Summary
Although there is plenty of dark lore in the series to inspire the rabid murder hobos or would-be evil emperors of the world for their next playthrough,The Elder Scrollsalso offers plenty of examples of brave, heroic, and law-abiding personalities, allowing players to live their fantasy of experiencing a world where (at least some of) those in charge are looking out for the little guy.
Lawful good types can seem a little stuck up and rigid, but these personalities strive for what’s best for everybody, and they also consider abiding by the law an important part of building a better tomorrow. In a world where the gods' blessings and dictates can be viscerally felt, frompowerful Aedric relics to their disease-curing shrines, it might be hard to argue with their pious and deferential worldviews.
Hieronymus Lex
The Do-Gooder Who Sometimes Goes Too Far
The leader of the city watch can come across as uptight and self-righteous; after all, the man’s name literally means “the law as written” in Latin. However, he has the best intentions, believes in honesty as a virtue, and genuinely wants to see the people of the Imperial City flourish. As a law-breaking thief inOblivion, it is, of course, very funny to see him fall on his face afterattempting to cross the Gray Foxand the influence of the Thieves' Guild.
Lex isn’t perfect by any means, and despite having high ideals for the city and its people, he lets his zeal for justice get in the way of winning the crowds over. For example, he punished the poorest citizens in the Imperial City for helping the Gray Fox by taxing them, which only incited a backlash and began his downfall. After being reassigned (thanks to the player’s meddling), Lex is still very well-liked and respected by the guards at Anvil.
Indoril Nerevar
Azura’s Favored Champion, Friend To The Ashlanders
While the Nerevar’s reincarnation, the Nerevarine, can be of any alignment they so wish, being the player’s avatar inMorrowind, Indoril Nerevar comes across as distinctly lawful good for a couple of reasons. Namely, Nerevar was fiercely loyal to Azura and was good to his people, the Ashlanders, and even the Dwemmer, with whom the Chimmer had a testy relationship. Like many Chimer, he considered the idea of attaining power and godhood through Kagrenac’s tools to be nothing short of blasphemy despite the benefits it could bring.
Upon securing the Dwemer tools, he made his advisors, Vivek, Almalexia (his wife), and Sotha Sil, swear never to use them shortly before he died (or before they murdered him,depending on the account), after which they broke their word and used the tools and Lorkhan’s heart to become living gods. Another indicator of Nerevar’s good heart is his weapon, Trueflame, which, according to Almalexia, had the power to “kill a god, if wielded by one with noble intent.”
Hadvar
A Soldier Of The Empire And Staunch Defender Of Its Virtues
The empire isn’t exactly in the best shape by the fourth era after its war with the Altmeri Dominion, but itstill does a lot of good(for example, banning slavery in Morrowind and mostly holding a tenuous peace to the continent). At least, that’s a viewpoint that Hadvar, one of the two Nord soldiers the player can side with during the opening ofSkyrim, might share.
Hadvar is a strong community figure and clearly winces when his duty to the legion conflicts with his desire for justice, as is the case when the Last Dragonborn is ordered to the chopping block right before Alduin shows up. Hadvar’s uncle, Alvor, shares this tendency for law-abiding altruism and shows kindness, even to strangers. When the Last Dragonborn arrives at Riverwood, he offers food, supplies, and access to anything they need to make their journey to Whiterun.
Percius Mercius
The Fighter’s Guild’s Dependable Moral Compass
If there is but one dependable and honest ally in the Fighter’s Guild, it’s good old Percius Mercius. Whereas some might view its membersas tactless glory hounds, Percius uses a particularly decerning eye when it comes to accepting contracts and acts as a reliable advisor to new members when they are asked to perform “questionable” jobs, such as slaying those who have not broken the law or performed no evil act.
Percius is put in a difficult position when his higher-ups and peers in the guild become corrupted by the influence of the Camonna Tong, an ultra-nationalist faction that seeks to purge Morrowind of non-slave outlanders. Thankfully, his great sense of good and obedience to the law override his deference to guild hierarchy. He ultimately assists the player in purging the guild and putting it under better management.
Gelebor
Knight Paladin Of The Chantry Of Auri-El
When fantasy fans think about lawful good characters, chances are, they’ll think of the oathkeeping palidin fromDungeons and Dragons.The Elder Scrollsseries has its own heavy-armored holy warriors, notably the Vigilants of Stendarr and the Order of the Lamp. But one character who directly refers to himself as a “knight paladin” is Gelebor, one of the twolast remaining snow elvesin existence, encountered inSkyrim’s “Dawnguard” DLC. Gelebor has been around for thousands of years, protecting a place reserved for those who wish to become enlightened.
While the rest of his people were hunted down and killed in their war with the Atmorans or twisted and blinded by the Dwemer, he remained dutifully bound to the Chantry of Auri-El, the same location as Auri-El’s bow. He offers this divine weapon to anyone who could put down his vampiric brother, who has become further corrupted by the Falmer. Gelebor is unable to do it himself because of his oath to protect the sanctuary.
Martin Septim
The Greatest Emperor That Never Was
Martin Septim, an illegitimate heir to the throne but of true Septim blood, lived his life as a priest of Akatosh in Kavatch before assassins murdered the emperor and Daedra destroyed his city. Upon finding out his true heritage, Martin moved to the defense of Tamriel againstthe Prince of Destruction, determined to help the Hero of Kavatch find a way to close shut the marble jaws of Oblivion.
Just as Mehrune Dagon breaks the liminal barriers between worlds and begins his conquest of Dawn’s Beauty, Martin transforms into a dragon avatar and puts Dagon in his place. What makes Martin’s demise at the end ofOblivionso tragic is that his lawful good disposition, piousness, modesty, and bravery would have made him an excellent emperor perhaps capable of ushering in a golden age for Tamriel.
