Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-209.7.3.188-20160303204000/@comment-993964-20161022175432

The Beautiful Princess Ashley wrote: the talos ban will be gone when the next great war starts (even if the empire "doesn't have the balls" to declare war, the thalmor do).

ulfric is only in it for himself. if he was doing what he does for the good of skyrim, he would have just asked torygg to secede, and maybe take up military action if torygg refused.

Titus Mede II is also a war hero. the military expertise of skyrim's jarls does not matter, as they will most likely not be on the front line. also, how does killing someone prove that ulfric is a good leader?

i also suggest that you read the thalmor dossier on ulfric stormcloak I have read the dossier on Ulfric Stormcloak and the Thalmor fear a total Stormcloak victory just as they desire a swift end to their rebellion. Ask yourself, how does the Thalmor profit from having a rallying figure thrust into prominence with ant-Dominion sentiment? It doesn't. Ulrific only remains an asset to the Thalmor so long as his challenge is contested, if he solidifies a Stormcloak victory, then he becomes an actual thorn in their side. As martyr, he becomes an asset even in death.

Titus Mede II is no war hero. He sold half of the Redguards' province for his peace and led to them leaving the Empire, and half of Skyrim resent him for letting the Thalmor arrest and persecute the Nords unchecked, even persecuting the fervent Talos believers. To many in Skyrim he is a coward who appeased the enemy, selling out his subjects to ensure he could live another day. The Mede dynasty is stained as a symbol of the Empire's cowardice and corruption. When the Thalmor actually chooses to declare war, the Medes' will be so resented that they will never be able to lead a unified defense against the elves which is what the Dominion is counting on.

Ulfric is a great leader because he represents a symbol of defiance against the corruption of the Empire and the Dominion, that is slowly whittling away at his people. Half of Skyrim desires him to be High King. Just because he doesn't represent a humble yes man soldier or the trope of the reluctant leader doesn't make him corrupt. He sees what the weak leadership of the Empire has done to his people, and technically, he's the best chance for Skyrim to not be annihilated by the Thalmor. Torygg needed to be challanged because he became a symbol of the complacent jarls who turn a blind eye to the Empire's cowardice and the Thalmor manipulating Skyrim politics unchecked.