Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-92.251.228.132-20141108020915/@comment-25561331-20150416165446

-AR- wrote: Phantasys wrote: I'm sick of the dumbasses saying the Stormcloaks would lose to the dominion without the empire...pray tell how the Dominion plans to invade Skyrim? Sail around for months on end with possible hostiles on either side? Sail WAY around and go south from the Sea of Ghosts? Go through the empire when the imperials have three legions on the border of Valenwood on high alert for a dominion invasion force? There's no feasible way for elves to sack Skyrim.

You forget that the Dominion defeated the Empire when it consisted of Hammerfell, High Rock, Cyrodiil, the Orcish Strongholds, and Skyrim: five nations together by very nature of union cannot be weaker than a single member nation. Further than that, the Dominion possesses the strongest Navy in Tamriel, has been free to recover its military capability in relative peace (whereas Skyrim has had no shortage of war and crisis), and the Civil War ending in secession leaves Skyrim with very few potential allies (and causes animosity between Skyrim and High Rock/Cyrodiil). That said, the Dominion doesn't even need to sack Skyrim's cities: all it needs to do is blockade it, and watch it starve.

To keep on topic, however, no: the Dark Brotherhood cannot be considered good. They are amoral at best, as one should keep in mind that they are above all else contract assassins: mercenaries who kill for gold, regardless of the target. It does not matter if they are contracted to kill a living saint who has done nothing but good in his lifetime, and benefits the entire realm with his actions: if properly paid, they will attempt to kill him. No, they didn't defeat the Empire when it had Hammerfell, High Rock, Skyrim, and the Orcish strongholds. Remember the War of Succession?

The Empire was not at full strength when the Thalmor attacked. Titus Mede II had only just ascended the throne, and inherited an Empire wracked by civil war from the Septim bloodline's end. Black Marsh was lost, Elsewyr was lost, Hammerfelll was undergoing a civil war of its own, Morrowind had never recovered from the eruption, and the only peaceful places under Imperial Rule were Skyrim and High Rock. Three years after he took the throne, the Thalmor attacked.

And everyone always forgets (either due to the loading screen message about how the Thalmor won, or general ignorance) that the treaty was not a surrender, it was a ceasefire. Yes, the Thalmor were strong at the beginning, but Titus Mede's tactical genius completely destroyed the Thalmor Army. The Legions were exhausted, two being totally gone.

Yes, the White-Gold Concordat is similar to the version before and after the war. But there is a huge difference between swaying at the mere threat of war, and then at the end of a long and bloody war.

And as for the Thalmor regaining its strength, their army is crushed, their best general Lord Naarifiin dead, and its coffers dry from the Redguard war. It will take them a long time to rebuild, especially with Elven birth rates.

And Skyrim has many potential allies. I've done my report on that.

And I have never heard of any shortage of food in Skyrim. Nords are not Americlaps who import most of the food. There's only two three sea-bound ports. Windhelm, Dawnstar, and Solitude. You think that's enough to import enough food to feed a land as large as Skyrim?

But you are right on your point with the Dark Brotherhood. Once on contract, nothing matters.