I fast traveled to Kynesgrove during the main quest. People were running away because of the dragon at the nearby dragon mound. I have done this quest before but I noticed there was a random dead stormcloak soldier nearby. I went to take the gold from his inventory, and when I exited out two stormcloaks fell out of the sky and landed where the other one was. Random and hilarious.
Funny, I was just there and noticed after killing the dragon, two or three stormcloaks on the path that I don't recall seeing before. Are they always there, and I just didn't notice?
The Stormcloaks are always there; they're the same ones who acts as Kynesgrove's guards. Presumably they run up to fight Alduin, who destroys them.
I always use a batch file that makes all guards essential (hate losing NPCs, even respawning ones), so those three Stormcloaks usually show up to help defeat Sahloknir. Like last night, for example.
I'm currently playing a heavy armour warrior who uses no potions OR poisons whatsoever (except Cure Disease ones). Currently level 30, with tons of difficulty mods, and I'm having an absolute blast. Having low stamina or health (not to mention both) is a death sentence, because my movement speed goes down as those two stats go down.
Not having to carry around dozens of potions/poisons also leaves plenty of room for other items, which is great because my character is a former merchant, so he loots everything worth taking. I also skin, harvest and sometimes butcher all the dead animals I come across/"produce" (mod), so I end up with tons of bones, ingredients and pelts. Not to mention I need to carry around food, water and other survival supplies.
tl;dr: Playing without potions/poisons (I do use Alchemy, but always sell everything I craft) is worth a try, if you've never done it.