Part 3: Thane Tasks

Becoming a powerful and impressive member of Skyrim society culminates in the title “Thane.” Follow our advice, and your good deeds pay off in the form of a piece of property you can purchase (and decorate) in eight of the nine Holds. In most Holds, you also get the services of your own Housecarl, a follower who waits for you in the same building as the Jarl or at your house (after purchase). You can be a Thane of multiple Holds, but there is no bonus if you’re a Thane of Skyrim (that is, of all nine Holds).

Thane of Haafingar*

Part 1—Friend of the Jarl: Jarl Elisif the Fair is the leader of Solitude. You must have finished Side Quests: The Wolf Queen Awakened, which is related to her Hold. You must also have completed the task she set for you. See Miscellaneous Objectives: Elisif’s Tribute for more information.

Part 2—Friend of the City: You must now win the respect of the inhabitants of Solitude. Speak to Jarl Elisif, who asks you to assist the people of this Hold. Return to her once you’ve finished five (or more) Favors, tasks, or objectives that benefit the people. Consult the Miscellaneous Objectives and Favors sections of this guide, looking for “Solitude” as the location for tasks, Favors, and objectives.

Part 3—House in the City: Finally, you must purchase a piece of property in the city. Speak to the Jarl, and you’re informed that a house is for sale. You’re referred to Steward Falk Firebeard. The following residence is available:

• House Name: Proudspire Manor
• Cost: 25,000 gold pieces
• Key to Proudspire Manor

Visit the house and meet your Housecarl, Jordis the Sword-Maiden there. Return to the Jarl, who grants you the title of Thane and a reward. Guards in Haafingar now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of Haafingar (leveled enchanted sword)
• House: Proudspire Manor
• Follower: Jordis the Sword-Maiden

Thane of Hjaalmarch*

Part 1—Friend of the Jarl: You must first befriend the Jarl of Morthal, achieved by completing either of the following:

• Jarl Igrod Ravencrone is the leader of Morthal. In order to befriend her, you must finish Side Quests: Laid to Rest, which takes place in her Hold.
• Jarl Sorli the Builder is the leader of Morthal once it has fallen into Stormcloak hands. To start this task with Sorli, you must have captured Hjaalmarch Hold, as part of the Civil War Quests.

Part 2—Friend of the City: You must now win the respect of the inhabitants of Morthal. Speak to the Jarl, who asks you to assist the people of this Hold. Return to the Jarl once you’ve finished three (or more) Favors, tasks, or objectives that benefit the people. Consult the Miscellaneous Objectives and Favors sections of this guide, looking for “Morthal” as the location for tasks, Favors, and objectives.

Return to the Jarl, who grants you the title of Thane and a reward. Guards in Hjaalmarch now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of Hjaalmarch (Leveled Enchanted Sword)
• Follower: Valdimar

Part 3—Land in the Country: Although there is no house to purchase in this Hold, visit any settlement and look for a Courier to deliver a message stating that a plot of land has become available. Simply return to the Jarl’s steward, and tell them “I’d like to purchase a house.” There isn’t one available, but there is a plot of land. Agree to pay the 5,000 gold for it, and you receive a charter for the land in question. Your world map updates to show the location of your plot.

• Windstad Manor Charter (Hjaalmarch Hold)

Thane of The Pale*

Part 1—Friend of the Jarl: You must first befriend the Jarl of Dawnstar, achieved by completing either of the following:

• Jarl Skald the Elder is the leader of Dawnstar. You must have finished Daedric Quests: Waking Nightmare, which is related to his Hold. You must also have completed the task he set for you. See the “Favor: Jobs for the Jarls” section of this guide for more information.
• Jarl Brina Merilis is the leader of Dawnstar once it has fallen into Imperial hands. To start this task with Brina, you must have captured the Pale Hold, as part of the Civil War Quests.

Part 2—Friend of the City: You must now win the respect of the inhabitants of Dawnstar. Speak to the Jarl, who asks you to assist the people of this Hold. Return to the Jarl once you’ve finished three (or more) Favors, tasks, or objectives that benefit the people. Consult the Miscellaneous Objectives and Favors sections of this guide, looking for “Dawnstar” as the location for tasks, Favors, and objectives.

Return to the Jarl, who grants you the title of Thane and a reward. Guards in the Pale now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of the Pale (Leveled Enchanted Sword)
• Follower: Gregor

Part 3—Land in the Country: Although there is no house to purchase in this Hold, visit any settlement and look for a Courier to deliver a message stating that a plot of land has become available. Simply return to the Jarl, and tell them “I’d like to purchase a house.” There isn’t one available, but there is a plot of land. Agree to pay the 5,000 gold for it, and you receive a charter for the land in question. Your world map updates to show the location of your plot.

• Heljarchen Hall Charter (The Pale)

Thane of Winterhold*

Part 1—Friend of the Jarl: You must first befriend the Jarl of Winterhold, achieved by completing either of the following:

• Jarl Korir is the leader of Winterhold. You must have completed the task he set for you. See the “Favor: Jobs for the Jarls” section of this guide for more information.
• Jarl Kraldar is the leader of Winterhold once it has fallen into Imperial hands. To start this task with Kraldar, you must have captured Winterhold Hold, as part of the Civil War Quests.

Part 2—Friend of the City: You must now win the respect of the inhabitants of Winterhold. Speak to the Jarl, who asks you to assist the people of this Hold. Return to the Jarl once you’ve finished three (or more) Favors, tasks, or objectives that benefit the people. Consult the Miscellaneous Objectives and Favors sections of this guide, looking for “Winterhold” as the location for tasks, Favors, and objectives.

Return to the Jarl, who grants you the title of Thane and a reward. Guards in Winterhold now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of Winterhold (Leveled Enchanted Sword)

Thane of the Reach*

Part 1—Friend of the Jarl: You must first befriend the Jarl of Markarth, achieved by completing either of the following:

• Jarl Igmund is the leader of Markarth. You must have finished both the tasks he set for you. See the “Favor: Jobs for the Jarls” section of this guide for more information.
• Jarl Thongvor Silver-Fish is the leader of Markarth once it has fallen into Stormcloak hands. To start this task with Thongvor, you must have captured the Reach Hold as part of the Civil War Quests.

Part 2—Friend of the City: You must now earn the respect of the inhabitants of Markarth. Speak to the Jarl, who asks you to assist the people of this Hold. Return to the Jarl once you’ve finished five (or more) Favors, tasks, or objectives that benefit the people. Consult the Miscellaneous Objectives and Favors of this guide, looking for “Markarth” as the location for tasks, Favors, and objectives.

Part 3—House in the City: Finally, you must purchase a piece of property in the city. Speak to the Jarl, and you’re informed that a house is for sale. You’re referred to the Steward: Raerek (Jarl Igmund) or Reburrus Quintilius (Jarl Thongvor). The following residence is available:

• House Name: Vlindrel Hall
• Cost: 8,000 gold pieces
• Key to Vlindrel Hall

Visit the house and meet your Housecarl, Argis the Bulwark. Return to the Jarl, who grants you the title of Thane and a reward. Guards in the Reach now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of the Reach (Leveled Enchanted Axe)
• House: Vlindrel Hall
• Follower: Argis the Bulwark

Thane of Whiterun*

Part 1—Dragon Rising: Jarl Balgruuf the Greater is the leader of Whiterun. When you aid his soldiers in fending off the dragon attack in Main Quest: Dragon Rising, he proclaims you Thane as a reward for your heroism. Your new Housecarl, Lydia, will wait for you in Dragonsreach until you find a home in the city. Guards in Whiterun will now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of Whiterun (Leveled Enchanted Axe)
• Follower: Lydia

Part 2—House in the City: Although not required to become Thane of Whiterun, you can still purchase a house in the city. Speak to the Jarl, and you’re informed that a house is for sale. You’re referred to the Steward, Proventus Avenicci (Jarl Balgruuf) or Brill (Jarl Vignar). The following residence is available:

• House Name: Breezehome
• Cost: 5,000 gold pieces
• Key to Breezehome

Visit the house, where Lydia can now be found when not fighting at your side.

• House: Breezehome
• House Name: Breezehome
• Cost: 5,000 gold pieces

Thane of Eastmarch*

Part 1—Friend of the Jarl: You must first befriend the Jarl of Windhelm, achieved by completing either of the following:

• Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak is the leader of Windhelm. You must have conquered both Whiterun and Falkreath Holds for the Stormcloaks in order to become firm friends with him.
• Jarl Brunwulf Free-Winter is the leader of Windhelm once it has fallen into Imperial hands. To start this task with Brunwulf, you must have captured Windhelm in the culmination of the Civil War Quests.

Part 2—Friend of the City: You must now win the respect of the inhabitants of Windhelm. Speak to the Jarl, who asks you to assist the people of this Hold. Return to the Jarl once you’ve finished five (or more) Favors, tasks, or objectives that benefit the people. Consult the Miscellaneous Objectives and Favors sections of this guide, looking for “Windhelm” as the location for tasks, Favors, and objectives.

Part 3—House in the City: Finally, you must purchase a piece of property in the city. Once Side Quests: Blood on the Ice sends you to Hjerim, speak to the Jarl, and you’re informed that the house is for sale. You’re referred to the Steward, Jorleif (Jarl Ulfric), or Captain Lonely-Gale (Jarl Brunwulf). The following residence is available:

• House Name: Hjerim
• Cost: 12,000 gold pieces
• Key to Hjerim

Visit the house and meet your Housecarl, Calder. Return to the Jarl, who grants you the title of Thane and a reward. Guards in Eastmarch now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of Eastmarch (Leveled Enchanted Axe)
• House: Hjerim
• Follower: Calder

Thane of Falkreath*

Part 1—Friend of the Jarl: You must first befriend the Jarl of Falkreath, achieved by completing either of the following:

• Jarl Siddgeir is the leader of Falkreath. You must have completed the two tasks he set for you. See the “Favor: Jobs for the Jarls” and “Favor: Rare Item Hunt” sections for details.
• Jarl Dengeir of Stuhn is the leader of Falkreath once it has fallen into Stormcloak hands. To start this task with Dengeir, you must have captured Falkreath as part of the Civil War Quests.

Part 2—Friend of the City: You must now win the respect of the inhabitants of Falkreath. Speak to the Jarl, who asks you to assist the people of this Hold. Return to the Jarl once you’ve finished three (or more) Favors, tasks, or objectives that benefit the people. Consult the Miscellaneous Objectives and Favors of this guide looking for “Falkreath” as the location for tasks, Favors, and objectives:

Return to the Jarl, who grants you the title of Thane and a reward. Guards in Falkreath now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of Falkreath (Leveled Enchanted Sword)
• Follower: Valdimar

Part 3—Land in the Country: Although there is no house to purchase in this Hold, visit any settlement and look for a Courier to deliver a message stating that a plot of land has become available. This usually happens when you reach Level 9, whether you’ve completed any Thane Tasks or not. Once you’ve completed the previous parts, return to the Jarl’s steward, and tell them “I’d like to purchase a house.” There isn’t one available, but there is a plot of land. Agree to pay the 5,000 gold for it, and you receive a charter for the land in question. Your world map updates to show the location of your plot.

• Lakeview Manor Charter (Hjaalmarch Hold)

Thane of the Rift*

Part 1—Friend of the Jarl: You must first befriend the Jarl of Riften, achieved by completing either of the following:

• Jarl Laila Law-Giver is the leader of Riften. You befriend her as part of the ‘Deal with the Skooma Trade’ objectives (Part 3).
• Jarl Maven Black-Briar is the leader of Riften once it has fallen into Imperial hands. To start this task with Maven, you must have captured Riften as part of the Civil War Quests.

Part 2—Friend of the City: You must now win the respect of the inhabitants of Riften. Speak to the Jarl, who asks you to assist the people of this Hold. Return to the Jarl once you’ve finished five (or more) Favors, tasks, or objectives that benefit the people. Consult the Miscellaneous Objectives and Favors sections of this guide, looking for “Riften” as the location for tasks, Favors, and objectives.

Part 3—Deal with the Skooma Trade: Three of the Miscellaneous Objectives in Riften form a mini-questline in which you uncover the skooma trade in the city and deal with it. You must complete the objectives:

• “Helping Hand”
• “The Raid”
• “Supply and Demand”

Note that the first two objectives do contribute toward the “Part 2—Friend of the City” portion of the Thane Quest (in case you haven’t done enough yet).

Part 4—House in the City: Finally, you must purchase a piece of property in the city. Speak to the Jarl, and you’re informed that a House is for sale. You’re referred to the Steward, Anuriel (Jarl Laila) or Hemming Black-Briar (Jarl Maven). The following residence is available:

• House Name: Honeyside
• Cost: 8,000 gold pieces
• Key to Honeyside

Visit the house and meet your Housecarl, Iona. Return to the Jarl, who grants you the title of Thane and a reward. Guards in the Rift now ignore one crime as long as your Bounty is less than 2,000.

• Thane Title
• Blade of the Rift (Leveled Enchanted Sword)
• House: Honeyside
• Follower: Iona