Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-1600847-20161103125247/@comment-26693897-20161212153420

@Terawolf119 - The Thalmor could easily invade Skyrim via Sea of Ghosts and before you say anything, don't forget you find Thalmor in Solstheim and the only way to get to the island is to cross the Sea of Ghosts. Also If the Thalmor wanted to use Cyrodiil as a jumping point into Skyrim, they could. The Empire, weakened from a civil war with Skyrim, is in no position to tell them "no", ON TOP of the fact they could feel bitter towards losing the province AND possibly losing their Emperor to Skyrim if the Dark Brotherhood questline was completed in your playthrough.

@Sports72xtrm - How can an independent Skyrim defend itself? They can't for the reasons I mentioned before. "But the mountains", "but the sea", f%$# the mountains, f#$% the sea, NEVER understimate the Thalmor like the Blades did. I'm going to say again, the Thalmor could use Cyrodiil as a jumping point into Skyrim and the Empire and the Empire, weakened from a civil war with Skyrim, is in no position to tell them "no". Furthermore, an independent Skyrim would just brag to the Thalmor they're back to worshipping Talos openly and if you subscribe to the idea the Thalmor are trying to destroy the towers and stamp out men, where do you think they'll turn their attentions to? After the civil war, they would be far too weak to defend themselves alone, since no one is coming to their rescue. It's this type of short sighted thinking that got Skyrim into this Civil war to begin with. And there's something you forget to mention about these Dossier. An imperial victory HARMS the Thalmor, a Stormcloak victory doesn't.