User blog comment:Zippertrain85/"Why the Empire Should Prevail Over the Stormcloaks! Part 3 (Economics)" Refuted/@comment-5.15.64.89-20140104163145/@comment-24355185-20140105153739

1) Apologies, missed that.

2) I'm sure the Dominion will strike soon, but I'll bet they'll let Cyrodiil suffer for a while with Skyrim, her strong arm, gone.  This is of course speculation on my part, and neither of us can say for definate when the Dominion will strike.  But about Highrock, look at it geographically, the Dominion they would have to march their armies through freezing Skyrim or burning Hammerfell, going through mountains and the combined armies of Skyrim and Hammerfell, not an easy task for the already weakened Dominion army.  Even if they did stop at Cyrodiil the armies of Skyrim, Hammerfell, Highrock and Morrowind would likely drive them back to Alinor.  I'd say Highrock is pretty safe, nestled between Hammerfell and Skyrim.

3) We can't say for definate when the Dominion will strike, but even if they did take Cyrodiil, they're not getting into Skyrim.  Look at a map of Skyrim, all the borders are protected by massive, snow covered mountain ranges, only opening at a few easily defendable choke points.  These could be heavily fortified.  Even if they managed to get in, avoiding avalanches and the like, they would have a rough time.  While Nords, with their frost resistance cope well in Skyrim's harsh climate, the Elves would be freezing!  That's not good when you've got battles to fight. Every Nord would be up in arms to protect their homeland.  Between the cold, wildlife and the Nordic armies the Elves would likely be driven from Skyrim with ease.  Hammerfell and Morrowind's similarily harsh conditions would also make the Elves not too keen on invading.  This gives them more time to rebuild, even after Cyrodiil has fallen.

4) Is the EEC in Windhelm not proof enough that trade will continue? Remeber, both Skyrim and Cyrodiil both know that the Dominion's the real enemy.

Thank you! I will notify you when the blog is up.