The Jarls of Skyrim

[StealthyAlchemist]

In this forum you can talk about anything relating to the Jarls of Skyrim.

1. Which Jarls (or their replacements) you like/dislike
2. What should change about these Jarls
3. Who you would rather see as Jarl/s
4. Roleplaying Ideas you have concerning Jarls
5. Just anything related to the Jarls of Skyrim

(Jarls included in Skyrim only. Anything to do with lore should be discussed in the Lore forum.)

[AbiwonKenabi]

I like Balguuf a lot, but there's just something about Maven Black-Briar...like she gets things done, ya know? She sees what's in her best interest and sees to it that it is done. She just has an attitude other Jarls do not possess. She's also more memorable.

EDIT:

I hate Maven as a character. Snobby and cocky, and apparently holding power over the player. Wish we got to assassinate her.

While I agree she is a no-good power hungry Jarl, part of me enjoys that character. It's what makes her more memorable than the other Jarls; I can barely remember any of the other Jarls, save the obvious ones (Balguuf, Elisif, Ulfric--although Ulfric is only memorable because of his involvement in the Civil War, not his personality, in my opinon.)

[legoless]

I hate Maven as a character. Snobby and cocky, and apparently holding power over the player. Wish we got to assassinate her.

[Br3admax]

Since most of the Jarls are absolutely useless, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to narrow down which one is the least useless. It's a toss up between Balgruuf and Ulfric.

[moonsugarkind]

I hate Maven as a character. Snobby and cocky, and apparently holding power over the player. Wish we got to assassinate her.

Amen to that.

My favorite Jarl is Idgrod Ravencrone, honestly. She seems kind of grandmotherly. Least favorite is the one from Falkreath wow. Annoying snotrag. :|

[Khali]

Out of the ones I am familiar with, I tend to side with the Empire during the Civil War, Balgruuf seems to do the best job for his people. Most of the others seem to only worry about themselves and their personal wealth/power. I did not spend much time in Dawnstar once the War was over but Brina Merilis seemed like she would do a good job as well so would be my second choice.

As much as I like Elisif the poor girl is just too inexperienced for the job. If it wasn't for Falk she would make one mistake after another. A few years under his watchful eye she might be ok.

Maven is corrupt, she falls into the greedy/power hungry list as far as I am concerned. She gets things done but her methods are pretty much theft, intimidation, and when those do not work kill whoever is in her way.

They all fail in my book because all the larger cities, except Solitude, walls are falling down and the streets are in pretty bad shape. Where the smaller towns are in decent shape where it comes to walls and housing. the roads in the Holds are terrible in places. You need good roads for trade.

[Redguard OfTheEmpire]

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater and Jarl Brunwulf Free-Winter, are both equally my favorite, but i voted for the former. On my main I roleplayed taking an active part in the Government and Guardianship of Whiterun during the main quest. After the MQ and Civil War i moved to Windhelm and served Brunwulf, to aid the people in their transition from Pro-Nord dictatorship back into a unified Skyrim.

In my opinion both Jarls are a great representation of "True Nords"

[Finn Wolfshorn]

I voted Idgrod, because apart from Balgruuf she's the only one who seems to have an inkling that there are larger issues to worry about than the Civil War, and that without having seen the Dragonborn at work like Balgruuf has (well, not himself, but per Irileth); her speech about dark days coming ties in well with the Dawnguard questline too, considering contemporary goings-on in her hold. Also because visionary crones are cool. Finally, she has a pretty and clever daughter whom I would have loved to recruit for my witch coven if her skills weren't all wrong for that.

I also like both Dengeir and Brunwulf: Dengeir because although he supports Ulfric for political/ideological reasons he's under no illusion regarding Ulfric's character, and Brunwulf because he's about the only decent Nord in all Windhelm [/slight exaggeration]. And OK, yeah, Balgruuf too, but he seems to be everybody's darling, so no vote for him because it would be boring.

[Just_Mad]

I didn't vote Balgruuf because I figured he'd be ahead as it was, I voted Idgrod as second favourite. That said, Balgruuf once said to my (at the time) naked character, 'Oh, I didn't know we were having a party!' Or something similar, and that is possibly the best reaction to an absence of clothes in Skyrim, ever.

On a character that joined the Stormcloaks, upon seizing Whiterun, after saving his city from a Dragon, where he looks at you accusingly in passing and just says, 'And you, a Stormcloak? I'd have thought better of you' - that one was a kick to the feelings.

Idgrod I like for literally the exact same reasons as Finn above, she knows what's going on, she has a daughter that should've been marriageable, and her son's a bit weird. Her warnings are also quite easily applicable to Dawnguard, though I think that is likely just a coincidence.

[StealthyAlchemist]

I like Kraldar as Jarl. He doesn't have an attitude like the rest of the Jarls. He is more lenient towards the College, unlike most Nords who vilify it for the loss of much of Winterhold. He at least gives them the benefit of the doubt. I can't stand Ulfric Stormcloak. I only side with Stormcloaks because of what they believe in, not because of Ulfric's personal desire to be High King. I also dislike Siddgeir mainly due to his attitude that he is better than everyone else because of his position and his flat out refusal to do his job leaving it everything up to his Steward. Maven Black-Briar is only Jarl through power and greed. Her association with the Empire, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood show she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. I won't say much more, but the other Jarl I like is Brunwulf Free-Winter because of he isn't like most Nords who dislikes any other race and he is more open to helping the other races.

[Kerr]

Balgruuf for High King.

[Hrolf Alfblod]

I had to give Vignar some love. I just can't help but to like that cranky old man. Sorry Balgruuf, you chose the wrong side.

[Avron the S'wit]

Balgruuf for High King.

True that!

Balgruuf the Greater is definitely my favorite jarl, but it's hard not to like him. He's at least remotely thoughtful, he doesn't rush into things with his head or his heart or his axe, and he's certainly one that you run into just enough times to really scope the personality of and maybe even come to like. There's something about him that just makes it kind of hard not to like him.

I don't politically like Ulfric, but I have to say that, as a character, he's got a lot going for him. Besides, if you are going to do the Civil War quests, he's much more open to the player's return than the Imperials are. I found it quite surprising that the Imperials pretty much brush you off if you come to Solitude to take up arms for the Empire, whereas Ulfric at least gives you a (slightly) warmer reception. Plus, you got to love that voice acting.

[Sublymonal]

I agree with Avron, though I should add that his popularity also is influenced by the fact that he's the first Jarl you see. And if you're like me and ignore any but the first house, probably the only one you see with any regularity.

[Achilleus]

Wow... it's been a long time since I've posted in this forum...

Ulfric all the way.

[GoatLiver]

Balgruuf the Greater is definitely my favorite jarl, but it's hard not to like him. He's at least remotely thoughtful, he doesn't rush into things with his head or his heart or his axe, and he's certainly one that you run into just enough times to really scope the personality of and maybe even come to like. There's something about him that just makes it kind of hard not to like him.

I just can't agree with you at all I thought he was a terrible Jarl, I only wished he was killable during the quest to take Whiterun. Probably the only imperial Jarl I have any respect for at all is the guy in Markarth.

[Finn Wolfshorn]

Probably the only imperial Jarl I have any respect for at all is the guy in Markarth.

You mean the one who isn't even aware that Thonar has bought all his guards and turned them into his private thugs?

[Avron the S'wit]

Balgruuf the Greater is definitely my favorite jarl, but it's hard not to like him. He's at least remotely thoughtful, he doesn't rush into things with his head or his heart or his axe, and he's certainly one that you run into just enough times to really scope the personality of and maybe even come to like. There's something about him that just makes it kind of hard not to like him.

I just can't agree with you at all I thought he was a terrible Jarl, I only wished he was killable during the quest to take Whiterun. Probably the only imperial Jarl I have any respect for at all is the guy in Markarth.

Oh, Jarl Igmund? He's super serious business, and I do like the edge on his words.

Balgruuf is either a love him or hate him character, I think.

[dzio]

I really like the random piece of dialogue between Balgruuf and Irileth, when she's annoyed at him slipping out to get a drink at the pub without taking any bodyguards. I've never had a reason to hang around Dragonsreach for long before and only heard it for the first time recently.

[philfredobob]

Balgruuf is the only good one. the rest of the Jarls either aren't given much to say, or simply didn't impress me very much.

[ZeRoc]

I voted Balgruuf for much the same reasons as Avron, but second place would have to be Idgrod Ravencrone, if you've asked her to make a scene during Diplomatic Immunity, you'll know why.

[moonsugarkind]

...second place would have to be Idgrod Ravencrone, if you've asked her to make a scene during Diplomatic Immunity, you'll know why.

That scene is what sealed the deal for me, honestly. I was surprised to see her there as it was.

[GoatLiver]

I voted Balgruuf for much the same reasons as Avron, but second place would have to be Idgrod Ravencrone, if you've asked her to make a scene during Diplomatic Immunity, you'll know why.

Oh, man. How many people can make a scene? I thought it was only the drunk guy at first then I realised you could get the rich guy from solitude to make a scene when the elf chick turns him down. I am nearly up to that mission on my most recent character so I will try to ask her this time. Are there any others that can do it?

[ZeRoc]

They detail it on the quest page, but for Idgrod you need to have done some favors for her first.

[StealthyAlchemist]

I notice people are choosing Balgruuf or Ulfric. I believe it is mostly due to the fact that they are the first two Jarls you meet. So I "challenge" everyone to go out into their games and meet every city's Jarl and that Jarl's potential replacement. That doesn't sound like the too much fun at all, but it would give everyone a chance to see what the others are like and who knows your opinion might stay the same or it could change depending on what you find out.

While playing my current game, I handed Winterhold over to the Imperials during Season Unending replacing Jarl Korir with Kraldar (who I voted for above). When I made my way to Windhelm, I found Korir was staying in Brunwulf Free-Winter's House rather than in the Palace of Kings. I am just wondering why he would do that if Brunwulf supports the Empire?