Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-26248987-20160107050227/@comment-5509267-20160612025904

As a dedicated Argonian player, I feel that the honest best course of action for roleplay puropses is specific to the particular character and boils down to his or her stance on two issues:

ISSUE 1: RACISM

Racism, or at least inherent racial bias, is endemic not so much to the Stormcloaks specifically as to the Nords on the whole. Indeed, Ralof and Hadvar are some of the only Nords on either side never to call the Dragonborn a "lizard" or some similar slur (Galmar does it, the Imperial officer calling you up to be executed does it, and so on). Ulfric, despite his despicable racial policies towards Argonians and Dunmer, seems to hold no personal bias against the Dragonborn, and it appears that the rest of the Stormcloaks are willing to make a personal exception for the Dragonborn after he or she proves him- or herself with service to the cause. Should the Dragonborn's principles be racially defined, that is, "any slight against an Argonian is a slight against me", then the Stormcloaks' attitude, and the overall Nord attitude, are distasteful to say the least, but, for a more selfish character, shouldn't matter as much. On the whole, Imperial soldiers and officers are far more racially diverse than Stormcloaks and seem far more tolerant of the Dragonborn, but it should be kept in mind that they are, at least for the moment, acting on behalf of the Thalmor, who are the objective bad guys and obviously have no good intentions for the Argonian race. In addition, isolated examples of bigotry continue to exist within the Imperial fold even while the Dragonborn is making a name for him- or herself within it.

ISSUE 2: THE THALMOR/THE FUTURE OF SKYRIM/THE EMPIRE

This is complicated, to say the least. The Stormcloak revolt is predicated exclusively by the actions of the Aldmeri Dominion: the ban of Talos worship, the openly stated plans to end all races of Men, the overarching presence of an Elven authority in Skyrim for the first time since Ysgramor kicked out the Aldmer in the Merethic Era. None of these issues apply particularly to Argonians, but dissatisfaction with the Empire and desire for self-determination are nothing new to them. Indeed, the events through which Black Marsh broke free from the Empire in the early Fourth Era are not entirely dissimilar to the Stormcloak rebellion. However, without a powerful Empire of Tamriel, nothing protects the fledgling Black Marsh/Morrowind Argonian-ruled state from an all-out Dominion invasion, which would likely result in widespread destruction and loss of life among both Argonians and Dunmer (the two races have their difficulties, but I like to think that their diasporas in Skyrim have some degree of solidarity), which, regardless of the Dragonborn's stance on the validity of Ulfric's claims for rebellion, are definitely not desirable to him or her as an Argonian. It's possible that the Argonian state, through guerilla tactics and the skillful use of the unforgiving terrain of Black Marsh and Morrowind, could repel such an invasion eventually (just as the Redguards did in Hammerfell after the signing of the Concordat), but this is not a certainty and the significant loss of Argonian lives would be all but assured. In addition, the Empire of Tamriel is a significantly more favorable environment for Argonians than the Aldmeri Dominion, and dooming it to eventual conquest by the Thalmor would not be desirable. By stemming the rebellion and killing Ulfric, the Dragonborn may be going against his or her principles, but leaving the Empire strong enough to revitalize itself and stave off the Dominion in the south, perhaps with help from a reconciled Argonian state and a reintegrated Hammerfell.

Overall, this kind of reduces itself to "do you, as the Argonian Dragonborn, sacrifice your principles of self-determination for your survival with the Empire, or potentially doom all of Tamriel to conquest by the Thalmor, but stick with your principles and side with the Stormcloaks?" Racism is a notable issue, and Ulfric's personal behavior towards the Dragonborn seems incongruous with his oppressive policies in Windhelm, but many on the Imperial side are just as bigoted and the Aldmeri Dominion likely views the Argonians as just as, or even more, undesirable than Men.

Just some food for thought.