Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-27007772-20140611204941/@comment-24.8.22.128-20150202224831

If anything, I have nothing against the idea of giving Skyrim independance. The problem lies more with Ulfric than anything. I have a feeling that, had he not decided to go Leeroy Jenkins on things, he could have asked Torygg to secede, and I think that Emperor Mede II would have basically said...

"Oh...you want to leave?  Well...That saddens me, but if you want to, I won't stop you.  Just so long as we agree to stay allies and make allowances, we'll be fine.  Here.  Let's whip up an agreement."

Instead, Ulfric decided that murder and rebellion would work better. If he were to win, I shudder to think what would happen to Skyrim. Either he'd drive it into the ground by immediately declaring war on the Altmer and get slaughtered, or he'd by some fluke of luck push them back, reach the Summerset Isles, and end up going on a genocidal, barbaric rampage. He's impetuous and rash, bad traits to have in a commander, and worse, he has a lot of rage and guilt aimed at the Thalmor, which seems to carry on to all mer.