User blog comment:Sgt. S.S./Why I support the Empire/@comment-4811520-20120323163729/@comment-69.146.244.153-20120401001815

Or do what i am. Join the Thieves guild and become besties with Maven Black-Briar. Ignore the civil war. During conference, cede riften to the Empire, and now, with Maven as Jarl, the Thieves guild is safe. Spread, and restore the influence of the guild to its former glory. Then Join the Dark Brotherhood and become even greater besties with Maven, she now needs you just as much as you need her. She's wealthy and has access to Imperial Armies. You are a mighty assassin with the power of coersion offered by the Thieves guild. Take the wealth and power and respect, and eliminate rival companies. Expand the Black-Briar meadery's markets into other provinces and run a huge monopoly, with a nice touch of corruption. You want Maven alive, as she commands respect from other nobles, you just "influence" her opinions. With the vast wealth gained from your activites as thief, assassin and entrepreneur, outift your armies with the best equipment money can buy. Wouldn't be a bad idea to get a larger one as well. The empire will probably win the Civil war, which is good for the Black-Briars. If the stormcloaks are to win, then you must bribe Ulfric. You can still maintain control of your imperial army, albeit discreetly. You can also bribe other Jarls to vote for maven at a moot, or take the position by force, or black-mail, or elimination, etc. If Ulfric becomes highking, he must be assassinated and the throne taken with your army. With Maven as High Queen, you can pay off Thalmor Suspicions. Titus mede II lays dead by your hand for a while now, and its time to Challenge the Medic Empire in the style of Julius Caesar. Take the imperial army that owes loyalty to you, not the empire and threaten imperial City, not an easy task. You can probably bribe other leaders to support you, not to mention your Dovakiin, you have a legitimate claim. The imperial leaders should agree to your claim, if your human. I'm a Khajiit, so someone else would need to be placed as my puppet. I then pay Hammerfell to commit a massive espionage war, with the newly funded Blades, against the Aldmeri Dominion. An appeal should be made to the Argonian State and get them on the little cold war before the Aldmeri can do the same. You build your armies and hope war isn't declared before your empire is restored. Now you declare war. Eslweyr is a puppet state, not part of the Dominion. It wont be defended as fiercely as the other two provinces. Threaten Valenwood, but make a full out push on Elsweyr. The purpose is to weaken Aldmeri armies, not take them out. Make them sue for peace, and fear you. Ta Da! you win, and the Aldmeri Dominion isn't a threat any longer.