Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-26213507-20150928140042/@comment-26801133-20151022181704

College Mage: Ferris wrote: The issue here isnt JUST with exact dialog, take a step back and look at the broader picture. WHY is race brought up SO MUCH when it comes to the stormcloaks? it's NEVER addressed by the Imperials. From the policies Ulfric has within his city, to the way his citizens act, the Jarls who follow him, and his second in command. Race is constantly being brought up. and the one instance when you ask Galmar if he's racist he just avoids the question. And it's like I said in the other page, If your answer isn't "no" it's a "yes".

Admittedly we are mixing nationalism, xenophobia, and racism into a single basket. I guess it kinda depends on your personal point of view which you choose to see it as.

To the current line in question, it's strange that Galmar would bring up race at all, when his followup explanation has NOTHING to do with race. If he just wants to know if you're devoted to "the cause" why does it matter if you're an elf? where does that even come in? The question should just be "Why do you want to join our cause?" it's the same question just without the unnecessary race part. I get that it's really because the Stormcloaks are prominently about Nodic Culture, but then the phrasing should have been "Do you follow the old ways?" or even "Do you want to live the way a Nord lives?" implying that non-nords could sorta become honorary "Nords". ALL of it just adds up to being suspicious and Galmar is the more violent and narrow minded of the 2.

I can at least get behind some of Ulfric's Ideals where he speaks of a world no longer needing "men like us" Tullius apparently dislike(ed) Nords and their ways, viewing it as nonsense and as complications in the plans of the Empire. He also believes that without the Empire, Skyrim would fall into lawlessness and barbarism. He insinuating that all Nords are wild animals that need masters to tame them or else they go feral. And even if she isn't directly a part of the Legion, there is also Alexia Vici, who has ties to the Empire, who deem Nords as beneath the Imperials. Like they are lesser beings.

But it isn't just about Nordic Culture. If Galmar used the phrases you brought it, it would look like the Stormcloaks are ALL about Nordic Culture. But there are also a few political and economical factors behind them.

College Mage: Ferris wrote: If you play anything other than a Khajiit with white fur, I'll be deeply upset. Well, you kinda got me there. S'Dalaar is my icon character since Oblivion, where I first got the option to make his fur completely white. But I always make a test character to obtain some game experience and knowledge before I play as him. Typically either a Dunmer or Nord. :P