The only Jarl thats a scumbag is Ulfric.. And maybe the Falkreeth Jarl.

The Falkreath Jarl does absolutely nothing, makes deals with bandits to get gold while allowing them pillage innocent people, and wastes the treasury on expensive mead and you consider Ulfric worse than him?!

How is Siddgeir a maybe but you say Ulfric is scum. Last I recall Ulfric fought for what he wanted: a Skyrim free from the Empire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQM2DUHktMY)

Balgruuf doesn't go to the party firstly, and not all of them are scum... That one crazy old woman is freaking amazing specially if you befriended her before the party!

There's a lot to be said for crazy old women.... I AM one, so I should know, right?

I think Ulfric's ideas are right but his main goal is wrong... I know his main goal is to just have control, I can see it...

Out of all the Jarls, I'm talking about the Crazy Old Woman who you help out with that vampire problem in her city... Made me laugh when I turn it the journal to her... Last thing I was expecting was her to say "Traitorous [censored]!" or w/e it was.. Made me LMBO!

Yah, I know. Idgrod Ravencrone.... I tend to identify with her....

The best part is that Idgrod knows she's crazy and can fake it convincingly. Before she goes off ranting like a loon on the drunk guy at the party, she goes "No offense to you, you happy fool."

Personally, Idgrod is my favorite NPC in the game, followed closely by Balgruuf.

Glad you think so as the Empire certainly doesn't. If you do a quest for her housecarl, you find out that her housecarl wants to overthrow her and then you deliver the message to an Imperial captain which means the Empire has plans to overthrow her. Funny how that detail is never mentioned.

Yep, Gorm is a bit tweaked. That's not really HER fault though. Besides, Aldis doesn't get into plans to overthrow her. He waffles.... probably because Gorm is.... gormless....

Ik. She is one of the funniest people to be around in Skyrim... I would love to hear a conversation between her, Cicero, and Sheogorath. Maybe some others as well?

I remember that... I ended up killing the guy cause I like her too much.

Aldis said that he'll consider it. That means that it's possible that the Empire will decide that they don't like crazy old women running their towns so they'll throw her away and hire some Empire lapdog to run the town. Seems poor Idgrod is in trouble either way.

Doesn't that mean they care about the people of Skyrim? If the person in charge of my local government was insane, I would most likely want her replaced by someone more fit for that role. Her subjects are clearly dissapointed in what actions, if any, she has taken so far to ensure their livelihood. Idgrod is a nice character, but realistically speaking she is not fit for leadership.

Nah. Aldis uses a typically gov't throwaway phrase. He's not going to consider it. He just wants to get rid of you, and gormless Gorm.

Ah, I don't interpret that negatively. He's just saying "it's none of my business" as in "I'm not going to arrest you so we're cool."

That was my feeling as well....

To all who say Balgruuf was a good Jarl...I’d say he was not!

Whiterun was always the goal of the Imperial legions and the Stormcloak rebels. Whoever controls the center, has the upper hand in the war. As the ruler of central Skyrim, Balgruuf was deluding himself thinking that he could be neutral. He never had that luxury to begin with. Realistically, by not openly declaring himself for either faction, he would either be at the utter mercy of the winning faction that conquers/defends his city and the losing faction would care little for the fate of a lukewarm ally, let alone aid him during his deprivation.

His ruination is very possible depending on the Dragonborn’s allegiance. Were it the case of a Dragonborn Stormcloak, If Balgruuf truly cared for the safety and welfare of the city and his people, he would’ve set aside his stubborn pride and his disdain for Ulfric by joining arms with him--especially when it was known that Ulfric gained a symbolic victory by acquiring the Jagged Crown. Instead he refuses to ally with the Stormcloaks and at the end of it all; Commander Galmar and the Dragonborn breach Whiterun’s walls with the rebel army at their backs. And by refusing to accept a fully manned legion garrison in the first place, Balgruuf’s troop strength is insufficient to beat back the rebels and thus he is ‘unmanned’ through the loss of his Jarldom and forced to become a courtier at the Court of the Blue Palace in Solitude. All the while the people of Whiterun suffered.

Even in the case of a Dragonborn Imperial loyalist, the martial aid of the Dragonborn is crucial to supplement both the last-minute Haafingar legions and the Whiterun city guard to repel the Stormcloaks. Were the Dragonborn or the Imperial Legates of the ruthless ambitious sort, maybe they’d feel more deserving of ruling Whiterun than Jarl Balgruuf!

To the OP, its opinion because I couldnt disagree more. I have more respect for Balgruuf than any other Jarl in the entirety of Skyrim. I find him to be smart, practical, and earnestly cares for his people. He is one of my best friends and closest allies and I trust him, which is more than I can say for most. I wish he would be high king personally, of course only after I run that weak coward Ulfric through. But again, it comes down to opinion

I wish we had the option to spare both Tullius and Rikke. A couple of my characters hates the idea that the empire runs Skyrim, and wants to drive them out...but realize that the real threat is the Thalmor. Why not have 2 enemies working together to fight even larger enemy... the Thalmor. Even Tullius mention during his last words that the thalmor caused trouble. It would have been the best moment for the dragonborn to persuade Ulfric to not kill him, and to spare his life.

I hate Tullius but I feel that it would drive down to his level if you kill him.


That’s because he was an imperial supporter the whole time. Had it been Ulfric that was wrongfully executing people he would've changed his tone.. hell he even started blaming Ulfric for Alduins return LOL.

I like this quote because it almost connects with Balgruuf's statement “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right” - Carl Schurz


Ulfric is far from perfect but hes no scumbag. Hes trying to repair skyrim. Yes I agree that Siddgeir is another scumbag imperial supporting jarl.


As much as I respect Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone her housecarl Gorm shows deep concern over the mental health status of Idgrod. He doesn't want to hurt her just want for what is best for the people in Morthal. IMO Idgrod sounds like a schizophrenic. Being a crazy old woman isn't necessary good if you're suppose to be in charge of a village/city.
Idgrod would be good as a thane, not as a jarl.

I would like the option to use Speechcraft to convince Rikke to stand down and leave, by reminding her of the actions of the Nordic Mercenaries at Sancre-Tor when Talos literally became Talos Stormcrown. I would also like the option to get a certain amulet fron an Oblivion Necromancers family to allow Igrod to control her visions and remain a Jarl (even in a Stormcloak Skyrim).
I still dislike Balgruuf, and my opinion of him will not change. There are a lot of rotten apples running around his inner circle, and his children are the worst.

Idgrod isn't crazy, she has been gifted by the Divines.
She's aware enough of how others perceive her to use it in Diplomatic Immunity. She knows Falion is really a good guy, when many in the town are afraid of him (the following him thing is a bug).

She's my favorite Jarl, and I love her personality that makes her one of the more interesting NPCs in the game. It's pretty weird that players are calling her crazy for having visions... It's not like the PC has ever seen anything that an unworldly peasant wouldn't believe.

Ulfric is tearing Skyrim asunder because the Thalmor knew exactly how to manipulate him into doing so. The Thalmor said "Jump" and Ulfric did just that.

And Ulfric DID cause Alduin's return in a way: he made Skyrim "sundered, kingless, bleeding", fulfilling the last part of the Alduin prophecy.

If it weren't for the prophecy, for Alduin or the Dragonborn, the rebellion would have been over then and there at Helgen. And even then, the rebellion only goes the Stormcloaks' way if the Dragonborn signs up. It otherwise stalemates just as the Thalmor wanted, or the Imperials prevail.

The thing about the Stormcloaks' grievance I don't get is this: The Thalmor are the root cause of Skyrim's predicament... so the Stormcloaks blame the Empire? What kind of logic is that? Exactly the kind of logic the Thalmor were hoping for.

Balgruuf's children are being influenced by Mephala. You're really going to grudge him that?