Okay I know there's a ton of topics about Missing in Action and how to do the diplomatic route, well here's the deal.

You can't.

If you go by UESPI wiki's quest stages, you can see that there's no stage where a diplomatic solution was accomplished. Not to mention that the Imperial Order item that you can only get from the console appears to be something that they were working on but didn't finish (just read the letter to see what I mean). Also, there is no "Imperial Legion Armor" in the game, no idea how that rumor about wearing imperial armor to trick the guard started.

It seems to me that they originally were going to have a diplomatic route in the quest, but either it was removed at the last second, or it was never finished and the quest as it currently stands was submitted anyway.

To me, that is really unfortunate and I wish Bethesda would make an official remark about this quest and if they will ever consider adding the route in a future patch/DLC. As it stands now, I refuse to finish this quest until Bethesda makes it known that they will never fix the quest (and if they do fix the quest, I'll wait until they do before finishing it).

That is a shame, my Altmer mage supports the Empire and I won't have him attacking the Thalmor if it can be helped. Looks like I'll do the same as you, leave it uncompleted (like so many others) until it is fixed.
Such a beautiful game, but quite disappointing once you scratch the surface and realise there are huge gaps everywhere.

Guys.... give the modders time....

I've had this quest sitting inactive while I hoped to find a pro-Thalmor solution. I guess it will stay inactive indefinitely.

my only thought that has not already been said (I thought the no diplomatic route was cheese) is that I thought it was odd it was so so far away on the map. I tried at early levels to walk there but after some ice wraith fights, I decided to wait.

Agree. This character is pro-Empire or at least neutral. What is the story with the Thalmor for someone who doesn't know TES history?

They tore the empire in half and outlawed the worship of the god Talos, they hate all non-elves and would, ideally, destroy them all.

Things like this shouldn't have been left to the modders.

Actually, I found the solution to the diplomatic problem.

Care to elaborate?

Same here, I also find it strange that the Thalmor HQ in Solitude is empty...seems some things are really left unfinished. It's like the closed doors in Oblivion(orrery) that became DLC later on. I really, really hate stuff like that. It should be in the basic game and if the quest screen gives me an option I'd like to be able to you know...pursue that option.
I really like the game but little things like these irk me a bit.

I have always believed in diplomacy....except with the Thalmor.

they wish to dominate or destroy my race just like the dragons.

they all deserve to die and i just try to do my little part in that.

The fact that the character wants a diplomatic solution doesn't imply that there is one actually. He/she'll be disappointed that his/her charm doesn't operate on the Thalmor, that's it.

Anyway, a diplomatic solution doesn't seem possible. Why on Earth would a friend of the Empire, and consequently of the Thalmor, would be willing to free a Stormcloack prisoner? And, if you're on the side of the Stormcloak, why would the Thalmor be willing to negociate with you? Capturing a Thalmor in order to exchange him doesn't seem to be possible.

I'm not well advanced in the game, but I think there is a shout that calms down enemies; if you want a "peaceful" solution, you could use it to free the man without any fight. My two pence.

I disagree, I think this is something that should have been completed. The Thalmor guard is stated something like its an imperial prisoner, which is why I think the rumor about the imperial armor is probable, there are several other things that suggest that this is a "glitch"

What I find more annoying/weird its the Esbern bug/quest hasent been fixed yet (Luckily there is a workaround)

I've looked for a diplomatic solution as well and agree with the OP about there being no other way to solve this mission. One thing I was curious about was the different legion helm you can acquire in one of the thieves guild mission in Solitude. I didn't bother to search the warehouse for a full suit of this different gear, but there is definitely a unique legion helm (closed face spartan style); not to be confused with the imperial officer helm or the imperial heavy helm.

It's fairly simple actually, after you choose to solve it diplomatically you must look around in whiterun itself for 1 of the following persons ; Jon Battleborn and/or a woman called olfina, then you must pickpocket either of them for a note/letter , after reading it you must speak to jon that you know of the affair he's having. In return for your silence he will agree tho bring you the document you need. Then you must meet him at the statue of Talos at the foot of Dragons reach.
And the rest you know what to do.

Hmm. I pickpocketed the letter off of Jon but I don't get a new dialog option for him.

I think the oddest part of this entire quest (no matter what anyone thinks about diplomatic solution, Thalmor pro, etc.) is that I have yet to see any good reason for this one somewhat ineffective Nord to be stuck away as a prisoner at Northwatch to begin with. Now, if the quest had said he was deep in Ulfric's counsels or something.... but it doesn't....

Oh, I tried the business with Jon and Olfina, but I also got nothing new. I tried right after "overhearing" the dialog in the marketplace in Whiterun....

The Thalmor and the Aldmeri Dominium are all bad. As Serethil pointed out, there's no good reason for this poor Nord to be locked away deep within a Thalmor stronghold. He's only in there because some family clan had a vendetta against another clan and the Thalmor owed the bad clan a favor.

Just head to Northwatch Keep, tear the place up, give the Thalmor punks a beatdown, find Thorald, then bail out the back door and skip down the road hand in hand with Thorald while whistling your favorite tune on your way back home knowing you just did good in the world.

Exactly! I REALLY dislike the Thalmor creeps. LOVE to kill them when I find them. "Love to eat them mousies.... Mousies what I love to eat. Bite they little heads off, nibble on they tiny feet...." Mousies == Thalmor and my girls are a LOT bigger cats than whatever the Thalmor can bring.

This. Very weird encountering it early on. I prefer "localized" quests early on.


Attacking the fort isn't really anti-Imperial. The fort is entirely occupied by Thalmor.

Did you read the note?

I think we're being trolled by Master Hobbit.

Checked it again and came to the conclusion I misread the damn thing in the gameguide.
I thought is was for getting the necessary document to get the guy released but it is apparently its just another way to get the evidence what happened to the guy.

I'm now thoroughly embarrassed by this because of my mistake

Honest mistake -- thanks for correcting. My Altmer will be leaving Thorald in jail for the time being.