#Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

[helgiafterdark]

"petty victory" you tried to have me killed three separate times.

[shivering-isles-cryptid]

Dragon Out of Time: Chapter 3

Chapter 3 is now out, now introducing Delphine as an actual character and part of the plot. Also introducing: Kat’s Panic Attacks! As well as Sleep Deprived Farengar, and Dad Balgruuf!

[skyrimtournaments]

Best Jarl Tournament: Finals

The Jarl of Hjaalmarch against the Jarl of Whiterun! They must both be well loved to have gotten this far, but only one can win first place!

[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.

[hircines-hunter]

The Best View in Dragonsreach

For @umbracirrus

[hadvarandralof]

bored as hell so here’s a 25 min doodle of the relevant jarls from memory

[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.

[yanderes-galore]

May I possibly have a romantic yandere rivalry between bulgruff (the jarl of Whiterun) and jarl ulfric with last dragonborn nord darling? Also *offers holiday cookies* enjoy ^^

Sure you can! Sorry this was late ^^;

Yandere! Jarl Balgruuf vs Yandere! Jarl Ulfric

(Last Dragonborn! Nord! Darling)

Pairing: Romantic - Rivalry

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Rivalry, Violence, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Jealousy, Blood mentioned, Murder, War, Kidnapping mentioned once, Marriage mentioned at times, Forced relationship implied.

According to the wiki, these two have some history together.

Balgruuf was originally a neutral party, not wishing to involve Whiterun in the civil war.

Yet Ulfric sees anyone who doesn't side with him as an enemy... forcing Balgruuf to side with the Imperials.

Overall this becomes not only a yandere rivalry... but a fight between Imperials and Stormcloaks.

You being The Last Dragonborn would certainly make the obsession worse.

The two would not only like the Dragonborn to be on their side... but it appears they also wish to court you too.

Which brings up old rivalries between the two Jarls.

You met the two relatively close together.

Ulfric was there when you were to be executed before Alduin crashed the execution.

Then you met Balgruuf later and became an ally.

You most likely didn't involve yourself in the civil war conflict until later, too busy dealing with dragons and Miraak to bother.

Despite this, both Jarls have kept track of your progress.

Balgruuf meets you more often, especially during the Alduin crisis.

He's had a spouse before... but she's never brought up during the events of Skyrim.

So for this... we can assume she's just not in the picture.

Balgruuf is used to you aiding Whiterun.

He's provided you hospitality as you were finding yourself... but now look at you!

A skilled Dragonborn and hero who has visited every city there is in Skyrim.

The Jarl of Whiterun finds himself falling for you each time you enter Whiterun to visit.

Even more so if you happen to have an Amulet of Mara on your person.

Then there's Ulfric who comes across you a few times.

Such as when you trap a dragon in Whiterun and when you visit Windhelm for trade.

Of course Ulfric has heard of you, you're a hero and a well-known Nord.

Part of him no doubt wishes to recruit you since he feels you understand his plight as a fellow Nord.

Another part of him feel his heart speed up when he notices you with an Amulet of Mara around your neck.

All this time and you're not claimed?

Courting you begins to be like some sort of power play between the two.

Unlike a General Tullius vs Ulfric Stormcloak rivalry... Balgruuf and Ulfric are both Nords.

So they'll be settling this the Nord way.

Through honorable battle.

I imagine things only get more complicated if you are not a neutral party.

They'd act differently if you sided with Imperials or Stormcloaks.

Siding with Imperials, Balgruuf goes along with it and follows that side with you.

Siding with Stormcloaks, Ulfric praises you and has you storm Whiterun by his side.

I imagine their rivalry would conclude when Whiterun is attacked or when Windhelm is.

Be you a defender or an attacker... it ends there.

If Ulfric wins the battle of Whiterun, he'd walk right up to Balgruuf and fight him.

Ulfric may just kill the Jarl there, he didn't just send his men there... he wanted to end that Jarl himself due to you....

It feels nice to plunge his blade into Balgruuf's gut... watching the blood spill before Ulfric turns to you.

Afterwards, Ulfric may just take you away by force if you're Imperial.

Then there's an alternate version where you storm Windhelm and have General Tullius end Ulfric.

Ulfric would've died happy by your hands... but you don't give him the satisfaction.

Balgruuf wouldn't loved to slit Ulfric's throat himself....

Afterwards Balgruuf would summon you back to Whiterun... no doubt to propose.

There's many different ways to tackle this, especially with their already established rivalry between one another.

If you're neutral in the war then one of them may just kidnap you (Most likely Ulfric).

I don't doubt they'd kill each other.

Especially if it meant one of them got you.

War or not, the two won't compromise when it comes to you.

Balgruuf thinks you could be a wonderful parent to his children in Whiterun.

While Ulfric thinks you could help him fix Skyrim as his spouse.

Who wins no doubt depends on your choices and the war as a whole...

Hopefully you make the right choices.

[uwuthrad]

Jarl Balgruuf's moniker of "the Greater" implies the existence of a lesser Jarl Balgruuf the Great. I posit this might even be an ancestor of his, which is so very funny when you think about it, cause

a) the implication is that his defining characteristic is "doesn't suck as bad as the last one I guess" and

b) means Balgruuf numero uno is probably looking on from Sovngarde like:

[omegatheimmortaldragonborn]

Some of my favourite characters in skyrim, and why 👹

Balgruuf The Greater: i think this speaks for itself tbh, my favourite Jarl

Balimund: I don't actually know, kinda just looked at him and said "yes, he's the one." Or at least one of them anyway lmfao

Brynjolf: cocky thief with a *small amount* of issues, need i say more?

Captain Aldis: Self Explanatory. he's pretty, good personality, wants books, and lots of muscle? Yes please

Captain Gjalund Salt-Sage: idk he just smiled at my character once and it did things LMFAOOO

Captain Lonely-Gale: Father? Sorry, Father? Sorry-

Falk Firebeard: Steward whos probably a borderline alcoholic? Possibly involved in scandals? Pretty? Yes please

Glover Mallory: no.1 Smith, thief gone good, first I've found to sell Daedric stuff, what more can you want?

Halbarn Iron-Fur: personality is on point, easily lovable, one of my favourite smiths along side Glover

Idolaf Battle-Born: Dilf with an attitude, fuck yeah

Igmund: As with Balimund, I'm not even sure

Korir: if Siddgeir and Balgruuf had a child, he's them. Personality wise anyway, bit of a wanker tho

Kraldar: idk he's just there and he's sweet

Roggi Knot-Beard: Our favourite alcoholic, lovable character, ray of sunshine.

Rune: He's baby. Todd let me help him find out who his parents are i beg

Torbjorn Shatter-Shield: Dilf, I feel so bad tho oh my god, I killed Nilsine in Muiri's quest... never again. I don't need the bonus.

Ulfric Stormcloak: I can fix him

[helgiafterdark]

[jonthackery]

Balgruuf the Greater

A Nord preset

Soft Requirements :

_ BnP CoTR Faces

_ Vanilla Hair Remake + Superior Lore-friendly textures

_ The Eyes of Beauty AI Remastered + CoTR Patch

_ Vanilla Scars CoTR Patch

_ CoTR Beards

_ Auriana Warpaints

_ Ravens Warpaint

_ Dragon Age Vallaslin Tattoos CoTR Patch by KaruraWasabi

Preset link :

[skyrimtournaments]

Best Jarl Tournament: Round 3 (Semifinals)

Two major, beloved, story-relevant Jarls go against each other for a spot in the finals! It might pain some of you to choose, but only one of these two will have a chance at winning the tournament. Which will it be?

[umbracirrus]

Balgruuf getting a soft little forehead kiss from Elyse after a long day of meeting with people and paperwork <3

[hircines-hunter]

Tea is too Sweet for the Jarl.

for @umbracirrus

[hadvarandralof]

quick sketch of balgruuf ‘cause i love him <3