Maven Black-Briar becomes the Jarl of Riften when the Legion is sided with, she is probably one of the most corrupt government officials I've seen in Skyrim. She controls everything, she is not just, and the only reason she let her son get arrested was becuase she wanted to teach him to kill people more quietly. She has the full support of the Empire, not only that but she has ties with the Dark Brotherhood, and Thieves Guild, if you ask me, most, if not all, of the imperial Jarls are in their position because they seek power and power alone, where the Stormcloaks wish to help the people of their hold. Another example is Jarl Sidgeir.
It wouldn't be necessary to say Torygg was a bad king. All they'd need to do is place some doubt-worthy breadcrumbs. From where I stand right now, the narrative is loaded against the Stormcloaks; something like a line about garrisoning Imperial troops or something could have balanced that out.
That's not a point. Lots of people can do lots of things. Not all of those things can or should be used in an honorable duel. Torygg knew Ulfric had the Thu'um, but why would he assume that he would use it in a duel?
Again (and touching on Zach's point), it could have been sorted with one line of dialogue from one NPC saying "And Torygg didn't even get his ward up before..." and boom. It's not a question of murdere/userper vs freedom fighter, it's a question of Skyrim's rights vs. Imperial law.
...Weren't you just decrying seeking after power? What does he need influence for? The only person who backs him up is his wife, even as he tries to spread paranoia about the College (granted that it may have totally been to blame for Winterholds destruction...decades before Korir became Jarl). Basically, it feels like he harps on his people, more than he helps them.
Yes I was, but in the case of Winterhold he is just looking to get it noticed again. Aside from the College, the city has literally nothing. The people of Skyrim make no mention of the capitol or hold itself save for carriage drivers taking you there or when you ask to learn more about magic to an innkeeper.
People in Skyrim rarely mention any location other than Solitude, Windhelm or Helgen, so that's not unusual. Actually, it's the contrary, since more than one NPC directs you to Winterhold to seek out the College. And then there's the College. Korir's paranoia hasn't been justified in decades (and, funnily enough, would remain unjustified without the player character's intervention). He should be embracing the College and supporting it.
I want to note that I don't think this makes him a bad guy (certainly not compared to the other Jarls we've mentioned so far). But I am saying that he doesn't have his peoples' best interests at heart.
Lol. Well he blames the College for the fall of Winterhold despite having absolutely no evidence. And will even say that you will have blood on your hands if you show a desire to join the College. That's less me holding a grudge and more of a literal definition of the word 'ignorant'.