So far I've sided with the Empire, I just don't agree with the ideals of the rebellion that I've heard so far.
Poll: Empire or Stormcloak?
- Thread starter ResonanceSD
- Start date
The more I read from you guys, and the more I read from the Skyrim Wiki, to choose between the SC's and the Imp's, is like picking the lesser of two evils.
Both Factions are packed full of morons, if there is a mission to assassinate the Thalmor making all the plans to screw with the Empire I want in on that action.
And if there is anyone to blame for this is fucking Martin, really dude you couldn't have gotten married. I mean who would want to marry a fucking emperor!?!
Both Factions are packed full of morons, if there is a mission to assassinate the Thalmor making all the plans to screw with the Empire I want in on that action.
And if there is anyone to blame for this is fucking Martin, really dude you couldn't have gotten married. I mean who would want to marry a fucking emperor!?!
As a player, I'm torn. I've played a fair way into the game, observing the logic on both sides, and have found myself asking very honestly what my player-character would do. I think, however, the recent events in Markarth decided it for me. Spoilers incoming, so... well, if you were worried about spoilers, I doubt you'd be this deep into the thread. Also, crazy RP-rich blabber, so tl/dr warning in effect.
My Imperial, in my mind's story, fled north because Cyrodil lost the war. Because the Empire was not the Empire of his forefathers, a line his grandfather claimed reached back to the Champion who fought beside Martin to turn back Dagon from this world. He wanted to escape the world, but in Skyrim, found the world could still hunt him down.
Then, he learned he was Dragonborn. He had a job to do, and was the one with the power to do it. He slew dragons, made allies, helped others, as his ancestor would have. But the choice to follow the Stormcloak rebel in his escape haunted him. Had he made the right choice? Who was right in this land, so far from home?
So he began his own private pilgrimage. Quested from hold to hold, speaking to the people, seeing how the war had impacted their lives. The pain ran deep; a land divided between loyalty to the Empire, and the customs of their ancestors. The Stormcloaks held extreme views, extreme enough to unnerving the Imperial Dragonborn. Whereas the remnants of the Empire seemed to still hold enough of that noble spirit to be worthy of standing beside.
Then came the Grey-Manes. Thorald's mother had asked of him to find proof he lived, and the trail led to a Dominion fortress of horrors. Seeing red, the Dragonborn unleashed all the fury he had to offer, and slew the torturers, freeing Thorald in the process. The sheer depth of his rage shook him, and stayed with him for days to come.
The memory of it had only begun to fade when he at last entered the Understone Keep, seeking to learn from the Jarl of Markarth what he could of the conflict. It was there he met one of the Dominion's own, sent to keep tabs on the hold and root out Talos worship- another fact that dug into the Dragonborn's side deeply, for had not his ancestor also reforged the Knights of the Nine? With a smug tone, the elven dog proudly remarked that the Empire existed only so long as the Dominion wished it to exist. And that they would prove their superiority to man, one century at a time.
And in that moment, it all made sense.
The Dragonborn made his excuses and left, eyes turned towards High Hrothgar. He knew what his path would be. He would crush the threat of the dragons, and if the civil war still raged when he was done, he would offer his service to Ulric. He would crush every Imperial stronghold, break every Jarl. He would make Skyrim stand with a strength and fury not seen since the days of Tiber Septum himself. And then... then, when all of Skyrim stood as one, with every blade he could rally behind him, he would turn his eyes south.
The Empire his ancestor once saved was no longer worth saving. And perhaps the Dominion's victory was inevitable. But before the time of man could fully pass, he swore he would see the Dominion burn for its crimes.
My Imperial, in my mind's story, fled north because Cyrodil lost the war. Because the Empire was not the Empire of his forefathers, a line his grandfather claimed reached back to the Champion who fought beside Martin to turn back Dagon from this world. He wanted to escape the world, but in Skyrim, found the world could still hunt him down.
Then, he learned he was Dragonborn. He had a job to do, and was the one with the power to do it. He slew dragons, made allies, helped others, as his ancestor would have. But the choice to follow the Stormcloak rebel in his escape haunted him. Had he made the right choice? Who was right in this land, so far from home?
So he began his own private pilgrimage. Quested from hold to hold, speaking to the people, seeing how the war had impacted their lives. The pain ran deep; a land divided between loyalty to the Empire, and the customs of their ancestors. The Stormcloaks held extreme views, extreme enough to unnerving the Imperial Dragonborn. Whereas the remnants of the Empire seemed to still hold enough of that noble spirit to be worthy of standing beside.
Then came the Grey-Manes. Thorald's mother had asked of him to find proof he lived, and the trail led to a Dominion fortress of horrors. Seeing red, the Dragonborn unleashed all the fury he had to offer, and slew the torturers, freeing Thorald in the process. The sheer depth of his rage shook him, and stayed with him for days to come.
The memory of it had only begun to fade when he at last entered the Understone Keep, seeking to learn from the Jarl of Markarth what he could of the conflict. It was there he met one of the Dominion's own, sent to keep tabs on the hold and root out Talos worship- another fact that dug into the Dragonborn's side deeply, for had not his ancestor also reforged the Knights of the Nine? With a smug tone, the elven dog proudly remarked that the Empire existed only so long as the Dominion wished it to exist. And that they would prove their superiority to man, one century at a time.
And in that moment, it all made sense.
The Dragonborn made his excuses and left, eyes turned towards High Hrothgar. He knew what his path would be. He would crush the threat of the dragons, and if the civil war still raged when he was done, he would offer his service to Ulric. He would crush every Imperial stronghold, break every Jarl. He would make Skyrim stand with a strength and fury not seen since the days of Tiber Septum himself. And then... then, when all of Skyrim stood as one, with every blade he could rally behind him, he would turn his eyes south.
The Empire his ancestor once saved was no longer worth saving. And perhaps the Dominion's victory was inevitable. But before the time of man could fully pass, he swore he would see the Dominion burn for its crimes.
He died in the last mission of oblivion.michiehoward said:
Also i think the "KILL ALL THALMOR" is coming in DLC.
The empire, people generally say the empire is evil because they tried to kill you at the start but I don't see how the stormcloaks are any better. I mean they knew you weren't part of the rebels but they don't even try and tell the empire and essentially tell you to die with them. At least the empire had the excuse that you were in the same area as the rebels when they captured you. Plus the stormcloaks are just a bunch of racists who would kill/force out all non Nords. Plus the empire is at least keeping the peace and if they ever fell do you really think everything would be great what with the Thalmor and Dominion...
Corrected for my idiocy, god I gotta play Oblivion again soon. I totally forgot the idiot dies.TypeSD said:
Ok listen to what you just said. The Empire were going to kill you anyways. You WEREN'T on the list. And they said "Eh, what the heck just kill him anyways." They don't care about anything but following the Thalmor like a loyal dog.Altar said:
And I get tired of hearing people saying the Stormcloaks are all racist. Take a walk in their shoes. The Empire sign a treaty that gives up their rights to the elves. The elves are telling everyone what to do and how to live their lives. The thing is, The Thalmor (High Elves) are the biggest racist here. They believe they are better then anyone, they believe that a "mere human" can't ascend to godhood just because he a human.
The Empire aren't even trying to stop them. SPOILER. At the end of the rebel as you take Solitude. The commander of the Empire even says that the elves are using them to make them weak. So tell me people who say the Empire is the only thing stopping the Dominion. How is being use as a pawn and knowing it, going to stop them?
At least with Stormcloaks they will go down fighting rather then be killed off when the Thalmor feel like it when they grow tired of their loyal dog.
/rant
I support the Stormcloaks. It isn't a matter of Ulfric, but the Empire. It is not worth saving. They're down to only four provinces (if what remains of Morrowind still counts) and effectively bow to the Thalmor despite not officially joining the Dominion. "But the Imperial army is the only thing that can hold off the Dominion's forces," you say. Wrong. Hammerfell was kicked out of the Empire and still manages to fight off the Thalmor. Why? Because they fight on their own turf. What the Empire does is take the strengths of different cultures, strip them down to Cyrodiilic tactics, and send them to fight in foreign lands against a foe that knows them all too well. Top that all off with an obstructive bureaucracy that is too heavily based in self-centred power grabbing than helping the land and you have a terrible government.
Let them fall. Let the Empire collapse. Let the individual provinces fight for themselves. Let the Thalmor face multiple targets. Let the Dominion overstretch themselves by fighting an enemy who won't play by their rules, won't come to them. Let Talos stop weeping and instead inspire someone worthy to reunite the continent.
Maybe its a good time for Akavir to invade again...
Let them fall. Let the Empire collapse. Let the individual provinces fight for themselves. Let the Thalmor face multiple targets. Let the Dominion overstretch themselves by fighting an enemy who won't play by their rules, won't come to them. Let Talos stop weeping and instead inspire someone worthy to reunite the continent.
Maybe its a good time for Akavir to invade again...
Stormcloaks... Despite many people saying Ulfric is a bad dude, he came across as relatively cool to me. At least he's willing to fight the Thalmor, right? (Correct me if I'm wrong on that one)
This makes me feel a bit bad for wanting to remain neutral. Thus far I just haven't seen either side really being in the right. Though if I were to join I'd probably go for the empire. They've been nicer to me thus far (In addition to bailing out my character's "Ancestors" in the previous two games when they found themselves in prison.) So yeah though the joining up remains a big if.innocentEX said:
EDIT: Kimaurous also makes a good point for joining Stormcloaks however...
Slight annoyance, regardless of allegiance, a companion can take a shitload of damage, "catch their breath" and then, if you hit them with the smallest damage packet, they die -_-. REZ WITH F9, GOGO.