DrunkenMage
Intoxicated Arch-Mage
Is it Ulfric's fault that theirs poverty in his hold? Theirs poverty everywhere in Skyrim, not just in Windhelm. Is it his fault that a group of Dunmer's are messy, and incapable of keeping their homes clean and properly maintained?
Windhelm has more than "poverty" it has segregation and high racial tensions he does nothing to even try ease. The Dunmer aren't messy, their homes are clean. The streets and stonework is falling apart. All they actually ask is Ulfric acknowledges their problems and just goes "I understand, you're citizens of my city and I will take care of you. I don't have what is needed right now."
There are those within Windhelm who treat Argonians and Dunmer as second class citizens, what Ulfric should be doing is ruling even handed. Not just Nordic focused.
You Stormcloaks fight against Thalmor discrimination, while you spread discrimination to those who are not Nords.
There is cause for optimism, though, as Jarl Ulfric is not nearly so tolerant of these substandard beings as his fathers were. - Scourge of the Gray Quarter
The people who cause the racial issues, all believe Ulfric thinks as they do. Not once does he denounce it, or speak out against discrimination.
Jorleif: "Sir, there continues to be unrest in the Gray Quarter."
Ulfric: "Blasted dark elves. I don't suppose you could tell them that I presently have larger concerns? Such as all of Skyrim?"
Jorleif: "They don't seem to be very sympathetic to our cause, sir."
Ulfric: "Let me know if you hear anything more substantial?"
Jorleif: "Of course, my lord."
As far with the situation with the Argonians... as bad as it may seem... they don't have it all that bad. Did you ever explore inside of the Argonian Assemblage lately? They have beds to sleep in and a large fireplace to keep warm, and to cook their foods.
Wow. They don't have it bad, being racially targeted and segregated. But hey, they got some beds and a firepit.
"Torbjorn Shatter-Shield. I wish someone would beat the coin out of his fat fists. He clings to every Septim. He says an Argonian's labor is only worth a tenth of a 'proper Nord worker.'" - Scouts-Many-Marshes
So Ulfric is either unwilling or unable to control his city? He has discrimination through the roof, racial tensions, citizens threatening to torture Dunmer on behalf of the Stormcloaks. If Ulfric can't pull in his supporters and try to make Skyrim unified with all ten races. Why should he be High King? There are more than just Nords living there.
Don't take what Brunwulf Free-Winter says to be serious. He personally slams Ulfric but doesn't mind going to the palace of the kings to fest on the free food that's laying on the large table next to Ulfric's throne.
Brunwulf actually says Ulfric is a great leader. But he is Nord focused. Which is true, the Stormcloaks are.
"I'm a man. Skyrim is man's homeland. That's a fact." - Galmar
The Stormcloaks would have much more success in rebuilding Skyrim from the ruins of Dragons and war... If all ten races worked together. You're not going to get that when majority of Non-Nords feel discriminated and threatened.
By the way Dunmer's and the Argonians typically don't get along with each other considering the fact that the Dunmers once used the Argonians as their personal slaves in Morrowind... and like so many Dunmers in Windhelm many of them migrated to Windhelm from morrowind. You can move but the tradition and culture is still there.
Riften which also borders Morrowind (Has a pass into Morrowind near the city) has a bunch of Dunmer refugees who fled there. How come it is only in Windhelm that the Dunmer and Argonians have issues?
You do know that the Argonians were supposed to go drink in the Dunmer Cornerclub... A scripting error stops them. If the Dunmer and Argonians were hostile, why would they go drink with the Dunmer?
Although I believe in the Stormcloak soldiers mindset, I don't believe in Ulfric. His reasons as to why he wants to clear the Imperials out of Skyrim when they've been there for decades weren't very convincing, it felt more like it was for his own selfish wish to be High King.
Technically the Imperials have been in Skyrim for around six hundred years. Over a thousand if you take into account the Second Cyrodiil Empire.
You're not alone in believing he's selfish and only after the throne.
With the Stormcloaks at his back, Ulfric's poised to rid Skyrim of the Empire's forces and invalidate our involvement with the White-Gold Concordat. Between you and I, I think his motivations are a bit more self-serving. He uses this holy war as leverage in order to pursue the throne. If he were to be crowned High King, I'm not so certain it would be the golden age his followers expect. - Laila Law-Giver
I'm no man's fool. I know Ulfric Stormcloak's selfish and power-hungry, but he's the devil I know. Does that put it plain enough for you? - Dengeir of Stuhn