Anyone Played Skyrim (Elder Scrolls V) Yet?

[Minty]

Playing the game with a new character (I like running up new ones after copying all the data for my old ones to somewhere safe to restore later), I came to that point yet again where it's the negotiating table at High Hrothgar & holds are to be handed over.

If you still aren't sure which side to back in the Civil War (if any), here's some thoughts on who is in charge & where (& their potential replacements)

Haafingar (Solitude) – Major : Elisif The Fair. She’s nice & has decent supporters. She is never ousted anyway, as although she hated Ulfric for murdering her husband they were both secret Talos worshippers.

Hjaalmarch (Morthal) – Minor : Ingrad Ravencrone. She is a bit batty, but a good diplomatic leader & her kids are nice.

Alternative : Sorli The Builder (Stormcloak). Obscure character from Stonehills just outside of Morthal. Curiously, is linked to the pro-Imperial Thank Bryling of Solitude via the mine she works at & he owns.

The Pale (Dawnstar) – Minor : Skard The Elder. Pro-Stormcloak Empire hating fannyspangle without a clue. Most of Dawnstar hate him as well & would be gladly rid of him.

Alternative: Brina Merilis (Imperial). The retired Legion legate with Horik Halfhand in tow who is more concerned about protecting Dawnstar from Dragon attacks than the civil war.

Winterhold (Winterhold) – Minor : Korir. He’s a Nordic Master Race hates all other races puddle-drinker & his slidy steward is about as much us as an inflatable pincushion. Strangely, if he is sacked, he moves to the Free-Winters home in Windhelm, the most anti-racist home in Skyrim.

Alternative: Kraldar (Imperial). Hangs about all the time with Thonjolf in his house (to think the locals spend so much time gossiping about the college instead of those two!). But is a big fan of the College of Winterhold, so good if you are a Mage.

The Reach (Markarth) – Major : Igmund looks and acts like he’s always about to fall asleep, & his steward is a flop in more ways than one (as those at The Hag's Cure know!).

Alternative: Thongvor Silver-Blood. The Silver-Bloods are a shower of scummy corrupt schemers & bourgeoise capitalist pigs who try stealing others silver mines (Karthwasten). You want to put one of them in charge? On the other hand, if you help the leader of the psychotic Forsworn escape, the idea of the Stormcloaks (who massacred the Forsworn at Karthwasten) now being in charge will be a red rag to their bull. One great reason for agreeing to Markarth being handed over to the Stormcloaks is the laugh of Ulfric's goons trying to keep it under control!

Whiterun (Whiterun) – Major: Balgruuf The Greater is a good bloke. He doesn’t like or trust Ulfric Stormcloak, yet is a Talos worshipper in private.

Alternative: Vignar-Grey Mane of the Companions.

Eastmarch (Windhelm) – Major: Ulfric Stormcloak. You either love him or hate him for what he stands for & the racist subtext to his cause. Remember however the Empire would happily have executed you along with him just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, which kind of makes the Imperials every bit as scummy as the Stormcloaks in personal terms.

Alternative: Brunwulf Free-Winter (Imperial), a good man who has no time for racists of which Windhelm has plenty.

Falkreath (Falkreath) – Minor: Siddgeir. Complete and utter fud of a Jarl involved with organised crime & little else. Sits on his throne all day looking like he’s suffering from a trapped fart. His Steward does all the work.

Alternative: Dengeir Of Stuhn (Stormclock) was the former Jarl who got sacked for being a total conspiracy theorist as much as a Stormcloak. Falkreath is the most unfortunate of holds in terms of its choice of Jarls, both equally as poor - its a pity Barnabas the Dog can't be made the Jarl instead!

The Rift (Riften) – Major : Lalia Law-Giver is pro-Stormcloak but she doesn’t trust Ulfric an inch & regards him as a self-seeker. She herself is a very decent sort (if naive - she trusts Maven Black-Briar) & her court are good (although her Stormcloak supporting son is a dick & her Imperial supporting son is disowned but isn’t)

Alternative: Maven Black-Briar (Imperial) – Face it, if there was ever a reason to back Laila Law-Giver, it’s her. Not only is Maven the biggest cow in all Skyrim, but the biggest gangster; too chummy with the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood for anyone’s good.