Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-1600847-20161103125247/@comment-26693897-20161212191158

Sports72Xtrm wrote:

The Thalmor is found in Solsteim because the Empire gave them an Embassy in Skyrim and so the Thalmor can come and go into Skyrim as they please without anyone giving it a second thought. In fact, if you attacked their ships, the Empire would be bound by the treaty to arrest you if the Dominion pressured them enough. If their diplomatic immunity is revoked, they wouldn't be able to trespass so close to striking distance with impunity.

You, like all Stormcloak fanboys of this site, try to make me laugh but I don't laugh of petty jokes.

You find Thalmor on Solsteim during the quest A New Source of Stalhrim. Have you ever done this quest?

Two, I doubt that the surrounding provinces: Skyrim, Hammerfell, and Highrock would stand by and let the Dominion take Cyrodiil. No leader is so petty or foolish as to let an enemy set up shop in striking distance of their homeland out of spite...well... maybe except the Empire since they gave the Thalmor leave to set up shop in Skyrim but that is all the more reason to oust the Empire from power! Cyrodiil must be protected, but the Imperials should not be the one calling the shots. It must be occupied by Skyrim and its neighboring countries for the good of all. Can I seriously get a map to find your point?

If Cyrodiil is so desperate to keep Skyrim in the fold in order to have its men protect THEIR PROVINCE, how is it that it is logical that they'd be strong enough to secure Skyrim? The one who is in a state of dependency is Cyrodiil, and that is not a position of power. Cyrodiil lost Bravil and Cheydinhall, their Emperor is assassinated, it's cities war and jocky one another for power, Morrowind is weak and would alienate Blackmarsh to side with the Dominion if humanity protects her, and Highrock took a black eye with wayrest. The hundreds of legions that you think will come to protect Skyrim doesn't exist. Everyone is out for themselves. I'm going to say again, stop trying to make me laugh with your petty Stormjokes. Bravil and Cheydinhall are not lost, the death of the Emperor is not canon, Morrowind is facing an Argonian problem and dealing with the Red Mountain issue and Black Marsh have nothing to do with what's going on.

And no I'm not underestimating the Thalmor, but the Thalmor does not consider the Empire a threat since Cyrodiil is under their thumb. Ondolemar makes that painfully clear, Thalmor occupy Markarth, have an Embassy and Northwatch Keep, and can sabotage humanity with impunity. Backing the Empire is maintaining a status quo where humanity continues to capitulate to the Dominion and the Dominion continues to grow stronger. Ulfric is right in that if the Dominion is to be defeated, humanity must go on the offensive and keep them off balance. A complete Stormcloak victory is the only condition which they desire to avoid, whereas the Imperial Victory that you say is in his Dossier is only valid at Helgen since their only intention at that moment is to perpetuate the Skyrim Civil War. After the Civil war is won though, their objectives and agendas change. A complete Stormcloak victory is the only forecasted outcome they've stated they wanted to avoid. If the Empire is under Thalmor thumb then why there's a cold war going on between the Empire and the Thalmor? Ondolemar is an asshole who can't arrest one Talos worshipper without YOUR help of illegally breaking into his house to collect his amulet of Talos as evidence. Backing the Empire means that you want the humanity to survive. Backing the Stormcloaks means you want the Thalmor to win because like I said an imperial victory HARMS the Thalmor.