You're right I do disagree regarding to Balgruuf, however under the circumstances I did not place him among the unfit jarls list (He was rather close to being put on that list thought) because I do give him credit for sending out guards to Riverwood at the beginning of the game. I however started giving him negative points when rhe refuses to let his court wizard, Farengar Secret-Fire, to help fight against the dragon within his hold. To my understanding court wizards are there for a reason. To help protect their hold against any major threats using magic. Since he also conducting research to the dragons it would've been beneficial to help defeat them.
So, you're faulting Balgruuf in this case because he didn't want Farengar to go meddling amid the potentially catastrophic dragon battle?
Yeah, he's a court wizard and I suppose that he's there as support. But he's also there as counsel. I'm not in his head, but if I were Balgruuf and knowing how, erm, overly
curious Farengar is (we see this with the whole Odahviing incident), I wouldn't necessarily be keen to let him wander into the front lines either. He needs him there at the court. If he becomes toast, what good is he? That's why Balgruuf has Irileth and the guards/soldiers as physical backup. Each person in the court has a role to play, and for a reason. I really don't see how Balgruuf wanting Farengar to hang back is something "negative" about his capacity as Jarl and overall ruling style.
Ulfric does have some downfalls, but I can't possibly rank him as one of the worst of the bunch.... even with the segregation that's going on in Windhelm. At least the Dunmers have the freedom to conduct business. They have the right to have their own businesses and farms.
Well, then I suppose that that's where we're reminded once again how much we inevitably are all going to differ on what's worse than what. Personally, I find racial segregation an abysmal institution. I suppose the idea of "separate but equal" (which I might add is rarely if ever truly
equal) is fine and dandy in some people's minds, but certainly not in mine. The Dunmer have to make their own way as well as they can. But as an exceedingly wise man once said, "It is a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he should lift himself by his own bootstraps. It is even
worse to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps when somebody is
standing on the boot."
Whats worst. Ulfric's segregationist policies or Igmunds policies to essentially enslave people, and send them off to Cidhna mine where they're force to mine for the rest of their lives? These slaves only get food if they reach a certain mining quota. I can sympathize those who do become the forsworn. Can't help but to side with Madanach when Igmund is so easily corrupted by wealth from the Silver-Bloods.
How is what Igmund does relevant when it comes to Ulfric though? His shortcomings don't cancel out those of Ulfric.
Once again, I have no particular warm fuzziness for Igmund. My understanding is that the mine is used as a prison? I'll be honest in admitting that I have not completed the Forsworn questline, nor spent as much time in Markarth as I have other cities. But from what I have heard, the Silver Bloods own it and Igmund basically is okay with it, especially given its ties to the Forsworn stuff - yeah, I actually feel for the Forsworn too. But I hardly think that having what amounts to Alcatraz in your city is directly comparable with systematic restrictive
racial policies. While some of the prisoners in the mine may well be wrongly incarcerated, the Dunmer in Windhelm are targeted by the policies because of their
race alone - regardless of criminal activity or lack thereof. I think comparing the two situations is not entirely apt.
Nota Bene: I am
not a fan of horrible, wretched prisons - before anyone claims I said as much. But I'm interested in staying on track, that is, talking about what makes
Ulfric one of the most unfortunate rulers. Obviously none of the Jarls are flawless.
Bottom line: what Igmund does/has done doesn't make Ulfric any less of a jackass to me.
In light of the circumstances and setting of the game, as well as the use of other unsavory medieval torture elements by both sides of the war and its politics, I still find racial segregation to be profoundly despicable. And always will. This is still in tandem with the fact that Ulfric apparently refuses to aid people of races he cares little or nothing about in his Hold. Basic Jarly duties, he fails at them.
If anything, I would allow that Igmund
could be argued as one of the worst. But he would absolutely share that hat with Ulfric. Really, you have to turn a blind eye to a great deal of BS to think that Ulfric is greater than that.
Well, of course you don't! We haven't agreed on much ever.
