I ignored going to Whiterun first thing, don't want these damn dragons swooping down. Joined the Imperials, but delivered the Crown to Ulfric, so I'm a Stormcloak now. I delivered the axe to Balgruuf, but he insists I help Farengar with the Dragonstone.

If I do go get the Dragonstone, will dragons start attacking? Or do dragons only start attacks after the watchtower dragon fight? Will Balgruuf give me answer after I help Farengar or after I kill the dragon?

In other words, is it at all possible to do the Civil War without the dragon menace? Damn dragons could swoop down at any moment.

No. And it's one of the things I most dislike about Skyrim too.

Well I'll be damned. Tried ignoring that [censored] till I really wanted to do it.

Guess MQ comes next then!

I ran into the same issue with my orc. I did not want to do the MQ at all with her. Didn't even want to go to Whiterun and get help for Riverwood.

For the CW she went to Balgruuf to deliver the axe. He would NOT give her an answer with dragons about. Insisted she help Farengar with his studies.

He will not talk about the axe until you kill the dragon at the tower as part of the MQ.

Now my orc is dragonborn and thane of Whiterun with a housecarl. NOT what I wanted her to have/do AT ALL.

My only gripe with Skyrim. Forced quests.

Agreed, especially when it makes no sense in this context. You don't try to send a messenger delivering an ultimatum on an errand for one of your flunkies.

This is what frustrated me to no end.

I hate having dragons attack out of nowhere... always scared one of the NPC's will die (which I will restart my game if that ever happens).