Ulfric is tearing Skyrim asunder because the Thalmor knew exactly how to manipulate him into doing so. The Thalmor said "Jump" and Ulfric did just that.

And Ulfric DID cause Alduin's return in a way: he made Skyrim "sundered, kingless, bleeding", fulfilling the last part of the Alduin prophecy.

The thing about the Stormcloaks' grievance I don't get is this: The Thalmor are the root cause of Skyrim's predicament... so the Stormcloaks blame the Empire? What kind of logic is that? Exactly the kind of logic the Thalmor were hoping for.

But as mighty and influential as each individual Jarl is, Skyrim's true power comes from the strength of its High King. The High King is ruler above all, and is always one of the Jarls, selected by a body called the "Moot" - a specially convened council of all the Jarls, who meet with the express purpose of choosing Skyrim's High King. Or so it is, in theory.

The reality, however, is that the High King swears fealty to the Emperor, and as Solitude is the city most directly influenced by Imperial culture and politics, the Jarl of Solitude has served as High King for generations. The Moot, therefore, is more formality and theater than anything else.

But as I prepared to leave Skyrim, I could feel a change in the air, sense the trepidation of some of the good Nord people. Many seemed unhappy with the Empire's continued presence in their land. And the outlawing of the worship of Talos as the Ninth Divine - a stipulation of the White-Gold Concordat, the peace treaty between the Empire and Aldmeri Dominion - has only strengthened that division.

So while the Jarls of Skyrim still control their holds, and those Jarls are ruled over by their Imperial-sanctioned High King, will there come a day when the Moot convenes to select a new High King - one that is not, as many would say, the Emperor's "Solitude puppet"?
If that day comes, I will be thankful to be far away from Skyrim, in my own home of Hammerfell. For such a decision could well mean civil war, and I fear that such a conflict would tear the fierce and beautiful Nord people asunder.

It couldn't be that he (and many others) actually wanted Skyrim to be independent of the empire. The fact that the Thalmor think they can manipulate him and the situation is irrelevant from that perspective. And it's irrelevant in fact, if the dovahkiin enters the fight.

And in essence, so are the Stormcloaks, to the Thalmor's ultimate advantage. Wheras the Empire's supplication is part of a waiting game.

The Thalmor don't "think" they can manipulate him, they *can* manipulate him. They played on his grievances with the Empire and pushed him to the point of civil war. He was their VIP prisoner of war. They have intimate knowledge of his psyche. Heck, Ambassador Elenwen was his interrogator. He could have just simmered like Balgruuf did, but instead he got egged on to commit sedition by the Thalmor because they knew how to.

People think it's a big deal that Ulfric yelled "Shut up!" at Elenwen at the Season Unending treaty. All I see is a prominent sign that Elenwen knew exactly how to antagonize Ulfric into jeopardizing the ceasefire talk and perpetuating the civil war.

The Empire supporters think the Empire is needed to keep Skyrim safe yet waiting will just strengthen the Thalmor as they can use sabotage to cause more rifts while recruiting more influential people to their cause with the Empire too afraid to risk a war to do anything against them. An independent Skyrim would deprive the Thalmor of any means of gathering allies and therefore deprives them of their greatest assets. The Thalmor strenghts aren't in their military might, only their espionage.

With Skyrim quelled, the Empire can start strengthening its own army. They're not fighting a battle on two fronts any more. A one-front battle is the beginning of an easier victory for the Empire. They have more resources than the Stormcloaks and although the Stormcloaks might keep Skyrim away from the Thalmor, the rest of Tamriel will be absolutely devastated.

I'm looking towards long term stability.

Aldis said that he'll consider it. That means that it's possible that the Empire will decide that they don't like crazy old women running their towns so they'll throw her away and hire some Empire lapdog to run the town. Seems poor Idgrod is in trouble either way.

With Skyrim quelled, the Empire can start strengthening its own army. They're not fighting a battle on two fronts any more. A one-front battle is the beginning of an easier victory for the Empire. They have more resources than the Stormcloaks and although the Stormcloaks might keep Skyrim away from the Thalmor, the rest of Tamriel will be absolutely devastated.

I'm looking towards long term stability.

Yah, I know. Idgrod Ravencrone.... I tend to identify with her....

Whatever side you may choose/follow one-thing is for sure and that is if it weren't for Ulfric's rebellion the Empire wouldn't react to the Aldmeri threat.

The start of the rebellion was the waking call for the Empire.

The civil war gave alduin a buffet of new souls to feed off of. This allowed him to become strong enough to come back to mundus. Ulfric and his insurrection are at best wasting valuable resources and at worst dooming all of the races of men.

It takes two to dance. If the empire had recognized the outcome of Ulfric's duel with Torygg and withdrawn from Skyrim, there would have been no civil war.

It's all about fighting for what you believe in. If you want to stay oppressed and unable to worship your god for a little more security than go for it. The Thalmor have already won, the only thing you can do now is fight back or let it happen.

They don't need to fight a two-front war if Cyrodiil renounces its claim on Skryim and recognizes it as a free nation.

If the empire had let go of skyrim, then there would be no empire and the thalmor would have free reign to continue on with their plan to undo the creation of mundus by undoing the creation of the races of man. Only a united empire, of and for all races, can stand up to the thalmor. The only reason Tiber Septim and the empire were able to defeat the Aldmeri dominion 1200 years ago was because of Numidium, which was literally a god.

Jarl Balgruuf's dedication to securing neutrality from a pointless war is not one of a scumbag, but of one who wishes to assure the safety and security of his people. The article complains of something that applies to all Jarls. I thought it was worse that I practically fought the war for Ulfric, only to find I had to pay, I believe, 12,000 gold for a house in the city.

Jarl Balgruuf's dedication to securing neutrality from a pointless war is not one of a scumbag, but of one who wishes to assure the safety and security of his people. The article complains of something that applies to all Jarls. I thought it was worse that I practically fought the war for Ulfric, only to find I had to pay, I believe, 12,000 gold for a house in the city.

If the Empire had let go of Skyrim it would have more Legions in Cyrodiil, which is the province (along with Hammerfell) most at risk of attack.

Yo dawg, I heard you liked fighting without resources.

And Cyrodiil has some divine right to steal the resources of its neighbors forever, selling them out to the Dominion one by one when their back is against a wall? Screw that.

I would also like to point out that only Hammerfell was 'sold out', as Valenwood and Elsweyr were never ceded by the Empire to the Dominion. All of the Empire's remaing provinces, save for Cyrodill, are also cut off from any Dominion territory by Cyrodill and Hammerfell, so the odds of them becoming occupied by the Dominion are unlikely. For now, Cyrodill will be the front lines in the next Great War as it borders both Elsweyr and Valenwood, so supplying it with troops and resources may be the key to victory.

Actaully, they do. Akatosh and the other Aedra were instrumental in the formation of the first Empire, and assisted Allesia and her rebels in casting down their Ayleid overlords.

I would also like to point out that only Hammerfell was 'sold out', as Valenwood and Elsweyr were never ceded by the Empire to the Dominion.