Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-26213507-20150715194939/@comment-1600847-20150715234212

Well, I might as well throw in my two cente before the bickering starts:

The Stormcloaks: I completely understand where they're coming from. They're a proud culture who value their traditions. Thousands died in the Great War. They've always worshipped Talos. Now the Empire is asking them to give it all up, to allow Thalmor to move throughout their land with impunity and arrest, torture, and kill at will. Their rebellion is understandable.

But, I really dislike the nationalist and in some cases downright xenophobic vibes they give off, especially in Windhelm. Not to mention I still can't shake the feeling there's a 50/50 chance Ulfric is just using the situation to become High King.

The Imperials: I also undertsand their position too; damned if they do, damned if they don't. Titus Mede II had to make a very difficult choice after the Battle of the Red Ring: give in to Thalmor demands for a guaranteed peace, or gamble everything and hope the Dominion was in no shape to continue the war. He chose the later, and we know based on Hammerfell beating the Dominion alone that had he decided to wipe his ass with the White-Gold Concordat instead the Dominion would've been in no position to argue. But he chose poorly. Now, the Empire's getting ready for the Second Great War, hoping to win the Civil War so humanity can be as united as possible for it, and know that if the Concordat isn't upheld it could mean war before the Empire is ready. There's no doubt in my mind the Empire is merely biding its time, appeasing the Dominion as long as they can. Will it work? We'll see in TES VI. Hopefully. However this Mede Empire is a far cry from the Septims, and I find their blunders hard to keep supporting.

To sum up, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being Stormcloak supporter, 5 being purely neutral, and 10 Imperial supporter, I'm a 6.