Poll: Empire or Stormcloak?

[King of the Sandbox]

I haven't really chosen either yet (50+ hours in). In fact, I'm still on the main mission where you're supposed to go find a horn or something for the Greybeards. But on the way, I looked out at Skyrim, saw some ruins, and was like, eff that, time fo' explorin'.

Although the way my people (Dunmer) are treated in the Stormcloak's home town is kind of turning me against them, but only a little. I still have no desire to join the Empire that nearly had me beheaded.

 

[Bobbity]

Empire.
Before the game came out, I was completely and utterly taken with the Stormcloaks. During Helgen, I ran off the with Stormcloak guy, and I really liked him. I put off the civil war until after the main quest, but by then my perspective had started to shift. Ulfric is a real dick, and the Empire is not the tool of the Thalmor they're made out to be.

Although I can't find it, there's a book in-game that describes the Great War between the Thalmor and the Empire, and it lets you see things very differently. The Emperor Titus Mede, who seems more than merely competent, drove back the Thalmor, but was forced into the treaty as a means by which he might gather his strength to throw back the invaders. The terms were harsh, yes, but necessary. Furthermore, Ulfric's rebellion does nothing more than weaken the Empire's front against the Dominion, which is hardly positive.

Although I mean to finish the last couple of Winterhold quests before I dive into the civil war, rest assured that I mean to choose the Empire.

That said, I might be kind of biased. The Roman Emperor Titus was a great guy, and I've just finished studying the Empire's fall. I have no desire to plunge Cyrodil into the same era of darkness that we experienced.

 

[Smeggs]

Empire.

I can see where the Stormcloaks are coming from, but the fact they all seem to be a bunch of racist bastards turned me off of them.

The Empire may be run by some ignorant assholes, but it wasn't the Empire who started the war, and most people I've spoken to in-game seem like they liked the Empire because they had been keeping the peace for the most part.

 

[Outcast107]

I was Stormcloak until I actually talked to the NPCs in Windhelm. The Stromcloaks are racist bastards. Making the Dunmer live in slums, ignoring crimes against anyone but Nords, etc. So, I'm Imperial Legion now after actually listening to NPCs.

Though you have to understand. The elves kick the ass out of the Empire and made them sign a treaty which they basically rule over them. The nords don't like that since they are being told how to live and who to believe in.

How would you feel if the invading force came in, beat the shit out of your government and made the government their puppet. Also dude, since your going Empire, I hope you like the racist elves they serve the Thalmor who believe they are superior then man and are "Going to prove it one century at a time"

So yeah, no matter what side you are going to be serving some racist group. Also just to let yo know what else the Empire have done in the last 30 years for the Thalmor, who are also very racist to humans and the empire is listening to them like a loyal dog.

1. Ban the worship of Talos.
2. Gotten rid of the Blades
3. The cession of a large section of southern Hammerfell
4. Also hunt down anyone worshipping Talos and send them off to the Thalmor which they most likely will be torture and then killed.

So yeah, go have fun with Empire and their puppet master The Thalmor. I hope being under the Thalmor rule is a lot better then some racist nords.

Edit: Also I forgot. They also disbanded the Mages Guild as well for part of the Treaty.

 

[RickyRich]

I went with the Empire and was glad I chose them. The one major gripe is that now I have a Legate who follows me around Whiterun with his sword unsheathed at all times. This would be fine if his voice didn't sound so dumb, I feel like the empire consciously put him in the town my house was at so I could babysit his dumb ass.

 

[PsyberGoth]

Empire, Because clearly the signing of the White-Gold Concordat is a ploy to stall for time in order to regroup and then totally fuck up the Thalmor. Ulfric is gonna screw it all up. Also, he's a racist c**tbag.

 

[WolfThomas]

I might actually flip back to Empire, gah, stupid game with a decent moral decision.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Empire, Because clearly the signing of the White-Gold Concordat is a ploy to stall for time in order to regroup and then totally fuck up the Thalmor. Ulfric is gonna screw it all up. Also, he's a racist c**tbag.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Great_War
Bingo. That is the only reason that the Emperor signed the treaty. The Empire can't wait to break the treaty, but they need to regather their strength and organize their people. There is only one group that benefits from a civil war in Skyrim. It isn't the Empire or the Stormcloaks.

 

[Outcast107]

Empire, Because clearly the signing of the White-Gold Concordat is a ploy to stall for time in order to regroup and then totally fuck up the Thalmor. Ulfric is gonna screw it all up. Also, he's a racist c**tbag.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Great_War
Bingo. That is the only reason that the Emperor signed the treaty. The Empire can't wait to break the treaty, but they need to regather their strength and organize their people. There is only one group that benefits from a civil war in Skyrim. It isn't the Empire or the Stormcloaks.

Just one question. Does the Empire really believe they can recover after they lost so much? No more blades, no more mages guide, banning of Talos. As well as it seem they are letting the Thalmor more into their lands and watching over them like hawks.

Plus who to say the Thalmor won't get their own pay off politics within the Empire to make sure no one betrays them. Please tell me. Everyone saying "The empire is the only thing stopping them!" is bullshit. The Hammerfall people held on for five more years. FIVE. By themselves. I just want to hear how the Empire is going to recover after they gave up so much and are now being watch over. You can't tell me the elves know the Empire are trying to buy time and will do anything to make sure they stay weak.

Hell they are trying to keep this war on as long as it can. They want NEITHER side to win in one of the books you read for doing the Blades quest. If continue to rule by the Empire, then I can just see the Thalmor winning. If Skyrim is seperated then I can see the Thalmor trying to hold on to many lands (Or fighting in to many enemies) and losing.

 

[Lenin211]

I sided with Stormclocks. I looked at it this way.

Spoiler

]The empire Is run by complete nit wits who vended their ass over to the thalmer. They also tried to kill me for no reason except the fact that I just happen to be at the exucution site. Stormclocks on the other hand are actually fighting for change and a good change at that. however, Ulfic is a selfish and IMO, a terrible leader. Although he did grow on me in the end, he was still very questionable, esspeically on the attack of whiterun. In fact, I wish the Jarl of Whiterun was the leader of the Stormclocks. He is much more honorable and senseable then Ulfic is. He's just on the wrong side is all.

All and all, it's either join the entire faction of evil jackasses, or join the other faction with ONE jackass leader. I voted for the latter. Besides, if Ulfric makes anymore questionable decisions later in the game like he did with Whiterun, I'll just kill him myself. (if I can lol)

I disagree

Spoiler

General Tullius is most certainly not a nitwit. They are being manipulated by the Thalmor is because the empire lost a war to the elves. If not for the empire agreeing to such a harsh peace treaty, skyrim would have been taken over by the elves. You say that "They" tried to kill you in the opening sequence as if it is consensus amongst the empire that you must die. The decision was carried out by one captain. You seem to think that all of the empire is evil. The person who you can do the tutorial section for the empire with is a nice man, who helps the player character. Ulfric Stormcloak is nothing more than a petty usurper. He united his people under the fact that the empire "allowed" for worship of Talos to be banned. Before the stormcloak rebellion, however, the law banning talos worship was not enforced. After Ulfric gained power, the empire had to crackdown on talos worship or risk offending the Thalmor. Without the empire, the elves would take over all of skyrim. If you go to solitude, you will see that most of the empire are not "jackasses" and are actually nice people.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Empire, Because clearly the signing of the White-Gold Concordat is a ploy to stall for time in order to regroup and then totally fuck up the Thalmor. Ulfric is gonna screw it all up. Also, he's a racist c**tbag.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Great_War
Bingo. That is the only reason that the Emperor signed the treaty. The Empire can't wait to break the treaty, but they need to regather their strength and organize their people. There is only one group that benefits from a civil war in Skyrim. It isn't the Empire or the Stormcloaks.

Just one question. Does the Empire really believe they can recover after they lost so much? No more blades, no more mages guide, banning of Talos. As well as it seem they are letting the Thalmor more into their lands and watching over them like hawks.

Plus who to say the Thalmor won't get their own pay off politics within the Empire to make sure no one betrays them. Please tell me. Everyone saying "The empire is the only thing stopping them!" is bullshit. The Hammerfall people held on for five more years. FIVE. By themselves. I just want to hear how the Empire is going to recover after they gave up so much and are now being watch over. You can't tell me the elves know the Empire are trying to buy time and will do anything to make sure they stay weak.

Hell they are trying to keep this war on as long as it can. They want NEITHER side to win in one of the books you read for doing the Blades quest. If continue to rule by the Empire, then I can just see the Thalmor winning. If Skyrim is seperated then I can see the Thalmor trying to hold on to many lands (Or fighting in to many enemies) and losing.

I keep seeing things like "Thalmor puppets" being thrown around. Hell, the biggest part of the treaty, the banning of Talos worship, wasn't even enforced until Ulfric used it as a rallying cry and started a rebellion. The Thalmor army in Cyrodiil was beaten and they were driven out of Hammerfell. The Thalmor aren't as strong as they would have you believe. They sure aren't paying off too many people then either. General Tullius hates the Thalmor and the Emperor hates them. I haven't met an Imperial who likes them. And the Thalmor was the group that I was alluding to about who wins when it comes to the civil war. The Thalmor haven't exactly won too many straight up fights and they no longer have the element of surprise. Honestly, an Independent Skyrim or the Empire could beat them.

 

[Free Thinker]

FUS ROH SNIP!

That's what i thought at first. But if you talk to enough people in the Legion, they don't directly serve the Thalmor. They hate the Thalmor just as much as the Stormcloaks, but are biding their time. I lack the knowledge of using spoiler tags, otherwise I would include an in-depth explanation. If you finish the Civil War questline on the side of the Stormcloaks, listen to General Tulias before you execute him.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

FUS ROH SNIP!

That's what i thought at first. But if you talk to enough people in the Legion, they don't directly serve the Thalmor. They hate the Thalmor just as much as the Stormcloaks, but are biding their time. I lack the knowledge of using spoiler tags, otherwise I would include an in-depth explanation. If you finish the Civil War questline on the side of the Stormcloaks, listen to General Tulias before you execute him.

Just type [ spoiler]Words[/spoiler] without that space. Like

Spoiler

this.

 

[eventhorizon525]

Personally, I'm leaning toward siding with the Empire. My first play through I was all for the Stormcloaks, but every time I approached *any* city or town that supported them, all of the NPCs would keep up xenophobic/racist rhetoric (though I was a high elf). Thinking this was simply because I was one of the races in the offending dominion, I started a playthrough as a Breton. I'm *still* getting flak for not being a "true son or daughter of Skyrim". The Stormcloaks aren't just making enemies with the Thalmor and Empire (while they are in Skyrim); they are hostile against anyone who isn't a Nord. That just rubs me the wrong way (and seems impractical when trying to face the Aldmeri Dominion, the whole reducing possible allies and all).

As such, the Empire seems better posed to face off against the Aldmeri when the time is right, mostly because of

Spoiler

the book in the Thalmor Embassy, if you bother reading it, mentions that the whole Ulfric-rebellion thing was indirectly encouraged as a way to keep the Empire weak, if not weaken them further.

 

[Outcast107]

snip

I did and I'm glad that I join the StormCloaks. He knew the Thalmor was using this to make them weak. Yet didn't do anything to stop it. Thats to me, is just submitting to the Thalmor. I'm sorry but if The Empire is going to play like that when they know full well that they are being use and not do a damn thing about it then fuck them.

Also Ulric was in the right to challenge the old king to a duel and he won. Then he was called a traitor and murderer. So yeah, Empire does not seem the right choice for me.

snip

Well look at it this way, why was there a treaty in the first place? Because if Hammerfall could hold them off then it proves the Empire could have won as well if they kept at it.

Peronaly I just fucking hate elves and refuse to be on any of their side. To me it just seem like they won in the end. So fuck the empire for giving up. Its better to die fighting then sing a treaty that basically fucks you over.

Also about the Talos thing. How would the elves feel if the empire wasn't enforcing the rule and found out that everyone was still worshiping Talos secretly? I doubt they would not be to please with that.

Also the reason I think that Hammerfall COULD handle on its own is because they are fighting in their own turf with their own set of rules. Look at Skyrim, its reminds me of something liek a Russian area. Always snows, terrible place to invade and not a lot of food to be grown. The Dominion would have a hell of a time trying to conquer that. So a independent Skyrim has just as much chance at defending Skyrim from the elves just like Hammerfall. Plus, The Stormcloaks are planning on attacking the Dominion when its ready.

Also yes, The Empire hates the Dominion and Thalmor. I just don't see how they are going to be able to "Gain" their strength back up when they gave up so much already. As well as I have also talk to some people of the Empire side of Skyrim. They seem just as fine getting rid of Talos and how Empire is running things (Which is poorly).

One more thing, A indepentent Skyrim means more Trouble for the Dominion. They would have to deal with three different types of regions. Cyrodiil, Hammerfall, and Skyrim itself to attack. Isn't that a better course of action then what the Empire is doing by just leaving Skyrim weak as it is? cause to me the Empire isn't doing that great of a job in helping Skyrim out.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

snip

I did and I'm glad that I join the StormCloaks. He knew the Thalmor was using this to make them weak. Yet didn't do anything to stop it. Thats to me, is just submitting to the Thalmor. I'm sorry but if The Empire is going to play like that when they know full well that they are being use and not do a damn thing about it then fuck them.

Also Ulric was in the right to challenge the old king to a duel and he won. Then he was called a traitor and murderer. So yeah, Empire does not seem the right choice for me.

snip

Well look at it this way, why was there a treaty in the first place? Because if Hammerfall could hold them off then it proves the Empire could have won as well if they kept at it.

Peronaly I just fucking hate elves and refuse to be on any of their side. To me it just seem like they won in the end. So fuck the empire for giving up. Its better to die fighting then sing a treaty that basically fucks you over.

Also about the Talos thing. How would the elves feel if the empire wasn't enforcing the rule and found out that everyone was still worshiping Talos secretly? I doubt they would not be to please with that.

Also the reason I think that Hammerfall COULD handle on its own is because they are fighting in their own turf with their own set of rules. Look at Skyrim, its reminds me of something liek a Russian area. Always snows, terrible place to invade and not a lot of food to be grown. The Dominion would have a hell of a time trying to conquer that. So a independent Skyrim has just as much chance at defending Skyrim from the elves just like Hammerfall. Plus, The Stormcloaks are planning on attacking the Dominion when its ready.

Also yes, The Empire hates the Dominion and Thalmor. I just don't see how they are going to be able to "Gain" their strength back up when they gave up so much already. As well as I have also talk to some people of the Empire side of Skyrim. They seem just as fine getting rid of Talos and how Empire is running things (Which is poorly).

One more thing, A indepentent Skyrim means more Trouble for the Dominion. They would have to deal with three different types of regions. Cyrodiil, Hammerfall, and Skyrim itself to attack. Isn't that a better course of action then what the Empire is doing by just leaving Skyrim weak as it is? cause to me the Empire isn't doing that great of a job in helping Skyrim out.

All I know is I better get a "kill all Thalmor" DLC. Because regardless of who you are with, everyone hates the damn Aldmeri Dominion.

 

[Murais]

I've done the Empire great services during teh Oblivion Crisis. And I did not get a penny for it! Or a book about me!

So f em. Time to unleash some "Yourgh" and "Rash fo Dahn" on em :V


Edit: I am aware of the book "The Oblivion Crisis"
THey only name me in very small amounts as 'The Hero of Kvatch'. And then give all the glory to Martin. I say boo! I did all the hard work. He only surrendered his life by becoming the Avatar of Akintosh and turned to stone. Seriously.. I want at least a big bag o heritage-gold. :V

[DO realise that this is written for the sake of 'haha' not the 'OMGIMNOTGETTINGANYTHINGFROMOBLIVION' sweet 16 whining type of sake]

SPOILER-FUCKING-ALERT.

I know. I'm one of those silly bitches that hasn't finished Oblivion yet (and am finishing it before playing Skyrim). But seriously. Please be careful?

 

[Outcast107]

snip

That we can agree on my friend. My Argonian blades hungry for the Thalmor's blood.