Skyrim:Bujold the Unworthy

thumb|right|Bujold working with Rieklings at night
Bujold the Unworthy is the Nord leader of the band of proud warriors operating out of Thirsk Mead Hall. Because of Bujold's questionable leadership, and the eternal thirst of the Nords, the warriors spent all their time downing mead and telling drunken tales, instead of fighting. As a result, the comfortable residents of the hall never saw the Riekling attack coming and the group now lives in exile in the remote camp Bujold's Retreat, east of the hall. Bujold will ask for your help to retake Thirsk, although it is your choice if they  deserve it. 

She wields a Nordic war axe and wears leather armor with matching boots, bracers, and helmet. 

She is married to the ill-tempered Kuvar, who has a hard time dealing with the shame of being overwhelmed by Rieklings. When you enter the camp for the first time, you will witness Kuvar trying his best to convince his wife that it is time to get the warriors back on track and retake Thirsk, but Bujold has her doubts: 

Bujold: ''"It won't be that easy to get rid of the Rieklings, Kuvar." 
Kuvar: "I never said it would be. But either way, we have to try. Whether we succeed or not, it'll stir up some of the old blood in this crowd." 
Bujold: "I'm not going to lead them to their deaths if they aren't ready." 
Kuvar: "Then train them. What are we doing here? We should either get used to staying here, or be preparing to retake the hall. You're having us do neither, and I can't stomach it." 
Bujold: "Your stomach isn't my problem. We'll act when I say we do and not before." 
Kuvar: "Well, you'd better say something. And soon."'

After the hefty debate with her husband, Bujold returns to her regular routine in exile, although her nightly activities will differ depending on how far you are in the main Dragonborn questline. During the day she will just wander around the camp, at times eating, relaxing, sleeping, or working at the tanning rack, interrupted only by a lengthy three-hour brunch at 10:15am. If you have yet to cleanse the Beast Stone, Bujold will, like many other residents in Solstheim, be under the spell of Miraak. She will leave the camp at exactly 11:05pm and travel all the way to the stone and start working, so hypnotized that she doesn't even realize she is working alongside the gang of Rieklings that threw her out of the hall. She keeps going until she returns to the camp at 6am. When you use the Bend Will shout on the Beast Stone, a confused Bujold will wake up and utter: "What... what was that?" With the stone cleansed, Bujold will finally get some sleep at night and will crawl into her tent at 11:05pm and wake up at 6am. She will also thank you: ''"Thanks for taking that thing down. We're supposed to be warriors, not crafters." and "Good to finally be getting some sleep at night. Things are bad enough without everyone around here looking death-eyed, too." Sleep or not, Bujold still has problems with the unhappy warriors, including her sister Hilund and mead specialist Elmus: 
thumb|right|Bujold with her sister, Skyrim:Hilund|Hilund
thumb|right|Bujold talks to Skyrim:Elmus|Elmus
Bujold: "What now?" 
Hilund: "I just wanted to make sure you were all right." 
Bujold: "Your worry helps nobody." 
Hilund: "It's not your fault. There were too many of them. Nobody could have known..." 
Bujold: "Don't you see, though? None of that matters. I'm going to go down as "the Unworthy" because of that rabble." 
Hilund: "You don't have to live like this now, though." 
Bujold: "Unless you're ready to go fight those things, just leave me."

Bujold: "How are you holding up?" 
Elmus: "It's rough out here. But I'm getting by." 
Bujold: "Not everyone was built for this kind of life. There's no shame in that." 
Elmus: "I can handle it. Just wish there was more mead, is all."

A few of the warriors of Thirsk will tell you what the exile meant for Bujold. Her sister, Hilund, will tell you: "You don't know the half of it. Bujold's just embarrassed, I think. Doesn't help that her husband is one of the loudest complainers. She's always been quick to shame." When asked if she has known Bujold a long time, she will say: "All my life. She's my big sister. Don't worry, most people can't tell we're related. But... she's always trying to be the one in charge, and feeling terrible when something goes wrong." Additionally, her greetings will show how much she cares: "We just keep waiting for Bujold to say the word...", "If you're here about the Rieklings just... tread quietly around my sister." and "Bujold feels so guilty about what happened. Try not to provoke her."'' However, Bujold's husband Kuvar will encourage you otherwise: ''"If you're a talker, go talk to my wife."

When approached, she will admit that it is indeed shameful for the legendary warriors: "Come to mock our shame, like the others?" and will proceed to describe her current home: "Yes, this camp is small, but it's all we have left." She will also say: "Unless you can help, leave us in peace." Lastly, she may greet you with: "I don't really have time for this." When you ask what is going on, she will explain the situation: "What's going on here is that we've been kicked out of our home. The mead hall, up there on the hill. We were... some Rieklings have taken it over." She will also reluctantly comment on how the small Rieklings managed to overpower the warriors: "With tenacity and numbers. Didn't help that we'd grown a little too comfortable up there. Too much mead. Too many stories. Too few battles." You can also ask how long she has been in the camp and get the short response: "Longer than I would have liked." When asked if the group has been exiled, she will explain: "I wouldn't call it that. We've just got a bit of an infestation, is all. Down here to catch our breath, and then we'll be back in the hall once I get the rest of these up to move."'' She will then describe the 'infestation': ''"Rieklings. You must have passed by the hall on your way down here? Well, it's been overrun. We're just out here temporarily, to regroup." When you ask if she needs an extra warrior to reclaim Thirsk, she will be surprised: "Are you... offering to help? Some new blood should be enough to rouse these layabouts to actually fight again." You can reject her plea twice. The first time, she will be overly disappointed, saying: "Well, I hope you'll come back around. Looks like you might be just the thing we need to wake these idiots." The second time she will start to get angry: "You need to either help us or stop coming around here."'' 

At this point you will have to decide whether to help Bujold and the other Nords, or help the Rieklings up in Thirsk Mead Hall. Accepting Bujold's plea for help will start Retaking Thirsk, while helping the Rieklings starts the quest The Chief of Thirsk Hall. Meanwhile, Bujold will be busy arguing back and forth with her husband: 
thumb|right|''"Look around you, Kuvar. If any of us were strong, we wouldn't be on this beach."
Bujold: "I'm sorry if I was hard on you before." 
Kuvar: "You don't have to apologize to me. Just pull yourself out of this and let's find a home. Either here or up there, it doesn't matter to me." 
Bujold: "We'll figure something out. And I'll get better, I promise." 
Kuvar: "No, you won't. But I'll love you anyway."

Kuvar: "I wish you'd stop acting like I've grown weak." 
Bujold: "Look around you, Kuvar. If any of us were strong, we wouldn't be on this beach." 
Kuvar: "That's not fair. We can still take it back." 
Bujold: "Once the rest of you are done licking your wounds, of course."

Bujold: "I don't want to get comfortable here. We need to be back up there." 
Kuvar: "I wish you could just relax a little... This is a decent spot. We're right on the water. This could grow into something respectable." 
Bujold: "Thirsk was respectable. And we let this happen. No, we'll get respect the way it should come."

If you have rejected her earlier, approaching her again will make her say: "Well, look who's back. You ready to finally help us take out those Rieklings?" When you finally agree to help her, she will say: "Well let's move then!" and head to the very center of the camp and gather the members of Thirsk for a short speech: "Hey, you lazy milk-drinkers, get over here! I know you're all starting to settle in here, and keep up the fat lives you got used to up in the hall. But look here. This outsider has more fire than any of you. All I had to do was mention our little infestation, and he/she volunteered in a second! I don't want to have my spirit outstripped by some wanderer. So let's get up there and kill us some Rieklings!" She will then draw her Nordic war axe and set off at a running pace towards the mead hall, followed by all the warriors, all of them determined to retake Thirsk.  
thumb|left|"So let's get up there and kill us some Rieklings!"
Outside the mead hall, the Nords will kill the six patrolling Rieklings, then head inside and dispose of the remaining thirteen, including the Riekling Chief. Once everything is quiet, with dead Rieklings piled up everywhere, a grateful Bujold will feel less unworthy and approach you:  "Ah! That was almost... exhilarating. How are you feeling?" If you tell her that the amount of enemies was overwhelming she will say: "Oh, come on now. I'm going to need you to perk up if you're going to come with me as my second." If you tell her it was an easy task she will respond: "Good to hear! In fact... that's just the spirit I'll need from my second. Do you want to come with me?"'' Both responses hint at a new task; once again, two options are available. If you ask her what a 'second' means, she will explain: ''"My second! If we're going to take up residence here again, I need to get the blessing of Hrothmund again." If you ask her where she is going she will say: "To Hrothmund's Barrow! I need to get his blessing again before we take up residence here." Both options will make her finish with: "I'll need a witness and, well, you see the kinds of horker-brains I deal with around here. What do you say?" Once again, two options; if you tell her to go on ahead, she will say: "All right, then. I'll be waiting there whenever your honor wakes you." If you accept to escort her, she will say: "Well let's not waste time talking about it, then!"'' Both options will lead to her leaving Thirsk Mead Hall and rushing towards Hrothmund's Barrow, eager to get her blessing from the initial founder of Thirsk, Hrothmund. During the trip, she will not be very talkative and will brush you off with: "Come on, now, no time for chatter.", ''"I'd really just rather get to the barrow, if that's all right with you.", "We can talk after I've gotten the blessing.", "Let's just keep moving." and "Come on, let's get up there."  

When she reaches the entrance to the barrow, she will seek you out and ask: "Are you ready to go inside?" You can then ask her a few questions on what is about to happen. First, she will provide an explanation on the place itself: "The burial place of Hrothmund, who founded Thirsk. He brought a group of true warriors away from the soft life of the Skaal, to know the wilderness, to feel the sting of cold and of steel. I know that... sounds a little silly. It's just the way it's written in the books, and that phrase has always stuck with me." She will then explain the ritual you are about to witness: "It's pretty simple. Hrothmund's axe is in there with him. Anyone who attempts to take hold of it has their spirit judged by Hrothmund himself." She will, however, state that you are not going to be fighting a ghost: "No, no, nothing like that. He doesn't need to battle us to know us. He's always watched over Thirsk, and sees us from beyond. And in my case, since he's already deemed me worthy, it will just be a matter of him remembering why he blessed me before. Really, all you need to do is watch." While she is overly confident that retaking Thirsk deems her worthy of yet another blessing, tell her you are ready: "Let's not waste any time, then." She will then follow into the barrow, eager to talk to Hrothmund and regain her honor. 

After traversing the small barrow, Bujold will run ahead with the words: "There it is!" When she gets near the axe, she will mumble: "So I just need to take hold of it..." This will make Hrothmund speak, although the conversation turns out to be a huge letdown for Bujold, who is indeed deemed unworthy: 
thumb|right|"Then... the leadership is not mine?"
Hrothmund: "You seek my blessing for the leadership of Thirsk Hall?" 
Bujold: "I do. It is I, Bujold. You blessed me in the past, and now I've rid the hall of Rieklings and returned it to its rightful owners." 
Hrothmund: "And well it is that this has happened. But I have always watched, and know that it was your softness that lead to your own exile." 
Bujold: "No! I..." 
Hrothmund: "You allowed your fellow warriors to grow weak while the dangers around you mounted." 
Bujold: "Then... the leadership is not mine?" 
Hrothmund: "No. Nor is there any among you fit to serve. For a band in the wilderness, it is better to have no leader than a poor one." 

Without getting the expected blessing from Hrothmund, a sad Bujold will approach you: "That was a little embarrassing." You will have two options; ask Bujold how she feels and she will respond: "Ashamed. But I guess that was the point." When asked what she will do now, she will not think twice before making a decision: "The only thing I can do. I need to return to Thirsk. No matter what Hrothmund says, we need a leader. And I'm still the best person for that."'' Obviously, she will go against Hrothmund's wishes and she will argue it is the right thing to do: ''"Look what's happened to us so far under his watchful eye. He gave his blessing to all the leaders who brought us to this point. Anyway, he's dead and we're alive. It's time to begin a new tradition for Thirsk. And I'm going to do that. All I need is for you to back me up. You don't even need to lie... just don't tell anyone else what you heard here."'' Regardless of your next choice, the quest will end, with no reward given. If you tell her that you can't let her lead Thirsk based on a lie she will draw her weapon and say: ''"I was afraid you might say that. Well, looks as though I'll have to prove my mettle against you now." She will then proceed to attack, with the inevitable result. If you tell her that you will keep her secret safe, she will start traveling back to Thirsk with the words: "Good. See that you do. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a hall to lead."'' 

Back in the now cleaned-up Thirsk Mead Hall, Bujold's husband Kuvar will always approach you when you enter, either concerned or relieved, depending on your choice back in the barrow.

If you killed Bujold, it is obvious that he will be quite concerned that she hasn't returned yet, asking: "How did things go out there? Where is Bujold?" If you choose to lie to him, he will relax a bit, saying: ''"Well, let's hope she makes it back soon. This lot doesn't have much patience with me." If you tell him the sad truth, that she was rejected by Hrothmund, he will say: "Are you being serious? How... how did she take it?" When you tell him that she attacked you and you defended yourself accordingly, he will become quite sad: "Ah. I see. I hope she... fought well. Was it... did Hrothmund recognize anyone else? Was it you? Is that why..." When you tell him that Hrothmund said the next leader is a long way off, he will accept, although he will refuse to speak to you again: "Well, then. I'll do my best to keep the hall together until that day comes. Now, look... I understand you were just defending yourself. And because you helped us retake the hall, I'll look past it this once. But I wouldn't show my face in here again, if I were you. Do we understand each other?"''

If you accepted Bujold's scheme back in the barrow, a third option will be available, namely to tell Kuvar the truth: ''"I don't think you know how dangerous it is to say what you've just said. This is a serious accusation. I'm sure Bujold can straighten it out for us.." He will then seek out Bujold and engage in conversation: 
thumb|right|"Get out of here. Run to the wilds."
Kuvar: "Bujold. Your second claims that Hrothmund did not yield a blessing to you. Is that true?" 
Bujold: "My second would do well to keep his/her mouth shut."	 
Kuvar: "So... you don't deny this?" 
Bujold: "Kuvar, listen to me. You said yourself that this place had lost sight of its past. We need a new tradition, to move us forward. Instead of listening to a ghost in a tomb, we should steer our own destinies." 
Kuvar: "Your words carry some wisdom. But if you truly believed in the spirit of Thirsk, you would have spoken them honestly. Instead you hid your shame." 	
Bujold: "Kuvar, I..." 
Kuvar: "Just... I can't even look at you right now. Get out of here. Run to the wilds." 
Bujold: "Kuvar, I'm your wife. You can't..." 
Kuvar: "And so I feel your shame all the more deeply. When it's time, we will seek you out. Until then, go and attempt to earn your honor in the old ways."

After the conversation, Bujold will leave Thirsk Mead Hall and disappear from the game. The other inhabitants will be understandably upset, most of all Hilund: "I can't believe Kuvar would do that. To his own wife! I'll head out looking for her eventually. We'll wander the wilderness together. Just have to get some things in order here, first." Halbarn Iron-Fur will also reflect on their former leader: "In the end, she was one of the better leaders we've had, but if she didn't deserve it anymore, I guess that's that. It's too dangerous out here. We can't waste time worrying about having a liar in our midst. Lying is the first step to cowardice, after all. I hope she finds what she needs out there." Lastly, Elmus will add: "Sad to see her go, of course. But Bujold wouldn't have gotten as far as she did if she wasn't strong. She'll... she'll be ok."
thumb|left|Bujold the Intrepid
If you accepted Bujold leading the hall without the blessing of Hrothmund, she will have taken on a new byname and will wander around the hall as Bujold the Intrepid. Bujold will return to a daily routine that very much reflects that from the camp. She sleeps between 11:05pm and 6am, eats a three-hour meal at 10:15am, and spends the remaining time wandering around the hall, at times eating, relaxing, working, or chatting with the other warriors, without ever revealing the truth to any of them, including her husband. 

As soon as you enter the premises, Kuvar will approach you and engage in conversation: "Bujold says you served well. Before we were married, I was her second on the first trip to the barrow. Hrothmund knows strength, in this world and the next." If you tell him it was an honor to stand beside her during the important ritual he will concur, saying: "Yes, I remember how I felt being there with her the first time, before we were wed. I hope to see you more around the hall, friend." Bujold will then be safe and will lead the hall as always, convinced that she did the right thing, greeting you with: "It's good to have trustworthy souls in this place.", "Thanks for having my back, friend." or a confused: "What's that?" When asked if she would consider going back to Hrothmund for a second attempt at his blessing, she will respond: "I don't think we need that old ghost anymore. Whoever leads us next can go plead with him if they want to, but I'd rather make a tradition of my own. Hrothmund was a great man, but he wasn't a god or a paragon. We're alive, he's not, and we'll look to ourselves for strength."'' She will also reveal that she thinks she's made the right decision: ''"I'll lead those who will follow. And most of these are the following sort. So yes, I think we'll be all right." 

Kuvar: "Are you feeling any stronger?" 
Bujold: "I'm feeling motivated. That's enough for now." 
Kuvar: "What exactly happened at the barrow?" 
Bujold: "That's between me and the spirits, Kuvar. You know that."

Hilund: "Are we off on the hunt again, soon?" 
Bujold: "Calm yourself, Hilund. There's plenty of time for that. Solstheim isn't going anywhere." 
Hilund: "But Kuvar's been saying..." 
Bujold: "Don't worry about Kuvar. Just be patient, and enjoy the between times, like this one."

Bujold: "Were you able to salvage any of the mead?" 
Elmus: "Most of the old brew is still good, but I had to get rid of some of the newer batches." 
Bujold: "What did they...do to it?" 
Elmus: "Just trust me, you don't want to drink it."

Bujold: "I don't want you harassing Hilund anymore." 
Kuvar: "I'm not harassing her. She just needs to decide what kind of person she wants to be." 
Bujold: "And I don't think she needs any help from you to do that." 
Kuvar: "Why so touchy on this?" 
Bujold: "Just... leave her be. She'll find her way."

Bujold: "I'm sorry about before. You're not wrong, it's just..." 
Kuvar: "Do you know how tired I get of watching the softer ones here grow softer?" 
Bujold: "I'm trying to apologize. Do you want to listen?" 
Kuvar: "I don't want your apologies. I want Thirsk to live up to its name." 
Bujold: "That's what I'm trying to do..." 
Kuvar: "Forget it. I'll make things better in my own way."''

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