Ysmir looked out over the Blades scrambling to prepare themselves to march towards Windhelm. 'The Blades have grown greatly since I instituted the proper changes,' he thought, running his hand through his beard. He reached into a small pouch on his belt and pulled out a small, smooth stone. He turned it in his hands until the carved rune on its surface was revealed. The symbol carved into the stone was a rune of Dovahzul, language of the dragons, which was the rune for Dovahkiin. He pressed his thumb into the symbol, which began to glow. Suddenly a spark came out from beneath his hand and formed into the shape of a circle within a diamond, symbol of the Thieves Guild. 'What is going on Nightingale,' Ysmir thought. The Guild Master of the Thieves Guild, member of the Nightingales, replied 'The Stormcloaks have found and raided one of the Guild's storerooms in Windhelm, what do I tell the commander to do?' Ysmir thought carefully and came to a conclusion.
Ulfric paced in front of his throne, thinking of the current stalemate with the Imperial Legion. Then the doors of the Palace of Kings swung open, and Galmar Stone-fist, his housecarl and friend, followed by a few Stormcloak guards walked in. "What is going on Galmar," Ulfric asked as he stopped pacing and sat on his throne. Galmar motioned to a few of the guards, who threw a man clad in brown armor onto the ground. Galmar nodded to the guards, put the blade of his battleaxe near to the man's neck, and said "In an ordinary sweep of a few buildings of the Grey Quarter, we found this man and his compatriots." "That doesn't really answer my question Galmar," the Jarl replied to the warrior. "This man," Galmar said, poking him in the back, "Is a member of the Thieves Guild, who have infiltrated our great city." Ulfric nodded and spoke to the man, "Thief, why did you allow yourself to be captured?" The thief didn't reply for a moment, but a low hum from a pouch on his chest caused him to speak. "Because, Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak of Windhelm," the man began, "I wish to tell you of an organization." Interested Ulfric waved his hand and said "Proceed." The thief nodded and said "Recently, the Thieves Guild has entered into a alliance with some of the other guilds in Skyrim, forming the Stormcrown Alliance." Ulfric's eyes briefly lit up with anger, and in a louder tone said "What is this 'Stormcrown Alliance's' goals and why did they dare to take the holy name of Talos for their own goals?" The thief chuckled and said "The goal of the Stormcrown Alliance is to dismantle the current empire and reinstate the Septim Dynasty as rulers of Tamriel." Ulfric calmed slightly and replied "A noble goal, which I agree with, but there are no living heirs to the Septim Dynasty, the last became one with Akatosh during the Oblivion Crisis." "That is where you are wrong Jarl Ulfric, our leader….," the thief began to say, but was interrupted when the door opened once more. "Jarl Ulfric, Jarl Ulfric," the guard who was running in called, "a force of armed warriors have been spotted moving through the Frostwater Tundra towards Windhelm!" Ulfric stood up and said "Galmar prepare the guards for a siege!" "Jarl Ulfric, the Alliance means you no harm," the thief yelled. Ulfric looked at the thief and said "Throw him in the dungeon!"
Ysmir marches through the tundra of Eastmarch,alongside the warriors of the Blades. Suddenly he felt a prickling sensation in his mind, as if something or someone was calling him somewhere. Ysmir looked towards a cave, held up his hand and Esbern, who was riding a horse beside him, said "What's wrong Ysmir?" "Nothing," the Dragonborn lied, "I can hear the chanting of a Word Wall, it's coming from that cave." Ysmir broke off from them and walked towards the cave. As he walked inside the cave, he removed the Razor from its sheath and prepared to Shout. As he got further into the cave, the distant sound of a Shout could be heard, each Shout driving him deeper into the cave. As he entered the final chamber of the cave, the Shout could clearly be heard. "Dov Ah Se Brom," the voice shouted, driving Ysmir ever closer. The being Shouting, who was tall and of a broad build Shouted to a hole in the ceiling of the cave, that lead to the surface. "Who are you," Ysmir asked pointing Mehrunes Razor at the man, "and how are you using a four-word Shout so easily?" "Ah Dovahkiin," the man said, "I knew my Shouting would bring you here." "That doesn't answer my question," Ysmir yelled, fear in his voice. The man chuckled and said "Look upon me noble Dragonborn, and you shall know who I am." Ysmir looked at the man. He had ice blue eyes, brown hair neatly arranged on his head, and a long beard, combed and decorated with beads. He wore armor covered in images of a fox and at his back, had what looked like a newly crafted Ancient Nord Battle-Axe, with a small molded fox head as its pommel. By combination of the man's brown hair and fox decorations, Ysmir realized who the man was. Ysmir quickly fell to his knees, his head bowed in reverence towards him, and said "Oh most gracious Shor, my lord, forgive me for not recognizing your godly visage, I am honored at your presence." The man chuckled and said "Hjalti Sepim, honored Dragonborn, do not bow to me, for I am not our lord Shor." "Then who are you," Ysmir asked quickly rising to his feet. The man smiled at the Dragonborn and said "I am known by many names, the most prevalent being, Ysmir Wulfharth, the Ashking." Ysmir bowed his head at the former High King and said "Great Ashking, why do you appear before me." The Ashking ran his hand through his beard and said "Ysmir Dovahsebrom, why did you think me to be our Lord, Shor when I appeared before you?" "I truly do not know, mighty Ashking," the Dragonborn began, "you look the same as the classical depictions of Shor in literature." "Ah a good answer Dragonborn, but not truly correct," the Ashking replied, "throughout history, men have been born with great power, mortal incarnations of our lord Shor, these men include Pelinal Whitesdrake, myself, and Talos." "Shezarrines," Ysmir said quickly. The Ashking nodded and said "Very good, very good, that is partly the reason. The other part is because you saw yourself within me, Ysmir." "What do you mean," Ysmir asked, "how did I recognize myself…..?" Wulfharth chuckled and said "You begin to realize Dragonborn, you like me, are Shezarrine." Ysmir looked down at his feet, astounded at what the former High King has told him. "I tell you this because Akatosh feels that the current dynasty ruling is an affront to previous dynasties, as no Mede has ever had the Dragonblood, and if your claim as descendant of Talos doesn't, as a stoic Nord, Ulfric will bow to you, as you are his rightful lord, Shor," the Ashking said. With renewed vigor Ysmir thanked the Ashking and left the cave. "Did you find what you were looking for Dragonborn," Delphine asked as he rejoined them. Ysmir smiled wide and said "I did." Ysmir summoned Arvak, his faithful steed, and pulled himself onto the horse. He raised Dawnbreaker and yelled "Stormcrown Alliance! March!" With that, the force began the final leg of their march to Windhelm.
Ulfric paced around the market, waiting for his soldiers to report. Galmar ran up to him and said "Ulfric, the Stormcrown Alliance has been spotted, they are close to the bridge." "Can you see who's leading them," Ulfric asked his housecarl. Galmar looked at his feet and said "Ulfric I regret to inform you that the man at their head is the Dragonborn, I fear we're doomed." Ulfric pondered as to why the Dragonborn would side with the Stormcrown Alliance and said "Well, if the Dragonborn wishes to take Windhelm for whatever master he serves, he will never break through the gate. Prepare for siege!" Ulfric looked over the scrambling citizens and guards, and silently said a prayer to Talos.