On Lyris joining EP.

nemvar · July 2020

I may have missed it but why exactly is Lyris part of the ebonheart pact, even going so far as to referring to Jorunns as her king.
Isn't she a loyal member of the imperial legion? Why did she enlist in the ranks of what should usurpers and separatists to her? From all we know there were other options, for example the fighters guild or even Svagrimm available to her if all she wanted to do is help Skyrim.

So why would she ever join a faction that actively engages in the three banners war?

Well... maybe it's the same reason Sai Sahan recruited some random smugglers instead of taking the nearest mage guild to his school of elite warriors...

idk · July 2020

Lyris is a Nord. She was part of the original five companions because she was a trusted adviser to Varen Aquilarios, but she is still a Nord.

VaranisArano · July 2020

She used to be the Emperor's bodyguard. He's now either dead or gone, so she's presumably free to decide what to do with herself. She's a Nord, so perhaps she decided to embrace that part of her service, rather than the legions who weren't always very accepting of her.

Plus, depending on your decision at the end of the MQ, she

may have gone to Sovngarde, if you sacrificed her.

embracing her Nord heritage makes a certain amount of sense after that.

MarshRangerHaz · July 2020

Jorunn's not just the king of the Pact, he rules over a significant portion of Skyrim. He's the king of lots of people who might not care about the 3 banners war - which apparently includes Lyris.

Indeed, many members of the Pact might not care about the war, but instead join the organisation for the things it represents (freedom, solidarity etc.) or the areas it controls (Skyrim, Morrowind, northern Black Marsh). There are even some mentions in later DLCs (post MSQ timeline) which suggests that the war is easing up, or at least not being as much of a big deal.

As for the Legion, lots of previously loyal troops have deserted after the current iteration of the legion came into being i.e a puppet state/army controlled ultimately by necromancers and daedra. The ultra-loyalist core of the legion now is Legion Zero, so it's not hard to see why other troops might see those guys and think "no thanks".

Nomadic_Atmoran · July 2020

Honestly its kind of telling that someone like Lyris isn't in Cyrodiil but rather sent on special missions for High King Jorunn.

Aigym_Hlervu · July 2020

nemvar wrote: »

I may have missed it but why exactly is Lyris part of the ebonheart pact, even going so far as to referring to Jorunns as her king.

You haven't missed it alone, OP - so many of us missed it too because that dialogue line appears when you meet Lyris for the first time during a quest. Thanks to the devs who created that small detail and to the UESP guys for they have documented it, otherwise too many of us would have never known it: "Name's Lyris Titanborn. Axe-wielding, jaw-breaking friend to the former emperor, Varen Aquilarios. Also a friend of High King Jorunn. I sailed here as a personal favor to the Skald-King. Remind me to avoid personal favors in the future.".

They are friends, this is the reason she works for him and thus for the Pact. It's just the very same way we join House Dres after we make friends with it's Grandmaster Omin Dres and are named the Hands of Dres.

ArchMikem · July 2020

I don't believe she's a card carrying member of the Pact, however she is a Nord and she's loyal, or at least honor bound to serving King Jorunn, who happens to be the Pact High King. Lyris is connected to the Pact by association. I don't remember her literally saying she fights for the Pact.

The_Drop_Bear · July 2020

She was loyal to Varen not the empire as a whole

VaranisArano · July 2020

Found this source which seems to clear up some of her history and motivations: https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/57943