Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-209.7.3.188-20160303204000/@comment-993964-20161030172040

The Beautiful Princess Ashley wrote: Terawolf119 wrote: Weeks? Even you know the Thalmor are smarter than that, they will hold out to make it appear that the Stormcloaks have won, then attack, but Ulfric and the Stormcloaks are smarter than that. why on earth would they give the stormcloaks time to recover from the war?

Well the Cyrodillians have three options in case of a Stormcloak victory:

1. continue to fight a war with the Stormcloaks, wasting men and resources to subdue the Stormcloaks while the Thalmor proliferate their strength

2. Negotiate with the Thalmor and let the Dominion cross Imperial lands to wage war on Skyrim. Though this could be particularly dangerous. Now the Stormcloaks may beat them back the Dominon like the Redguards or they may lose, but if they lose, the Empire just handed Skyrim over to the Dominion giving them another front to attack Cyrodill from.

3. Just recognize Skyrim's independence, and deny the Dominion access to Skyrim. If they take the long way and attack by sea well Ulfric and Torsten Cruel-Sea are already making plans to strengthen their navy. Ulfric: "I'm still not sure I understand what you're asking."

Torsten: "A navy, my lord. We could stop the influx of Imperial troops to Solitude, and choke their northern lines."

Ulfric: "But most of their supply routes come south, from Cyrodiil."

Torsten: "But imagine—fleets of ships sailing from Windhelm, all bearing the Stormcloak flag! It would be glorious!"

Ulfric: "And I suppose the Cruel-Seas would be just the clan to provide ships and men?"

Torsten: "You need but ask."

Ulfric: "I'll think on this, but I make no promises."

Torsten: "I can ask no more. Thank you, my lord!"