I helped the empire because if you help the stormcloaks its practically the end of the empire completely. Seeing as how Cyrodil, High Rock, and Skyrim are the only remaining provences in the empire if Skyrim left than Cyrodil would have no land route to High Rock and the Thalmor would probably use that to stir up resentment of the empire effectively reverting all the provinces of Tameriel back to individual areas except for the Thalmor which would control 3, this would give them even more control over the affairs of the continent. At least with the empire somewhat intact they have a fighting chance and can make the next war with the Thalmor a holy war and possibly beat them back.

At this point after beating both sides I have to say the empire has been nothing but the thalmors [censored] they lost what made them strong and the emperor is nothing but a old fart who as long as he has food on his plate and has a bunch of gold would let the thalmor kill an entire village sure the stormcloaks have flaws but not nearly as bad as the once great empire now just a husk coward of it's self, also gotta love how at the start of the game when you go with the empire the guy who was going to cut off your head suddenly likes you and wants you to help

I am beyond sure that in this thread all of what Im saying will have been said, but I figured i'd risk a post:

Ulfric Stormcloak is considered a Thalmor asset (at least by them) specifically because, during the Great War, he gave up critical information that would have lead to the capture of the Imperial City had it not already fallen. While he may hate the Thalmor he certainly caved to them once. He may be a racist and hate the elves for what they did to him but we have to remember THE EMPIRE HATES THEM MORE. Do the Legion quests. At almost every turn the Empire is chaffing under the Thalmor rule. They hate it, and if they had the strength they would oust the bloody elves and reclaim Talos worship. BUT they don't, and the civil war in Skyrim is only stretching them thinner.

And let is never forget: The Empire came from Skyrim. There has NEVER been an Empire withouth Skyrim. Skyrim is just as much the home of the Empire as Cyrrodil. As far as corruption goes: it effects everything. The Stormcloaks are just as corrupt as the Empire, its just the Empire has so much more to corrupt. All in all, I hope the Empire wins out in the Civil War in the Canon so that the Thalmor can be ousted.

Summary: Ulfric sold out the Empire during the Great War, The Empire was made in Skyrim, The Empire hates the Thalmor as much if not more than the Stormcloaks (who are hate them for racist and fanatical religious reasons)

P.S: I forgot to mention SPOILER that the killing of the Emperor during Skyrim is canon so without the aid of Skyrim and the Legion the Empire WILL fall. But consider this: The Legion wins the Civil war, a new emperor (probably with military background given the past years of fighting) comes in, the armies are rallied with the aid of Skyrim's soldiers, and the Thalmor are ousted from the Empire and the White-Gold Concordat is repealed. Everyone wins. So remember, if Ulfric wins everyone loses. Empire wins, everybody wins.

I intend to side with the imperials without question. They have their flaws I dont deny it, but they are a far better option then the stormcloaks and they are the only ones keeping the thalmor at bay. I have always supported the empire and shall continue to do so.

it seems people keep getting confused. general Tullius IS NOT the one who wanted your head.That was the commander. Tullius only wanted Ulfric head to end the stormcloak rebellion. If you want to take revenge on the commander at the beginning of the game side with Rolof and you can kill the executioner+the commander. So stop generalizing all the empire as bad because one chick wants your head. Tullius himself is apologizing for what that commander did the first time you meet him at the castle.

I want to see Talos back & the Thalmor not ruling the world.


Thus I join the Empire!

Given that this game takes place i the proud North, among northmen and alikes, it comes naturally to side with the storm cloaks.
Naturally there are ingredients that does not suit me either among them, but the Empire, definately not.
Dont forget that the game starts with people from the Empire wanting to chop of your head for no other reason that you being at the wrong place at the wrong side. How can I side with that mentality?

Besides, I play an Orc. And apart from Northmen, Orcs are truly believers in the way of the north, and that strenght is the key to ruling.

Next run through Ill give empire a go, maybe. But just maybe.

I wish I could side with the dragons, and Alduin. All these people fighting with each other makes me want to wipe them out. Let me raise the dead dragons myself and tell him to burn this or that town and kill everyone!

Some of this has probably been said already by others, but this is my 2 cents....

The stormcloaks appear to be the good guys because even if you play as an Altmer, they share in your hatred of the empire, and I have even Heard Ulfred Stormcloak himself say that hes fighting for the freedom of all the races, and for a bunch of other crap that he said in that speech of his. They are just words but he was willing to back them up. And I for one always think the good guys are the side that fights against tyranny and oppression, as Ulfred seems to do. He may seem like a Hard ass with a lot of hate in his heart, But that's because He's a Nord, a Jarl, and a General. And I believe that goes with the territory.

That and those bastard imperials tried to chop off my head. Imma gonna get them for that!

Oh and my favorite color is blue. So that's also going for them.

In the end, I believe that depending on what race you pick(if you are wanting to role play), and how you feel about the two factions ultimately determines who you feel are the good guys, and the bad guys.

To me, the Imperials are the ones who have the best intentions, despite all the slander against them.

Here's a bit of my reasoning, be it fully-coherent or not:

- I had some Stormcloaks dressed as Imperials try to rob me.
- Imperials want to unify Skyrim. All races, all Holds.
- Ulfric was an Imperial until after they lost to the Dominion. (Fairweather fan?) Now he touts the whole "Nord land for Nord people" schitck to get followers. (Sound like something from our own history?)

i sided with imperials because it makes more sense without skyrim the entire empire will be taken over by the dominion and nobody wants that

You are siding with the same mentality apart from the fact that the Stormcloaks also killed woman and children who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

and that was NORD men,women and children as well as many other races. Read ''The Bear Of Amarkath'' book and let's see what the others will think about the ''great'' Ulfric, ''defender'' of the Nords

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