Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-25343239-20150319182007/@comment-26145872-20180320063625

Let me go on record by saying that was one of the most coherent and well thought-out arguments I've seen, and that is something I value and have a high respect for, but...you are WRONG. Very, very wrong. Busiao is right.

They lost Argonia after the Crisis, Cyrodiil is ravaged by war, Skyrim is divided in half and ravaged by civil war, Morrowind is uninhabitable from Red Mountain's eruption, Hammerfell is a merciless desert plagued by infighting between the Crowns and Forebears with its southern half devastated. Elsweyr, Alinor and Valenwood have abandoned them and consolidate their power. Quite literally the only province of the Empire's remaining strong and healthy is High Rock. One province, and a small one at that, landlocked away from Cyrodiil. And even then, there's division and hatred between the Breton kings and Orsimer, putting their support under question.

You run the Empire's supposed success on assumptions. You have no evidence of Valenwood rebels in any Bosmeri numbers save ONE. You have no evidence of the moons returning being a lie, the only claim we have is the AD using Dawn Magicks to restore the two moons, no direct evidenced has surfaced to disprove it. The Synod  is composed of weak and incompetent mages who oppose black magic and instead are desperate for the Emperor's support, their obsession revolves around political power using magic as leverage, that of which many Imperials despise. From what we understand, the College of Whispers cares for nothing but the advancement of black magic. No evidence suggests they care about the AD let alone fight against them. Not a single Imperial legion had more than half its soldiers fit for duty by the end of the previous war. It took damn near everything they had to keep the AD from achieving a total victory as opposed to a decisive victory. Their capital was burned, the tower was looted, the populace tortured. Multiple cities surrounding the capital suffered a similar fate. The land was ravaged. Cyrodiil is in absolutely no shape to enter another war. Period.

The Redguards will offer no support in fighting off the Dominion. After they were effectively betrayed, I can guarantee they will flat out refuse to aid the Empire in any direct or indirect way, instead focusing on their own resistance, protecting their own home, and that's exactly what they've done. Argonia sees zero interest in supporting either side, supporting their own independence. Morrowind is in even worse shape than Cyrodiil, and also does not commit to either side. Skyrim is divided in half between Nords who hate Imperials, and Imperials who are in no shape to fight another war. High Rock is the only Imperial province with any fair chance of survival. That's a 1:3 ratio, odds that any intelligent man would call a doomed battle. The AD have free roam access throughout all of Cyrodiil, allowing them to combat rebellions if need be.

Elves have been proven to be fit for duty as early as 18, and are able to both travel and presumably care for themselves even younger than that, proven by Queen Ayrenn. An army of the AD's size during the war does not appear from nothing. It implies that heavy, and possibly mandatory breeding has been ordered by the AD to speed up troop production. It would also imply that the eugenics custom was temporarily lifted to, again, ensure a larger supply of troops. Moreover, all 3 of the AD's provinces were NOT ravaged by war as the Imperials never invaded their lands during this war. Fresh and fertile landscapes ensure a steady supply of food and timber, and mines being dug underneath ensures a steady supply of metals for their armor and weapons. In short, equipped Aldmeri soldiers fit for duty at any given time. They're not bluffing, they're consolidating their power. Additionally, powerful Elven mages are being taught in the cities of Alinor and Shimmerene to bolster the main army, hence the wizards you encounter.

You give the Redguards too much credit. They used advanced Alik'r warriors - those who are called "the best of the best". This stalemate even so was after the Aldmeri army fought on for a full 10 years. A decade's worth of fighting only for the Alik'r to win not in a victory, but in a draw. The other three human armies lasted half that before they had to sign a treaty. The second treaty was signed so as to save any more Aldmeri troops from death and to, again, consolidate their power. The AD's soldiers are not pushovers. A decade long fight in a merciless desert is nothing to shrug off. They know how to fight. They know what they're doing.

The Blades were the Emperor's protectors. Thus presumably, they would be the best the Empire has to offer. They were crushed by the AD's hunting parties. There are only two left, one of which is in his late 70's, the other mid 50's. Neither are going to last more than 20-25 as judged by the average human lifespan. They won't prove any significant help.

As for the Dragonborn, you cannot, and I repeat, CANNOT use him or her as leverage in ANY type of debate on which faction will win because that was and still is ultimately decided by the player. Until we get official confirmation from primary sources on what his or her actions are concerning the Civil War, then it is NOT possible to count his or her choices - by the player mind you - in any sort of canocical context save for what cannot be changed in the main story. It's very clear to anyone who has researched the AD at this point that they wanted the Stormcloaks to become a thing, that they want to weaken the Empire from any and all sides, as well as reduce the number of allies willing to support them (e.g Redguards).

All said and done, that leaves one province in post-war chaos and destruction, one province bitterly divided AND in civil war, and the final one with an unstable political climate between both its kings and the Orsimer who live there. The Empire is doomed beyond without a shred of doubt. The Aldmeri Dominion has a guaranteed win.