The Jarls of Skyrim

[StealthyAlchemist]

Balgruuf is really the only one with any real ancestry that was a Jarl and High King of Skyrim. The rest are either replacing a family member or are chosen due to their loyalty to either the Stormcloaks or Empire.

Ulfric took over after his father died.
Elisif took over after her husband died.
Siddgeir took over from his "ailing" uncle.
Brina, Brunwulf, Kraldar, Maven take over due to loyalty to the Empire. (Maven more due to corruption, bribery, and connections to questionable individuals and organizations)
Thongvor, Sorli, Vignar, Dengeir take over due to loyalty to the Stormcloaks. (Thongvor due to power, influence, bribery, family connections) (Vignar due to "powerful" family background.)
Korir, Skald, Laila due to Stormcloak loyalty.
Idgrod, Igmund due to Empire loyalty.

Not sure how many qualify to be Jarl.

Asgeir would be better fitted than many of the Jarls due to his neutral viewpoints and his strides towards reconciliation between both sides.

[Br3admax]

The default Jarls all have ancestral ties to their respective thrones and all descend from Ysgramor. This is historical fact. Elisif would not have been married to Torryg without some royal lineage. That's just how the world works. The replacements are anybody's guess, but a lot of them could as well.

[StealthyAlchemist]

I just wish they had added a feature where you could select the Jarl of each hold. I think it would make the game more interesting. The only way you can have a "mixed" order of Jarls is if you progress through the Civil War (not complete it) and then do Season Unending. Not sure how they could have factored it in, but would be cool if they did. Your Jarl of choice could have chosen their own Steward and Housecarl. (Probably people they know or related to.)

I have a new choice for Jarl of Riften....Aerin!!!

Aerin Jarl Scenario:

Jarl: Aerin
Steward: Madesi
Housecarl: Mjoll the Lioness
Court Wizard: Wylandriah (She can stay because there is no one else)

[DikaSmausha]

Why would you be able to select a Jarl?

[The SheoDovah]

There is no reason for the Dovahkiin to be placed with the duty of selecting Jarls. The Dovahkiin did defeat Alduin, Harkon and Miraak but he/she would have little to no chance of being placed with the duty of selecting who would be jarl as they are either too busy to do so or the province has no reason to give them that duty. It would most likely be the High King or Queen that does that and there is no chance of the Dovahkiin becoming king or queen as most Dovahkiins don't have the time to rule Skyrim. That and it would be a nightmare to deal with in the lore after the events of Skyrim.

[StealthyAlchemist]

True, If they had done that; then the whole lore would be messed up. I feel it would have been a cool option for you to have though.

Do you think Jarl Laila Law-Giver knows about her stewards corruption or is she really oblivious to what is going on around her?

[GoatLiver]

What's going in with her steward?

[philfredobob]

What's going on with her steward?

She's helping out Maven Black-Briar for her own gain.

She also lies to Jarl Laila about the skooma problem, telling her it isn't actually a problem.

[GoatLiver]

It just says "There is currently no text in this page." I think I have missed a lot of quests in Riften or is this all thieves guild stuff?

[philfredobob]

Oh, and so it does.
that's odd, I'm sure it worked earlier today. sorry about that.

it's an Imperial Legion quest, so I'm not surprised you wouldn't have seen it if you've never joined 'em
anyways, because my links aren't working for some reason, I'll just say: You find a letter that says Maven Black-Briar has given Anuriel a gift of a fine dress. it also asks that Anuriel help with stopping the Honningbrew Mead deliveries, and that if she continues to help maven, maven will continue to help her.

[boltonbrowne]

Oh, just kill her. Death is always remarkably effective.

[Masked Pillow]

If we go on bloodline, then Jarl Korir has quite a claim to the Throne of High King, as in lore Winterhold used to rival Solitude, and all accounts suggest that it did right up until the Great Collapse. This coupled with the ancient Helm of Winterhold, bearing in mind most holds don't have an ancient relic to their name, puts Jarl Korir as a steady candidate for High King. If the Great Collapse had never happened, there might not have been a Civil War, as a Jarl of Winterhold may well have been crowned High King or Queen, and therefore may not have been attacked by Ulfric, or even defeated him.

[Br3admax]

No, that makes no sense at all. Solitude has been the capital of Skyrim for a very long time. Before the Third Era at least.

[Linkuya]

Voted Ulfric Stormcloak.
The sound of his voice helps me sleep at night.

[GoatLiver]

If we go on bloodline, then Jarl Korir has quite a claim to the Throne of High King, as in lore Winterhold used to rival Solitude, and all accounts suggest that it did right up until the Great Collapse. This coupled with the ancient Helm of Winterhold, bearing in mind most holds don't have an ancient relic to their name, puts Jarl Korir as a steady candidate for High King. If the Great Collapse had never happened, there might not have been a Civil War, as a Jarl of Winterhold may well have been crowned High King or Queen, and therefore may not have been attacked by Ulfric, or even defeated him.

The Empire has been corrupting the moot for a while now, "hand-choosing" a High-King to be his puppet. Even without the collapse its unlikely that Korir would have been picked in a moot that's be influenced.

[StealthyAlchemist]

If we go on bloodline, then Jarl Korir has quite a claim to the Throne of High King, as in lore Winterhold used to rival Solitude, and all accounts suggest that it did right up until the Great Collapse. This coupled with the ancient Helm of Winterhold, bearing in mind most holds don't have an ancient relic to their name, puts Jarl Korir as a steady candidate for High King.

If we were going bl bloodline, Balgruuf the Greater would have an even greater chance of being High King because of his lineage descending from Olaf One-Eye.

And based on your actions during the Civil War questline, the Stormcloaks or the Empire would have the Jagged Crown, giving them some heavy leverage as a strong candidate for High King/Queen of Skyrim as well.

So in reality, the Moot should not have only two Jarls in contention for the throne, but based on all of this information, it should be four.

Ulfric Stormcloak, Elisif the Fair, Balgruuf the Greater, and Korir.

[Masked Pillow]

If one thinks about it for a moment, Elisif and Ulfric cannot both have hold of the Jagged Crown at the same time, so in reality there are 4 strong candidates, but in 2 alternate realities, a Legion victory, or a Stormcloak victory.
It does make this easier, however that both Ulfric and Elisif's claims are both equal in strength, therefore we can, for now, treat them as the same entity.
In this situation, Korir, as usual, does not stand much of a chance, though I think he might get the vote from Skald the Elder of The Pale, as he is a stickler for tradition, and ancient tradition gives the Jarl of Winterhold a claim for High King, as well as the presence as the Helm of Winterhold.
It would be a tough choice between Balgruuf and the Ulfric/Elisif entity, but Balgruuf's legendary act of capturing a dragon, reminiscent of his ancestor, Olaf One-Eye, gives him a fair edge.

[StealthyAlchemist]

If Korir keeps his "anti-magic" stance, I believe much of Skyrim would actually back him seeing as many in Skyrim aren't too fond of magic themselves, as evidenced by your inquires into the Where To Learn Magic with the innkeepers. Many of the innkeepers say you should instead seek out the court wizard's for training rather than go to the college.

Balgruuf has the greatest claim to the throne because of his relation to Olaf One-Eye. But because of the Burning Festival in Solitude being about Olaf "The False King", his claim might not be as strong as he thinks.

Personally, I think Korir has the best chance of "winning" the High Throne of Skyrim. Elisif comes in at a close second because of the Empire's "direct" influence of who is chosen as High King/Queen of Skyrim.

[Masked Pillow]

If it were a fair Moot, one untouched by the Empire, then Korir may well win. I had never seen his hate of magic as a strength before. If he pledged a ban on magic, or at least destruction of the College, then I do think he would be very popular.
If the Bards College have found the song of Olaf One-Eye in the scenario, then that does indeed weaken Balgruuf's claim, and if Elisif has the Jagged Crown, then I'm sure that trumps the Helm of Winterhold.

[legoless]

What does Balgruuf's ancestry have to do with being a contender for High King? His family obviously lost the title long ago, and I'm sure there are many other clans who can boast about an ancestor who was once High King. There are only two true candidates: Elisif by right of blood, and Ulfric by right of conquest. The other jarls are weak.

[AbiwonKenabi]

I think that's why the Empire has a problem with this: in Nord tradition, taking something something by conquest is a relatively common acceptable thing, but it seems wrong in the eyes of the Empire--they probably ascribe more to inheritance by blood.

[StealthyAlchemist]

If the Moot were untouched by the Empire, there would not have been a civil war and neither side would have had to attempt to stake a claim on the Jagged Crown. So Elisif would not have even been Jarl and her husband would still be High King.

The song of Olaf does hurt Balgruuf's chances of becoming Jarl. I'm surprised he is now even allowed to be Jarl despite them now "knowing the truth" about Olaf One-Eye.

[Masked Pillow]

Regardless of his history, Balgruuf is still widely known as a great leader, and he managed to not only remain neutral in the Civil War longer than any other hold, but is also the Jarl to help the most during the Dragon Crisis. This speaks volumes of his bravery and leadership.
If Korir was voted as High King by the Moot, do you think the capital of Skyrim would move to Winterhold?

[legoless]

The song of Olaf does hurt Balgruuf's chances of becoming Jarl. I'm surprised he is now even allowed to be Jarl despite them now "knowing the truth" about Olaf One-Eye.

The song doesn't even discredit Olaf, it's just ancient butthurt left over from Solitude getting attacked. And even if he was a "false" High King, his title as jarl is never challenged. The fact the Balgruuf coincidentally still holds the title is rather surprising, since his family was apparently dethroned at the end of the Third Era by Jsashe the Witch-Queen.

If Korir was voted as High King by the Moot, do you think the capital of Skyrim would move to Winterhold?

That's exactly why it wouldn't happen. Korir has no power, he rules a snowy village and little else. He even says that the other jarls don't respect his hold.

[Masked Pillow]

Another question: The Jarls were said to have been given large sums of money for signing the White-Gold Concordat. What did Korir do with it? Surely he would've spent some money on rebuilding Winterhold.