Skyrim:Ralof

Ralof (RefID: 0002BF9E)
Home Town	Riverwood
Location	Helgen
Race	Nord	Gender	Male
Level	PC×1 (range=5-50)	Class	Barbarian
RefID	0002BF9E	BaseID	0002BF9D
Other Information
Health	125+(PC-1)×11.7
Magicka	50
Stamina	50+(PC-1)×3.3
Primary Skills	Light Armor, Two-handed, Archery, Block
Morality	No Crime	Aggression	Aggressive
Essential	Yes
Voice Type	MaleNord
Faction(s)	CWDialogueSoldierFaction; CWSonsFactionNPC; Faction for not using casual idles; MQ101StormcloakDialogueFaction; Sons of Skyrim; Stormcloaks

Ralof

Ralof is a Nord barbarian, a member of the Stormcloaks, and an early companion. Captured alongside you, he escapes Imperial custody when Alduin attacks Helgen. If you follow him into Helgen Keep for shelter from the attack, he frees you from your bindings so you can assist him against the Imperial soldiers.

After escaping from Helgen, he takes you to Riverwood, where his sister Gerdur lives. He will also invite you to join the Stormcloak Rebellion. Once you complete the quest Unbound, you and Ralof will split up. However, if you decide to join the Stormcloaks, he will fight alongside you and your fellow Stormcloaks in the Battle for Whiterun.

You will meet him again when you are tasked with rescuing prisoners from Fort Neugrad, where you learn that Ralof has been promoted and is commanding the troops that will be aiding you in this quest. You will also see Ralof during the quest Compelling Tribute, when you and his soldiers attack an Imperial cart filled with silver and weapons. In battle, Ralof uses his iron war axe and longbow with iron arrows during Unbound, and later on an iron warhammer.

Ralof has a sister, Gerdur. She is a Nord lumberjack in Riverwood, and runs the mill with her husband, Hod. Gerdur and Hod have a son, Frodnar. Gerdur's family founded Riverwood, and has lived there for many generations. Gerdur, like Ralof, is a staunch Stormcloak supporter.

After the war is over, Ralof can be found living in Riverwood at the Sleeping Giant Inn.

Related Quests

• Unbound: Escape Imperial custody and a dragon attack.
• The Jagged Crown: Find this crown for Ulfric Stormcloak.

Radiant Quests

• Battle for Whiterun: Take Whiterun in the name of the Stormcloaks.
• Rescue from Fort Neugrad: Rescue Stormcloak soldiers from the Imperials and capture the fort.
• Compelling Tribute: Blackmail a Talos worshipper into helping the Stormcloaks.

Quest-Related Events

Unbound

"You're finally awake."

Ralof: "Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there."
Lokir: "Damn you Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you, I could've stolen that horse and be halfway to Hammerfell. You there. You and me - we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants."
Ralof: "We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief."
Imperial Soldier: "Shut up back there!"
Lokir: "And what's wrong with him, huh?"
Ralof: "Watch your tongue. You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King."
Lokir: "Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion. But if they've captured you... Oh gods, where are they taking us?"
Ralof: "I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits."
Lokir: "No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening."
Ralof: "Hey, what village are you from, horse thief?"
Lokir: "Why do you care?"
Ralof: "A Nord's last thoughts should be of home."
Lokir: "Rorikstead. I'm... I'm from Rorikstead."

"...looks like the Thalmor are with him."

When the carriage pulls up into Helgen:
Imperial Soldier: "General Tullius, sir. The headsman is waiting."
Tullius: "Good. Let's get this over with!"
Lokir: "Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh. Divines, please help me."
Ralof: "Look at him. General Tullius the Military Governor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they had something to do with this."

As the carriage stops in the center of Helgen:

Lokir: "Why are we stopping?"

Ralof: "Why do you think? End of the line. Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us."

Lokir: "No! Wait! We're not rebels!"

Ralof: "Face your death with some courage, thief."

Lokir: "You've got to tell them! We weren't with you! This is a mistake!"

Imperial Captain: "Step towards the block when we call your name. One at a time."

Ralof: "Empire loves their damn lists."

Hadvar: "Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm."

Ralof: "It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric!"

Hadvar: "Ralof of Riverwood. Lokir of Rorikstead."

After Alduin's first roar:

Hadvar: "What was that?"

Tullius: "It's nothing. Carry on."

Imperial Captain: "Yes, General Tullius. Give them their last rites."

Priestess of Arkay: "As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the Eight Divines upon you, for you are the salt and earth of Nirn, our beloved..."

Stormcloak Soldier: "For the love of Talos, shut up and let's get this over with."

Priestess of Arkay: "As you wish."

Stormcloak Soldier: "Come on, I haven't got all morning. My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials. Can you say the same?"

Stormcloak: "You Imperial bastards!"

Vilod: "Justice!"

Ingrid: "Death to the Stormcloaks!"

Ralof: "As fearless in death as he was in life."

When Alduin appears:

Ralof: "Hey, kinsman. Get up! Come on, the gods won't give us another chance!"

You will find Ulfric within the nearby tower along with Ralof and several injured Stormcloaks:

Ralof: "Jarl Ulfric! What is that thing? Could the legends be true?"

Ulfric: "Legends don't burn down villages. We need to move now!"

Ralof: "Up through the tower, let's go!"

Stormcloak: "They're hurt, but they'll live. Another second out there with the dragon, and they'd both be dead..."

Ralof: "Let's go! With me, up the tower!"

Stormcloak: "We just need to move some of these rocks to clear the way!"

After Alduin bashes through the wall:

Alduin: "Yol... Toor... Shul!"

Ralof: "See the inn on the other side? Jump through the roof and keep going! Go! We'll follow when we can!"

After Alduin lands on the wall:

Alduin: "Yol... Toor... Shul"

Hadvar: "Quickly, follow me!"

Tullius: "Hadvar! Into the keep, soldier, we're leaving!"

Hadvar: "It's you and me, prisoner. Stay close! Ralof! You damned traitor. Out of my way!"

Ralof: "We're escaping, Hadvar. You're not stopping us this time."

Hadvar: "Fine. I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde."

Ralof: "You! Come on, into the keep!"

If you choose to go with Ralof, you will discover the body of a dead Stormcloak, Gunjar, in a circular room immediately after entering the keep:

"We'll meet again in Sovngarde, brother. Looks like we're the only ones who made it. That thing was a dragon. No doubt. Just like the children stories and the legends. The harbingers of the End Times. We should keep moving. Come here. Let me see if I can get those bindings off. There you go. You might as well take Gunjar's gear. He won't be needing it anymore."

Before the Storm

Ralof meets with Gerdur

If you have escaped Helgen with Ralof, he will direct you towards Gerdur.

If you attempt to speak to him he will say:

"Talos guide you."

"Damn faithless Imperials."

"I hope to see you in Windhelm. Good Luck."

You can either run ahead to talk to Gerdur before Ralof can reach her, or you can go along with him. Either way, Ralof eventually reunites with his sister:

Ralof: "Gerdur!"
Gerdur: "Brother! Mara's mercy, it's good to see you!" OR "Brother! Mara's mercy, you're safe! Your friend told me about Helgen..."
Gerdur: "But is it safe for you to be here? We heard that Ulfric had been captured..." OR "But is it safe for you to be here? Won't the Imperials be looking for you?"
Gerdur: "Are you hurt? What's happened?"
Ralof: "Gerdur... Gerdur, I'm fine. At least now I am."
Gerdur: "And who's this? One of your comrades?"
Ralof: "Not a comrade yet, but a friend. I owe him/her my life, in fact. Is there somewhere we can talk? There's no telling when the news from Helgen will reach the Imperials..."
Gerdur: "You're right. Follow me."

Gerdur will lead you and Ralof to a spot near the mill where no one is around, while she will call call her husband: "Hod! Come here a minute. I need your help with something."

Hod: "What is it, woman? Sven drunk on the job again?"
Gerdur: "Hod. Just come here."
Hod: "Ralof! What are you doing here? Ah... I'll be right down."

Frodnar will run up to Ralof, excited to see his uncle:

Frodnar: "Uncle Ralof! Can I see your axe? How many Imperials have you killed? Do you really know Ulfric Stormcloak?"
Gerdur: "Hush, Frodnar. This is no time for your games. Go and watch the south road. Come find us if you see any Imperial soldiers coming."
Frodnar: "Aw, mama, I want to stay and talk with Uncle Ralof!"
Ralof: "Look at you, almost a grown man! Won't be long before you'll be joining the fight yourself."
Frodnar: "That's right! Don't worry, Uncle Ralof, I won't let those soldiers sneak up on you."

Frodnar will run off to watch for Imperial soldiers, while Hod will arrive and Ralof will sit on a tree stump:

Hod: "Now, Ralof, what's going on? You two look pretty well done in."
Ralof: "I can't remember when I last slept... Where to start? Well, the news you heard about Ulfric was true. The Imperials ambushed us outside Darkwater Crossing. Like they knew exactly where we'd be. That was... two days ago, now. We stopped in Helgen this morning, and I thought it was all over. Had us lined up to the headsman's block and ready to start chopping."
Gerdur: "The cowards!"
Ralof: "They wouldn't dare give Ulfric a fair trial. Treason, for fighting for your own people! All of Skyrim would have seen the truth then. But then... out of nowhere... a dragon attacked..."
Gerdur: "You don't mean, a real, live..." OR "When your friend told me, I didn't believe it at first either."
Ralof: "I can hardly believe it myself, and I was there. As strange as it sounds, we'd be dead if not for that dragon. In the confusion, we managed to slip away. Are we really the first to make it to Riverwood?"
Gerdur: "Nobody else has come up the south road today, as far as I know."
Ralof: "Good. Maybe we can lay up for a while. I hate to put your family in danger, Gerdur, but..."
Gerdur: "Nonsense. You and your friend are welcome to stay here as long as you need to. Let me worry about the Imperials. Any friend of Ralof's is a friend of mine."
Ralof: "Thanks, sister. I knew we could count on you."
Gerdur: "I ought to get back to work before I'm missed, but... did anyone else escape? Did Ulfric..."
Ralof: "Don't worry. I'm sure he made it out. It'll take more than a dragon to stop Ulfric Stormcloak."
Hod: "I'll let them into the house and, you know, show them where everything is..."
Gerdur: "Hmph. Help them drink up our mead, you mean. Good luck, brother. I'll see you later."
Ralof: "Don't worry about me. I know how to lay low."

After she and Ralof bid each other farewell, she will return to work at the mill.

The Jagged Crown

"Ha! I knew you'd join up. Great news. We'll take back Skyrim together, eh? I'm glad I'll have you beside me in there. This place chills my blood, and I don't care who knows it"

What are you talking about?

"These old ruins; my father always told me to stay away from them. Good advice, I'd say. Never mind all that; we've got a job to do, and nothing's going to stand in our way!."

Rescue from Fort Neugrad

"Well, well. Look who it is! How have you been?"

I've been better. And you?

"These are dark days. But at least we know we're doing our part to make things better, eh? I guess I'm doing all right. I need this to go well."

I'm all right, I guess. How are you?

"Good to hear. I need this to go well."

So what's the plan?

"

Either of the first two options leads to:

"This is my first real command since they promoted me after Whiterun. You know, some nights when I close my eyes, I see the battle stretched out before me, like I'm still there... Do the men you've killed haunt you? Mine do..."

Only a beast kills without feeling.

"I suppose you're right. They say it gets easier. I'm not sure if that's a good thing. But never mind all that. We've got a job to do."

If you hadn't killed them, they would have killed you.

"That's what I keep telling myself. But never mind all that. We've got a job to do. Don't we?"

What's the plan?

"We found a cave under the lake. With luck, it'll lead into the prison. I need you to sneak in there, and free our men, killing anyone inside as you go. Once you've rescued the prisoners, head out to the courtyard. We'll stand guard out here and rush in as soon as we hear fighting. Should be fun."

Notes

• He is the first NPC in the game to speak.
• Before you escape Helgen, Ralof will not retaliate if you attack him.

Bugs

• If you follow Hadvar out of Helgen, but you join the Stormcloaks, Ralof will not be there.

This Skyrim-related article is a stub. You can help by expanding it.