Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-72.74.78.209-20141019230536/@comment-17114085-20141204113406

Thehornydovahkiin wrote: 1) Yes but the Empire was weakened in general. If the war wouldn't end, it might have lost it (and then the Thalmor would be even worse) or at least win with GREAT sacrifices and bloodshed of its own citizens.

2) That's right. He 'legally' and honorably killed the Jarl so there's no way to make him a villain here, even though people do...

3) I agree, though some people (as stated in some comments) are 'biased' like this too so it's not 100% sure it's false.

4) Certainly not racist and nationalist, like some dumb people have stated in many discussions. First of all, we cannot compare this world to ours and we have to understand the Nord virtues and history. The Dunmer of Windhelm have refused to join the War and this is why Ulfric dislikes them. To be honest they aren't like the Thalmor but all Nords and Elves are in at least slight conflict, yeah. The Mer and Nords have ages of conflict in history, with war or not, starting with the Snow Elves and finishing with the Great War. This is a 'anyone who doesn't support my war doesn't deserve my respect' way of thinking. Also, Ulfric wants Skyrim to be governed and ruled by Nords as the most important nation in the province and to overcome all other cultures in the Nordic homeland, making them minorities. That's simple, the banning of Talos has outraged him and made him sure the Nords are best at taking care of their own land.

5). No comment required.

6) Here I still think both sides have good and bad sides (huehuehue, pun). Ulfric is sometimes sort of too emotional and has a 'slightly' too big ego, while the Legion's commander would estabilish Empire's rule (that's a bad side in itself) but still, Skyrim needs trade and mutual help at times. 1) Worse than being able to freely kidnap and torture the Empire's citizens? Worse than being able to undermine the Empire at every turn and cripple it from the inside? The Empire is in the worst position already. Besides the Dominion was in no shape to continue the war either, they suffered major losses in Hammerfell and Cyrodiil(which is where their biggest army was located). They were probably worse off than the Empire. Titus' decision to sign the WGC was the wrong one.

2) The duel was part of Nordic tradition, just as much as wearing an Amulet of Mara when you want to get married is traditon. Therefore in Skyrim the duel was 100% legal. This is why the Imperials wanted to kill Ulfric in Helgen, without a trial or anything like that. Had they put him on trial he wouldn't be able to be persecuted.

6) Skyrim doesn't need the Empire to get trade. Windhelm trades with the EEC even thought it is under Stormcloak control(at the start of the game). They can also trade with Morrowind and Hammerfell if the Empire refuses to trade with them should the Stormcloaks win.