danfalleh

Mistwatch is unfortunately also quest related. You can free some guy from Whiterun there. He's in captivity of the Thalmor Err.... I believe you are talking about Northwatch Keep. Mistwatch also has a quest in it - you are to release a kidnapped wife of someone (not sure I did that one), but I think that's much easier to deal with than Civil War or Companions stuff (or that Thalmor lot you mentioned). I'm basing intel on Mistwatch on UESP.net mostly, as I've never investigated the site much. However the quest to release Thorald Gray-Mane is definitely in Northwatch Keep on the opposite end of Skyrim. Mistwatch is on the border of the Rift and Eastmarch, near Darkwater Crossing.

Helgen may be part of falkreath, but you could start a little rebellion in which you fight some men from falkreath. You win the battle, you proclaim Helgen independent and everyone just has to accept it. Considering the Jarl is the laziest man on earth, you also could just buy it after you've defeated the bandits. And you store your own men in Helgen you are pretty much the warlord of that area. So you aren't really a Jarl then as you said, but you can act like one. Sitting on a throne like a lazy badass, visit your armory, craft some incredible weapons, maybe even a Dwemer elevator to Blackreach can be installed? It would also be cool if you could challenge the Jarl to a duel. if you win, you're the Jarl. He's angry and will send some assassin's after you, but still, you're a badass dragonborn, you defeat them and you are Jarl of Falkreath. But warlord of Helgen seems a bit more suitable considering the adventerous ambiance of skyrim. Come to think of it, 'Warlord' sounds tougher then 'Jarl'. But still, a 'Helgen Revisited' would be awesome. Or otherwise the castle from Beauty and the Beast. That's a really good idea. Especially given the fact that Helgen was intact in the first place, so you should have all the bits and pieces to do it :-)

Hi, I'd go for Mistwatch if I were you. While slightly off main roads gives good chance to make a sensible centre for local folk, and there's a hamlet / mine nearby that could be involved in your idea. Fort Amol and Fort Greenwall are involved in Civil War, Faldar's Tooth, Bloodlet Throne in Companions questline. Robber's Gorge looks nice if you intend to go with 'create a fort from scratch' idea. It definitely makes sense if you look for a lot of work for yourself :-) That's a nice idea in general so I hope you do well with it :-) Greets