Skyrim:Bujold the Unworthy

Bujold the Unworthy (RefID: xx01A512) (lore page)
Added by	Dragonborn
Location	Bujold's Retreat Thirsk Mead Hall
Race	Nord	Gender	Female
Level	PC×1 (range=10-60)	Class	Dremora Class
RefID	xx01A512	BaseID	xx01A511
Other Information
Health	149-699
Magicka	50
Stamina	86-286
Primary Skills	One-handed, Two-handed, Block, Heavy Armor
Morality	No Crime	Aggression	Aggressive
Essential	During Retaking Thirsk	Protected	Yes
Voice Type	FemaleNord
Faction(s)	DLC2PillarBuilderFaction; DLC2ThirskNordCrimeFaction; DLC2ThirskNordFaction; Immune to Bend Will shout

Bujold the Unworthy

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Related Quests

• Retaking Thirsk: Help Bujold the Unworthy retake Thirsk Mead Hall.
• Her Word Against Theirs^CC: Spread the word of the Goddess Almalexia.

Quest-Related Events

Retaking Thirsk

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."

When approached:

"Come to mock our shame, like the others?"

"Yes, this camp is small, but it's all we have left."

"Unless you can help, leave us in peace."

"I don't really have time for this."

How long have you been down here?

"Longer than I would have liked."

Have you been exiled?

"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."

An infestation of what?

"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."

What's going on here?

"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."

How were Rieklings able to overpower you?

"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."

What if you had one extra warrior?

"Are you... offering to help? Some new blood should be enough to rouse these layabouts to actually fight again."

That sounds like fun.

"Well let's move then!"

I don't think I can help you right now.

"Well, I hope you'll come back around. Looks like you might be just the thing we need to wake these idiots."

You can reject her plea twice. The second time she will start to get angry:

"You need to either help us or stop coming around here."

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?"

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.

"So let's get up there and kill us some Rieklings!"

She will then 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.

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?"

That was a little more than I expected.

"Oh, come on now. I'm going to need you to perk up if you're going to come with me as my second."

That was easy.

"Good to hear! In fact... that's just the spirit I'll need from my second. Do you want to come with me?"

Where are you going?

"To Hrothmund's Barrow! I need to get his blessing again before we take up residence here."

Your what?

"My second! If we're going to take up residence here again, I need to get the blessing of Hrothmund again."

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?"

I'd be honored.

"Well let's not waste time talking about it, then!"

Why don't you go on ahead.

"All right, then. I'll be waiting there whenever your honor wakes you."

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."

"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?"

What is this place?

"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."

What's going to happen in there?

"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."

We're going to fight his 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."

I'm 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:

"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."

How are you feeling about that?

"Ashamed. But I guess that was the point."

What are you going to do now?

"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."

You'll go against Hrothmund's wishes?

"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."

I'll keep this quiet.

"Good. See that you do. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a hall to lead."

I can't let you lead Thirsk.

"I was afraid you might say that. Well, looks as though I'll have to prove my mettle against you now."

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 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:

"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."

Dialogue

Bujold the Intrepid

Her greetings:

"Thanks for taking that thing down. We're supposed to be warriors, not crafters."

"Good to finally be getting some sleep at night. Things are bad enough without everyone around here looking death-eyed, too."

"It's good to have trustworthy souls in this place."

"Thanks for having my back, friend."

"What's that?"

When spoken to:

Will you ever go back to Hrothmund and try again?

"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."

Are you going to be able to lead this place, still?

"I'll lead those who will follow. And most of these are the following sort. So yes, I think we'll be all right."

When you use the Bend Will shout on the Beast Stone, a confused Bujold will wake up and utter:

"What... what was that?"

Conversations

Camp

Sleep or not, Bujold still has problems with the unhappy warriors, including her sister Hilund and mead specialist Elmus:

Bujold with her sister, Hilund

Bujold talks to 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."

Bujold will be busy arguing back and forth with her husband:

"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."

Thirsk

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."

Bugs

• On Switch, upon first encounter, Bujold may already be named "Bujold the Intrepid" instead of "Bujold the Unworthy", and the dialogue option to start her quest will not be available.