Jod is a Nord warrior who serves as housecarl to Skald the Elder, the jarl of Dawnstar, and also commands the town’s guard. He takes both jobs very seriously, which is exactly why he and his jarl don’t always see eye to eye.
Where to find them
While Skald holds power, Jod sticks close to him in The White Hall, the jarl’s longhouse in Dawnstar. He is always essential, so he can’t be killed. If the Imperial Legion takes Dawnstar during the Civil War, Jod follows his deposed jarl into exile, where you can meet the bitter Dishonored Skald. There, Jod gets noticeably frostier towards you, especially if you helped the Imperials.
Personality & relationships
Jod has history that colours his outlook. He used to be an Imperial Legionnaire and fought against the Thalmor on a ship during the Great War. Unlike Skald, who never misses a chance to rant about the Empire, Jod remembers how bravely Legion soldiers fight and warns that their stubbornness is the stuff of legend.
That makes him the voice of caution at court. He repeatedly pushes Skald to stop sending more and more of Dawnstar’s guards to the front, arguing that glory means nothing if there is no home left to come back to. He also predicts a long, grinding war. Skald, predictably, waves him off and tells him to stop being so gloomy – while also, somewhat comically, deciding that fewer people fighting just means more glory to go around.
In exile, Jod admits that losing Dawnstar is hard on Skald but also means fewer headaches for him personally, and he advises Imperials to keep their distance from his easily upset jarl.
Good to know
Jod is a good example of how Skyrim’s Civil War is not simply Nords versus Empire: a Stormcloak jarl’s own right-hand man still has a lot of respect for the Stormcloaks‘ enemy. Siding with the Legion and taking the Pale will change his attitude towards you quite a bit.
Quick facts
- Race: Nord
- Gender: Male
- Level: levels with you (x1)
- Class: Warrior
- Status: Essential
- Found in: Dawnstar
- Base ID: 00013618
Also in Dawnstar
Karita (Bard), Karl, Leigelf, Lond, Madena, Ravam Verethi, Rustleif, Seren, Silus Vesuius, Stig Salt-Plank, Thoring, Zaynabi.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.