I chose Jaxsik-Orrn as well. While i love the Naga-kur tribe, I don't think she would've been as great a tender for the new Hist as Xukas would be. His much more gentle personality seemed like a wiser choice to lead the new tribe, while Jaxsik's personality is better suited as a leader that many will follow in the task I sent her away for. (Also, I loved it when she showed her vulnerable side when saying goodbye to Xukas, easily one of my favorite characters.)

It was honestly quite a hard choice as I weighed both sides of the scales, but eventually came to the decision I did. (My argonian on the other hand will choose Xukas and have Jaxsik-Orrn lead the new tribe, just to see the difference.)

All lizards are the same to me..

Jaxsik here too; both of them seemed capable of bringing the tribe back, but I figured Xukas' diplomacy would be needed to help them get on their feet. Jaxsik didn't really have the inter-tribal skills for that.

I was a little disappointed we didn't get to ask her what she wanted us to make out of her corpse though.

Something jaxsik says after everything is over and xukas disappears into the tree...

“Me: What about dead water? Will you leave your village?
J: My soul left the village as soon as our journey began. I am no longer a dead water kaal. Other saxhleel will find their way here, just as I did. I will try to lead them as Xukas would - with wisdom and cleverness. I hope I am equal to the task.
Me: So you’ll welcome outsiders?
J: With caution. I have learned that an ally gained can be greater than a hundred enemies slain. But there are still those who would harm us. Though my hand extends, Tsojei remains by my side.”

Xukas is more valuable to Murkmire alive than dead, as his strengths are better suited to bringing the Argonians together.

Jaksik was already at the end of her journey and joining with the Hist gave her the death she needed. The eventual death as the leader would not have been for her.

I had a really hard time making this decision, but ultimately it came down to the advice the spirit guide gives us about how each potential choice will determine the characteristics the new tribe takes on. My main is a lighthearted, True Neutral Stamblade who places a large value on cleverness and charm. That choosing Xukas meant effectively imbuing the new tribe with those cultural features was an easy choice. Likewise, I felt like people throughout Murkmire would honor the new tribe knowing that Xukas was a 'piece' of every clutch and would eventually be born into it again. I also felt like Jaxsik had grown a lot through this quest and had genuinely become a leader capable of leading a tribe. While I do think Xukas probably would have been a 'better' tribe leader, given his diplomatic connections, he was the better spiritual leader and that role felt more important to me as it determined the entire culture of the new tribe.