User blog comment:AveryWood/Reasons Why Going With the Empire is Better/@comment-1967485-20120818180540/@comment-2022867-20120821030531

@BravoAlphaSix:

1) If the Thalmor's operations were secretive and seclusive, how was the Empire supposed to know? All of the Blades who really knew what was going on probably had their head on a cart on its way to the capital. The Thalmor's claim to use "powerful magicks" on the moons sounds like total BS. The Empire thought that, and I think that. The Khajiit were only swayed because of their close relationship to the moons.

2) If Titus didn't have the backbone to fight, the new emperor(who was probably the councilmanwho had the will to assassinate him) would have the backbone to start a new war. It reamians to be seen, but most likley a good thing. Yes, the Altmer don't populate as quickly, but that means they remain powerful and experienced soldiers/mages for much longer.

3) Numbers arn't everything. especially when you consider just how powerful an experienced Altmer mage is. Tactics, training and will go alot farther than numbers. You've said so yourself about the Nord half-legion. After the oblivion crisis, just keeping the peace was the main priority unil the Interregnum, and after that it was back to keeping peace and securing the provinces. Not exactly the best troop positioning for a full-scale multiple-front war.