Grelod the Kind, That hag "An extra beating to those that don't finish their chores", extra, meaning she beats them anyway.. those poor children. Fortunately a fine upstanding argonian like myself did a public service by sending her to Sithis.

Oh they just have no class. Very uncivilised

Just met Fjola for the first time, she's all right! I was a bit torn as to whether to kill her anyway, because she had some NICE armour (IA) but I decided to leave her be.

I think I ticked Grelod, although I guess either Eola or Potema should probably come ahead of her (although tbh the shackles in the 'lavatory' are pretty darned disturbing...)

Is it bad that I'm not familiar with Potema? I'd read more in-game books, but my current character can't read.

Look at like this, would it be more screwed up if Eola ate you after you died or your kids went with Grelod to be beaten and starved on a daily basis? She not only mistreats them physically but mentally as well, reminding them that they will never be adopted and crushing their hopes and dreams along with their little bodies...waaay more messed up then eating people imo as the victims get killed and eaten, not abused to death.

I think people don't notice the details in the orphanage like the shackles on the wall with the bucket.

Have you not attended court in the Blue Palace? There's 2 quests involving Potema and you have to finish the first and level up before you get offered the 2nd.

Yeah, pretty much. She's vile and awful in an ENTIRELY REAL WORLD sort of way

I did those quests on my very first playthroughs, but I don't remember anything about a 'Potema'. I only remember clearing Wolfskull Cave, and traversing through cold mountains in search of a shrine of Talos.

Potema's the disembodied voice in Wolfskull Cave that the necromancers are trying to resurrect/trap - I can't remember but I think she was a long-ago queen who Went A Bit Wrong?

Exactly, she's just cruel in a way that I can't forgive...even in the real world someone like Eola wouldn't bother me nearly as much as a Grelod would unless Eola ate kids which she doesn't.

Potema is a.k.a the Wolf Queen

She was a power hungry necromancer who craved the crown, I don't understand why she's scoring so high here.

Squares.

She's basically a former Queen of Solitude, and one of the most powerful necromancers in recorded history. She led a rebellion against the emperor, her cousin, in the second century of the Third Era, with an army of Daedra and undead. Her court was composed entirely of rotting flesh, vampires, and thralls, and she killed thousands of her own citizens to fill her ranks.

Because she saw her citizens in the same way that Justin Bieber would see parking attendants, if Justin Bieber had an assault rifle and diplomatic immunity

Wow! I clearly need to read more. Thanks guys.

Heh, I need to read less. But you're welcome

Potema would be my choice were it not for the ironic and demented situation of Babette. Leaders' taking control of the populace using necromancy in TES is common but still warped. A little girl who is actually an old woman/vampire/assassin is certainly much more warped than most of what I've experienced in the games save for SI.

Potema, because she was an insane necromancer who almost succeeded in toppling the Empire.

ha yep

So that's somehow more messed up then a woman who gets her kicks torturing orphaned children all day? Potema was sick but can't compete with Grelod imo.

Grelod.

I can morally justify every single other woman on that list. Grelod however, is the only person in any TES game that I can genuinely consider "evil." And I do not use that word lightly, ever.

I think most others concur. My highest viewed topic ever made was titled, "Morality and Grelod the "Kind"" at 2491 views.

No votes for Maven? I'm shocked.

Anyway, the problem with most of them is either greed or disregard for human life. Eola takes it one step further by being a cannibal, so I voted for her.

But they're all pretty messed up and it's a tough choice.

Maven is just a powerful person set on maintaining her little "empire" with whatever means available. She's not nice, but she's no worse than many powerful men (in tamriel and our world).

Regarding Eola: generally humans have a VERY strong taboo against eating their own. There are a couple exceptions, but even then it's surrounded by rituals and considered an act of magic (like certain tribes eating their fallen enemies). Eola (and the other cannibals) has for some reason stepped over this line. It's not like stepping over a line to commit a crime, or hit your child, or use drugs, or do something else that you know you shouldn't, is restricted by law and that people would dislike or even condemn if they knew. This is about stepping over a very strong boundary: you don't eat your own species.

Grelod is pure evil, I can agree with that (even though I can't help but wonder why she turned out like that. I suspect her own childhood was similar). Potema as well. But the twistedness of seeming quite normal and then turn out to be a cannibal gets Eola my vote (together with Lisbet and the rest of the crew).

It's a bit worse than her lack of charisma.

Hemming: "There's still the matter of the prisoner to discuss. Now, his family is willing to contribute handsomely if we release him."

Maven: "The execution will proceed as planned."
Hemming: "But, mother... this is quite a sizable contribution and the crime doesn't befit such a harsh punishment."
Maven: "Are you going soft on me, Hemming? Perhaps I made the wrong choice installing you as steward."
Hemming: "No, mother. The execution will proceed as planned."

As far as I'm concerned, that dialogue proves Aurora Winter's point. Executions have been regularly carried out by male characters throughout Tamriel for centuries. Killing people to send a message or to prove one's strength has been the modus operandi of many, many leaders. But if a female character orders an execution she is "twisted."

If I'm asked to compare executions to cannibalism, I'd say cannibalism is worse.

Easy with the feminazism.

You don't know me, and I certainly wouldn't have changed a word if we were talking about a male character.

And of course, my point rather was about arguing that Maven deserves more votes than comparing her to Eola.

Grelod. Anyone who gets their kick by abusing orphans is.. I can't even find the word. I'd gladly go to prison just to slit her throat.

Exactly. I'm not saying Maven is a good person - she's cold-hearted, calculating and ruthless, and I would have considered her just as cold-hearted, calculating and ruthless is she had been a male. But twisted? Warped? Nah.