Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-27007772-20140611204941/@comment-26394927-20150515052718

I attempted to stay as neutral as possible until I read the Great War and the notes on the Questioning of Ulfric by the Thalmor. Seemed to me they deliberately tortured him and released him, a pawn to weaken the Empire. I promised myself to stay neutral at least until after I killed Alduin... then I probably will have to side with the Empire just to keep things from crumbling. I hosted the truce talks at High Hrothgar, kicked the Thalmor out, and nearly gave myself brain damage trying to talk sense, with the diaogue options given, to these people.

Ulfric lost my sympathy early on with his surrender (the racism didn't help). He makes his speeches for the Sons of Skyrim and who he fights for, but gets a little outnumbered he surrenders outright, instead of fighting to the death and martyring himself for the cause like a "real Nord" (which would have set more to the Stormcloak side, in my opinion). We see the Thalmor Emmisary present at the time of exectution, which makes it seem like perhaps the surrender was planned and they were going to take Ulfric for trial in Cyrodiil, but Tullius throws a monkey wrench in it with immediate execution. I agree that Ulfric's motives left me suspicious from the beginning.

I wish there was an option to become High King/Queen yourself, or after the assassination of the Emperor, have a questline to become the next Emperor/Empress. Can you imagine what you would have to go through with the Thalmor after that? The new treaties and alliances with other nations, and all of that headache? In an all-out open war, you will have at least one Dragon ally at this point. Odahviing may assist (or may outright betray you), but you definitely would have Durnehviir.

Short of the Sea Elves attempting to invade Summerset Isles again, I think allies would be on short supply.