In all fairness to Tulius, he does listen to and respect Legate Rikke. He didn't understand the significance of the Jagged Crown, but was willing to trust her word that it was important. He doesn't understand nords, but he's at least willing to try.
The Fourth Era in particular is something of an apocalyptic period where the world was experiencing an almost biblical array of plagues chastisements. Environmental disasters, wars and supernatural events would destroy a city or region on an almost regular basis. The event that started it was the oblivion crisis, where the gates of hell were literally unleashed on the world. The red mountain eruption laid absolute waste to vardenfell, Orsinium is destroyed, Wayrest was scourged, Winterhold collapses into the sea. The political instability of the empire is only a factor among many that contributes to the dread of what the future holds for the world. In many ways I think this is why Skyrim remains so popular a decade later, because it's relatable to the fears and anxieties we face now while also highlighting and appreciating the simple beauties of life.
When you take the time to listen to the Emperor during the Dark Brotherhood questline, he says straight up that he wants to have you get rid of him. It's his entire plan to have that happen as he knows how unpopular he is, so he decides to be a martyr. He also asks you to get rid of the person who hired you in the first place.
He is underrated. I played legends for more lore and damn, the Great War was bad. They were fighting Altmer and daedra while the Khajiit and Bosmer were most likely staying as a border guard and policing their homeland. If the empire fought on, their may have been new armies of much more populous cats and bosmer An emperor who had to fight against a general who could see his plans deserves respect
I think that Uriel Septim knew already that the empire will soon begin to colapse like the other 2 or 3 times. But i'am sure it that it will rise again
One thing you didn't mention: The nords had other gods before talos. I hate how no one in Skyrim recognizes this. It would've been so good to see nords worship the old gods and get mad at the stormcloaks for trying to erase them in favor of an emperor. Absolute missed opportunity.
I think the Stormcloaks were meant to worship the old gods at an earlier time since Stormcloak soldiers will cry out, "For Shor!" Unfortunately, having both the old gods and the Imperial cult represented in Skyrim (like how both the Tribunal and Imperial cult were represented in Morrowind) would be too complicated for Emil Pagliarulo or however his last name should be spelled. 😢
To play devil’s advocate; it is extremely common for subjugated people to adopt the given empire’s religion (that’s how Europe became Christian). And it gives the empiric regions more variety when some of them completely adopt the emperial cult instead of every single one having the cult and their own religion like morrowind. Though it would have been cool to see some old god worshipping nords to be angry at Ulfric
There are characters who worship the old gods, but it's mostly bandits and that one hunter guy. They've been forced out of society because of their outdated beliefs.
The defeat of Ulfric at the start of the game was almost certainly due to the overwhelming presence of Imperial spies, because Tullius defeated the Stormcloak army in ambush and immediately departed for Helgen and summary execution. It was here where Elenwen arrived, clearly wanting to stop him, the better to drag out the war (something restored to the game in Cutting Room floor). As for General Tullius, he certainly possesses the cultural superiority of the Cyrodiilics in spades, and he's certainly arrogant enough about his empire for a whole company of legionnaires. But he's also very open and honest when he doesn't understand the Nord culture (this being all the time). But he's wise enough to know he needs Nords and understands the need to liase with them properly, hence, his employment of Legate Rikke as his right hand. He reaches out and employs strategy tempered by Rikke, so he gets to mix a good blend of the two societies.
@@trannigan3349 I mean Ulfric is the only decent somewhat good Stormcloaks. Others like his right hand the bear guy something is just all about kicking Imperial Legion out. Made it hard to me to like the Stormcloaks in my Stormcloaks run, compared to my Imperial run where Tullius and Rikke fleshed out Imperial Legion better. The only Stormcloaks run I enjoy is playing High Elf Thalmor saboteur infiltrating Stormcloaks run and made them drive Imperial Legion away to soften up Skyrim for High ELf supremacy muhahahhaah
My theory was that he sensed a dragon like being in the city and went their to resurrect it. We’ve seen him doing that in game by shouting. Little did he know that the being wasn’t a dragon spirit in the normal sense and that by him shouting to awaken what he thought was a dragon, he instead awoke your dovakin abilities that had been dormant. He quickly realized his mistake (which is why he starts saying Dovakin during the attack) and tried to kill you.
He re-emerged at the same place. He was displaced from time. That being at the throat of the world and helgan is the closest town besides iverstead. It's likely he just happened to choose helgan
@@RenegadeElite101 That makes the most sense, tbh. Alduin didn't even know who the DB was, he sensed a dragon soul & just started blasting away. Up until the DB became a menace killing the rezzed dragons, did he finally "notice" us a threat.
Yeah, he got sent back, and then immediately flew down from the throat of the world and started trying to resurrect the dragons but it was the dragonborn in helgen, not a dragonbarrow
I still think Elisif being the only jarl who stays in place no matter who wins has to mean something. It also helps that she's a vacuous bimbo who will serve the *real* leader while being the adorable figurehead. If the Stormcloaks win, they'll probably put her on the throne and then work out a better deal with the Empire as a condition of either rejoining or an alliance against the Thalmor. They might even work something out with Hammerfell and High Rock. If the Empire wins, it's status quo, but they'll also be forced to work something out with Hammerfell since the Thalmor are definitely coming back for Round 2.
Hammerfell is independent in name. It's probably not hostile to the empire considering that during the Great war, a health amount of the legion was discharged and went back to hammerfell "against orders" to defend it from the Aldmeri, and they suceeded in doing so, as the empire managed to halt them in hammerfell and rally to retake the imperial city. The Empire survived the oblivion crisis, it'll survive and emperor hiring assassins to kill himself as a false flag to unify the empire.
Hammerfell is factually independent as it was abandoned by the empire and signed a new treaty with the thalmor that removes their presence from the country. The same book that speaks about the “invalids” also says that Hammerfell is angry at the empire for betraying it. They’re definitely not on good terms with each other.
Hammerfell and Cyrodiil definitely have some sort of understanding and are up to something considering the close connections they forged together while fighting.
@@teyrncousland7152I'd imagine they are on good terms since the dominion is directly to the south, it's clear that the empire aided hammerfell during it's five year war with the dominion and trade is probably quite profitable between the two, some redguards may have a negative opinion of the empire but I'd imagine most see it as an ally against the aldmeri dominion which they have far more reason to hate
Reasons for other races to join the Stormcloaks Redguards = Sees an alliance with a Stormcloak Skyrim as the best option against the Dominion. Dunmer and Argonions = To prove to the Nords that they are deserving of living along side them in Skyrim and to prove to their fellows that the only way to earn the respect of the Nords is to work for it and not sit on their hands complaining about it. Orcs = An opportunity to fight great foes like the Empire and Dominion and improve relations with the Nords. Imperials and Bretons = Fells betrayed by the Empire and wish to fight the Dominion without the bureaucracy and red tape. Altmer, Bosmer and Khajiit = Refuges from the Dominion's tyranny in their respected home land and wish to liberate their homes at a later date and and don't want to draw the attention of the Imperial authorities and the Thalmor in their shadows, hoping that soon the Nords will help liberate their home as they help liberate Skyrim.
@@james739123 I haven't really pay attention myself, but according to elderscrolls fandom wiki, it seems that every dark elves in the grey quarter has a job Edit: in [ ], change from "has" to "have" Edit 2: Revert changes above
To the absolute credit of the imperials, they willingly denied their former living God. In a setting where the gods actually interface with the Earth, I would argue that's basically a death sentence for your culture to deny your God. Without Talos what is the empire?
@@QueenAleenaFan at the cost of a longer war that for them looked impossible to win looking back yes it would have been rough and very difficult but a sliver of possible you keep your teeth so you can fight later the empire has talos worshippers within its ranks and past the public facade allows talos worship
@@banegas0411 I don't think you understand the significance of a sitting ruler who has an association with that God denying it. This isn't like oh say Islamic people invading the Vatican and making the pope deny the trinity. They literally get provable power from that God and they denied him
@@QueenAleenaFan imperial power comes from akatosh and the dragonborn dynasty Talos as a god has shown practically 0 interference everything and 100% of everything he has ever done for the empire was when he was alive
@@alexanderb5726 Nothing, I am just trying to get Nord fanboys mad lol. I know he was talking about the Nord legionaries actions in the Battle of Red Ring. I just find it funny that despite Nords having the numbers over the Orcs, both races having a similar warrior culture, and fighting style, lore wise the Orcs seem to get more praise as legionaries then even the Nords do. With them being described as being the "among the finest/best front-line troops in the Empire". Which seems to be the case since in the beginning of the Fourth Era, when Orsinium was sacked for one millionth time by Hammerfell and High Rock. The Imperial Legion actually sided with the Orcs, so those green skinned warriors and smiths have to be worth the investment if the Empire were willing to piss of two of thier vassal provinces.
Morrowind didn't go through the Red Year until 5 years after Oblivion Crisis. It might as well have happened back to back, but it technically didn't. Hammerfell didn't demand to become independent. Hammerfell kept fighting, and to avoid round two immediately, the Empire let go of their claim to it. They also conveniently relieved all Redguards in the Legion and gave them free passage back to Hammerfell. Still not a great move, but one that allowed the Empire to catch their breath while letting Hammerfell give the Dominion a bloody nose at worst, or the gutting they actually gave the Dominion. I don't remember if Morrowind is part of the Empire or not as the events of Skyrim, but Morrowind has always been self governed since it joined the Empire under Tiber Septum. The Empire is more than likely doomed either way. I don't see it surviving much longer after the Second Great War. As long as the Dominion falls, it doesn't matter to me. I just see the Empire having a better chance at doing that.
@@teyrncousland7152The empire isn't the united states federal government and the provinces are pretty independent only really having to contribute to the imperial legion, give some tax revenue to the imperial city and not attack other imperial territories and in exchange they get imperial arbitration on border disputes with other imperial territories and the protection of the imperial legion, ultimately skyrim is not only better off as part of the empire but is an integral part of it, I don't like comparing the stormcloaks to al-qaeda or the islamic state because whatever you think of ulfric and his guys and gals they aren't depraved savages but the whole stormcloak revolt and the dominions involvement in it is very similar to CIA support for various sunni fundamentalist terror groups that are opposed to american rivals like russia, iran and china irl
If the empire was smart they throw themselves in support of Ulfric as not only would Ulfric probably create more users of the thum, but it would ultimately preserve their power in the region especially if the legion is allowed to continue recruiting, training, and garrisoning troop in Skyrim while they prepare for the next Great War.
The Thum is something that only a handful of folks seem to be able to learn/the time it takes to learn is too great. Ulfric is one of 4 people we can encounter not counting thouse who live in the throat of the world or dragonborn who can use it. It may be something that you have to have a talent for it and swordplay to be able to use. If the empire fully pushed for that in Skyrim they would A. Get the grey beards/parthanax to support the program because they are the only ones who have it mastered to the point of teaching it. B get the few soldiers who have the talent to support it from a young age to spend 10 plus years away learning it as its implied that Ulfric learned it while he was young by the greybeards comments on it. It's not practical for them to do this kind of program at the same time as they are modernizing the armies with the new gear and tactics as stated in a few books in skyrim.
While I’ve leaned more toward staying out of the war with each new run of Skyrim, I think the big picture stuff you’ve lined up here is why I’m still sort of Stormcloak at heart. Ultimately my stake in the conflict is just being anti-Thalmor, and while neither side is in a particularly good position to stand against them if they straight up win the civil war, I like Ulfric’s chances better than those of the waning empire in obvious fear of the Thalmor deciding their toes have been stepped on and burning Tamriel down all over again. Feel like that’s an important thing to note about the Imperials: though there’s just as much resentment of the Aldmeri Dominion going around on their side, the one guys in charge don’t exactly have a [redacted] to complete the historical parallels and rally into another Great War. Well, I guess Ulfric counts, but he’s not on their side. Point is that the Imperials best positioned to start that second war are instead putting out fires and trying to keep their heads down around the elves who are really in charge.
This seems to happen every age the empire gets fucked up and then bounces back and still being relevant. The Mede empire is just a transition phase for the real 4th empire to rise.
I know Imperials were supposed to be the real good guys, but when I look up in history for resemblance it would look like Roman legions hiring Guals (foreign ers who later become early medival ages). The real mistake for the Imperials is denying Talos worship and most Nords really got pissed. The second mistake is causing a Civil War that really benefits the BIG BAD SMUG FACE ELF. Both sides loses, but there the diplomacy peace route for both Imperials and Stormcloaks.
@@jackfrost105 of all things they could have done actually fighting the civil war was a mistake. To be fair the first big mistake was not having mages just throw massive fireball since altmer have like a plus 75 vulnerability to fireballs. So the average Altmer infantrymen would die basically on the spot
@@QueenAleenaFanto be fair, the collapse of the Mage's Guild didn't really help. They were more than likely the place the Empire sourced their battle mages from, or at least trained them. The two off shoots are not great replacements from what little we've seen of them, so the Empire probably had less skilled mages than the Dominion.
I don't really know a great deal about the empire but I don't get why the empire couldn't just allow skyrim it's sovereignty and ally themselves with skyrim. The empire wouldn't have to outlaw worship of talos in skyrim because it's not part of the empire, and they would have avoided the war that drains all their resources
I'd love to see something like the plot of Morowind for 6, where your an agent of either the emperor or maybe your a blade while the organization is still in hiding. The best part about that was the way it both gave you an inital motivation and direction AND managed to do so without the constant injection of urgency, where you were literally told to go buy some gear or a few spells and join up with one of the guilds or temples and establish yourself as a mercenary. It was also fantastic as a vehicle for getting into the fantasy politics in a way that made the world feel a lot less dumbed down than what you got in the next two games.
The Stormcloaks will fail, the Empire is doomed, Morrowind is Ravaged, Hammerfell stands Alone. The only true alternative is glorious Argonia. Take the An-Xileel pill My marsh brothers and sisters
2:32 true, Skyrim is being Cyrodilicized and Imperialized. I can see Nordic culture but imperial Cyrodilic influences are certainly assimilating the Nords. Every other elder scrolls game hones in on Nordic culture while Skyrim the literal game itself makes Skyrim look like what if Arminius died and Germany was apart of the romanizing empire.
Good on you for bringing the Khajiit point up. It very clearly showcases the nature of Tamriel, as you say, not just Stormcloaks which so many fans ignore for some reason. The whole cultural identity of Khajiiti peoples *anywhere* is dishonesty and smuggling. And if we are to be honest here, they literally revere thievery and lies in their culture via the worship of Rahjin. They are less welcome everywhere. As for dark elves, I do not see the rest of Tamriel harboring Dunmer refugees or giving direct aid to them. The Empire even ignored Morrowind in favour of protecting the Heartland in the Oblivion Crisis. And yet Stormcloaks are racist for not giving dark elves life and luxury on a silver platter in Windhelm, in the middle of civil war, with resources stretched thin as it is for their own people? The double standards. As if Dunmer would've treated Nords any different (likely far worse) had the roles been reversed. Keep in mind both Dark elves *and* High elves live comfortable lives in Windhelm (Nurelion, Niralye, Idesa Sadri) and why? Because they worked for it and earned respect and respected Nords and their culture. That is not the system of a racist society. Hammerfell reacted the same way a Skyrim now does when their freedom and rights were bartered away to the Dominion by the Empire, and successfully seceded and fought off the elves. No one in the fandom batted an eye of "racism" against that. The Empire has devolved into an impotent, globalist-elitist force watering down cultures in the provinces and dealing ineptly with conflicts and consequences to their actions (arresting Ulfric at the Markarth indicent, allowing Thalmor agents free roam and impunity with literal kidnappings and religious pogroms). Skyrim should reclaim their cultural identity in independence, then we can discuss reforming a new and proper Empire. Maybe one based out of Skyrim as it was in the day of the first nordic empire.
The Empire recalling forces from Morrowind is Redoran propaganda and fake news. Play TES IV. The Dunmer also don't want "luxury" in Windhelm. They want the bare basics of civil society: protection, communication with their ruler, and to not live in the dirt. The Empire allows local customs, it's Ulfric who dishonors Skyrim's ways.
One thing you're missing: I forget who says this (Tullius, I think), but the Empire wants to fight the Rebellion with native troops. It's not a good look to put down an already nationalistic rebellion with swarms of foreign troops.
Not sure if I agree with your defense of the storm cloaks, but I agree with your arguments against the Imperial Empire. But I definitely agree with the statement that the knife ears are trying to drag the war on... Because quite frankly nothing helps build alliances and allies like pointing at someone worse and agreeing that everyone should heat that jerk up. I am for the next war against the elves even if the next Elder Scrolls game will not let us fight in that war.
Depends on how you define it, if we're talking about the empire created by talos then it's about six centuries but that was just a continuation of the second empire (the one founded by reman cyrodiil) which was a continuation of the first empire(the one founded by alessia cyrodiil) which was founded a bit over 4000 years ago and despite those empires never overlapping with each other there was always rump states claiming to be the empire which gave continuity to the reman, septim and later mede dynasties stretching back to the alessian dynasty
If memory serves, Morrowind and Black Marsh both were never conquered but joined for benefits. Black Marsh because lol swamp, Morrowind partly because that and partly because Tribunal. With those 3 gods gone and Red Mountain erupting, there's really not much reason to be interested in Morrowind now that it is ruined. Those two nations won't be of use to the Empire. Hammerfell left during the war. Elswyr is part of the Aldmeri dominion as is Valenwood if I remember right. That only leaves High Rock and Orsinium, both largely separated by Hammerfell and Skyrim, and ocean routes would pass through areas controlled by the Aldmeri which would likely prevent major troop movements there. Even still, Highrock is constantly squabbling amongst itself and Orsinium is barely a place. Empire is fucked if they don't actually win Skyrim, and i've seen leaks suggesting they don't.
It's kinda central to the franchise so unlikely, I think there are some hints that an imperial victory in skyrim is going to be the canon ending or at least heavily implied to be the case and it looks like TES 6 is going to be set in hammerfell so we'll probably get some quests involving the penitus oculatus(imperial intelligence agency) and whatever intel agency the dominion has covertly fighting each other, trying to gain influence in hammerfell and searching for magical artifacts in some sort of magical arms race(we saw this in skyrim)
Many poeple think Hammerfell won on it's own. It didn't. The Dominion just wanted to cause animosity between Hammerfell and Cyrodiil and they succeeded. That makes more sense too. There are many real historical accounts of this tactic
I kind of agree with the point of Tullius being racist to the but I think that just comes from him being trained to think a certain way versus complete prejudice. But I think there is some racism there for sure.
The fact that the Dragonborn went to the Nordic Afterlife should have major consequences for the Civil War and the world at large. Sure we had folks who ventured into planes of oblivion but never before to a realm belonging to the more regular gods and coming back with undeniable proof that its real.
What undeniable proof, the big roasted ox heads? It’s not like we can take a selfie with Tsun, I mean the shout is pretty cool but idk if that would convince anyone we’ve actually been to Heaven
Heaven being real is well established in TES. It was so well understood that the imperials had the battlespire tethered to a lesser realm of aetherius.
From Alduin's POV, the last 4000 years was a couple of seconds. He gets banished by the Nords, then wakes up and immediately gets jumped by Paathurnax. He wins the fight and then tries to figure out what the f**k is going on. He sees an army marching under the banner of a dragon and thinks, "Oh, so they must be my followers. Better fly down and ask what's going on." He flies down and then immediately gets attacked.
Tulius is very clearly based on our real world Julius Ceasar from the Roman Empire which the empire is directly based on. One notable thing that gave the irl Julius no end of problems for his continued expansion was the early Celtic people and others who occupied the north. Sounds very similar to the relationship between Tulius and the nords of Skyrim doesn’t it.
People say the Empire has the best chance to beat the Aldmeri Dominion as if an independent Skyrim means that Cyrodiil will be fighting alone. More likely, Skyrim and Hammerfell will fight with them, just as equals instead of Vassals.
I think the argument is more a unified imperial legion with a unified command structure, training and equipment is better than several different allied armies unless they go full NATO and hold to force interoperability
In the Elder Scrolls universe, gods are real and matter a lot. People who say the banning of Talos wasn't a big deal don't get that fact. Without the blessings of Akatosh or Talos, the Empire is doomed to fail. Instead of desperately keeping this failing nation alive, we should focus on building a new alliance of men to fight against the Dominion. Like a Daggerfall Covenant 3.0 or something.
Plus, the whole part of letting the Thalmor send their own enforcers to eradicate Talos worship sounds like an excuse for infiltration. Sure, that came about from Markath Incident, but clearly the Thalmor would press the issue sooner or later even without the Markath Incident. To the Thalmor, eradicating Talos worship is getting rid of one of the Altmer’s greatest humiliation when he conquered the Summerset Isles. But it allows them to put in infiltrators to weed out even Imperial loyalists and replace them with pro-Thalmor loyalists. Individuals who are more interested in power and riches to the point of willing to work with the Thalmor and their Altmer supremacist agenda. Say the Empire wins over the Stormcloaks: Thalmor patrols against Talos worship would still continue. Pro-Imperial loyalists even in Skyrim already collaborated with the Thalmor as ordered when dealing with Stormcloak sympathizers like the case of Thorvald Gray-Mane. Everyone knows the Empire hates the Aldmeri Dominion, but an Empire that already allows Thalmor infiltrators to operate freely within the Empire to enforce the Corcordat opens itself to sabotage. Who to say that all those pro-Nord, pro-Empire loyalists we left behind with an imperial victory in Skyrim would remain in power or overthrown by Thalmor agents working freely in the province? Not to mention the Dominion can occupy all those key strategic forts as centers from which to destabilize internal trade and supply lines within Skyrim before and during the 2nd Great War.
What do the “blessings of Akatosh” do for the Empire? The covenant holding back Oblivion is not necessary anymore, and I’m not aware of any significant help he rendered to hold off the Thalmor. Talos didn’t help either. The gods are real, but outside of specific cases they don’t really do shit.
I’m also not sure what another Daggerfall covenant would look like. The Empire is already a nation of several distinct internal entities (Colovia, Nibenay, all of High Rock, all of Skyrim, possibly Morrowind, etc.) What different route would some hypothetical “new alliance” take that wouldn’t just look like a continuation of the Empire?
@a_n1441 With Akatosh and Talos as their patrons, the Empire ruled Tamriel for over 400 years. Now, with the Dragonborn Emperors gone and Talos worship outlawed, the Empire is crumbling. I'm not talking about magical powers like the Dragonfires, I'm talking about the more metaphysical side of the gods. With their favour, mortals succeed. Without it, they fail. The Dominion has spread Auriel's influence across Tamriel, while simultaneously smothering Talos', by extension Shor's, ability to aid the races of Man. And the Empire allows them to do this, allows them to weaken the god of man who is needed for man's survival. In doing this, the Empire of Cyrodiil has once again proven itself unworthy. It must be broken down, destroyed, and a new Empire must take its place. The Empire of Shor. The Empire of Talos. The Empire of Man.
I wonder how Bethesda will handle the civil war's ending, because they will definitely piss a ton of fan if they pick one so I'm sure they'll do some sort of compromise. While it is unlikely, it will be interesting if regardless of who won, the jarls still won't pick a new high king because they disagree with their way and then used lore spread around TES V to justify this and turn the whole things upside down, maybe even making it a Thalmor victory. I think this make sense. If the Empire won, the Thalmor patrol may increase and continue the unrest even after Ulfric died, and the Thalmor can continue making friends with Skyrim's upper-class If the Stormcloak won, while the Thalmor patrols will stop, the Stormcloak's army is weakened by both the Empire and the dragons, and the Thalmor has no treaty to legally hold back their army. Theoretically, in "Stormcloak win" scenario, the Empire can still threaten the high elf's flank, but with all the unrest caused by the emperor's death + resources loss in Skyrim, a major operation might be unlikely.
The Empire has been collapsing since the first game in the series. "Wulf" even says in Morrowind that he thinks that it's time for something new. From purely a narrative perspective, the Stormcloaks are the clear winners.
I don’t think the Stormcloaks will win, because Bethesda hates providing canon endings to important player choices like that, but Skyrim will be either independent or crippled one way or another. The Empire will continue its decline, basically.
@@a_n1441 What you're saying is basically that even if the Stormcloaks lose, another rebel group will simply replace it and they will succeed at making Skyrim independent. In the long term it doesn't really matter which group of people does it, the initial goal of the Stormcloaks for an independent Skyrim is realised either by them or their successors. This is just a roundabout way for Bethesda to recognise a canon choice without outright stating it. Because lets face it, an Imperial Victory in Skyrim would require outright compliance to the point that Skyrim never attempts to secede again, and that simply isn't going to happen as not only is it unrealistic based on what we see in game, but narratively it goes against the story of the series.
@@nepnep1453 I don’t think the Empire will necessarily win, I think it’ll either be ambiguous and generally unimportant to the plot or it’ll be a dark horse option of some kind. Skyrim will be cut off from the Empire to an extent. For all I know Bethesda might just have the war still be ongoing or in a ceasefire at the time of TESVI. I can see them using the Season Unending quest to just put it in eternal stasis.
@@a_n1441 This is just a little bit of fan predicition on my part here, but based on previous lore from both Skyrim and the older games, I wouldn't be surprised if an independent Skyrim just immediately conquered some or all of High Rock and maybe parts of Morrowind.
septim empire isn’t a thousand years, Tiber was born at the end of the second era and the last of his descendants Martin died when he sacrificed himself to light the dragon fires at the end of the third era 433, its less than 500 years old, sure the dragonborn lineage might run that far but there is no connection to reman/ alessia other than the Amulet of kings which can be worn by any dragonborn
The thing about Legate Rikka is kind of the point. You're expecting that she should have respect for her own culture, but that's the literal reason why there's a civil war in the first place. You can belong to a society and find many of their traditions stupid and naive and disagree with them. There's nothing wrong with her belittling her own Nord culture, at least 50% of the population (probably far more than that since rebellions usually don't have 50% approval) would agree that at worst they might not like the fact Talos is banned, but it's not a reason to materially weaken their province with a war in the face of Thalmor aggression either.
If the Dominion learned anything from Round One, it's that breaking Cyrodiil breaks the Empire. The Thalmor won't even bother making another incursion into Hammerfell. The Thalmor will hold the line on the Dominion-Hammerfell border and pour all their offensive power into conquering or burning down Cyrodiil. If the Dominion takes Cyrodiil, that puts them in a position to strike at any province they like, much the same way that whoever wins the Battle for Whiterun has the decisive advantage in Skyrim's civil war. Personally, I think a Stormcloak victory would ultimately save the Empire/Cyrodiil. High Rock would have no choice but to break with Cyrodiil should Skyrim gain independence, and the Thalmor don't want a Stormcloak victory, because then they would have to fight a series of slow wars of attrition with multiple provinces, as opposed to one or two big wars that bring all the nations of man into submission all at once. I used to support the Empire, and then I figured out Titus Mede adopted the Septim Empire's heraldry and legacy as a way to solidify his claim to power. The Mede Empire is not the gods-blessed nation ruled by a dynasty with a mandate to rule straight from the Divines. I think it's time for Cyrodiil to let go of its legacy and see what new thing rises to take its place.
The Thalmor don't want a Stormcloak victory because it harms the Empire less than an ongoing war does in the long term. The Stormcloaks themselves are not a threat. Without the Medes, there wouldn't be an Empire left and the Aldmeri would have already been ruling Tamriel.
Problem is the fog of war. Sure, post-facto we know the main Thalmor army had been destroyed in the Battle of the Red Ring, but the imperials didn’t know this. They believed a second major Thalmor army, one which the exhausted legions would have no chance to defeat, was on its way and saw the White-Gold concordat as a last-ditch attempt to stave off total defeat
@flamingosedai1820 If the Imperials couldn't force the Thalmor out of Cyrodil while the Redguards forced the Thalmor out of Hammerfell then you've made my point for me. The Imperials are simply too incompetent or too gutless (dunno which) to be relied upon protect anyone. And if such is the case then it shouldn't be allowed to exist.
@@LordDim1 There are generals in history that could never commit to battle because they always though the enemy army was double or triple what their's was instead of using proper agents and spies to figure things out. Generally, we don't think highly of them.
@295Phoenix But neither did Hammerfell (a massive hard to invade desert full of dangerous stuff by the way) till the Emipire Smashed the Thalmors main army at the Imperial City during Red Ring, have one of its legates let out a ton of “invalids” to continue fighting in Hammerfell, and sign the treaty.
Sorry, but actions speak louder than words. Tullius may piss and moan about the Nords, but he's actively fighting and working with them to keep the empire strong until the inevitable second great war. Meanwhile Ulfric doesn't actually say, "I don't see Argonians or Dark Elves as people", but his separate but equal BS in Windhelm is blatant. It's as much their home as any Nord, whether they're refugees or born there, but why would the Dunmer help the Stormcloaks when some of them have been there ~200 years, and are still in a neglected ghetto? He's also absolutely fine with the exploitation of Argonians in the docks, he doesn't tell Shattershield to pack it in. Just look at what Brunwulf Freewinter says about direct attacks on non-Nord settlements in Eastmarch - Ulfric doesn't care.
Wrong. He said that _perhaps_ its time for something new. He doesn't know what, and certainly doesn't suggest triumph of the Stormcloaks. It could as well mean some sudden change in Cyrodiil itself: some hero to kick things off, a martyr to inspire people against the Thalmor, I don't know, but neither does Wulf. Maybe Ulfric's death will revive the spirit of the Empire. Dunno. Guess we'll see who won in TES6. Unless they dragonbreak again, and somehow both factions will win. That would be a plot twist...
@grzegorzflorek5623 Just as Ulfric death can spark something new, his victory alongside with Titus Mede death (since guild questlines are always cannon) could spark sonething new on the current empire too, i'm not suggesting Talos (as Wulf) was talking about the stormcloaks specifically but they could be what sparks said change (just look how much has already changed since the end of the 3rd era) i like to belive in a potential Hammerfell-Skyrim alliance with maybe Highrock in the middle, since realistically speaking the Thalmor doesnt need to invade Skyrim since apparently the snow tower (the throat of the world) is already deactivated? So the war with them will not be a defensive one
@@tiodosalgado5860 You do realize that you can actually destroy the Dark Brotherhood? When she kidnaps you to abandoned shack, kill her instead, and you'll have different questline where you eliminate everybody else (except Babette, who is completely gone for some reason - perhaps because despite being centuries old vampire killing a child would be highly controversial, so devs just removed her), and prevent assassinations of Vittoria Vici, Gourmet and Emperor. No, It's not a mod - It's in Vanilla, and Yes, it throws a wrench into your "guilds questlines are canon" opinion. Hell, even choice between Dawnguard & Vampires does.
@@grzegorzflorek5623 ah yes, because Bethesda would throw a entire guild questline away (and the possibility of the dark brotherhood appearing in another game together too) for the badly written alternative... Also the guild quests being cannon isnt a opnion but a FACT, this doesnt mean the player Character (aka the protagonist) did them, they do that to not interfer in the player's cannon, so yes the hero of kvatch for example cannonically did the main quests and DLC's but he could also have been the archmage of the mages guild or the guildmaster of the thieves guild, hell the civil war quest will probably be won by the "civil war Champion" or something just to not interfer in the player's cannon, but back to the point: Yes Titus Mede is dead on the next game the game only gives you the option to destroy the dark brotherhood as alternative for morally good (or neutral whatever) characters
Another thing you forgot to mention is why they don’t flood the place with troops they don’t wanna be destabilize the border with the elf Nazi it’s too much
I mean seeing your criticism of Adrestian Empire and you being a lowkey Church apologist despite your points in your Church video, I'm not too surprised you would side with the Stormcloaks in this old, trite decades long Red vs Blue war. Thing is, Ulfric is the only Stormcloak that actually has broad view of how to navigate ahead with the bigger picture. The rest of Stormcloak generals? They only all care about getting Talos worship back and returning Skyrim to the Nords. I can see your point that the Empire is being The Sick Man of Tamriel, but I'd rather have sound mind of Rikke and Tullius' cautiousness than the band of tunnel-visioned berserkers behind otherwise shrewd and honorable Nord lord. I've played on both sides many time, and both side is shit, but Stormcloaks is the worse of two devils because of this. Funny that Ulfric and his Stormcloaks is basically Edelgard (down to their relationship with Thalmor and TWSITD respectively), but instead of having Ferdinand giving her sound advice in reforms, she got Caspar as her right-hand man to feed her "just kick their asses" plans and nothing much else. EDIT: Oh not to mention most Stormcloak Jarls are awful! Only Laila-Lawgiver is somewhat decent, but then again it won't change things much since Riften is a corrupted bunghole no matter what. Look, with those shitty Jarls in charge I'm even more doubtful Stormcloak winning is the best outcome. High King Ulfric might be decent to good but what use of a good leader when his subjects are incompetent? I like your rational takes and argument (heck I love your Triangle Strategy videos and tearing down all 3 Fodlan states) but man your bias for Stormcloak is showing.
Skyrim was a fun game. But I would say it was fun despite the writing (dialogue and NPCs included), not because of it. A matter of taste, of course. But if I think about different components of that game the majority of them were bad, mediocre, or in one way or another a missed opportunity/misquided. Main story? Wank. Dialogue? Usually bad and unreactive/unresponsive to what you have done. NPCs and quests? Usually forgettable (several exceptions of course). Combat? Clumsy but maybe passable. Cities? Too small, too lifeless, too boring.
ua-cam.com/video/aOxdl60WiyU/v-deo.html I like how Raven Knight makes a good argument FOR the empire if YOU join them. Compared to what happens if you join the stormcloaks.
So the thing is, not lifting a finger to help your own citizens based on race is racism, not ambivalent. And don't get me wrong, Tulius is bigoted too, it's something that comes free with imperialism
Tullius, at the end of the Imperial Storyline, says he's come to respect the Nords and how Skyrim forges a man down to his bones. I respect your video and your channel greatly, but come on, you shouldn't have missed this.
@@teyrncousland7152Empire abandoned its faith when it chosen to worship PDFile and war criminal as a God, instead of the Eight Divines that actually founded the Empire in the first place. Hell, even during TES4 priests of Akatosh, chief deity of the Divines, were complaining that worship of Talos overtook all other deities, and that they are seizing power.
@@teyrncousland7152and a broken empire is better to beat the Thalmor the empire did what it had to most people still worship the nine but in secret the empire knows this and does nothing to stop it until Ulfric started crying about it.
The reason Tullius isn't fond of the Nords isn't because he's racist, it's because the Nords are stubborn and can't see the bigger picture. Tullius and Rikke both tell you the Thalmor are the real enemies and Skyrim and Cyrodil should be working together to stop them but instead the Nords are too busy whining about Talos. At the end of the civil war Tullius admits he respects the Nords which he wouldn't say if he was racist.
Yet the empire bends its ass backwards to them, a great way to get the Nords on your side is too ban the worship of a god they love. The Empire is weak and really it needs to fall to break the chains its placed in, only then can it return and be a actual counter to the dominion The Empire is too busy putting out fires and so scared of the Dominion they just keep there heads down, not doing anything to really help A Skyrim under the Empire is not as fortified against the dominion as you think because lets be honest if another war happened, The Empire would rally its Nord legions away from Skyrim to fight for the Empire , in a war the current Empire has no real hope of winning. So ill say it again The current Empire needs to fall.
While I agree in theory that the larger an empire is the less it can be managed, decentralization can keep massive empires thriving much longer, and more importantly, your assumption than Ulfric would keep his word is, frankly, hilarious. He hasn't kept his word once, he just says he hates the thalmor because it's politically convenient that snake wouldn't help the empire unless he had something to gain and he has far more to gain by betraying cyrodill. Instead my idea for the best ending is an empire ending. Namely: >Win the civil war for the empire >While playing as a nord that worships talos and sides with the longbeards against the blades (I would be sorry for the blades but they're deeply, profoundly unintelligent, so, they make for a good sacrificial pawn) (also btw my favourite race is argonian so you know I thought deeply about this for me to favor nords instead when even the imperial-side ones are asses to the lizards, but an argonian dragonborn would be a mess politically... honestly in most TES games trying to justify being argonian or khajit is hard as hell.) >use the brotherhood quest to purge the weakened imperial succession line. >make a point of killing as many thalmor as possible (that's not part of the plan I just hate them) This way Skyrim is likely very quickly pacified as not only the dragonborn, but also the thalos cult and longbeards have sided with the empire, basically all their ancestral icons have taken the side of cyrodyll. The empire too goes on to basically get a "talos reborn" kind of mythos, which means the new emperor has it easy to polarize people against the elves, which will help rapidly rearm cyrodill, and hopefully push it into taking the next war seriously. If the Thalmor freak out and kickstart the second war, GOOD. As you said, they breed slow, they're still hurting from the last, more so than the humans, especially with the beating hammerfell gave them, both skyrim and cyrodill are already in war economy mode anyway, and hammerfell would actually most certainly join the war anyway, so the elves are loosing, hard. If the Thalmor decide to try and bide their time, ALSO GOOD. Gives the empire time to decide when they want the war to start, plus with a more polarized society thalmor spies will have it harder to sabotage them. The elves will most certainly have a hard time keeping up with imperial buildup, and there's almost no way they can win round 2. Now don't get me wrong. This empire would most likely not survive long term anyway. What I'm describing? An empire born of assassination and war, with a great man figure as national hero? One hellbent on revanchism from day one? Its a recipe for authoritarianism. They'll endure the war but in the aftermath they're sure to go into a heavy decline when their war economy can't patch the fact they haven't paid attention to the real economy for years. The empire would die soon after the thalmor do... Thing is. I'm not doing this to save the empire. I'm doing it to kill the elves. You said it. Everyone in TES is racist. And I'd say when it comes to the high elves they're also right to be. The empire can go die for all I care, Black Marsh is the only province I genuinely love anyway. But before it goes it better make sure to take down the knife ears, that'd undeniably make the world a better place.
It’s hard to say whether the Thalmor are doing worse than the Empire right now. Their army was totally destroyed, which is more than can be said for the Empire, but their lands, internal trade routes, and political structures are untouched unlike Cyrodiil, Hammerfell, or even Skyrim post-civil war which were all varying degrees of fucked both physically and ideologically. They’re gonna have a hell of a lot easier time fielding a new army than the Empire, the reproductive rate is really the only thing holding them down here. What is the win condition for the humans in which they annihilate the “knife ears”, anyway? They have to clear out the existing Aldmeri control on the Hammerfell coast, stave off another Aldmeri invasion of the coast from Summerset, then have to go invade Summerset itself and possibly Valenwood and Elseweyr at the same time. The only guy to ever fully conquer Alinor was Tiber freaking Septim, and unless Titus Mede II’s successor has a Numidium up his ass, he can’t recreate that particular feat.
Ulfric never went back on his word and the Thalmor were always his enemies. And he expresses his desires and plans to fight them to his closest confidants. The empire has been falling apart for two centuries and there’s no sign of recovery. There’s no way that the empire will ever rebuild to fight the thalmor especially now that it allows their agents to infiltrate them. Only the gods by sending another hero or prisoner will defeat the thalmor. The best ending is this. Skyrim becomes independent and eventually both the empire and the thalmor collapse and every province is independent.
I never paid much attention to this line of information, until i went back and did a new playthrough. Jarl Balgruuf sides with the empire only because he wants to stay as jarl. Now hear me out and follow this logic. Since first meeting in at the beginning of the main story, Balgruuf constantly says that, when it comes to the civil war, he is "on the side of whiterun". For quite a long while, i seen people arguing whether his neutrality makes him either a genius or an idiot coward. Yet no matter what, he always sides with the empire, but he does so ONLY when the dragonborn decides to join the civil and picks either side. Now, during the daedric quest, the whispering door, his son, Nelkir, straight up says that his father openly worships talos, hates the thalmor equally as much as the stormcloaks and is constantly worried about being kicked out of Whiterun. During the civil war, after the big whiterun battle, for either side, Balgruuf says he sided with the empire for the reason of "mutual benefits", that whiterun as well as the rest of skyrim gets all manner of goods from down south in Cyradil, and in exchange the empire gets assistance from the entire nord population, who he called the greatest warriors in Tamriel in general. Taking all this information into account, Balgruuf is most likely lying to the dragonborn about why he sided with the empire, cause if the dragonborn sided with the empire, Balgruuf stays as jarl, however if siding with the stormcloaks, he gets replaced and he leaves whiterun, along with his kids. So yeah, the true reason jarl Balgruuf chooses to side with the empire is just so he can stay in power as jarl
He also would've stayed as Jarl if he sided with the Stormcloaks as well. None of the Stormcloak controlled areas had their Jarl replaced either, and Ulfric seems to really respect Balgruuf. We know the Imperials replaced the Jarl of Falkreath with one more "empathic" to their cause. He most likely joined the Empire's side for his stated reasons.
This would make sense if Ulfric wanted him out. He didn't. THEY respect each other. Balgruuf didn't lie at all. He legit cares about his people, which is why he don't want to take any part of the war. Skyrim would never win a war against the Empire even if the Storm cloaks won skyrim.
A couple of fun facts. First, during the season unending quest, you get hints that Balgruuf was always on the side of the imperials, even if you never started the civil war before this quest. During the peace council, the stormcloaks are given control of Markarth no matter what, and he gets all upset about it. Pay close attention to the reactions to it; only the people who very clearly sided with the empire are upset about that, and just like jarl elisif during the peace council, he too is furious about it, and he was supposed to be completely neutral about it, as in he is not suppose to care about it; so yeah he was always on the imperials side even before the dragonborn joins the civil war. Second, I'm not sure if anyone wanted to admit this, but the entire peace council at high hrothgar was entirely Balgruufs idea, all because he wants to stay neutral. Plus when you get the season unending quest from talking to him, he says that neither the imperials or stormcloaks will stand by and watch as a dragon just flies into whiterun, that both sides would take advantage of the situation when you ask for help to trap a dragon in dragonsreach. BUT, remember the dragon that attacked the whiterun watchtower at the start of the game, neither side batted an eye about that, and everyone clearly saw alduin destroy helgen. So what makes Balgruuf or anyone else think/believe the imperials or stormcloaks won't interfere with the dragonbron trying to trap a dragon in whiterun? So yeah, the entire peace meeting was all his idea because he wants to hide his true allegiance to the empire behind his talk/claims of neutrality. He probably took advantage of the dragonbron asking for help as an excuse to maintain his neutrality before even bothering to help capture a dragon when he could've literally helped the dragonborn right there on the spot
2:34 - 2:38 What "cultural colonisation", Skyrim still has many of its own customs by 4E 201. Only its faith has changed - and there is no sign of force. 5:07 - 5:30 This overlooks the fact that most of what the Aldmeri demanded of Hammerfell was already under Aldmeri occupation at the time the Concordat was signed. Hammerfell also did not "push back" the elves. They proceeded to lose land for five years until they fought the Aldmeri to a standstill. Then they signed their own peace treaty and the Aldmeri withdrew. 7:55 - 8:19 No? The vast majority of the Legion in Skyrim are local recruits. Conscripts are a minority. Same with the Stormcloaks. 8:35 - 9:08 The Legion should not be going on the defense. They need to end the war asap. The longer it drags on, the more it benefits the Thalmor, and thus the more it harms the Empire. Skyrim isn't "flooded with troops" because the Legion is using most of its resources in preparing for the next war with the Dominion. Avalanches have nothing to do with it. 11:04 - 11:25 The Empire does not pick who the High King, or Queen, is. They never have. 11:50 - 13:29 Ulfric has written a decree forcing a race out of Windhelm because he mistrusts them. He ignores the plights of another race because he has disdain for them, and his guards neglect their duties in areas this race lives in. Ulfric is racist. The Dunmer have nothing to do with Ulfric's decree forcing the Argonians out. That's a fanfic created by Stormcloak supporters. Just witness Riften. Tullius has issues with Nord culture, not Nords as a race. Therefore, not racist. And he has this problem because it often stands in the way of his military objectives in the war. Such Balgruuf keeping him from defending Whiterun from the Stormcloaks, or having to divert troops to retrieve a crown, or attending a peace council because of the respect the Greybeards have. All these things hamper his military objectives. Also, Ulfric respects traditions? Man damns the Jarls and Moot, broke his oath, denied Torygg's legitimacy, dishonored the Way of the Voice and turned against the Greybeards. And by the end of the questline, his objectives complete, Tullius takes a step back. He openly states he has grown to respect the local ways, even if he does not understand them, and sees Skyrim as his home. 13:30 - 13:40 The Khajiit aren't banned, only the caravans. Because they deal in skooma, which is illegal. 13:48 - 14:04 Galmar mistrusts anyone who isn't a local Imperial or Nord and gives them special treatment. He expects them to fail in defeating an Ice Wraith. The Legion doesn't mistrust you, nor do they care about race. 14:47 - 15:06 The dragons returning has nothing to do with the gods. The prophecy was complete, so Alduin returned. Nothing else to it. 19:20 - 19:33 They're doing this at present. Most of the Legion is in Cyrodiil, along the border with the Dominion, preparing for the next war. Hammerfell only survived because of the Concordat.
In all fairness to Tulius, he does listen to and respect Legate Rikke. He didn't understand the significance of the Jagged Crown, but was willing to trust her word that it was important. He doesn't understand nords, but he's at least willing to try.
The Fourth Era in particular is something of an apocalyptic period where the world was experiencing an almost biblical array of plagues chastisements. Environmental disasters, wars and supernatural events would destroy a city or region on an almost regular basis. The event that started it was the oblivion crisis, where the gates of hell were literally unleashed on the world. The red mountain eruption laid absolute waste to vardenfell, Orsinium is destroyed, Wayrest was scourged, Winterhold collapses into the sea. The political instability of the empire is only a factor among many that contributes to the dread of what the future holds for the world. In many ways I think this is why Skyrim remains so popular a decade later, because it's relatable to the fears and anxieties we face now while also highlighting and appreciating the simple beauties of life.
Tullius looks like a gym teacher and that always makes me laugh
The East Empire Company abandoned Solstheim almost 80 years ago.
When you take the time to listen to the Emperor during the Dark Brotherhood questline, he says straight up that he wants to have you get rid of him. It's his entire plan to have that happen as he knows how unpopular he is, so he decides to be a martyr. He also asks you to get rid of the person who hired you in the first place.
He is underrated. I played legends for more lore and damn, the Great War was bad. They were fighting Altmer and daedra while the Khajiit and Bosmer were most likely staying as a border guard and policing their homeland. If the empire fought on, their may have been new armies of much more populous cats and bosmer
An emperor who had to fight against a general who could see his plans deserves respect
I think that Uriel Septim knew already that the empire will soon begin to colapse like the other 2 or 3 times.
But i'am sure it that it will rise again
One thing you didn't mention: The nords had other gods before talos. I hate how no one in Skyrim recognizes this. It would've been so good to see nords worship the old gods and get mad at the stormcloaks for trying to erase them in favor of an emperor. Absolute missed opportunity.
Yeah, me and my nord homies hate the imperial cult
Thats the entire point of the game brother. Every faction is backwards to what they should be doing.
I think the Stormcloaks were meant to worship the old gods at an earlier time since Stormcloak soldiers will cry out, "For Shor!" Unfortunately, having both the old gods and the Imperial cult represented in Skyrim (like how both the Tribunal and Imperial cult were represented in Morrowind) would be too complicated for Emil Pagliarulo or however his last name should be spelled. 😢
To play devil’s advocate; it is extremely common for subjugated people to adopt the given empire’s religion (that’s how Europe became Christian). And it gives the empiric regions more variety when some of them completely adopt the emperial cult instead of every single one having the cult and their own religion like morrowind. Though it would have been cool to see some old god worshipping nords to be angry at Ulfric
There are characters who worship the old gods, but it's mostly bandits and that one hunter guy. They've been forced out of society because of their outdated beliefs.
The defeat of Ulfric at the start of the game was almost certainly due to the overwhelming presence of Imperial spies, because Tullius defeated the Stormcloak army in ambush and immediately departed for Helgen and summary execution. It was here where Elenwen arrived, clearly wanting to stop him, the better to drag out the war (something restored to the game in Cutting Room floor).
As for General Tullius, he certainly possesses the cultural superiority of the Cyrodiilics in spades, and he's certainly arrogant enough about his empire for a whole company of legionnaires.
But he's also very open and honest when he doesn't understand the Nord culture (this being all the time). But he's wise enough to know he needs Nords and understands the need to liase with them properly, hence, his employment of Legate Rikke as his right hand. He reaches out and employs strategy tempered by Rikke, so he gets to mix a good blend of the two societies.
I do like that Tullius develops a little character growth. Hard to say the same about many Stormcloaks.
@trannigan3349 agreed. The Stormcloaks are run by a thug and a thug. That's not overmuch in terms of variation of perspective.
@@trannigan3349 I mean Ulfric is the only decent somewhat good Stormcloaks. Others like his right hand the bear guy something is just all about kicking Imperial Legion out. Made it hard to me to like the Stormcloaks in my Stormcloaks run, compared to my Imperial run where Tullius and Rikke fleshed out Imperial Legion better.
The only Stormcloaks run I enjoy is playing High Elf Thalmor saboteur infiltrating Stormcloaks run and made them drive Imperial Legion away to soften up Skyrim for High ELf supremacy muhahahhaah
@@trannigan3349 exactly. I find the stormcloak leadership so unlikeable.
Actually, I don’t think Alduin knew the Dragonborn was there. He was just teleported very close by.
My theory was that he sensed a dragon like being in the city and went their to resurrect it. We’ve seen him doing that in game by shouting.
Little did he know that the being wasn’t a dragon spirit in the normal sense and that by him shouting to awaken what he thought was a dragon, he instead awoke your dovakin abilities that had been dormant. He quickly realized his mistake (which is why he starts saying Dovakin during the attack) and tried to kill you.
He re-emerged at the same place. He was displaced from time. That being at the throat of the world and helgan is the closest town besides iverstead.
It's likely he just happened to choose helgan
@@RenegadeElite101
That makes the most sense, tbh. Alduin didn't even know who the DB was, he sensed a dragon soul & just started blasting away. Up until the DB became a menace killing the rezzed dragons, did he finally "notice" us a threat.
Yeah, he got sent back, and then immediately flew down from the throat of the world and started trying to resurrect the dragons but it was the dragonborn in helgen, not a dragonbarrow
I still think Elisif being the only jarl who stays in place no matter who wins has to mean something. It also helps that she's a vacuous bimbo who will serve the *real* leader while being the adorable figurehead.
If the Stormcloaks win, they'll probably put her on the throne and then work out a better deal with the Empire as a condition of either rejoining or an alliance against the Thalmor. They might even work something out with Hammerfell and High Rock. If the Empire wins, it's status quo, but they'll also be forced to work something out with Hammerfell since the Thalmor are definitely coming back for Round 2.
Personal head cannon. Alduin at the execution uses the Resurrection Shout at you, not knowing you are Dovakiin, and empowering your dragon soul.
Hammerfell is independent in name. It's probably not hostile to the empire considering that during the Great war, a health amount of the legion was discharged and went back to hammerfell "against orders" to defend it from the Aldmeri, and they suceeded in doing so, as the empire managed to halt them in hammerfell and rally to retake the imperial city. The Empire survived the oblivion crisis, it'll survive and emperor hiring assassins to kill himself as a false flag to unify the empire.
Hammerfell is factually independent as it was abandoned by the empire and signed a new treaty with the thalmor that removes their presence from the country.
The same book that speaks about the “invalids” also says that Hammerfell is angry at the empire for betraying it. They’re definitely not on good terms with each other.
Hammerfell and Cyrodiil definitely have some sort of understanding and are up to something considering the close connections they forged together while fighting.
@@teyrncousland7152I'd imagine they are on good terms since the dominion is directly to the south, it's clear that the empire aided hammerfell during it's five year war with the dominion and trade is probably quite profitable between the two, some redguards may have a negative opinion of the empire but I'd imagine most see it as an ally against the aldmeri dominion which they have far more reason to hate
“Flex tape the holes in the world” has got to be the best descriptor of the Oblivion crisis ever.
i don’t agree with all the empire does but i love jarl balgruuf too much to side with the stormcloaks. he’s just so likable and chill.
Reasons for other races to join the Stormcloaks
Redguards = Sees an alliance with a Stormcloak Skyrim as the best option against the Dominion.
Dunmer and Argonions = To prove to the Nords that they are deserving of living along side them in Skyrim and to prove to their fellows that the only way to earn the respect of the Nords is to work for it and not sit on their hands complaining about it.
Orcs = An opportunity to fight great foes like the Empire and Dominion and improve relations with the Nords.
Imperials and Bretons = Fells betrayed by the Empire and wish to fight the Dominion without the bureaucracy and red tape.
Altmer, Bosmer and Khajiit = Refuges from the Dominion's tyranny in their respected home land and wish to liberate their homes at a later date and and don't want to draw the attention of the Imperial authorities and the Thalmor in their shadows, hoping that soon the Nords will help liberate their home as they help liberate Skyrim.
Your reasoning for the dark elves and argonians is some real attack on titan season 4 bullshit!!!!
You know that, right?!?!
@greygaston1263 I wouldn't know, I haven't watched that show.
Didn't a lot of dark elves and argonians work already?
@@Hell_O7 They're the good one, but the others belittle them for it.
@@james739123 I haven't really pay attention myself, but according to elderscrolls fandom wiki, it seems that every dark elves in the grey quarter has a job
Edit: in [ ], change from "has" to "have"
Edit 2: Revert changes above
To the absolute credit of the imperials, they willingly denied their former living God. In a setting where the gods actually interface with the Earth, I would argue that's basically a death sentence for your culture to deny your God. Without Talos what is the empire?
They didn't willing denie all mighty Talos.
@josephmcleod7476 they did. They could have refused that term as part of the concordat
@@QueenAleenaFan at the cost of a longer war that for them looked impossible to win looking back yes it would have been rough and very difficult but a sliver of possible
you keep your teeth so you can fight later the empire has talos worshippers within its ranks and past the public facade allows talos worship
@@banegas0411 I don't think you understand the significance of a sitting ruler who has an association with that God denying it. This isn't like oh say Islamic people invading the Vatican and making the pope deny the trinity. They literally get provable power from that God and they denied him
@@QueenAleenaFan imperial power comes from akatosh and the dragonborn dynasty
Talos as a god has shown practically 0 interference everything and 100% of everything he has ever done for the empire was when he was alive
"The greatest secret weapon in the Empire. Nords."
Laughs in Orcish.
Orcs were the “arm of the empire” as was Skyrim.
@@teyrncousland7152 not to mention orcs get way more shit than any other race
What did the Orcs do in the Great War? It was Nord legions who turned the tide in reconquering central Cyrodiil.
@@alexanderb5726 Nothing, I am just trying to get Nord fanboys mad lol. I know he was talking about the Nord legionaries actions in the Battle of Red Ring. I just find it funny that despite Nords having the numbers over the Orcs, both races having a similar warrior culture, and fighting style, lore wise the Orcs seem to get more praise as legionaries then even the Nords do. With them being described as being the "among the finest/best front-line troops in the Empire". Which seems to be the case since in the beginning of the Fourth Era, when Orsinium was sacked for one millionth time by Hammerfell and High Rock. The Imperial Legion actually sided with the Orcs, so those green skinned warriors and smiths have to be worth the investment if the Empire were willing to piss of two of thier vassal provinces.
@@smuggrog9821 Didn't really read past "make nord fanboys mad" lol. Let's just try and stick with the facts alright.
Morrowind didn't go through the Red Year until 5 years after Oblivion Crisis. It might as well have happened back to back, but it technically didn't.
Hammerfell didn't demand to become independent. Hammerfell kept fighting, and to avoid round two immediately, the Empire let go of their claim to it. They also conveniently relieved all Redguards in the Legion and gave them free passage back to Hammerfell.
Still not a great move, but one that allowed the Empire to catch their breath while letting Hammerfell give the Dominion a bloody nose at worst, or the gutting they actually gave the Dominion.
I don't remember if Morrowind is part of the Empire or not as the events of Skyrim, but Morrowind has always been self governed since it joined the Empire under Tiber Septum.
The Empire is more than likely doomed either way. I don't see it surviving much longer after the Second Great War. As long as the Dominion falls, it doesn't matter to me. I just see the Empire having a better chance at doing that.
For me so long as Skyrim is independent and every other province follows suit I am happy.
@@teyrncousland7152The empire isn't the united states federal government and the provinces are pretty independent only really having to contribute to the imperial legion, give some tax revenue to the imperial city and not attack other imperial territories and in exchange they get imperial arbitration on border disputes with other imperial territories and the protection of the imperial legion, ultimately skyrim is not only better off as part of the empire but is an integral part of it, I don't like comparing the stormcloaks to al-qaeda or the islamic state because whatever you think of ulfric and his guys and gals they aren't depraved savages but the whole stormcloak revolt and the dominions involvement in it is very similar to CIA support for various sunni fundamentalist terror groups that are opposed to american rivals like russia, iran and china irl
If the empire was smart they throw themselves in support of Ulfric as not only would Ulfric probably create more users of the thum, but it would ultimately preserve their power in the region especially if the legion is allowed to continue recruiting, training, and garrisoning troop in Skyrim while they prepare for the next Great War.
The Thum is something that only a handful of folks seem to be able to learn/the time it takes to learn is too great. Ulfric is one of 4 people we can encounter not counting thouse who live in the throat of the world or dragonborn who can use it. It may be something that you have to have a talent for it and swordplay to be able to use. If the empire fully pushed for that in Skyrim they would A. Get the grey beards/parthanax to support the program because they are the only ones who have it mastered to the point of teaching it. B get the few soldiers who have the talent to support it from a young age to spend 10 plus years away learning it as its implied that Ulfric learned it while he was young by the greybeards comments on it. It's not practical for them to do this kind of program at the same time as they are modernizing the armies with the new gear and tactics as stated in a few books in skyrim.
The thum is not for war.
7:52 "... and the Talos only knows what else haunting the marshes."
Two words. Chaurus. Reaper. 😨
While I’ve leaned more toward staying out of the war with each new run of Skyrim, I think the big picture stuff you’ve lined up here is why I’m still sort of Stormcloak at heart. Ultimately my stake in the conflict is just being anti-Thalmor, and while neither side is in a particularly good position to stand against them if they straight up win the civil war, I like Ulfric’s chances better than those of the waning empire in obvious fear of the Thalmor deciding their toes have been stepped on and burning Tamriel down all over again. Feel like that’s an important thing to note about the Imperials: though there’s just as much resentment of the Aldmeri Dominion going around on their side, the one guys in charge don’t exactly have a [redacted] to complete the historical parallels and rally into another Great War. Well, I guess Ulfric counts, but he’s not on their side. Point is that the Imperials best positioned to start that second war are instead putting out fires and trying to keep their heads down around the elves who are really in charge.
This seems to happen every age the empire gets fucked up and then bounces back and still being relevant. The Mede empire is just a transition phase for the real 4th empire to rise.
Yeah, feels like the Medes are just this era’s version of the Akaviri potentate or the longhouse emperors
The empire is somewhat central to the franchise so it will most likely bounce back
I know Imperials were supposed to be the real good guys, but when I look up in history for resemblance it would look like Roman legions hiring Guals (foreign ers who later become early medival ages). The real mistake for the Imperials is denying Talos worship and most Nords really got pissed. The second mistake is causing a Civil War that really benefits the BIG BAD SMUG FACE ELF. Both sides loses, but there the diplomacy peace route for both Imperials and Stormcloaks.
@@jackfrost105 of all things they could have done actually fighting the civil war was a mistake. To be fair the first big mistake was not having mages just throw massive fireball since altmer have like a plus 75 vulnerability to fireballs. So the average Altmer infantrymen would die basically on the spot
@@QueenAleenaFanto be fair, the collapse of the Mage's Guild didn't really help. They were more than likely the place the Empire sourced their battle mages from, or at least trained them. The two off shoots are not great replacements from what little we've seen of them, so the Empire probably had less skilled mages than the Dominion.
Imperials didn't deny it: It was part of the treaty that ended the Great War.
@flamingosedai1820 a treaty they signed. They could have demanded an adjustment of terms.
I don't really know a great deal about the empire but I don't get why the empire couldn't just allow skyrim it's sovereignty and ally themselves with skyrim. The empire wouldn't have to outlaw worship of talos in skyrim because it's not part of the empire, and they would have avoided the war that drains all their resources
I'd love to see something like the plot of Morowind for 6, where your an agent of either the emperor or maybe your a blade while the organization is still in hiding. The best part about that was the way it both gave you an inital motivation and direction AND managed to do so without the constant injection of urgency, where you were literally told to go buy some gear or a few spells and join up with one of the guilds or temples and establish yourself as a mercenary. It was also fantastic as a vehicle for getting into the fantasy politics in a way that made the world feel a lot less dumbed down than what you got in the next two games.
The Stormcloaks will fail, the Empire is doomed, Morrowind is Ravaged, Hammerfell stands Alone.
The only true alternative is glorious Argonia. Take the An-Xileel pill My marsh brothers and sisters
2:32 true, Skyrim is being Cyrodilicized and Imperialized. I can see Nordic culture but imperial Cyrodilic influences are certainly assimilating the Nords.
Every other elder scrolls game hones in on Nordic culture while Skyrim the literal game itself makes Skyrim look like what if Arminius died and Germany was apart of the romanizing empire.
The Empire situation is crazy
Good on you for bringing the Khajiit point up. It very clearly showcases the nature of Tamriel, as you say, not just Stormcloaks which so many fans ignore for some reason. The whole cultural identity of Khajiiti peoples *anywhere* is dishonesty and smuggling. And if we are to be honest here, they literally revere thievery and lies in their culture via the worship of Rahjin. They are less welcome everywhere. As for dark elves, I do not see the rest of Tamriel harboring Dunmer refugees or giving direct aid to them. The Empire even ignored Morrowind in favour of protecting the Heartland in the Oblivion Crisis. And yet Stormcloaks are racist for not giving dark elves life and luxury on a silver platter in Windhelm, in the middle of civil war, with resources stretched thin as it is for their own people? The double standards. As if Dunmer would've treated Nords any different (likely far worse) had the roles been reversed.
Keep in mind both Dark elves *and* High elves live comfortable lives in Windhelm (Nurelion, Niralye, Idesa Sadri) and why? Because they worked for it and earned respect and respected Nords and their culture. That is not the system of a racist society. Hammerfell reacted the same way a Skyrim now does when their freedom and rights were bartered away to the Dominion by the Empire, and successfully seceded and fought off the elves. No one in the fandom batted an eye of "racism" against that.
The Empire has devolved into an impotent, globalist-elitist force watering down cultures in the provinces and dealing ineptly with conflicts and consequences to their actions (arresting Ulfric at the Markarth indicent, allowing Thalmor agents free roam and impunity with literal kidnappings and religious pogroms). Skyrim should reclaim their cultural identity in independence, then we can discuss reforming a new and proper Empire. Maybe one based out of Skyrim as it was in the day of the first nordic empire.
The Empire recalling forces from Morrowind is Redoran propaganda and fake news. Play TES IV.
The Dunmer also don't want "luxury" in Windhelm. They want the bare basics of civil society: protection, communication with their ruler, and to not live in the dirt.
The Empire allows local customs, it's Ulfric who dishonors Skyrim's ways.
One thing you're missing: I forget who says this (Tullius, I think), but the Empire wants to fight the Rebellion with native troops. It's not a good look to put down an already nationalistic rebellion with swarms of foreign troops.
80% of my playthroughs are High Elven Stormcloaks. I'm not even sure why.
To play as Thalmor saboteur using Stormcloaks to cripple Skyrim lol
The elder scrolls version of operation timber sycamore
Not sure if I agree with your defense of the storm cloaks, but I agree with your arguments against the Imperial Empire.
But I definitely agree with the statement that the knife ears are trying to drag the war on... Because quite frankly nothing helps build alliances and allies like pointing at someone worse and agreeing that everyone should heat that jerk up.
I am for the next war against the elves even if the next Elder Scrolls game will not let us fight in that war.
I just watched your other skyrim videos and I'll be checking out more of your content!
I think Talos even in Morrowind felt like it was time for something new.
Near a thousand year history? The empire has barely existed 600 years.
Depends on how you define it, if we're talking about the empire created by talos then it's about six centuries but that was just a continuation of the second empire (the one founded by reman cyrodiil) which was a continuation of the first empire(the one founded by alessia cyrodiil) which was founded a bit over 4000 years ago and despite those empires never overlapping with each other there was always rump states claiming to be the empire which gave continuity to the reman, septim and later mede dynasties stretching back to the alessian dynasty
If memory serves, Morrowind and Black Marsh both were never conquered but joined for benefits. Black Marsh because lol swamp, Morrowind partly because that and partly because Tribunal. With those 3 gods gone and Red Mountain erupting, there's really not much reason to be interested in Morrowind now that it is ruined. Those two nations won't be of use to the Empire. Hammerfell left during the war. Elswyr is part of the Aldmeri dominion as is Valenwood if I remember right. That only leaves High Rock and Orsinium, both largely separated by Hammerfell and Skyrim, and ocean routes would pass through areas controlled by the Aldmeri which would likely prevent major troop movements there. Even still, Highrock is constantly squabbling amongst itself and Orsinium is barely a place. Empire is fucked if they don't actually win Skyrim, and i've seen leaks suggesting they don't.
I honestly wouldnt be surprised if the empire was just GONE in the next game.
It's kinda central to the franchise so unlikely, I think there are some hints that an imperial victory in skyrim is going to be the canon ending or at least heavily implied to be the case and it looks like TES 6 is going to be set in hammerfell so we'll probably get some quests involving the penitus oculatus(imperial intelligence agency) and whatever intel agency the dominion has covertly fighting each other, trying to gain influence in hammerfell and searching for magical artifacts in some sort of magical arms race(we saw this in skyrim)
I just want to see a Stormcloak Doolittle Raid on the Summerset Isles.
Edit
Many poeple think Hammerfell won on it's own. It didn't. The Dominion just wanted to cause animosity between Hammerfell and Cyrodiil and they succeeded. That makes more sense too. There are many real historical accounts of this tactic
I kind of agree with the point of Tullius being racist to the but I think that just comes from him being trained to think a certain way versus complete prejudice. But I think there is some racism there for sure.
continuing your red, blue, yellow theme. Is the Thalmor next?
The fact that the Dragonborn went to the Nordic Afterlife should have major consequences for the Civil War and the world at large. Sure we had folks who ventured into planes of oblivion but never before to a realm belonging to the more regular gods and coming back with undeniable proof that its real.
What undeniable proof, the big roasted ox heads? It’s not like we can take a selfie with Tsun, I mean the shout is pretty cool but idk if that would convince anyone we’ve actually been to Heaven
Heaven being real is well established in TES. It was so well understood that the imperials had the battlespire tethered to a lesser realm of aetherius.
@ Oh right i forgot about the Battlespire and its interesting usages.
Maybe Alduin showed up at Helgen to keep the civil war going so he can end the empire so the next kalpaa or empire can be born.
From Alduin's POV, the last 4000 years was a couple of seconds. He gets banished by the Nords, then wakes up and immediately gets jumped by Paathurnax. He wins the fight and then tries to figure out what the f**k is going on. He sees an army marching under the banner of a dragon and thinks, "Oh, so they must be my followers. Better fly down and ask what's going on." He flies down and then immediately gets attacked.
Alduin doesn’t give a shit about ending the world, he’s here to take over
7:14 You'd be surprised how untrue that is
Tulius is very clearly based on our real world Julius Ceasar from the Roman Empire which the empire is directly based on. One notable thing that gave the irl Julius no end of problems for his continued expansion was the early Celtic people and others who occupied the north. Sounds very similar to the relationship between Tulius and the nords of Skyrim doesn’t it.
People say the Empire has the best chance to beat the Aldmeri Dominion as if an independent Skyrim means that Cyrodiil will be fighting alone. More likely, Skyrim and Hammerfell will fight with them, just as equals instead of Vassals.
I think the argument is more a unified imperial legion with a unified command structure, training and equipment is better than several different allied armies unless they go full NATO and hold to force interoperability
In the Elder Scrolls universe, gods are real and matter a lot. People who say the banning of Talos wasn't a big deal don't get that fact. Without the blessings of Akatosh or Talos, the Empire is doomed to fail. Instead of desperately keeping this failing nation alive, we should focus on building a new alliance of men to fight against the Dominion. Like a Daggerfall Covenant 3.0 or something.
Plus, the whole part of letting the Thalmor send their own enforcers to eradicate Talos worship sounds like an excuse for infiltration. Sure, that came about from Markath Incident, but clearly the Thalmor would press the issue sooner or later even without the Markath Incident. To the Thalmor, eradicating Talos worship is getting rid of one of the Altmer’s greatest humiliation when he conquered the Summerset Isles. But it allows them to put in infiltrators to weed out even Imperial loyalists and replace them with pro-Thalmor loyalists. Individuals who are more interested in power and riches to the point of willing to work with the Thalmor and their Altmer supremacist agenda.
Say the Empire wins over the Stormcloaks: Thalmor patrols against Talos worship would still continue. Pro-Imperial loyalists even in Skyrim already collaborated with the Thalmor as ordered when dealing with Stormcloak sympathizers like the case of Thorvald Gray-Mane. Everyone knows the Empire hates the Aldmeri Dominion, but an Empire that already allows Thalmor infiltrators to operate freely within the Empire to enforce the Corcordat opens itself to sabotage. Who to say that all those pro-Nord, pro-Empire loyalists we left behind with an imperial victory in Skyrim would remain in power or overthrown by Thalmor agents working freely in the province? Not to mention the Dominion can occupy all those key strategic forts as centers from which to destabilize internal trade and supply lines within Skyrim before and during the 2nd Great War.
What do the “blessings of Akatosh” do for the Empire? The covenant holding back Oblivion is not necessary anymore, and I’m not aware of any significant help he rendered to hold off the Thalmor. Talos didn’t help either. The gods are real, but outside of specific cases they don’t really do shit.
I’m also not sure what another Daggerfall covenant would look like. The Empire is already a nation of several distinct internal entities (Colovia, Nibenay, all of High Rock, all of Skyrim, possibly Morrowind, etc.) What different route would some hypothetical “new alliance” take that wouldn’t just look like a continuation of the Empire?
@a_n1441 With Akatosh and Talos as their patrons, the Empire ruled Tamriel for over 400 years. Now, with the Dragonborn Emperors gone and Talos worship outlawed, the Empire is crumbling. I'm not talking about magical powers like the Dragonfires, I'm talking about the more metaphysical side of the gods. With their favour, mortals succeed. Without it, they fail. The Dominion has spread Auriel's influence across Tamriel, while simultaneously smothering Talos', by extension Shor's, ability to aid the races of Man. And the Empire allows them to do this, allows them to weaken the god of man who is needed for man's survival. In doing this, the Empire of Cyrodiil has once again proven itself unworthy. It must be broken down, destroyed, and a new Empire must take its place. The Empire of Shor. The Empire of Talos. The Empire of Man.
Empire of Shor 😂❤@@CyberController-
Kinda hope Hammerfell and a few other provinces gain more power and stability by the time of ES 6.
Me too I hope every province becomes independent.
I like to pretend at the end of the game the dragonborn is powerful enough to bend will a bunch of dragons and lead an army of them to the thalmor
I wonder how Bethesda will handle the civil war's ending, because they will definitely piss a ton of fan if they pick one so I'm sure they'll do some sort of compromise.
While it is unlikely, it will be interesting if regardless of who won, the jarls still won't pick a new high king because they disagree with their way and then used lore spread around TES V to justify this and turn the whole things upside down, maybe even making it a Thalmor victory.
I think this make sense. If the Empire won, the Thalmor patrol may increase and continue the unrest even after Ulfric died, and the Thalmor can continue making friends with Skyrim's upper-class
If the Stormcloak won, while the Thalmor patrols will stop, the Stormcloak's army is weakened by both the Empire and the dragons, and the Thalmor has no treaty to legally hold back their army.
Theoretically, in "Stormcloak win" scenario, the Empire can still threaten the high elf's flank, but with all the unrest caused by the emperor's death + resources loss in Skyrim, a major operation might be unlikely.
Ngl i will crashout if the high elves win another war
Why would you give Kaidan such an ugly helmet bro. The whole point of that character is his pretty face.
The Empire has been collapsing since the first game in the series. "Wulf" even says in Morrowind that he thinks that it's time for something new. From purely a narrative perspective, the Stormcloaks are the clear winners.
I don’t think the Stormcloaks will win, because Bethesda hates providing canon endings to important player choices like that, but Skyrim will be either independent or crippled one way or another. The Empire will continue its decline, basically.
@@a_n1441 What you're saying is basically that even if the Stormcloaks lose, another rebel group will simply replace it and they will succeed at making Skyrim independent. In the long term it doesn't really matter which group of people does it, the initial goal of the Stormcloaks for an independent Skyrim is realised either by them or their successors.
This is just a roundabout way for Bethesda to recognise a canon choice without outright stating it. Because lets face it, an Imperial Victory in Skyrim would require outright compliance to the point that Skyrim never attempts to secede again, and that simply isn't going to happen as not only is it unrealistic based on what we see in game, but narratively it goes against the story of the series.
@@nepnep1453 I don’t think the Empire will necessarily win, I think it’ll either be ambiguous and generally unimportant to the plot or it’ll be a dark horse option of some kind. Skyrim will be cut off from the Empire to an extent. For all I know Bethesda might just have the war still be ongoing or in a ceasefire at the time of TESVI. I can see them using the Season Unending quest to just put it in eternal stasis.
@@a_n1441 This is just a little bit of fan predicition on my part here, but based on previous lore from both Skyrim and the older games, I wouldn't be surprised if an independent Skyrim just immediately conquered some or all of High Rock and maybe parts of Morrowind.
Wulf speaks of a change in rulership, not the collapse of the Empire.
Counterpoint: General Tullius is the sexiest character in the game
Well, there is an iron mine in Hjaalmarch that is owned by one of Elisif's thanes. So that might be useful?
septim empire isn’t a thousand years, Tiber was born at the end of the second era and the last of his descendants Martin died when he sacrificed himself to light the dragon fires at the end of the third era 433, its less than 500 years old, sure the dragonborn lineage might run that far but there is no connection to reman/ alessia other than the Amulet of kings which can be worn by any dragonborn
The thing about Legate Rikka is kind of the point. You're expecting that she should have respect for her own culture, but that's the literal reason why there's a civil war in the first place. You can belong to a society and find many of their traditions stupid and naive and disagree with them. There's nothing wrong with her belittling her own Nord culture, at least 50% of the population (probably far more than that since rebellions usually don't have 50% approval) would agree that at worst they might not like the fact Talos is banned, but it's not a reason to materially weaken their province with a war in the face of Thalmor aggression either.
If the Dominion learned anything from Round One, it's that breaking Cyrodiil breaks the Empire. The Thalmor won't even bother making another incursion into Hammerfell. The Thalmor will hold the line on the Dominion-Hammerfell border and pour all their offensive power into conquering or burning down Cyrodiil. If the Dominion takes Cyrodiil, that puts them in a position to strike at any province they like, much the same way that whoever wins the Battle for Whiterun has the decisive advantage in Skyrim's civil war.
Personally, I think a Stormcloak victory would ultimately save the Empire/Cyrodiil. High Rock would have no choice but to break with Cyrodiil should Skyrim gain independence, and the Thalmor don't want a Stormcloak victory, because then they would have to fight a series of slow wars of attrition with multiple provinces, as opposed to one or two big wars that bring all the nations of man into submission all at once.
I used to support the Empire, and then I figured out Titus Mede adopted the Septim Empire's heraldry and legacy as a way to solidify his claim to power. The Mede Empire is not the gods-blessed nation ruled by a dynasty with a mandate to rule straight from the Divines. I think it's time for Cyrodiil to let go of its legacy and see what new thing rises to take its place.
The Thalmor don't want a Stormcloak victory because it harms the Empire less than an ongoing war does in the long term. The Stormcloaks themselves are not a threat.
Without the Medes, there wouldn't be an Empire left and the Aldmeri would have already been ruling Tamriel.
Imperials, stormcloaks. Let's talk about the ridiculous 18(i counted) ads i had to skip in this one 22 minute video.
The more I think about it the less impressed I am with the Thalmor as a faction. They're just boring cartoon villains
hopefully they drag the Thalmor down with them.
First it's that the Sigmacloaks "will lose", now it's about the Simpire falling? Enlightened centrist bro on deck
Leave it to the mongrel dogs of the Empire to give everything the Thalmor wanted after and despite defeating the largest Thalmor army in Cyrodil. 😂
Problem is the fog of war. Sure, post-facto we know the main Thalmor army had been destroyed in the Battle of the Red Ring, but the imperials didn’t know this. They believed a second major Thalmor army, one which the exhausted legions would have no chance to defeat, was on its way and saw the White-Gold concordat as a last-ditch attempt to stave off total defeat
The Thalmor still occupied large parts of Cyrodiil, and the Legion wasn't in any condition to force them out without a treaty.
@flamingosedai1820 If the Imperials couldn't force the Thalmor out of Cyrodil while the Redguards forced the Thalmor out of Hammerfell then you've made my point for me. The Imperials are simply too incompetent or too gutless (dunno which) to be relied upon protect anyone. And if such is the case then it shouldn't be allowed to exist.
@@LordDim1 There are generals in history that could never commit to battle because they always though the enemy army was double or triple what their's was instead of using proper agents and spies to figure things out. Generally, we don't think highly of them.
@295Phoenix But neither did Hammerfell (a massive hard to invade desert full of dangerous stuff by the way) till the Emipire Smashed the Thalmors main army at the Imperial City during Red Ring, have one of its legates let out a ton of “invalids” to continue fighting in Hammerfell, and sign the treaty.
Sorry, but actions speak louder than words. Tullius may piss and moan about the Nords, but he's actively fighting and working with them to keep the empire strong until the inevitable second great war.
Meanwhile Ulfric doesn't actually say, "I don't see Argonians or Dark Elves as people", but his separate but equal BS in Windhelm is blatant. It's as much their home as any Nord, whether they're refugees or born there, but why would the Dunmer help the Stormcloaks when some of them have been there ~200 years, and are still in a neglected ghetto?
He's also absolutely fine with the exploitation of Argonians in the docks, he doesn't tell Shattershield to pack it in. Just look at what Brunwulf Freewinter says about direct attacks on non-Nord settlements in Eastmarch - Ulfric doesn't care.
The players who say they fight for the empire because Talos built it fail to remember that Talos himself (As Wulf) said its time for something new 😂
Wrong. He said that _perhaps_ its time for something new. He doesn't know what, and certainly doesn't suggest triumph of the Stormcloaks. It could as well mean some sudden change in Cyrodiil itself: some hero to kick things off, a martyr to inspire people against the Thalmor, I don't know, but neither does Wulf. Maybe Ulfric's death will revive the spirit of the Empire. Dunno. Guess we'll see who won in TES6. Unless they dragonbreak again, and somehow both factions will win. That would be a plot twist...
@grzegorzflorek5623 Just as Ulfric death can spark something new, his victory alongside with Titus Mede death (since guild questlines are always cannon) could spark sonething new on the current empire too, i'm not suggesting Talos (as Wulf) was talking about the stormcloaks specifically but they could be what sparks said change (just look how much has already changed since the end of the 3rd era) i like to belive in a potential Hammerfell-Skyrim alliance with maybe Highrock in the middle, since realistically speaking the Thalmor doesnt need to invade Skyrim since apparently the snow tower (the throat of the world) is already deactivated? So the war with them will not be a defensive one
@@tiodosalgado5860 You do realize that you can actually destroy the Dark Brotherhood? When she kidnaps you to abandoned shack, kill her instead, and you'll have different questline where you eliminate everybody else (except Babette, who is completely gone for some reason - perhaps because despite being centuries old vampire killing a child would be highly controversial, so devs just removed her), and prevent assassinations of Vittoria Vici, Gourmet and Emperor. No, It's not a mod - It's in Vanilla, and Yes, it throws a wrench into your "guilds questlines are canon" opinion. Hell, even choice between Dawnguard & Vampires does.
@@grzegorzflorek5623 ah yes, because Bethesda would throw a entire guild questline away (and the possibility of the dark brotherhood appearing in another game together too) for the badly written alternative...
Also the guild quests being cannon isnt a opnion but a FACT, this doesnt mean the player Character (aka the protagonist) did them, they do that to not interfer in the player's cannon, so yes the hero of kvatch for example cannonically did the main quests and DLC's but he could also have been the archmage of the mages guild or the guildmaster of the thieves guild, hell the civil war quest will probably be won by the "civil war Champion" or something just to not interfer in the player's cannon, but back to the point: Yes Titus Mede is dead on the next game the game only gives you the option to destroy the dark brotherhood as alternative for morally good (or neutral whatever) characters
@@tiodosalgado5860 Guess we'll see in TES6... when it releases in 2040
Another thing you forgot to mention is why they don’t flood the place with troops they don’t wanna be destabilize the border with the elf Nazi it’s too much
I mean seeing your criticism of Adrestian Empire and you being a lowkey Church apologist despite your points in your Church video, I'm not too surprised you would side with the Stormcloaks in this old, trite decades long Red vs Blue war.
Thing is, Ulfric is the only Stormcloak that actually has broad view of how to navigate ahead with the bigger picture. The rest of Stormcloak generals? They only all care about getting Talos worship back and returning Skyrim to the Nords. I can see your point that the Empire is being The Sick Man of Tamriel, but I'd rather have sound mind of Rikke and Tullius' cautiousness than the band of tunnel-visioned berserkers behind otherwise shrewd and honorable Nord lord. I've played on both sides many time, and both side is shit, but Stormcloaks is the worse of two devils because of this.
Funny that Ulfric and his Stormcloaks is basically Edelgard (down to their relationship with Thalmor and TWSITD respectively), but instead of having Ferdinand giving her sound advice in reforms, she got Caspar as her right-hand man to feed her "just kick their asses" plans and nothing much else.
EDIT: Oh not to mention most Stormcloak Jarls are awful! Only Laila-Lawgiver is somewhat decent, but then again it won't change things much since Riften is a corrupted bunghole no matter what. Look, with those shitty Jarls in charge I'm even more doubtful Stormcloak winning is the best outcome. High King Ulfric might be decent to good but what use of a good leader when his subjects are incompetent?
I like your rational takes and argument (heck I love your Triangle Strategy videos and tearing down all 3 Fodlan states) but man your bias for Stormcloak is showing.
Shouldve never persucuted the minotaurs
Skyrim was a fun game. But I would say it was fun despite the writing (dialogue and NPCs included), not because of it.
A matter of taste, of course. But if I think about different components of that game the majority of them were bad, mediocre, or in one way or another a missed opportunity/misquided. Main story? Wank. Dialogue? Usually bad and unreactive/unresponsive to what you have done. NPCs and quests? Usually forgettable (several exceptions of course). Combat? Clumsy but maybe passable. Cities? Too small, too lifeless, too boring.
Huh.
Disagree but good to see you are at very least fair.
ua-cam.com/video/aOxdl60WiyU/v-deo.html I like how Raven Knight makes a good argument FOR the empire if YOU join them. Compared to what happens if you join the stormcloaks.
So the thing is, not lifting a finger to help your own citizens based on race is racism, not ambivalent. And don't get me wrong, Tulius is bigoted too, it's something that comes free with imperialism
It’s kind of funny to see people saying that the Stormcloaks aren’t racist when they want one race to hold exclusive right of rule over the province
Tullius, at the end of the Imperial Storyline, says he's come to respect the Nords and how Skyrim forges a man down to his bones. I respect your video and your channel greatly, but come on, you shouldn't have missed this.
No, through Faith, Steel, and magical gunpowder the Empire will stand against the darkness
Except the empire abandoned its faith.
@@teyrncousland7152Empire abandoned its faith when it chosen to worship PDFile and war criminal as a God, instead of the Eight Divines that actually founded the Empire in the first place. Hell, even during TES4 priests of Akatosh, chief deity of the Divines, were complaining that worship of Talos overtook all other deities, and that they are seizing power.
It’s not the same empire as it was under the Septims bro, just let it go already
A united Empire under the Nine is the only thing that keeps the Thalmor at bay
Except the empire betrayed the nine and allowed the Thalmor to enter.
@@teyrncousland7152 That was not the Empire that was the Kingdome of Cyrodil at the hands of one man who claimed a tittle not deserving of his acts,
@@teyrncousland7152and a broken empire is better to beat the Thalmor the empire did what it had to most people still worship the nine but in secret the empire knows this and does nothing to stop it until Ulfric started crying about it.
Nah empire still better
Good video
The reason Tullius isn't fond of the Nords isn't because he's racist, it's because the Nords are stubborn and can't see the bigger picture. Tullius and Rikke both tell you the Thalmor are the real enemies and Skyrim and Cyrodil should be working together to stop them but instead the Nords are too busy whining about Talos. At the end of the civil war Tullius admits he respects the Nords which he wouldn't say if he was racist.
Yet the empire bends its ass backwards to them, a great way to get the Nords on your side is too ban the worship of a god they love.
The Empire is weak and really it needs to fall to break the chains its placed in, only then can it return and be a actual counter to the dominion
The Empire is too busy putting out fires and so scared of the Dominion they just keep there heads down, not doing anything to really help
A Skyrim under the Empire is not as fortified against the dominion as you think because lets be honest if another war happened, The Empire would rally its Nord legions away from Skyrim to fight for the Empire , in a war the current Empire has no real hope of winning.
So ill say it again The current Empire needs to fall.
@@mk_gamíng0609 The imperial soldiers wear skirts so the elves can have easier access
@@mk_gamíng0609Statements based on air.
skyrim is for the nords
While I agree in theory that the larger an empire is the less it can be managed, decentralization can keep massive empires thriving much longer, and more importantly, your assumption than Ulfric would keep his word is, frankly, hilarious. He hasn't kept his word once, he just says he hates the thalmor because it's politically convenient that snake wouldn't help the empire unless he had something to gain and he has far more to gain by betraying cyrodill.
Instead my idea for the best ending is an empire ending. Namely:
>Win the civil war for the empire
>While playing as a nord that worships talos and sides with the longbeards against the blades (I would be sorry for the blades but they're deeply, profoundly unintelligent, so, they make for a good sacrificial pawn) (also btw my favourite race is argonian so you know I thought deeply about this for me to favor nords instead when even the imperial-side ones are asses to the lizards, but an argonian dragonborn would be a mess politically... honestly in most TES games trying to justify being argonian or khajit is hard as hell.)
>use the brotherhood quest to purge the weakened imperial succession line.
>make a point of killing as many thalmor as possible (that's not part of the plan I just hate them)
This way Skyrim is likely very quickly pacified as not only the dragonborn, but also the thalos cult and longbeards have sided with the empire, basically all their ancestral icons have taken the side of cyrodyll. The empire too goes on to basically get a "talos reborn" kind of mythos, which means the new emperor has it easy to polarize people against the elves, which will help rapidly rearm cyrodill, and hopefully push it into taking the next war seriously.
If the Thalmor freak out and kickstart the second war, GOOD. As you said, they breed slow, they're still hurting from the last, more so than the humans, especially with the beating hammerfell gave them, both skyrim and cyrodill are already in war economy mode anyway, and hammerfell would actually most certainly join the war anyway, so the elves are loosing, hard.
If the Thalmor decide to try and bide their time, ALSO GOOD. Gives the empire time to decide when they want the war to start, plus with a more polarized society thalmor spies will have it harder to sabotage them. The elves will most certainly have a hard time keeping up with imperial buildup, and there's almost no way they can win round 2.
Now don't get me wrong. This empire would most likely not survive long term anyway. What I'm describing? An empire born of assassination and war, with a great man figure as national hero? One hellbent on revanchism from day one? Its a recipe for authoritarianism. They'll endure the war but in the aftermath they're sure to go into a heavy decline when their war economy can't patch the fact they haven't paid attention to the real economy for years. The empire would die soon after the thalmor do...
Thing is. I'm not doing this to save the empire. I'm doing it to kill the elves. You said it. Everyone in TES is racist. And I'd say when it comes to the high elves they're also right to be. The empire can go die for all I care, Black Marsh is the only province I genuinely love anyway. But before it goes it better make sure to take down the knife ears, that'd undeniably make the world a better place.
It’s hard to say whether the Thalmor are doing worse than the Empire right now. Their army was totally destroyed, which is more than can be said for the Empire, but their lands, internal trade routes, and political structures are untouched unlike Cyrodiil, Hammerfell, or even Skyrim post-civil war which were all varying degrees of fucked both physically and ideologically. They’re gonna have a hell of a lot easier time fielding a new army than the Empire, the reproductive rate is really the only thing holding them down here.
What is the win condition for the humans in which they annihilate the “knife ears”, anyway? They have to clear out the existing Aldmeri control on the Hammerfell coast, stave off another Aldmeri invasion of the coast from Summerset, then have to go invade Summerset itself and possibly Valenwood and Elseweyr at the same time. The only guy to ever fully conquer Alinor was Tiber freaking Septim, and unless Titus Mede II’s successor has a Numidium up his ass, he can’t recreate that particular feat.
Ulfric never went back on his word and the Thalmor were always his enemies. And he expresses his desires and plans to fight them to his closest confidants.
The empire has been falling apart for two centuries and there’s no sign of recovery. There’s no way that the empire will ever rebuild to fight the thalmor especially now that it allows their agents to infiltrate them. Only the gods by sending another hero or prisoner will defeat the thalmor.
The best ending is this. Skyrim becomes independent and eventually both the empire and the thalmor collapse and every province is independent.
@@a_n1441 Hammerfell has already kicked the thalmor out of their coast and Reman Cyrodiil also conquered Alinor before Tiber Septim.
I never paid much attention to this line of information, until i went back and did a new playthrough. Jarl Balgruuf sides with the empire only because he wants to stay as jarl. Now hear me out and follow this logic. Since first meeting in at the beginning of the main story, Balgruuf constantly says that, when it comes to the civil war, he is "on the side of whiterun". For quite a long while, i seen people arguing whether his neutrality makes him either a genius or an idiot coward. Yet no matter what, he always sides with the empire, but he does so ONLY when the dragonborn decides to join the civil and picks either side. Now, during the daedric quest, the whispering door, his son, Nelkir, straight up says that his father openly worships talos, hates the thalmor equally as much as the stormcloaks and is constantly worried about being kicked out of Whiterun. During the civil war, after the big whiterun battle, for either side, Balgruuf says he sided with the empire for the reason of "mutual benefits", that whiterun as well as the rest of skyrim gets all manner of goods from down south in Cyradil, and in exchange the empire gets assistance from the entire nord population, who he called the greatest warriors in Tamriel in general. Taking all this information into account, Balgruuf is most likely lying to the dragonborn about why he sided with the empire, cause if the dragonborn sided with the empire, Balgruuf stays as jarl, however if siding with the stormcloaks, he gets replaced and he leaves whiterun, along with his kids. So yeah, the true reason jarl Balgruuf chooses to side with the empire is just so he can stay in power as jarl
He also would've stayed as Jarl if he sided with the Stormcloaks as well. None of the Stormcloak controlled areas had their Jarl replaced either, and Ulfric seems to really respect Balgruuf. We know the Imperials replaced the Jarl of Falkreath with one more "empathic" to their cause. He most likely joined the Empire's side for his stated reasons.
This would make sense if Ulfric wanted him out. He didn't. THEY respect each other. Balgruuf didn't lie at all. He legit cares about his people, which is why he don't want to take any part of the war. Skyrim would never win a war against the Empire even if the Storm cloaks won skyrim.
A couple of fun facts. First, during the season unending quest, you get hints that Balgruuf was always on the side of the imperials, even if you never started the civil war before this quest. During the peace council, the stormcloaks are given control of Markarth no matter what, and he gets all upset about it. Pay close attention to the reactions to it; only the people who very clearly sided with the empire are upset about that, and just like jarl elisif during the peace council, he too is furious about it, and he was supposed to be completely neutral about it, as in he is not suppose to care about it; so yeah he was always on the imperials side even before the dragonborn joins the civil war. Second, I'm not sure if anyone wanted to admit this, but the entire peace council at high hrothgar was entirely Balgruufs idea, all because he wants to stay neutral. Plus when you get the season unending quest from talking to him, he says that neither the imperials or stormcloaks will stand by and watch as a dragon just flies into whiterun, that both sides would take advantage of the situation when you ask for help to trap a dragon in dragonsreach. BUT, remember the dragon that attacked the whiterun watchtower at the start of the game, neither side batted an eye about that, and everyone clearly saw alduin destroy helgen. So what makes Balgruuf or anyone else think/believe the imperials or stormcloaks won't interfere with the dragonbron trying to trap a dragon in whiterun? So yeah, the entire peace meeting was all his idea because he wants to hide his true allegiance to the empire behind his talk/claims of neutrality. He probably took advantage of the dragonbron asking for help as an excuse to maintain his neutrality before even bothering to help capture a dragon when he could've literally helped the dragonborn right there on the spot
2:34 - 2:38
What "cultural colonisation", Skyrim still has many of its own customs by 4E 201. Only its faith has changed - and there is no sign of force.
5:07 - 5:30
This overlooks the fact that most of what the Aldmeri demanded of Hammerfell was already under Aldmeri occupation at the time the Concordat was signed.
Hammerfell also did not "push back" the elves. They proceeded to lose land for five years until they fought the Aldmeri to a standstill. Then they signed their own peace treaty and the Aldmeri withdrew.
7:55 - 8:19
No? The vast majority of the Legion in Skyrim are local recruits. Conscripts are a minority. Same with the Stormcloaks.
8:35 - 9:08
The Legion should not be going on the defense. They need to end the war asap. The longer it drags on, the more it benefits the Thalmor, and thus the more it harms the Empire.
Skyrim isn't "flooded with troops" because the Legion is using most of its resources in preparing for the next war with the Dominion. Avalanches have nothing to do with it.
11:04 - 11:25
The Empire does not pick who the High King, or Queen, is. They never have.
11:50 - 13:29
Ulfric has written a decree forcing a race out of Windhelm because he mistrusts them. He ignores the plights of another race because he has disdain for them, and his guards neglect their duties in areas this race lives in. Ulfric is racist.
The Dunmer have nothing to do with Ulfric's decree forcing the Argonians out. That's a fanfic created by Stormcloak supporters. Just witness Riften.
Tullius has issues with Nord culture, not Nords as a race. Therefore, not racist. And he has this problem because it often stands in the way of his military objectives in the war. Such Balgruuf keeping him from defending Whiterun from the Stormcloaks, or having to divert troops to retrieve a crown, or attending a peace council because of the respect the Greybeards have. All these things hamper his military objectives.
Also, Ulfric respects traditions? Man damns the Jarls and Moot, broke his oath, denied Torygg's legitimacy, dishonored the Way of the Voice and turned against the Greybeards.
And by the end of the questline, his objectives complete, Tullius takes a step back. He openly states he has grown to respect the local ways, even if he does not understand them, and sees Skyrim as his home.
13:30 - 13:40
The Khajiit aren't banned, only the caravans. Because they deal in skooma, which is illegal.
13:48 - 14:04
Galmar mistrusts anyone who isn't a local Imperial or Nord and gives them special treatment. He expects them to fail in defeating an Ice Wraith.
The Legion doesn't mistrust you, nor do they care about race.
14:47 - 15:06
The dragons returning has nothing to do with the gods. The prophecy was complete, so Alduin returned. Nothing else to it.
19:20 - 19:33
They're doing this at present. Most of the Legion is in Cyrodiil, along the border with the Dominion, preparing for the next war.
Hammerfell only survived because of the Concordat.
For the empire!
For independence.
@teyrncousland7152 your insolence shall not go unpunished! Rebel Scum!