This thread contains spoilers about Markarth, Ulfric, and some of the quests dealing with them.

So, I know I've debated the Stormcloaks vs the Empire to death. I've spent 400 hours playing this game and listening to all the dialog and lore and have had no life in the past couple of months. But as I did the Forsworn Conspiracy quest for the third time last night, I found that it raised some questions I haven't been able to find the answer to.

So I'm in Markarth, preparing to take the Reach from the Empire. I do the quest, blah blah blah, while at the same time doing the Forsworn Conspiracy questline. I unveil Thonar Silver-Blood's corruption. I get thrown in jail by corrupt guards. And for the first time, I'm feeling really pissed at the Silver-Bloods. Why? Because I know that the moment I escape, and reclaim the Reach for the Stormcloaks, Throngvor Silver-Blood becomes Jarl and is put in power.

Why? Wouldn't Ulfric be ticked off that these people imprisoned his war champion for life and foiled his plans to take the Reach? Barring that, I am the Arch Mage of the College of Winterhold AND the Harbinger of the Companions. Neither of these factions seemed to give a crap that their leader was just imprisoned for life. Why?

Now, your answer might be, "Throngvar Silver-Blood supports Ulfric, Ulfric doesn't give a crap that you were thrown in prison, he expects you to svck it up." Okay. But as I'm sitting there, preparing to kill King Madanach, I remember that Ulfric HIMSELF was imprisoned in there. FOR 10 YEARS.

What? Ulfric took Markarth from the Forsworn. Throngvar Silver-Blood speaks highly of it, saying he shouted the Forsworn down from the walls, blah blah blah, and how awesome Ulfric is. But THEN HE THREW ULFRIC IN PRISON FOR 10 YEARS. You might say he had no choice, but he's always going on about how he has the real power in the city.

So why does Ulfric want this guy in power? He not only imprisoned Ulfric for 10 years, something Ulfric is very bitter about still to this day, and then falsely imprisoned Ulfric's champion for life to cover up the corruption and horrible things the Silver-Blood family is doing in Markarth. It makes no sense for Ulfric to want to put him in power. What, was he mining in the Cidhna mine one day, when he turned to Galmar Stone-Fist and said, "Hey, you know that guy who threw us in here and treats us like crap? He should definitely rule this city."

I suppose you could argue that only Thonar is corrupt, that Throngvor doesn't really play a part in the corruption. Except he does, because Thonar gets off scott-free for what he did and it is all swept under the rug. And Throngvar doesn't move to punish him if he becomes Jarl. Don't you think Ulfric would at least have something to say about that?

This thread isn't to debate about whether or not Ulfric is evil or right or the Stormcloaks are just, so save that for another thread. I just want to know why the heck Ulfric would want the Silver-Bloods in power. Maybe it's because they have all the money or whatever, but the fact is, Ulfric's idealism is one of his biggest faults, and in every other instance he seems to be pretty ticked at the prospect of corrupt people being in power for money. This whole deal doesn't make sense, and I get the feeling that Bethesda didn't think about it any more than, "There's another powerful guy in the city who supports the Stormcloaks, make him Jarl!" without thinking about the implications of that decision.

I still killed Madanach, but it really pissed me off that Thonar was benefitting from it. I'm not on a character who tends to murder, though. Maybe I'll just pickpocket all of his clothes or something.

I never thought about it. Kind of another big plot hole.

I interpret it as just a recognition that the Silver-Bloods are a powerful and wealthy family and corruption can't just be swept away on a few good intentions. I'm sure the empire isn't thrilled to have Maven Blackbriar as jarl of Riften, either.

I like that the game does not present social and political problems in TV family drama style, one hour of questing and everyone is reflecting on what helpful lessons they've learned.

it really isn't in-character for Ulfric to even acknowledge that publicly though, even if he does privately. Ulfric is very very meticulous when it comes to crafting an image. Part of that image is him fighting against corruption and people fat on top of piles of gold who do not care about the people of Skyrim. The Silver-Blood family emodies that. While it's likely that Ulfric knows their power, he would at LEAST put someone else on the throne in an attempt to make it look like he wasn't just handing Markarth to them. But he didn't bother. It's inconsistent with his character.

Ulfric wants to be High King. He is using symbolism and supersticion and whatever other means he has at his disposal.

Maybe... and I'm just suggesting this... just maybe knowing the b'tard put him in jail for 10 years and he still gave him a throne will sway that vote in the moot making the final decision?

Don't get me wrong, after doing both sides I find I'm personally much more in support of a liberated and endangered Skyrim than I am of an Imperial one... so yay Stormcloaks... and still... a spade is still somtimes a spade. This is definatley a working reason to put the man in charge regardless of Ulfric's personal feelings on the matter.

I'm not saying you're wrong, because you are right that there are reasons to put him in charge. The thing is, Ulfric's biggest weakness is he lets his own personal feelings guide him and everything he does. So I feel like in this situation, there has to be a better reason. Why make the one exception here, of all places?

Stockholm syndrome?

All kidding aside. Plot hole. It's the fact that Silver-blood was the opposite faction, and that's all. There was no viable third party to take over.