Thane of Hjaalmarch is the title granted by the Jarl of Morthal, the small and gloomy capital of the marshy Hjaalmarch. Compared with Eastmarch it is cheap and easy: there is no house to buy, and only three citizens need your help. The catch is that Morthal is small and dangerous, so the pool of people you can help shrinks quickly if you leave it too late.
How to start
The Jarl will only offer the title after you have gained their trust through the quest Laid to Rest, which begins when you investigate the burned-down house in Morthal. The quest infobox lists beginning Laid to Rest as the prerequisite, while the walkthrough describes finishing it and the quests that follow; to be safe, plan on completing it. The Jarl is Idgrod Ravencrone by default, or Sorli the Builder if the Stormcloaks have taken Hjaalmarch in the civil war. Talk to the Jarl in Highmoon Hall and they will offer the title in exchange for helping three people of the hold.
Walkthrough
Assist three citizens of Hjaalmarch
Complete favours for any three of these people:
- Benor (Morthal): beat him in a brawl.
- Gestur Rockbreaker (Stonehills): mine some iron ore for him.
- Hroggar (Morthal): chop wood for him.
- Jorgen (Morthal): chop wood for him.
- Idgrod the Younger (Morthal): deliver a letter to Danica Pure-Spring at the Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun.
- Gorm (Morthal): deliver a message to Captain Aldis in Solitude (For the Good of Morthal). On PC this is reported not to count.
- Lami (Morthal): find a copy of Song of the Alchemists. Reported not to count, and neither does investing in her shop.
The safest picks are Benor, Gestur, Hroggar, Jorgen and Idgrod the Younger. Chopping wood for Hroggar and Jorgen can both be done with the woodcutting block in town.
Return to the Jarl
Once three favours are done, the objective updates. Speak to the Jarl again to be named Thane of Hjaalmarch.
Rewards
- The title of Thane of Hjaalmarch
- The Blade of Hjaalmarch
- Valdimar as your housecarl (requires the Hearthfire add-on)
Tips and notes
- Hjaalmarch has no house for sale in Morthal itself. With Hearthfire, the steward Aslfur can sell you land instead, where you can build Windstad Manor. You do not need to finish the three favours first: ask Aslfur about buying a house and he will explain that none are available but offer the land.
- Like Falkreath, Hjaalmarch can become hard to complete late in the game because some citizens may have died, especially with the Dawnguard add-on and its vampire attacks on towns. Tackle it early.
- If the Stormcloaks replace Idgrod with Sorli, the title is offered by Sorli instead.
