Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-24.139.116.236-20131222233804/@comment-68.186.113.173-20150525003423

I love the smell of derailing in the morning!

well, might aswell add this to the AD vs SC debate:

Hammerfell seceeded from the empire and they were attacked by the AD who proceeded to get their asses handed to them on a silver platter. Redguards might be better warriors than Nords, but Skyrim has a lot of natural defenses, with literally only one viable entrance for a military unit, and that would require them to go through imperial controlled lands.

Firstly: While a coastal approach seems viable, the Sea of Ghosts is far too treacherous for battleships to get through, it takes a Nord captain who has spent years navigating the sea to get to solstheim safely on a canoe, I doubt a high elf who has never been in the SoG to be able to navigate the icefloes and icebergs safely with a battleship.

Secondly: Skyrim is literally surrounded by mountains on all sides, there are a total of 4 land entrances, 3 of which are large enough to permit a military unit through but only one is even remotely viable.

the first location is in haafingar to the west, connected to High Rock, this would require the Thalmor to either go through Hammerfell (likely violating their treaty) or anchor their ships in High Rock which would mean supplies and reinforcements would take very long to reach their forces and constantly run the risk of pirates.

Next is in eastmarch connected to the northern side of Morrowind. While largely uninhabited currently, it's like that for a reason. Few dare to travel through morrowind after the Red year due to the danger.

Lastly is in the Rift, a very small opening connected to southern Morrowind. This is the safest and frankly only viable entrance for an invading force unfamiliar with the SoG. However, this entrance is very easily blocked off and very easily ambushed, whichever the Nords prefer. Also there would be a very long time waiting on supplies and reinforcements. They also would not have to declare war on the empire since Morrowind is mostly uninhabited and likely not viewed as sovereign territory.