has their own opinion on what is happening in Skyrim. Choosing sides could depend on who you talk to first even besides, first impressions are everything xp

I relished killing the captain after she said "Next! the Lizard"

I'm an Argonian for crying out loud

I think the game needs to hold off on giving you the choice early on. It is not like you have to make it right away, it is just the game seems to force it on you before you have had a chance to get to know what is going on. I have to say I was against the Imperials based on the opening sequence and it was not until I experienced some of the Nordic leadership that I finally made my choice.

I like how they say that they will bring your body to the respected city/country.

The captain's haughty, arrogant and emotionless death sentence for our character in the beginning was enough to convince me that the Empire was broken and had no right to occupy Skyrim.

Maybe I'm just more empathetic than some others, but I never really felt put off by the Empire for what they were doing. Obviously I was caught in the company of rebels. Of course they weren't going to listen to my pleas of innocence. And of all the characters there, I felt like Hadvar showed more concern for my wellbeing than anyone else. So yeah, I went with Hadvar when given the choice.

You were caught up with a bunch of Stormcloaks, why wouldn't the captain assume you were one of them?

I had no hard feelings against Hadvar.

The captain and general Tullius however, I was less forgiving of. Captain ordered my execution and the General approved it.


Your character does not wear stormcloak armor, is not acknowledged as such by the other stormcloaks, and wasn't with the stormcloak rebellion. (S)he was nearby and picked up for crossing the border illegally.

If Tullius wanted to end the war, he just needed to execute Ulfric. Send the others to prison.

Shh, lizard. To the block. Nice and easy..

(Or something like that.)

In the eyes of the imperials, why take the chance of letting the horse theif and border crosser go? Like if the game started you off as the captain, you might of let them go, but I wouldn't have!

I played a Nord first and followed the Stormcloak. I loved being able to meet the captain again in the tower.

But Hadvar was a pretty nice guy and he does make it easy to follow him. I had to wonder though if I had followed him, and we rejoined an group from the Empire, if I would end up on the block again.

Thanks! It's interesting to get your views!
Can it be expanded to how other NPC's effect you? Or would that be off topic? (I incorporated it in my intro thread).

Oh it seriously effected me. I wanted to have that wench's head on a pike and Hadvar thrown in jail for incompetence.

I mean you start off talking to this friendly bloke who's trying to give some comfort to a horse-thief, you notice a rebel leader next to you as well.
After this you're in Helgen and seeing an Imperial General talk to the new villains of TES: the thalmor. Or the 'Elvish Inquisition' in other words.

Then you get unloaded off the cart to be confronted by people being checked off. The fearful horse-thief tries to escape and is pelted by arrows, butchered.
You yourself come next eventually and meet this dull Hadvar. Not only will he be mocking, he can even give quite racist comments to your character's race choices.
When the Captain chooses to send you to the block even though you're not even on the list, what does he do? says "I'm sowwy." Doesn't even bother to disagree with her.

Sowwy just isn't good enough, Hadvar. But now, let's see what we have for first impressions on imperials: co-conspirators, murderers, injustified or just pathetic.
And the more I heard about them, the more this became true. Even in Barenziah's younger years they were still like this, torturing poor Therris to a brutal death.
So they haven't even bothered to change over all that time. However, on the other hand the nords would have at least give you an honorable, quick death.

So guess what I did? sign up with the Stormcloaks the first chance I got. Reason? to kill imperials of course! heh.

No problem with Hadvar, he seems genuinely distressed that violence has to be used, both against you and the Stormcloaks (he says he hopes to reason with them if you follow him into Helgen Keep). Even General Tullius came off as basically decent. His first thought when the dragon attacks is for the guards to get the townspeople to safety (you may not hear this, but it is shown in the subtitles if you have them on). Really, the only Imperial I dislike from that part of the game is the Imperial Captain. How fortunate that she is the one you get to kill.

I always go with Hadvar at Helgen, regardless of which side I tend to fight for in the Civil War on each character. (I thought not forcing you to join a faction based on who you followed at Helgen was a smart design decision). I had no problems with Ralof being a rebel, or even with him personally.

Until he told me to jump through a hole in the side of a tower, from when a dragon just headbutted it. And go crashing through a flaming roof. With my hands tied together. "We'll follow when we can!" SURE. LET ME JUST SCOUT AHEAD FOR YOU.

I find that Hadvar is a very polarizing character. Me, I can't stand the guy even if he does help you, because he was going to let that b**** kill you and not even try to stop her. Apologies just don't cut it. On the other hand my brother thinks Hadvar is awesome because he helps you escape, and excuses the fact that he was just standing by letting you get killed with "he was just following orders."

Other NPCs I haven't had much of a reaction to, honestly, except Lydia. TBH I didn't think much of her, but when she died I was very sad.

@Ceidwad: Heh heh! That's interesting! Tulius was the main reason I Didn't join. I was this close but after listening to his little speeches at Solitude HQ I turned around and went right back out the door.

So this discussion can grow to other quests, let's move this to Spoilers.

He was just following orders. Hadvar was a lowly grunt. He tried to make an appeal on your behalf, but his commanding officer denied it. What was he suppose to do?