Favourite Jarl?

[Red Guardian]

Indeed they aren't. But even if they disagree with the Thalmor and even if all the Imperials dislike them they still have their vows.

Why are the Imperials in Skyrim in the first place? Because of the Thalmor. Not because they want to (see General Tulius, for example).

And even if they don't really care about a dead Thalmor here and there by the hands of the Stormcloaks they still have to do something. If words get around the Empire might be lost (despite having many allies).

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

From what I've read and such, I went with Balgruuf and Elisif.

[JJKG]

There are Imperials in Skyrim becuase Tiber Septim (Talos) established an Empire, which is run by the imperials. Funnily enough, Ulfric is fighting the Imperials partly because of the ban of the worship of a god who set up the very Empire he is fighting against.

This is not to say that the Empire is brilliant: the ban on talos worship and theresult of the great war are by no means good things, but they are no friend of the Thalmor, even if they are forced to bend to the Thalmors' will. Without the dissention in Skyrim the empire might have been able to stand up to the Thalmor a bit more, but Ulfric isan asset to the Thalmor; it even says so on tgeur dossier about him.

Anyway, we are significantly off topic (my fault) and any minute now a mod will probably pop up. They're everywhere, you know.

[Red Guardian]

I meant to say why are the Imperials participating in the Civil War, in Skyrim.

But yeah... It isn't really a fault of anyone, relax. Things tend to go off-topic often, even if we don't realize it.

[Ysmir]

It's pretty obvious from Tullius' dialogue that he was sent there by the emperor that's why he is there.
As for MOST of the legion present in Skyrim...they are Nords from Skyrim...why wouldn't they be home? It's not like all of the legion are just Imperials most are Nords who lived in Skyrim before.

[Red Guardian]

Not trying to be rude but is it really so hard to understand what I wrote?

When I'm saying "Imperials" I'm talking about the race. If I want to refer to the army I use "Legion" instead.

The emperor, you said... And who commands the emperor right now? Clearly he's not "free" anymore.

[RedDeadFred]

but Ulfric isan asset to the Thalmor; it even says so on tgeur dossier about him.

Reread the book. He's only an asset for them because he's at war with the Empire and thus weakening them. However, the Thalmor do not want the Stormcloaks to win the civil war either. They just want it to keep going and weaken both sides.
They specifically say that a Stormcloak victory unifying Skyrim would be bad for them.

[OblivionDuruza]

Balgruff the Greater is one of my all time favourite characters of Skyrim, for reasons I have explained numerous times over. To me, he embodies the Nord I knew from previous TES titles, not the new nationalist Nord that has become somewhat unattractive. It's people like Balgruuf, Hadvar, Rikke and Brunwulf Free-Winter who make Skyrim a place worth fighting for.

Balgruuf displays a degree of altruism in his personal sacrifice of Talos worship in order to protect his people. He displays a detachment from the foolery of politics in his rule, placing nothing above the safety and well-being of his people. He displays courage and determination on the feild of battle and loyalty to the Empire, and sound mind and reason in his eventual backing of the symbiotic relationship between Skyrim and the Empire it backed and has backed for centuries.

[Da_BossMaN69]

Balgruff the Greater is one of my all time favourite characters of Skyrim, for reasons I have explained numerous times over. To me, he embodies the Nord I knew from previous TES titles, not the new nationalist Nord that has become somewhat unattractive. It's people like Balgruuf, Hadvar, Rikke and Brunwulf Free-Winter who make Skyrim a place worth fighting for.

Balgruuf displays a degree of altruism in his personal sacrifice of Talos worship in order to protect his people. He displays a detachment from the foolery of politics in his rule, placing nothing above the safety and well-being of his people. He displays courage and determination on the feild of battle and loyalty to the Empire, and sound mind and reason in his eventual backing of the symbiotic relationship between Skyrim and the Empire it backed and has backed for centuries.

Everything you said is why in other threads I say Whiterun is the best city, among other things, but yea he is one of the better characters, its a shame though that Jarl's can be killed, because honestly, he would go down fighting for Whiterun rather than just step down like the force him to do, despite the fact they make it clear he won't.

[Witchery]

Elisif or Idgrod. I love Ms. Ravencrone, and I feel sorry for Elisif.

[Masked Pillow]

Jarl Korir, because, even though he hates the College, he tries to do what he thinks is best for Winterhold, and he does it all with the tiny amount of money he has, and he's the only Jarl that heads down to the local tavern every evening.

[ThE cHoSeN oNe LDB3]

Ulfric because of that speech why he fights. But Balgruuf would be my second he tries not to participate in the war and protects his hold and does what is best for the people of Whiterun.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Balgruuf seems the most likable and balanced leader overall. I gravitate towards his personality and character.

[skillest]

I find it funny, because I don't like Ulfric, but

Spoiler:

his replacement

Brunwulf Free-Winter, is my absolute favorite. He has nothing wrong with him at all.

[Chaos the N'wah]

To me, he embodies the Nord I knew from previous TES titles, not the new nationalist Nord that has become somewhat unattractive.

It'd hard to be a strong nationalist when you're away from home...or never born there...

On Tops: Balgruuf and Ulfric, two sides of Nordic culture, I like them both.
And I don't give 'pity' votes

[OblivionDuruza]

I'll pay that Chaos, but I still like the Nords as loyal supporters of the Empire rather than nationalists , and I definitley agree with skillest, I am a bit of a Brunwulf fan

[Chaos the N'wah]

That's why I loved the Skaal and Thirsk, it gave a glimpse of non-Empire aligned Nords that didn't involve them being naked out in the middle of nowhere.

[Eltee]

Brunwulf is definitely a great Jarl, politically sound and also a war hero...
Balgruuf, likewise, is a truly great leader, for all the reasons listed above. He tries to do what is best for his people and for Skyrim, no matter what.

Skaal... Good times.

[OblivionDuruza]

And yet they don't come off as anti-xeno, they 'embrace' a ritualistic and shamanistic culture, and one that was created in a game which does so very well at conveying culture in an inoffensive manner. Unfortunately for Bethesda, in my eyes, nationalism and the worship of Talos in the case of Skyrim does not equate to culture.

[Chaos the N'wah]

To play Devil's Advocate, they didn't have a lot to be prejudice against since the few inhabitants other than them had Nords in their midst.
But to dream of a Stormcloak army with those kind of values....mmm, Chaos loves him some respectful honor and shamanism.

Also, I'd imagine that even if Brunwulf wasn't the shining star that he is, people would still vote for him out of spite of Ulfric

[OblivionDuruza]

Probably, but you have to hand it to him, he's very much an opposite of Ulfric, he works to protect the Dunmeri and Argonian populaces, which could be seen as going against his own race just as Ulfric seemingly acts almost exclusively for his True Nords. Either way, both have risked a lot for their prospective 'causes'.

But I totally agree, the Stormcloaks would be much more palatable if they did in fact represent something more 'Nordic', in a more apparent manner, if that makes sense. More of the old Nord Lore of Kyne and Ysmir, or even the shamanistic and tribal side we see in Morrowind.

[Chaos the N'wah]

Odd Musing: it seems like they made the Thalmor and then decided that they needed to make the opposing factions just as flawed to cut the difference.

I still vote Ulfric, he's not as bad as everyone spews and I can never condone the Empire's choices thus far.

[Wolfie]

The reason for that is they very much Like the empire, and ARE empire.
Just not what it has become, they think the empire is not the same one they built anymore, they are proud to be part of the empire that talos built...
thats how I see it.

[OblivionDuruza]

I'll agree to that, the factions of Skyrim are all flawed and there really is no good. I think I would prefer if they were all 'good' and yet morally ambiguous, because it would make siding against any one of them difficult, but this seems more realistic, even if it makes siding with any one side difficult, at least for me. I dislike them all, to varying extents and it's only really individual characters who I can like or hate effectively, when it comes down to it all, the Empire has more characters I like and the Stormcloaks more I hate, including the Jarls they endorse.

Wolfie, that is probably true, but the irony is that the Nords, specifically the Jarls, endorsed the Medes. Remembering that the Medes were a good option after the failings of the post-Ocato leaders.

[RaverzZ (SWE)]

My favourite Jarl is Ulfric Stormcloack of Eastmarch, becuse he is cOoL and the true high King of Skyrim!!

My second favourite is Skald from The Pale,