The empire NEEDS YOU!

[Rhivan]

the empire as some of you intelligent people might know is that we the imperials are biding out time to destroy the thalmor we took their money now we are bidding out time and when they think we give up we are more powerful than before if you want tamriel to stay in human control play IMPERIAL you can still kill the emperor just don't go stormcloak!

[Meepus Moopus]

Originally posted by Incendavis:

play IMPERIAL you can still kill the emperor just don't go stormcloak!

Most lenient job ever.

[Rhivan]

lol yep but we need a new emperor

[Rhivan]

besides alot o people love going dark brotherhood

[Aleitheo]

You'd think killing the emperor would be at the top of the list of things you can't do. In fact since you seem to be more for keeping the empire in control of man and beating the Thalmor, joining the stormcloaks shouldn't be that big a deal.

You seem to have your priotities in a mess here.

[Crossbow]

Joining the Stormcloaks divides the Empires strength.

[DerAlleinTiger]

Am I the only one who enjoys political debates in Skyrim more than political debate in real life?

[DerAlleinTiger]

Anyway, for the sake of the discussion, I'm completely with you. The emperor did not want to ban the worship of Talos - he was forced to do so by teh Thalmor. If he did not accept the terms of the White-Gold Concordat, the Empire would have fallen, either by defeat in battle or from weakness in the aftermath of a prolonged war. If he had not gone to war in the first place, he still would have had to accept the Dominion's terms AND he would have appeared weak to just give up without a fight. Now that the Dominion has been slightly weakened by the war, neither side is quite ready for large-scale warfare again. While it's true that the Thalmor have a small hold on the provinces, the Empire still retains a majority of control over its remaining provinces. The Empire had a chance to lick its wounds and prepare for another round; but then Ulfric starts up his little rebellion. Not only does his rebellion waste Legion lives, time, and resources, but also gives the Thalmor a greater reason to crack down on Talos worship, essentially causing their plan to backfire. IF the Stormcloack were to take over and push the Empire out of Skyrim, several major things would happen - and not one would be good. First, the Empire would be severely weakened and the people of Skyrim would lose their largest, most stable ally in all of Tamriel. Second, the Dominion would take notice. Third, the Dominion would then attack Skyrim (they're already fighting the Redguards in Hammerfell, so why not Skyrim?). Fourth, Skyrim would fall under elven control. With no allies and an onslaught of the Aldmeri Dominion, Skyrim would lose its independence. Fifth, the Empire would have an extremely difficult time in the next round of war with the Dominion, possibly even being defeated.

So, yeah, if you like elves and oppression, go with the Stormcloaks; but if you like freedom, equality between races (for the most part at least), and not dying, then join the Imperial Legion. For the Empire! For Elsweyr! For the Legion!

[RCJenn]

Personally, I'm going Stormcloak, as I see that as being the best way to save the Empire.

Once you start on the road of appeasement, to the detriment of your own people, there is no going back.

Believe me, I don't like the racist overtones of the Nords, as I always play Bosmer (wood elf) characters. But in the long run I decided to support the Stormcloaks as being the best choice in the true war against the Thalmor.

If Skyrim gains its independence then it's a strong message that we will not give up Talos nor will we submit to having our people living like prisoners in their own homes and even taken away in the middle of the night.

Also if Skyrim defects, and the Thalmor DO move against Skyrim then they would place themselves in the precarious position of facing Skyrim with their vulnerable backsides to the Empire, and no matter what the outcome of the civil war in Skyrim, neither want the Thalmor to win, so there will always be an alliance with the Empire against the Thalmor.

If anything Skyrim's slap against the Emperor and challenge to the Thalmor might be just what is needed to bring the Empire to its senses that it is better to live on your feet than on your knees.

When you give up god (Talos) and country to the Thalmor inquisition then you've already lost more than just a war, you've lost your entire civilization.

So for me, like it or not, it's Stormcloak all the way, not just for Skyrim but for Empire as a whole. So yes, the Empire NEEDS YOU - Go Stormcloak, for god and country.

[DerAlleinTiger]

While it's true that the Thalmor would have the Empire to their back, the Empire likely would not do anything to truly help Skyrim. Thanks to Ulfric's rebellion, the Legion has been weakened so much so that it would not want to tangle with the Dominion before it truly has to. Besides, if Ulfric wanted the Empire's help, then he should not have tried to divide it in the first place. That is exactly what the Dominion wanted - a divided Empire. Ulfric is playing right into the Dominion's hand. Besides, you don't have to completely give up your faith in Talos; you simply have to be careful about it. Don't go around shouting about Talos (I'm looking at you, Heimskr) and you won't be dragged off by the Thalmor. Soon, you won't even have to keep it a secret, because the Empire will eventually fight back against the Dominion and throw away the White-Gold Concordat. If it means keeping the Empire together and strong and assuring the eventual demise of the Dominion, then keeping one's faith a secret for a short time is a small price to pay for any loyal citizen. In war, it is the patient general that eventually tastes sweet victory; and that's what the Empire has that the Stormcloaks don't - patience.

[Weasel Biggs]

Originally posted by rcjenn40:

If anything Skyrim's slap against the Emperor and challenge to the Thalmor might be just what is needed to bring the Empire to its senses that it is better to live on your feet than on your knees.

You forget that Ulfric is a Thalmor plant. You don't get to kick Elven ass if you side with the Stormcloaks. What's a lot more likely to happen is you helping Ulfric take the throne and then, outside of the game's offered or perceptible narrative, the Thalmor replacing him with a more convenient ruler. I'd even say it's guaranteed to happen, seeing as Ulfric's agenda post-Markarth Incident is a gigantic Eff You to his Elven backers.

Guy's shot himself in the foot, more or less. Side with him, and you're siding with someone who's likely to end up taking a long walk off a short cliff - Thu'um or no Thu'um.

[RCJenn]

Personally, in my viewpoint, having played the other Elder Scroll games I see the Empire as a direct correlation to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. So my belief at this point in the series is that the promise of a better day is just smoke being blown up our kilts.

The Empire is dying, and any hope of a grand cavalry riding over the hilltop to save the day is just a fairy tale to keep up the pretense of greatness long gone. The barbarians aren't just at the gate, they're knocking down your door in the middle of the night and hauling you out into the streets.

That being said, in the way I'm playing the game and advancing the lore, is to find an oasis in fast approaching dark age that is upon Tamriel and at least protect Skryim through the death throes of the old republic.

In my opinion, by turning its back on Talos and persecuting any who worship him, who in fact forged the Empire, the Empire has doomed itself.

But Talos is also the patron god of Skyrim, and if Skyrim is to escape the fate of Cyrrodil then it must stand up for Talos just as he stood up for them. It's the only way to protect itself from the coming dark age.

I believe that Talos, as Tiber Septim WAS a dragonborn. So in a way it has come full circle. The dragonborn came from Skyrim and created the Empire. Is there any coincidence that when the empire rejects Talos, that a new dragonborn emerges? Personally I think not.

So for me, as flawed as the Stormcloaks are, their heart is in the right place. To refuse to have Talos silenced and his people dragged off, tortured and killed. And because that was happening, their screams and pleas to Talos were answered, and a dragonborn has come.

[Bryanonymous]

I would probably join the Thalmor before ever joining the Empire. At least then I wouldn't be a slave.

[Weasel Biggs]

Originally posted by SFBryan18:

I would probably join the Thalmor before ever joining the Empire. At least then I wouldn't be a slave.

The Empire doesn't condone slavery. The Thalmor pretty much do. You'd become one of the masters just for the sake of not being a slave? I'd rather fight so nobody has to become a slave, ever. The best way to do that is to fight for the Empire.