There's two scenarios that are possible.
1) The Empire has absolutely no clue what the Thalmor is up to. They let them murder all the Talos worshipers because "hey, what's the worst that could happen?" They will get completely blindsided when the Thalmor move, again.
2) The Empire does know what the Thalmor is up to. They let them murder all Talos worshipers because Mede is an idiot and hoped to be saved for last. And they will never be a threat again.

Either way, the Empire will never be stronger. They are crumbling.

That may be the case -- I've only read the lore that I've been able to find. I guess I'll see for sure when I'm actually playing the game.

On that we both agree. The Empire as it currently stands is destined to fall.

1. I think they know what they're up to. The Thalmor espouse their philosophy all over the place, and the Penitus Oculatus seemed concerned with dealing with them even in the books.

2. Mede has been shown in the books to be a wise, if calculating, Emperor. However, he would've been dead by the time the treaty with the Thalmor was written. It's possible the Emperor from 30 years beforehand thought he could save himself through the treaty, but also mindlessly stupid. Transformers 3 spoiler -> I would hope Bethesda isn't resorting to writing in a completely idiotic Emperor(that miraculously most Imperials and other loyalists listen to!) just to move the plot along.

It remains entirely possible that Skyrim will offer, even if its not part of its main quest, a way to decisively deal with Thalmor influence.

Oh what the hell. MEGA HUGE SPOILER BELOW. YOUVE BEEN WARNED.

Might be possible, but I see it as only a very, very slim chance.

2, clearly. Sound reasoning, as always.

A crumbling empire combined with bad leadership. It's the destructive recipe for apocalypse. It was only a matter of time.


Entirely possible that Mede just doesn't care if all humans die. Even if in his lifetime.

Everything is possible now I suppose. Even the crazy idea that the Medes might have some intricate plan that will allow them to kick Thalmor ass. Nothing's not possible until there's definitive proof.

The only possible way to defeat the Thalmor would be if all men united. It's impossible to reach the Summerset Isles though, as the Altmer have the best navy and the Psijics on their side.

All my counter points are in red. Only thing I agree with you is the Talos thing. Who knows, by Skyrim, they could just be full fledged allies.

Ugh. Loyalists!

Down with Old Mary!

Unless they blunder it up the whole way through.


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Theres no chance of the Thalmor winning anyway, since their goal is the destruction of men. Bethesda would have to eliminate 4 races from existence which wont happen.

What if they wanted to bring about an end to the series? Don't ever count out creativity. Lots of creative writers work with Bethesda.

I think that although the two have major disagreements neither want to go to war because they are both very powerful. So instead their at a sort of peace where their just dealing with each other. Talos banning was part of their treaty at the end of the war they had, the empire made it because they were gona lose and their honoring it because like i said neither wants to have a huge war. Hopefully after the civil war the empire would turn more attention to the thalmor weather it be politically or militarily (if they win).

We know that general tulias is opposed to them but has to work with them

Tulias is Old Mary's girl.

Hes hte imperial General....And a great and honest man forced to Do Necisary evil things...

My Nord and his claymore.

Well the fact that the current emporer resisted signing for the outlaw of talos worship, i would still say most people oppose the thalmor, but HAVE to do what they are told, if they want to keep a state of peace with the Thalmor

The Empire - the whole thing - is Old Mary's girl.

The only reason the thalmor haven't invaded is because of the empire. They still have power and a large enough army to give the thalmor a run for their money. The war was huge and it was basically a 50/50 chance but when the thalmor were about to win the empire signed the treaty as a last resort. They gave up talos but are dealing with the thalmor and not allowing them to kill all of man things are peaceful for the time. If the stormcloaks are independent then short term results would show a new nation of man that had no influence from the thalmor, but long term Cyrodiil would lose its power and be consumed by the thalmor and so would hammerfell and high rock. Skyrim would surely fall and the thalmor would win. If the Empire keeps its provinces and starts to build power again they will continue to deal with the thalmor and keep peace until the thalmor weaken (which they will because they are are a radical controlling government and revolutions will start to occur, and then the thalmor will be too focused on what the empire is doing that they won't pay enough attention to their own land) and the Empire will soon be able to either take over valenwood and SI or make an alliance with whatever new government forms.

So we can go with the short term solution - the stormcloaks
or we can go with a long term solution that will keep the thalmor at bay and make sure no one gets destroyed until the thalmor fall on their own or they can be conquered - the Imperials.

As is the whole empire. Time to secede.

From what I've seen, the Empire does not actually enforce the banning. Only the Thalmor do, and they are quite killable. There's even a huge statue and a priest preaching openly in Whiterun.

He mentions how Talos reshaped Cyrodiil into what we saw in Oblivion out of love

It's not going to happen. The empire already lost Valenwood, Elsweyr and Black Marsh. It really is just a matter of time, this "empire" is powerless. It is not the real empire. It's just a pathetic attempt to revive something that is already dead for good while claiming to be a continuation of it. When western Rome collapsed, many were those with the ambitions of restoring it. The Eastern Empire got close at a point, but the plague ruined it. No one ever succeeded.