Skyrim: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
 
 
 
Radiant Quests
 
 
 

Quest-Related Events
Before the Storm
thumb|right|Ralof meets with Gerdur
If you have escaped Helgen with Ralof, he will direct you towards Gerdur. You can either run ahead to talk to Gerdur before Ralof can reach her, or you can go along with him.

If you go to Gerdur first, you can tell her that Ralof said she could help you out. She'll be suspicious at first: "Ralof? How do you know him?" You can answer that he's a friend and he promised she could help, and she'll say, ''"If you really are Ralof's friend, I'll be glad to help you. But you didn't answer my question - how do you know him?"'' Alternatively, you can skip this altogether and tell her that you and Ralof escaped from Helgen together. She'll reply, ''"You did? We heard that Ulfric was captured... ... no, sorry, but in times like these I can't just take the word of a stranger who wanders into town claiming to be my brother's friend." You can reply by saying, "A dragon attacked Helgen and destroyed it. Ralof and I escaped together.", though Gerdur will be incredulous at first, but ends up taking your word and allowing you to progress the quest.

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.

Conversations
Unbound
 

Before the Storm
Upon initiating a conversation with Ralof, he will proclaim one of the following:

: "Talos guide you." 
: "Damn faithless Imperials." 
: "I hope to see you in Windhelm. Good Luck."''

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

Bugs