Skyrim ' s Rule Content . Skyrim ' s Rule : An Outsider ' s View byAbdul - Mujib Ababneh In my travels , and they have been many , I have encountered many strange peoples and cultures , in many different provinces of the Empire . And in each , I have found a method of governing and customs of leadership unique to that particular province . In Black Marsh , for example , the Argonian King relies upon his Shadowscale Assassins to eliminate threats secretly , without the common knowledge of his people . In the Imperial Province of Cyrodiil , the Emperor may rule directly , but the power granted to his Elder Council cannot be understated . During a recent journey to Skyrim , that harsh , frozen realm of the Nords , I was able for the first time to witness the unique manner of rule of this strong , proud people . It would appear that the entire province of Skyrim is separated into territories known as " holds , " and each hold finds its seat of power in one of the great , ancient cities . And in each of those cities , there rules that hold ' s king , known as a Jarl . The Jarls of Skyrim are , as a whole , a fierce sight indeed . Sitting on their thrones , ready to administer justice , or send their forces out to quell some local threat , be it a pack of feral wolves or a terrifying giant that has wandered too close to a settlement . In observing these Jarls , I found each to of course have his or her own unique personality and leadership style . But what I perhaps did not expect - especially considering the Nord leaders ' unfair reputation as barbarians or uncivilized chieftains - was the formal structure of each Jarl ' s court . For while that hold ' s leader may be the one to sit on the throne , there is also a collection of functionaries who serve very specific and important roles . The court wizard counsels the Jarl in all matters magical , and may even sell services or spells to the keep ' s visitors . The Steward is the Jarl ' s primary advisor , and generally takes care of the more mundane aspects of running the keep , the city , or even the hold , depending on the situation . And woe is the fool who defies the Housecarl - a personal bodyguard who rarely leaves the Jarl ' s side , and has pledged to sacrifice his or her own life to save that of their honored leader , if ever the need should arrive . But as mighty and influential as each individual Jarl is , Skyrim ' s true power comes from the strength of its High King . The High King is ruler above all , and is always one of the Jarls , selected by a body called the " Moot " - a specially convened council of all the Jarls , who meet with the express purpose of choosing Skyrim ' s High King . Or so it is , in theory . The reality , however , is that the High King swears fealty to the Emperor , and as Solitude is the city most directly influenced by Imperial culture and politics , the Jarl of Solitude has served as High King for generations . The Moot , therefore , is more formality and theater than anything else . But as I prepared to leave Skyrim , I could feel a change in the air , sense the trepidation of some of the good Nord people . Many seemed unhappy with the Empire ' s continued presence in their land . And the outlawing of the worship of Talos as the Ninth Divine - a stipulation of the White - Gold Concordat , the peace treaty between the Empire and Aldmeri Dominion - has only strengthened that division . So while the Jarls of Skyrim still control their holds , and those Jarls are ruled over by their Imperial - sanctioned High King , will there come a day when the Moot convenes to select a new High King - one that is not , as many would say , the Emperor ' s " Solitude puppet " ? " " If that day comes , I will be thankful to be far away from Skyrim , in my own home of Hammerfell . For such a decision could well mean civil war , and I fear that such a conflict would tear the fierce and beautiful Nord people asunder .