Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-24.242.43.77-20130323013330/@comment-24642834-20140510230733

Something I wrote in another thread:

Well, Bethesda may do one of 3 things:

- Chose one of the civil war endings as canon.

Though that wouldn't be fair for a large number of players, instead I think they should come up with more of a neutral perspective.

- Ignore the civil war endigs altogether, and end the conflict through diplomatic means(my fav).

Considering the greybeard peace council, I think there is still the possibility for a diplomatic solution lore wise:

The upcoming death of the emperor(he's like 80, so he'll be dead one way or another) brings about a political shift. A deal could be struck with Ulfric, if the empire offered to pardon him, and support his bid for the throne, then maybe he'd be willing to play ball. Of course the white gold concordat would also be recanted at last, and the Dominion would react(or not as it is implied that they can't take on an unified empire), but it is common knowlege within the elite that a 2nd great war is coming anyway. All things considered all sides would be better off this way with the Thalmor gone, and the military regrouped with the sounthern legions. Imperial unity remains more tactically sound than a handfull of politically divided nations, when facing the Dominion.

- A successful AD ocupation of Cyrodiil and Skyrim.

By moving on with the 2nd great war and killing every character that takes part in the civil war, Bethesda could meld our choices into the lore. Since no matter what happens the outcome would be the same, and both empire and stormcloaks would be gone. History would only remeber the civil war as an event that didn't have much of a consequence, save weakening the empire(it does, either way) and allowing the Dominion the advantage it needed.

Unfortunately I think something like this last idea is more likely to happen, because the Thalmor have been groomed to be the next big bad in the series. And if they lost, or if their borders remained the same untill then, they wouldn't be much more of a threat as they are now.

I think that for the AD to fall epicly, they must first rise and threaten a larger segment of the population.