Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-76.97.80.106-20130811163656/@comment-17114085-20140624212803

WC-83 wrote: I think what he Stormcloaks and Nords in general lack is humility. They are just way too proud (which is not a bad thing, but it is getting in the way at times). The Imperials have plenty of humility. They know when to retreat, to surrender, and to win; they don't blindly believe in something they cannot see; they are obedient to their superiors; and they when to set their hatred aside and bide their time. There are exceptions to this at times, but this seems to be the commonality. Except "biding their time" is never going to end. The Empire, as of now, doesn't want a war with the Dominion and will do anything to not start a war with them. They basically do whatever the Thalmor ask because if they refuse the Dominion will declare war on them. The Empire knows that war is inevitable but they are trying their best to delay it, because they don't want it.

The Stormcloaks are the only one willing to fight the Thalmor, and the Dominion. The Thalmor are a fascist faction that has openly committed horrible things, like genocide, kidnapping, torture, religious oppression. The Empire is aware of this and does nothing, they let the Thalmor do this to its people. Even Tullius admits that he understands and agrees with the Stormcloaks and would join them if he wasn't so loyal to the Empire, because the Thalmor are that bad.

A person should never have to relinquish his own freedoms at the command of others, any nation that does this to its citizens has lost all right to rule them. If the people of Skyrim want to fight for their independent then they have the right to.

Another thing, the Stormcloaks are a guerrilla faction, yes, but many of their members were former Legionnaires, like Galmar and Ulfric. In Skyrim, after the Stormcloaks win, Galmar starts training them into a real army, not a militia like they previously were. Also, it is safe to assume that they will get better gear after the war. Especially Skyforge Steel, because the Gray-Manes are die-hard Stormcloaks. So the Stormcloaks will be as well equipped and trained as the Legion was.