User blog comment:Spritydove/Deeper Thought into the Civil War/@comment-1840877-20120707194247

If I might just add my opinion for a moment... I actually think that the Imperial Jarls are a bit more responsible than the Stormcloak Jarls in some cases.


 * 1) For my first example, take Dawnstar. If Brina Merilis is put in charge, and you ask her if Dawnstar is prepared for a dragon attack, she's very up front about it, admitting that Dawnstar is very vulnerable to the dragons, and that she's done what little she can to prepare for them. If you ask Skald (the Stormcloak Jarl) the same question, however, he just gives you some rubbish about how the dragons are attacking because Talos is angry with them, and that they'll disappear as soon as the Empire is gone from Skyrim. Not only is that complete nonsense, he hasn't even answered my question! What the hell does he plan to do -- hold out for a Stormcloak victory and pray that the dragons decide to leave Dawnstar alone until then? What's more, Brina actually puts Dawnstar's interests first when she's in charge. Skald cares more about the Stormcloaks than his own hold -- he's pledged so many guards to the front lines that there are barely enough left to defend Dawnstar's own borders.
 * 2) Second example -- Markarth. If you ask Thongvor Silver-Blood how well-prepared Markarth is for a dragon attack, he boasts about how the stone structure makes the city "invincible". (Newsflash, Thongvor: nothing is invincible from a dragon attack.) Igmund, by contrast, merely suggests that Markarth is better prepared than the other cities. He's smart enough to know that Markarth is still in some danger, just like every other settlement, and that he can't afford to take the threat of a dragon attack lightly.
 * 3) Thirdly, Winterhold. Korir never tires of telling you how he hates the College, and that they were responsible for the Great Collapse, despite having no evidence to back up this claim. Kraldar, on the other hand, agrees that the College may not be responsible (because really, what would the mages have to gain from destroying Winterhold?), and attempts to maintain some sort of cordial relations with the College.