User blog comment:Spritydove/Deeper Thought into the Civil War/@comment-5135631-20120707164216/@comment-5135631-20120713180946

Whether Ulfric is an asset or not, he doesn't understand that and he is only an asset because he is fighting for himself and his country. He is as opposed to the Thalmor as the Empire, if not more. He may have unintentionally helped them in the past, but then again, so have the Empire.

Obviously Tullius is not completely an invader, and Skyrim has always been part of the Empire, but the reason they had always been so cooperative was because of Tiber Septim nurturing relations with the North and the fact the Empire had always looked after Skyrim. The Empire for most of it's history was an ingenious way to combine Tamriel, especially the Human lands of the North and West, but it seems like it has overextended itself and is in decline. As I said, the Empire are not completely invaders, but it would be difficult for anyone to deny they are foreigners, and whereas before they listened to the Jarls and respected their views, they are now acting in a very alien way to the people of Skyrim, more like raiders than organized government.

One could say it is not really the Empire's fight because on paper it is between one claimaint for the throne and another, but this wouldn't be entirely true, because the very reason Ulfric is rebelling is to free Skyrim from the Empire as he correctly believes it is becoming an obstacle to the Nords. Making Skyrim surrender in a war is one thing, understandable and forgiveable, and there is little denying it was for the greater good. Outlawing the worship of Talos is another thing, cruel and shameful, but seen by some as necessary in the long run. Letting the Thalmor arrest, torture or murder any Imperial citizen without trial or even worthy investigation, however, is too far, and not only corrupts everything the Empire stood for, but takes away the validity of their promises to protect their lands and weakens the realms of men. If Shor still breathed in Aetherius, he would hang his head in shame, and Talos is spitting in disgust. Alessia is turning in her grave, and Pelinal the Whitestrake is weeping in his heart. Ysgramor is looking upon his children with confusion and horror. Everything these five figures did to create human sovereignty and allow free men to walk Nirn is being undone, and The Empire is beginning to develop into a state of Elven Thralldom.

The Empire was once a multiracial government, but now the south and east of Tamriel has been taken from them, it is a state of Elves against Men, and it would seem the Elves are winning. If the Elves win, Humans will truly become slaves again, and will probably be eventually exterminated. It is easy to think that unity of Skyrim, High Rock, and Cyrodill is a better plan in the long term, but for too long Cyrodill has stood above it's foreign realms. Men will probably be more unified if these lands were still friends, but called their own shots. Putting one province above another has turned out to be a source of revolt, and frightening lands with the intention of creating obedience will just create more disobedience. A man isn't ruled by his father anymore after he becomes a man, so why should the Empire try to cling on to it's eroding influence when they would actually be better off allowing Skyrim to be free? Of course the Empire would send a few Legionairres over as soon as Ulfric sits his backside on the throne, but both sides would soon realise the potential they can both bring to the table. If the Thalmor tried to intervene, both sides would quickly unite, and with Hammerfell, they would push the Thalmor out of Northern Tamriel.

Also, a side note on Talos, in my eyes, one of the many reasons he was so unique is because he had every little bit of the Empire in him; born in High Rock, parented by Nords/raised in Skyrim, fought for Cyrodill, and ruled the rest of Tamriel.

Tullius does say he respects the Nords at the end, but it doesn't change the fact he cares little for the Nords for the majority of the campaign. I haven't played through the Imperial side and I understand that.

Titus Mede II hasn't really though this whole thing through, but in short, this is what I have to say: Bending the knee to the Thalmor and turning a blind eye to the stuff they do now will only make the Thalmor stronger when war does inevitably come.

I hope this answer justifies why I chose the Stormcloaks and did not regret it.