Joining the Ranks: Finding the Imperial Legion in Skyrim
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So, you’re ready to pledge your allegiance to the Imperial Legion in Skyrim, eh? Excellent choice! Whether you’re drawn to their sense of order, their rich history, or simply prefer the color scheme, becoming a legionnaire is a significant decision in your Skyrim adventure. To find the Imperial Legion, you must travel to Solitude, the capital city located in the northwestern region of Skyrim. Your destination within Solitude is Castle Dour, the Legion’s primary outpost and headquarters. You’ll easily identify it by the Imperial soldiers standing guard. Enter the castle and seek out General Tullius to begin your journey into the heart of the Empire’s forces in Skyrim.
Enlisting: A Step-by-Step Guide
Finding the Legion is only the first step. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the enlistment process:
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Journey to Solitude: This city is in the northwest of Skyrim. If you’re starting fresh, consider taking a carriage from Whiterun or another major city. Be wary of bandits and wildlife along the road.
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Locate Castle Dour: Once in Solitude, follow the main path that ascends towards the castle. Imperial soldiers guard the entrance – you can’t miss it. It’s a large stone structure to your left as you ascend.
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Speak with General Tullius: Upon entering Castle Dour, General Tullius usually can be found in the main hall, often poring over maps or issuing orders. Approach him and express your interest in joining the Legion.
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Meet Legate Rikke: Tullius will direct you to his second-in-command, Legate Rikke. She’s the one who will truly test your mettle and decide if you’re worthy.
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Complete the “Joining the Legion” Quest: Rikke’s initial task typically involves clearing out a nearby fort infested with bandits. In vanilla Skyrim, this is usually Fort Hraggstad.
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Return to Legate Rikke: After successfully eliminating the bandit threat, return to Castle Dour and report your success to Rikke.
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Take the Oath: If Rikke is satisfied with your performance, she will administer the Imperial Legion oath. Congratulations, you’re now officially a recruit! Prepare for a long and arduous campaign to restore order to Skyrim.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About the Imperial Legion
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate your path within the Imperial Legion:
H3 1. Can I join the Imperial Legion and the Dark Brotherhood?
Yes, you can! The game does not have any “conflicting story quests” so you can play both sides until you get bored of either one or both.
H3 2. What happens if I don’t join either the Imperials or the Stormcloaks?
Skyrim encourages players to make their own way however they wish to. It’s possible to beat the game without ever choosing between the Skyrim Stormcloaks or Imperials. It’s possible to skip this questline, which is technically a side quest, in your pursuit of Alduin.
H3 3. Does joining the Imperials affect anything besides the Civil War outcome?
The only thing that changes is the outcome of the civil war between the Empire and the Stormcloaks. Ulfric is ultimately killed by either you (the Dragonborn), or by General Tullius/Legate Rikke – the choice is yours.
H3 4. What are the benefits of joining the Imperial Legion?
You gain access to unique armor and weapons, and rise through the ranks. You also contribute to the Imperial control of Skyrim, shaping the political landscape of the game. Plus, you can access Tullius’s armor if you side with the Stormcloaks.
H3 5. Who are the “bad guys” in the Imperial vs. Stormcloak conflict?
This is a matter of perspective. The Stormcloaks want Skyrim to be free and worship as they want. The Imperials argue that since the High King was murdered, this is proof Skyrim should remain under their rule. There’s no blatant “good or bad” choice.
H3 6. Should I join the Legion or the Stormcloaks?
Depends on what you believe in. Legion is more for order, but they can be seen as weak for bowing to the elves, while Stormcloaks are more for strength, but they are extremely racist to elves and non-nords. While that dosen’t go as far as genocide, it is a bit extreme.
H3 7. What are the Imperials’ goals in Skyrim?
The Empire is one side in Skyrim’s Civil War questline, who aim to quell the Stormcloak rebellion and maintain Skyrim as Imperial territory.
H3 8. Is it possible to become Jarl by joining the Imperial Legion?
No, it is impossible to become Jarl in Skyrim, unless you have a mod where you become Jarl of some town like Helgen which, to my knowledge, doesn’t exist yet. Besides, becoming Jarl would become boring since Jarls arent allowed to go beyond their city’s walls unless heavily guarded.
H3 9. Which side offers a better experience, Imperials or Stormcloaks?
The ranking system in the Imperial Legion is all about hard work and the title progression feels appropriate compared to the relatively unorthodox Stormcloaks. Moreover, the armor and weapons of the Imperial Legion are of higher quality and look arguably better than the Stormcloaks’ cheap-looking gambesons.
H3 10. What initial quest is given to join the Imperials?
To join the Imperials, go to Solitude (in the NW) and speak to General Tullius, who will direct you to Legate Rike, his second-in-command. She will give you the task of clearing a fort of its pesky Bandit infestation in quest called Joining the Legion.
H3 11. Does joining the Legion lock me out of any other questlines?
While joining the Legion will obviously put you at odds with the Stormcloaks, it doesn’t necessarily lock you out of most other questlines. You can still pursue the main quest, the Dragonborn DLC, and the quests for other guilds (mages, thieves, assassins) without significant conflict.
H3 12. What happens if I change my mind after joining the Legion?
Unfortunately, once you’ve taken the oath, you’re committed to the Imperial cause. There’s no official way to switch sides mid-conflict in the vanilla game without using console commands (if playing on PC).
H3 13. Is there an “ideal” race to play as when joining the Imperial Legion?
There’s no single “best” race, but some races have lore connections that might enhance your roleplaying experience. Imperials receive a bonus to Speech, which helps during conversations and trading; or you may even roleplay as a Nord who believes that Skyrim is better off as part of the Empire. Ultimately, the best race is the one you enjoy playing the most.
H3 14. What are the ranks in the Imperial Legion?
The ranks are Recruit, Legionnaire, Corporal, Sergeant, Captain, Centurion, and Legate.
H3 15. Does your choice of faction impact the ending of the main questline?
No, your choice in the Civil War questline does not affect the ending of the main questline. The threat of Alduin is separate from the internal conflicts within Skyrim. The Games Learning Society researches the educational aspects of gaming, but the outcomes of the Civil War have no impact on slaying Alduin. See more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Joining the Imperial Legion is a major decision that affects the game. As a seasoned player, I recommend carefully considering all the factors before taking the oath! Good luck, recruit!