User blog comment:Spritydove/Deeper Thought into the Civil War/@comment-1840877-20120629132604/@comment-5135631-20120705220712

@TheEpicShot Thing is, if Skyrim rejoined the Empire wholly, then if the Empire prematurely surrendered in a 2nd Great War, then the Nords would have to surrender as well. Furthermore, any Imperial reunification in Skyrim would have to mean the death of Ulfric, the person who has the most legitimate claim to the throne. Why should he bother selling his rights to the throne when he's in a good position to win the war, take his rightful place as High King and keep his land safe from the Aldmeri? By the time the Empire actually has the balls to fight the Thalmor again, Ulfric will probably be dead, as he is it at least in his mid-40's now, if you think about it. Also, if the Empire's battle strategies are so good, how come they are not able to defeat half a nation when they have 2 and a half nations of their own? Going back to my 'death of Ulfric' point, The Mede Empire does not understand mercy, whereas Ulfric does; even though it was mainly for political advantage, he refused to kill Elisif when he took Solitude, and even let her keep her former titles. That is why I hate the Mede Empire, though not the only reason.

I will say Skyrim can win a war in Skyrim against the Aldmeri, not just because of the cold AND mountains, which are in the North, East and West, but because they probably have the numbers; the Thalmor wouldn't overcommit in Skyrim as Elves repopulate a good deal more slowly than Men, so they would only have to take a moderate force to Skyrim, which couldn't be reinforced because it is too far from Summerset. I know what you're thinking, 'well they could get more men from the Thalmor already in The Empire?' Wrong. They could not, because that would be breaking the Concordat as they are waging war on what is still a half-Imperial country, which would mean High Rock, Cyrodill and Hammerfell would jump into the mix as well and attack the Thalmor.

The Redguard defeated the Thalmor, the Nords can to.

If the Dunmer want to be respected in Windhelm, then staying neutral is not an option. I agree with anon, who makes the very good point that if the Dunmer have any right to call Skyrim their home, then Skyrim's fight is their concern, and as most Dunmer are in Stormcloak controlled territory, then their only option is the Stormcloaks. Until they understand that, I refuse to consider anything a Windhelm Dunmer has to complain about.

Skyrim is my first Elder Scrolls experience, and since my first introduction to the Empire nearly cost me my life, then I suppose I have 'always' had it in for the Empire (though I have read up on their history, and before the death of Martin Septim it sounded like an honourable and effective institution), but I am aware of their pros, but in this situation they are clearly in the wrong, and if the human nations are to remain free, then they should have a say as independent nations. It's like the collapse of the Roman Empire; one Empire is giving way so that new, powerful nations like France, England, Germany and Spain can prosper. The Imperial age is done.