User blog comment:The Milkman/Why High Elves Suck/@comment-4684885-20111217081613/@comment-3444868-20111220014339

No the Empire is not necessary for survival. The Hold's of Skyrim are already set up to be run without Empire interference. The Empire is in similar form to the Late Western Roman Empire; under pressure from exterior forces and suffering from internal strife. How can an Empire protect the people of Skyrim if it can't defend their own provence properly.