Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-13417807-20130726204600/@comment-3012590-20130914051651

It's a huge gray-area, really. Ulfric just didn't want to continue living a lie alongside the Empire, so he gathered (or gathers) a bunch of like-minded folk who would rather die than submit any further. If they overtake Skyrim, misssion accomplished. If they die, mission accomplished. The Stormcloaks certainly do not need the Dragonborn's help nor hindrance during the war, because they believe in something more important than life.

Unfortunately, though I find him an admirable character, I have to admit the power most likely gets to his head (thus, crazy, if slightly). Liberating Skyrim through bloodshed and "rigging" the Moot (others have explained this already) was enough of a red-flag, but the desire to fight the Elves on their own soil is pure bravado. Posts on this forum have convinced me that Skyrim would otherwise at least be able to put up a good fight if it went on the defensive rather than the offensive, if only because of the sheer effort it would take the Dominion to reach them, let alone overwhelm them.

Conclusively, I'd have to say that perhaps the Civil War is necessary in a sadly ironic way; someone needs to come out on top and realize that the Thalmor need to be stopped. Even if Tullius wins, I doubt he will continue the ways of his cowardly emperor (especailly if that emperor is slain!). Both sides have a lot of heart and enthusiasm; if you are really biased toward one or the other, I'd hope you'll dig deeper and :join them if you never have and see what they're like. It's hard to be against something you were at least halfway a part of...Just ask any soldier.

In another subject, like another poster here, I too finished the rebel leader off with a Dragon Shout. It was a quite satisfying moment of Karma...And I think it would make for an awesome song :P