The Op is about winning the storm cloak side before doing that. And contrary to the Op's opinion him coming to Skyrim after that makes the most sense. Tho some aspects if the Db line are poorly implemented.

perhaps the emperor is attempting some kind of diplomacy with the new nation?

That's what I think is happening but it's still jarring to have Stormcloaks who say "Next Imperial I see is dead" yet have the Imperial Emperor come to Skyrim.

Well they were right in the end!

Wait... I thought I had heard somewhere that the Emperor you kill is a double. I'm still playing the Dark Brotherhood quest line and that's the only spoiler I know at the moment.

Well youd better stop reading until youve finished the questline!!

Stupid writing is stupid. How are the Penitus Oculotus allowed to have an establishment in Dragonsbridge after a Stormcloak victory? Or enough of a presence to launch a blatant attack near Falkreath? Quest writing and writing in general is my biggest gripe with this game - the bugs really aren't bad at all by comparison.

Yes, but other than the Stormcloaks, the empire's leader is replaceable. That's the whole point, the contract doesn't come from Ulfric to demoralize the imperial legion. It comes from someone who has good connections to the next in the line of succession. Going to Skyrim in force would be a smart move for the new emperor. Blame Ulfric for the assassination, and strike "back" with all the force the empire can muster.

I sided with the Imperials and after finishing that questline I can still find Stormcloak camps but I can't kill the leader of each camp. It's like they are on the "no-kill" NPC list even though I've already finished the questline.

They remain essential, no idea why, so unless you use the console commands, theyll always be unkillable.

As I said, idiotic. Totaly out of place. Imprials and Stormcloaks next to each other in Solitude chating and drinking coffe.

And this too? I could not kill the Imperial officer. No idea why.

Well if you do complete the stormcloak rebellion you'll note that Ulfric had no intention of attacking the empire. You can take the Emperor's visit as recognizing Ulfric's claim, and visiting as a foreign dignitary instead.

Still doesn't explain all the imperial camps though.

You don't need to complete the stormcloak rebellion for that. Officially Ulfric wants a "free" Skyrim (Nords only) because he's pissed off by the empire's politics and the weak emperor that lets the Thalmor run across the country and torture random people for having the wrong religion. Inofficially, Ulfric simply wants to rule Skyrim (Nords only) . Period. He has no ambitions of attacking Cyrodiil and High Rock (aka the empire).

The empire wants to consolidate its remaining power, so that humans have a future, it will be hard enough to win back Hammerfell, and restore a land-connection between High Rock and Cyrodiil. Loosing Skyrim will destroy the empire, it's divide and rule for the Thalmor.

So the only possible response to a victory of the Stormcloaks is not to accept the secession, and blockading the pass to Riften, and the sea routes to Solitude / dawnstar. Hidden imperial camps make sense, what doesn't make sense is that stormcloak soldiers and imperial elite troops stand peacefully next to each other in the streets of Solitude.

Provoking a war with a unified country would be a bad move on the empire's part. Especially given that High Rock will most likely secede now that the empire has lost its army's backbone.

I happened to me too.

Just like you, i won the civil war (Stormcloack), and just for the Shadowmere i finished the DB Quest.

Remember when you won the civil war? What did Ulfric say to you?

"Whenever you see imperial guard, you know what to do" a bit like that i think.

And [cencored] man!
DB quest, when i am at solitude to kill some imperial, and the stormcloack guard just walking arround, are they blind?

Oh yes, there was some glitch

I killed the target (at solitude) and yes... i got a bounty, the solitude guard catch me, i paid the fines.

The funny thing... the next time i went to Solitude, because of the Quest, there were 2 enemies (wich were imperial) trying to kill me!

and viola... this time the guards helped me... so i just walked, and sleept peacefully on my house

Well I think that even if the Stormcloaks won the civil war the Emperor could still visit. In fact he may be more obligated to in order to set up the new boundries and peace talks, etc. The two countries are still very much connected in trade and people (and common enemies). Course if the emperor visited he would bring guards along so seeing them in the city wouldn't be out of place either.

The only problem with your idea is that Hammerfell doesn't want to get back in the Empire. They're supremely pissed off that the Empire kicked them out of the fraternity for simply trying to protect their land. So when the Empire booted them, they fought back and single-handedly beat the Thalmor and drove them from all parts of Hammerfell!!!

Obviously there is a ton of bad blood between Hammerfell and the Empire right now, but Hammerfell beat back an entrenched Thalmor enemy, a unified Sovereign Skyrim can easily do the same. The Empire needs Skyrim, but Skyrim does not need the Empire.

So I do agree with you that High Rock will almost assuredly seceed from the Empire now that there is no connection between High Rock and the Empire. Also, as the Dunmer rebuild it, I can easily see Morrowind becoming its own Sovereign Nation again as well. They were doing fine before the Empire, and even once they signed the treaty with the Empire, Morrowind was the only Autonomous Province in the Empire, meaning that the Empires lackeys that were stationed inside Morrowind's borders were there for merely a show, but having no real power. Morrowind will be just fine after the Empire is gone as well, in fact I personally think that they will come back stronger than ever as a Sovereign morrowind.

Near future, here's what I think goes down:

Morrowind officially seceeds from the Empire (already pretty much has happened, but they make it official). Resolutely resists any attempt to absorb their new nation into any existing or future conglomeration of nations. Gives the Dominion and the Empire both the finger, signs mutual Peace & non-agression treaty with Skyrim.

Skyrim seceeds and is its own Sovereign Nation again.

Hammerfell rejects Impirical pleas to rejoin the vastly weakened Empire, stays as its own Sovereign Nation, but works out a peace treaty with Skyrim where they have mutual military protection clauses written in for both countries sakes.

High Rock seceeds and either aligns with Hammerfell, or bargains for safety with the Thalmor. Possibly becomes an autonomous province of the Aldmeri Dominion.

Orsinium will not be a factor as it was sacked and is now Breton property. Orcs have no homeland and are split amongst these five factions as simple, paid mercenaries.

This is how I can see it working out based upon the Lore given so far in the Fourth Era.

Is there a sign of a patch?

I think there's plenty of obvious fixes.

For example, the Emperor might well be trying to show good faith with the Stormcloaks. It'd be cool if they say that the Stormcloak rebellion is being "legitimized" and there's hope for reconcilliation with them.

Which, of course, might explain why someone wants to gut Mede II like a fish.

Ulfrics Skyrim (Nords Only!) may be unsustainable. It might rally all the non nords against him worse than the empire. A second civil war might be worse than the first. But that doesn't really have anything to do with this topic.

As to the Emporer coming to Skyrim after a Stormcloak victory, political negotiations would be a good reason. Offically end the fighting. Sign peace treaty. Etc etc.

Folks the only alternative is completing the Civil War for the storm cloaks would cause you to fail the DB questline. Or your not allowed to finish the civil war until you've either finished the DB questline or destroyed them.

No. Just make Penitus Oculatus simple bodyguards. No officers, no city checks. Just bodyguards. Pure and simple.

Add me to that too. Consequences need to be added to this game in the WORST way.