Defense of Whiterun

Orange Skies and Blood-Red War

Legate Quentin Cipius tells you to get down to Whiterun’s main gate and repel those filthy Stormcloak attackers! Your rendezvous is with Legate Rikke, whom you should seek out immediately. You find her watching over the main gate to the city, giving a stirring speech to the assembled troops on the path below. She tells you this is an important day for the Empire and for all of Skyrim. You now have one important task: the defense of Whiterun!

Defensive Stratagems: Defend and Destroy!

You are now engaged in an all-out siege of Whiterun. This battle is lengthy and confusing, and you can easily become a casualty rather than a champion of this war. However, the following tactics should help minimize your risks as you become embroiled in this skirmish.

Know Your Enemy: In the midst of battle, it sometimes becomes confusing who you should be fighting. There are three distinctive forces fighting for control of Whiterun. You are sided with the Imperials, who are clad in armor with red tunics and carry mainly swords. Also present are Whiterun Guards, who are allies, wear orange tunics, and carry the sign of the horse on their shields. The enemy are clad in dark blue and are more prone to use axes.

The Defensive Area: This battle takes place between the outer gate (atop which Legate Rikke was standing), the middle drawbridge (which cannot be raised), and the inner gate (the last line of defense). Focus your attacks on and around the cobblestone path running from the outer gate and around to the drawbridge. There is no need to retreat farther into the fortifications than this.

Falling Back: Even with the most proficient defense of the outer gate, expect the fierce enemies to break through the wooden barricades and start pouring into the cobblestone area. Hold your ground here. Fleeing around the bend to the drawbridge means you can’t see the enemies coming and thwart them, leaving your brethren to do all the proper fighting. You’re Dragonborn, not Skeeverborn, right?

Call to Action: Your first task is to stop the enemy from breaking through the barricade at the outer gate. Achieve this by employing one or more of the following melee or ranged techniques:

• Melee: Stand at the barricade, leaping over it to engage the enemy and leaping back again.
• Melee: Standing in cover to the left (east) between the outer wall and rocks and ambushing foes who reach the barricade.
• Melee: Standing atop the wall and dropping down to engage the enemy who roam the area just in front of the barricade.
• Ranged: Firing down from the left (east) corner atop the outer wall, by the gap.
• Ranged: Firing down from the gap in the middle of the outer wall.
• Ranged: Firing down from the right (west) wooden guard tower.
• Ranged: Firing from ground level, behind the barricades.
• Ranged: Firing from cover at the edge of Pelagia Farm to the south, which offers a good view of the main path.

Last Line of Defense: When and if the enemy breaks through, you must fall back to the cobblestone path with the stream running across it, prior to the winding corner and drawbridge. The enemy now appears at the outer gate, both on and under it. Try the following attacks:

• Melee: Strike the foes as they pass through the outer gate, standing to either side of the gate, on ground level.
• Melee: Stand at the bridge over the stream; the foes are funneled into this area as they race up the path.
• Ranged: From the outer gate, above the foes as they run below, on any part of the gate or west wooden guard tower.
• Ranged: Retreat to and fire from the northwestern guard tower; this offers excellent views of the path.
• Ranged: From the rocky path above and north of the cobblestones, allowing you to hit foes across the entire defensive area.
• Ranged: From the wooden and stone walkway above the stream.
• Ranged: From the upper parapets directly above the wooden and stone walkway, near the drawbridge.

Continue the battle until the main threat of Stormcloaks has abated. There may be a few remaining enemies, and you can dispatch them if you wish, but this isn’t necessary.

Quest Conclusion

The Jarl is speaking to the surviving forces from the parapets of the successfully defended Whiterun. You must revel in your victory today! But as you celebrate, know that Ulfric will continue to strike out against any true Nord, sowing discord and chaos wherever he can. As for your role in this? General Tullius requires your presence for further battles. The Jarl will reward you for your exceptional and continued heroism in defense of Whiterun.

Postquest Activities

Civil War Quests: Reunification of Skyrim begins.