#jarl balgruuf

[umbracirrus]

Okay, so, I have recently been thinking about axes and their importance in Nord culture in Skyrim, in part because I have something planned in a fanfiction that involves giving an axe and have been doing a little bit of research into it, and I have gone down a bit of a rabbit hole so please bear with me on this mini essay in which I have pulled together my thoughts/observations about axes in Skyrim and my two favourite Jarls, Balgruuf and Ulfric.

So, as anyone who has done the Civil War quests in Skyrim would know, there is a pivotal point in which the balance of power in Skyrim shifts either towards the Empire or the Stormcloaks based purely upon the player's alignment - when Whiterun either aligns with the Imperials or is taken by force by the Stormcloaks. Of course, there is one particular event which happens immediately before the battle begins, and that is the delivery of an axe.

However, at this point I would just like to bring up something which will become relevant later no matter what your alignment - at the point of the axe being sent, you have been named a Thane of Whiterun. Balgruuf won't hear anything to do with the Civil War when a dragon is attacking the Western Watchtower, so becoming both Dragonborn and a Thane is a prerequisite to the Civil War.

If you align with the Empire, it is Balgruuf who decides to send an axe. If you ask why, he gives the explanation that "if he returns it to you it means we have business to settle. If he keeps it, then we are at peace.", and if you ask whether you should say anything, he says that Ulfric knows what it means (also important for later!). The other dialogue option which isn't just 'sure, okay, I'll do that' also says that it is tradition, and that Ulfric honours traditions.

Obviously, Ulfric doesn't accept it and you return to Balgruuf with the news that he will be attacking Whiterun and suddenly, the city is under siege. When you win, Balgruuf personally thanks you for what you have done after his victory speech.

Now, on the other side of things, if you side with the Stormcloaks, it is Ulfric who gives you the axe to take to Balgruuf, but his explanation is much more... succinct. "If he keeps it, I will bide my time. If he returns it to you, it means war."

And as with the other side, because the game would be pretty boring is Balgruuf was to go "sure, I accept Ulfric's axe", he rejects the axe and that in turn means that you return to Ulfric with his axe, and he expresses his disappointment that Balgruuf had done so.

The two Jarls wanted the other on their side, but their views were fundamentally different they couldn't accept. 😭Sending their axes was just a formality, a way of saying 'this is it, we have to fight now'.

So what I am basically getting at, the civil war quest establishes that giving an axe is a way of determining allies and enemies, depending on whether it is accepted or rejected.

Coming back to what I mentioned earlier, in order to do the civil war quest and to talk to Balgruuf in order to either give him Ulfric's axe or to give his axe to Ulfric, you have to have become the Dragonborn and are a Thane of Whiterun. When you become a Thane in Skyrim, you end up receiving a weapon as a reward, typically named 'Blade of *insert hold name here*'. Except in two places.

Whiterun, and Eastmarch. In those places, you get either the Axe of Whiterun or the Axe of Eastmarch.

If I remember correctly, the blade weapons are randomly generated so have the potential to be axes, but these two are specifically named to be and are axes.

What else is in common with Whiterun and Eastmarch?

Their Jarls (Balgruuf and Ulfric) are the only two people in Skyrim who actively partake in and have knowledge of the tradition of the sending of axes.

When you become a Thane of these two holds, you are not just becoming a Thane, you are becoming a trusted ally of the Jarl, somebody who they can rely upon. Even more so with Ulfric, because you can only become a Thane of Eastmarch with Ulfric as Jarl if you are Stormcloak aligned.

Speaking of being Stormcloak aligned, how about a diversion back to the Civil War, specifically when the battle for Whiterun has reached its penultimate stages, Balgruuf has been defeated and has surrendered control of Whiterun. After an argument with Vignar (and I'll get into him later because he makes my blood boil), Balgruuf turns to you and says a line which absolutely breaks my heart - "And you. A Stormcloak? I'd thought better of you." 😭

Balgruuf thought you his ally, he had given you his axe, and you have just gone and stabbed him in the back (figuratively, and quite possibly literally depending on character build). As I said, it breaks my heart when he says that line.

Basically, what I am getting at, is that the depth of such a simple tradition in Skyrim is immense and I wish that there were more things like it (beyond the duel to the death for the throne thing, looking at you Ulfric) or saw it used more in the game. And that Balgruuf and Ulfric are by far the best Jarls in terms of character development and just how much their homeland and traditions mean to them. And I wish that there was a way to keep Balgruuf as Jarl even if you are Stormcloak aligned because fuck Vignar, and you know what? Fuck Maven Black-Briar too, she sucks. Laila is pretty incompetent as Jarl but at least she isn't Maven and that's a rant for another time. But not having Maven as Jarl is main reason I join the Stormcloaks more often than not. Balgruuf is usually the main reason that I join the Imperials on playthroughs.

Now... Vignar Gray-Mane. When you make him Jarl of Whiterun and he names you Thane, he gives you the Blade of Whiterun, not the Axe of Whiterun (yeah, I know I said that I think the blade weapons can be randomly generated as axes, and no doubt it was given to stop you from having multiple axes of Whiterun, but I just don't like Vignar soooo....). That's mean. Especially after we protected the city and helped him become Jarl too. There's another layer of insult there if you've rescued Thorald, his nephew, from the Thalmor. At least Brunwulf Free-Winter gives you the Axe of Eastmarch when he is Jarl if you defeat Ulfric for the Imperials and complete that shitshow of a quest 'Blood on the Ice'. Brunwulf is a bro, not Vignar. Hmph.

#Skyrim #elder scrolls v #the elder scrolls #skyrim civil war #tes v #tes v skyrim #jarl balgruuf #balgruuf the greater #jarl ulfric stormcloak #ulfric stormcloak #save me from this hell that is gushing over Balgruuf PLEASE #i wish I could marry him in-game and ahhhhhhh #I have been thinking about this ALL DAY at work after looking through the game scripts last night #and then realising that I got an axe from Balgruuf in a current playthrough #then checking the uesp page about weapons you get for being a thane and just going :O

[elderscrollsconceptart]

Jarl Balgruuf with his children

Art posted by Bethesda for Fathers Day

*Artist Unknown* If anyone knows the artist, comment below!

#the elder scrolls #art #tes #skyrim #nord #jarl balgruuf #daddy posting #whiterun #dragonsreach

[skyrim-forever]

Alright which table you sitting at?

#skyrim #the elder scrolls #meme #tes #dark brotherhood #thieves guild #college of winterhold #thalmor #imperial legion #stormcloak rebellion #nazeem #just nazeem on his own :P #jarl balgruuf #the blades #the companions #dark brotherhood baby #forgive me for missing characters #bards collage isn't here because it is lame #I said what I said

[razumdars]

Michael Gough voicing both Beckett and Gimble in Bloodlines and then voicing Vilkas, Jarl Balgruuf, half the guards in the game, and Ralof in Skyrim...

#sophie.txt #skyrim #tes #vtmb #vampire the masquerade #michael gough #cuthbert beckett #stanley gimble #ralof #vilkas #jarl balgruuf #just found out he voices shrek in a lot of the video games too and. king

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

Balgruuf the Greater, after there's an attempt on his life orchestrated by his kids: Wow, that sucked. Time to not think about that ever.

#balgruuf the greater #jarl balgruuf #the whispering door #nelkir #dagny #frothar #dragonsreach #whiterun #brat(s) of whiterun #nerevar queue and star #incorrect quotes #incorrect elder scrolls #incorrect skyrim quotes #tes #the elder scrolls #skyrim #the elder scrolls v: skyrim #source: tumblr

[critter-in-skyrim]

who is the most babygirl skyrim character?

#i vote ralis sedarys #skyrim shitpost #skyrim #the elder scrolls #ralis sedarys #teldryn sero #farkas #vilkas #miraak #brynjolf #jarl balgruuf #sven #faendal #ulfric stormcloak

[nekomomoz]

Found this really funny chart so I filled and translated it with my fav Skyrim characters :3

#tes #the elder scrolls #skyrim #miraak #dragonborn #ldb #serana #j'zargo #neloth #jarl balgruuf #marcurio #nsfw(?) #idk at this point this is beyond silly

[hvarra]

didn't want to bother u jarl Balgruuf but...

#tes #the elder scrolls #skyrim #jarl balgruuf #dragonborn #oc: ienos avaren #dragonsreach

[bogprincessofthewest]

I forgot I had added this pure unit to my game and audibly gasped

#skyrim #skyrim se #jarl balgruuf #jarl ballin #skyrim mods #modded skyrim #skyrim modded followers #absolute unit #genuinely frightened the shite outta me

[allthingstamriel]

Before the Storm

Ralof's sister Gerdur asked me to take word to the Jarl of Whiterun of the dragon attack on Helgen, and to ask the Jarl to send soldiers to protect Riverwood. I delivered the news to Jarl Balgruuf in Whiterun, and he rewarded me for my help.

> Skyrim Quest series

#skyrim #skyrim quest #whiterun #elder scrolls #tes #the elder scrolls #jarl balgruuf #gerdur #skyrim quest series #before the storm #dragonsreach #my screenshots

[thatone-churro]

i love you mystic grandma

#grace being stupid #skyrim #jarl balgruuf #jarl igrod #igrod ravencrone #skyrim memes

[pelinalblancserpent]

#shurik and balgruuf are friends to me #shurik #jarl balgruuf #balgruuf the greater #tes #skyrim #my art #LOL

[elderscrollsconceptart]

#the elder scrolls #tes #molag bal #molag ballin #jarl balgruuf #jarl ballin #tesblr #polls #ballin

[mirielsart]

Young Balgruuf and Irileth :)

#jarl balgruuf #balgruuf the greater #irileth #skyrim #the elder scrolls #tes fanart #mirielsart #whiterun

[booksandblanketnests]

The civil war quest line in Skyrim always get to me when it comes to Whiterun.

I usually end up siding with the imperials for both personal and role play reasons. When General Tulius sends you off to Whiterun, Jarl Barlgruf will ask you to deliver an axe to Ulfric Stormcloak, basically as a gift and to test the waters in a way. When you do get to Wildhelm and try to deliver the axe on Barlgruufs behalf, Ulfric will apologize and turn you away. It’s important to mention that Ulfric and Barlgruuf used to be friends. And as far as I can tell, pretty good(and close) friends at that. I can only imagine how Barlgruuf feels when the Dragonborn shows up as a soldier and messenger in Whiterun, being told that his once close old friend plans to siege his home.

I can honestly see it in my mind. Barlgruuf offering his sword, asking his once friend to tell him it’s not true. Getting his sword pushed back into him, and told to stand. They cannot fight properly if he grovels, mourning a friendship that Ulfric feels is long over.

Both feel betrayed, but for entirely different reasons.

(Sorry if this doesn’t make sense I’m autistic and it’s been a long day) (on another note, do y’all have any thoughts?)

#skyrim #tes skyrim #jarl balgruuf #jarl ulfric #ulfric stormcloak #barlgruuf #stormcloak #the elder scrolls #the elder scrolls v: skyrim #tes v skyrim #whiterun #windhelm #imperials #stormcloaks

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

Okay but wait, if Balgruuf is Balgruuf the Greater, where's Balgruuf the Lesser?

#random thoughts #mod post #jarl balgruuf #balgruuf the greater #the elder scrolls #tes #skyrim