Technically base on the lore the Companions are “leaderless” but the fact is the members views Kodlak as their leader.
Vilkas: "Master, you're not truly considering accepting him/her?" To become a member of the Companions... you must go and speak with Kodlak. If he's not the leader when they am I being told to speak with the man to officially join the Companions? Shouldn't the members of the circle be the ones to judge my skills as a warrior, and determine if I'm Companion worthy? After all they did see what I can do when I assisted on aiding them in battle with a Giant in a close proximity of Whiterun's city.
Ulfric is an advocate in what he truly believes in, and that is the freedom from the Imperial shackles. He is a typical politician. By rallying up people in his favor he is campaigning. In order for him to be High King he must have the support of his people. Yes he wants to become High King of Skytim and theirs nothing wrong with wanting to become High King if you truly believe that the current High King is doing a crappy job. Apparently Torygg was all talk, and no action. Torygg was interested in Ulfrics views in Skyrim independence, but why didn't he take action? Why didn't he summon Jarl Ulfric (Mind you Torygg was Ulfric's boss) to come to Solitude to arrange this Independence? And to help develop strong and self reliant armies, since Ulfric has a significant amount of experience with dealing with the Military. I know you dislike Talos because of his dark past, but people in Skyrim heavily worships him. To take way their right to worship him is like taking part of their souls away.
You're wrong. Someone who is heavily into the lore should of caught on to this.
Those with the beast blood are prone to violence, whether accidental or intentional, as they live with a constant bloodlust which drives them to kill and devour their enemies. Werewolves are widely feared and hated in Skyrim as in other provinces, and will be attacked on sight if spotted in beast form. They possess deadly armor-piercing claws and incredible strength, and are capable of easily knocking most creatures they encounter to the ground. -http://
www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Werewolves
Why do you think theirs 2 groups (Silver hand and the Vigilant of Stendarr) hunts down Werewolves?
I'm sure that Ulfric does have some skeletons tucked away in his closet, but he's no tyrant and neither is the Empire. The true tyrant is the Aldmeri Dominion. Unfortunately the Empire is weak and unable to successfully defeat the Aldmeri Dominion without sacrificing the freedom of religion. The Empire thought that they could reject the treaty when it was first brought up to them, but they were sadly mistaken, and it cost the lives of many. Ulfric and Nords like him go by their Nordic traditions. To die fighting is a great honor and it reards them with going to sovngade. It explains why Ulfric and Galmar said this during Battle of Solitude:
Galmar: "You were there with us. You saw it. The day the Empire signed that damn treaty was the day the Empire died."
Ulfric:
"The Empire I remember never surrendered."
Galmar:
"That Empire is dead. And so are you."
Ulfric went from PRO Empire to now Anti Empire. Why do you suppose that is? The Empire changed not for the good, but for the worst, and people see it.
Let me give you another set of an example of proud Nordic traditions that the Empire severely lacks.
Galmar: "Stand aside woman. We've come for the General."
Rikke: "He has given up. But I have not."
Ulfric: "Rikke. Go. You're free to leave."
Rikke: "I'm also free to stay and fight for what I believe in."
Ulfric: "You're also free to die for it."
Rikke: "This is what you wanted? Shield brothers and sisters killing each other? Families torn apart? This is the Skyrim you want?!"
Galmar: "Damnit woman, stand aside."
Rikke: "That's not the Skyrim I want to live in."
Ulfric: "Rikke. You don't have to do this."
Rikke: "You've left me no choice... Talos preserve us."
Doesn't this remind you of someone... someone that you just called a tyrant? Rikke and Ulfric are a lot a like. They're both proud true Nords that would fight and die for what they strongly believe in. Ulfric pleaded to Rikke to go, and that she was free to leave, but Rikke stood her grounds like the true Nord that she is, and told Ulfric that she would rather die fighting for what she believes in than to take the cowards way out like what General Tullius took. All of the highly trained and disciplined soldiers of the Empire went down the drain as Tullius gave up during the civil war. The Empire hasn't changed for the better. While it's sad to see the Empire losing another province it is for the best.
Ulfric doesn't force anyone to fight, and for Shor's beard stop beating off to the bear of Markarth already. Theirs just not enough strong evidence from other sources to back it up. It could very well be Imperial propaganda. If Ulfric was forcing people to fight, then how come he doesn't force the Dunmers in Windhelm to fight for his cause?
Rolff (Not a Stormcloak but a nasty drunk who happens to be the brother of Galmar):
"You come here where you're not wanted, you eat our food, you pollute our city with your stink and you refuse to help the Stormcloaks."
Suvaris (Dunmer):
"But we haven't taken a side because it's not our fight." (Ulfric isn't forcing her to fight for Skyrims freedom)
Angrenor(A former Stormcloak who is now a beggar):
"Hey, maybe the reason these gray-skins don't help in the war is because they're Imperial spies!"
Rolff: "They've done nothing to help in the fight for Skyrim's freedom. Those Thalmor are elves, too. I bet they're working together. Maybe I should round up some men and take us a few prisoners to interrogate."
This pretty much summons things up, and to prove your incorrect theory that Ulfric forces people to fight for him. If it was true then Ulfric would've ordered every Dunmer in his city to be executed... since they're essentially “against” the Stormcloaks for not siding with them during the civil war.
I don't just hate the Companions because I was forced to accept the beast blood, I hate it because the saga was pl***, and was piss poor. I blame Bethesda for not proving a better storyline. I felt as if I was Role-playing with Team Jacob on the twilight series. I blame Bethesda for my dislike of the companions. I showed no emotions when Kodlak died, and it's not my fault. Bethesada pl***ted on him as a character by not giving him a decent storyline.