So... I was wondering if I'm the only one who has difficulties with taking sides, no matter how many playthroughs I do? It's not just the fact that you can't a judge a whole faction by the attitude of a few members (not every Stormcloak tries to beat up Dunmers, not every Imperial is a law-obsessed idiot) but even the respective leaders are somewhat inscrutable. I can't help but symphatize with both Tullius and Ulfric. Kudos to Bethesda for making a lot of major conflicts in this game stay in the grey area, making you actually think and question before choosing.

Anyway, here is a topic for those interested in debating whether there could be a peaceful compromise between the Empire and Skyrim and if [yes / no], why? Also, throw around ideas about what should the leaders change within their faction to make it appeal more? If you think about it, there's nothing to convince a non-Nord or non-Imperial Dovahkiin (sometimes not even them) to actually care and actively take sides aside of the possible good loot earned while killing and plundering.

This topic is NOT about Bethesda's developmental choices. Merely a friendly debate about "what if..." and such. I understand if some of you wanted to see less / more / different dialogue trees and approaches regarding the civil war questline but this is not the place for that.

As we can't avoid talking about the topic without making spoilers, this is the last warning to anyone browsing: MAJOR SPOILERS MAY OCCUR!

A could see a peaceful end to the Empire-Stormcloak war -- IF it means both sides join forces to fight the Thalmor.

Death to the Nods. My Warhammer, Nord-grinder is good at this. Aside from that I think that if Galmer stone face was killed then Ulfric would negotiate more. They could get back Talos worship and become some sort of Half Empire army, but still stormcloaks nords.

The Stormcloaks need to join the Empire if they both will give the Thalmor a little war for Talos worshiping , if the Thalmor gives Talos back , everything is alright.
If not , Destroy them all.

have the Stormcloaks enslave the Dunmer so they can fight for them.

there, war over.

An alliance between Stormcloaks and the Empire would be pretty cool and a good way to set down the situation for the next game, but, although i would like it to happen, i don't really think it could. There's alot of hate between the two sides, it would be like an alliance between the Russians and Germans in the midst of WW2. But in saying that, i guess a peace agreeement may have been possible, if very difficult.

You seem obsessed with the idea of Dunmer enslavement. As an avid Argonian player, my inner demon wants to agree but I'm curious. What's with the animosity?

There is only one peaceful solution to the war: kill all the thalmor! Oh wait...

http://i.qkme.me/35g72u.jpg

LOL, great!

I think alternative way to give peace to skyrim is, create a new goverment and involve stormcloacks and imperials in it. Then they start to gather followers from every race in tamriel.
And this is may make Thalmor to heat-headed. But if this every races to unite, then Thalmor will not have courage to start war against all the races. And force them to back to surrender without a war.

Despite the fact I sided with the Empire I now deeply regret those actions. The Stormcloaks were right, Skyrim belongs to the Nords, it's their home and other races do not belong there. The Empire has betrayed them, like they betrayed Hammerfell, and if Redguards can fend off the Aldmeri Dominion on their own then the mighty Nords can do so as well. A strong independent Skyrim will strike fear into the Aldmeri Dominon's heart. It can unite with Hammerfell and Blackmarsh and send the elves to Oblivion. After that it can invade Cyrodiil and chop of the head of the weak and dying Empire before it attempts to dominate the other nations of Tamriel again.

Convincing both sides to hold the moot would be a start. Maybe the possibility to convince Tullius and the empire that Ulfric and skyrim will back them when they get their act together, or convincing Ulfric that the empire has an attack of their own already planned for the thalmor and are just about to spring it.

I think the only way a peaceful solution could be arrived at would be if the Empire rescinded the White Gold Concordant and reinstated Talos worship. The Stormcloaks would have no reason to fight after that. Even if Ulfric still wanted to be high king, his support would vanish, and that would be the end of things.

This would mean the Empire essentially declaring war upon the Thalmor. But the Empire is never going to do that. If they were, they would have done it a long time ago. The Empire has made it clear that they do not have the will to resist the Thalmor. So far only Hammerfell and Skyrim has.

I think stormcloacks not completely right. I'd agree that skyrim belongs to the nords and imperials betrayed them. Even after White-Gold event, most of the Jarls accepts 'payment' from Aldmeri Dominion and Imperial for select sides with them.
But, I'm really disagree if other race other than Nords are not accepted in skyrim (Like what happen to Dunmer & Argonian in Windhelm)
why don't they share their place together?
And even nords eliminates Snow Elves (Falmers) until they forced to live with Dwemer, and betrayed by them. Until Falmers became blind and in-human like now.

Every era had an empire founded by a Dragonborn. The history of Tamriel follows cycles.

Will the Dragonborn, who appeared in Skyrim in 4E200, succeed in establishing a new empire?

If so, which condition is better for the Dragonborn to lay the foundations? A dieing reign thorn by civil war and under the menace of an outside enemy or an isolationist province led by some warmongering warriors?

I don't believe peace is possible... season undending, like the greybeards say: even if united against a common foe, sooner or later the divisions between the Stormcloaks and the imperial supporters will resurface, possibly at a critical time.

The Dwemer enslaved the Falmer and fed them food that blinded them.. That's mer for you, would even betray their own kind given half the chance, that's probably what will bring about the collapse of the Aldmeri Dominion.

Not all elves hate Talos, many fled Summerset isle to escape the thalmor threat. If skyrim and nords stay with empire, it would be stronger and fight dominion more efficiently

I know but the Dominion is majority Elven. I know the Khajiit are with them as well.

Not necessarily. Hammerfell beat them back alone, Skyrim can as well, Nords will fight with more ferocity for Skyrim than a weak and dying Empire. If a strong independent Skyrim allies with Hammerfell and Black Marsh, well the Aldmeri Dominion is in a pickle, as Black Marsh can attack Elseweyr, and the Nords and Redguards can smash Summerset Isle with their naval skill. The Empire can concentrate on Valenwood, it has no other option really.

They don't need to be united to be allied. Or even to like each other, think of the Ebonheart Pact.

You're assuming that Black Marsh would ally with Skyrim. Why? Argonians are treated unfairly by the Nords and their brethren living in the marshes certainly don't need any allies as they single-handedly forced back the Dremora into Oblivion by the help of the Hist. They could wipe out the Thalmor if they wanted but as the High Elves haven't bothered them yet, they remain dormant and passive, continuing the tribal life. Even the Empire in it's full glory couldn't take over Black Marsh. I don't think they will get involved in anything as long as it dosen't endanger them.

Why would Hammerfell ally with Skyrim as well? They succesfully fought back the Thalmor alone. They won't waste men power and resources on other nations, especially after the Imperial betrayal. No need to. They can manage on their own quite well.

See why it is problematic to let the regions become completely independent? They won't do jacksh*t if it dosen't directly benefit them and certainly won't lend any aid to one another, having just enough resources to defend their own ground and ensure their own people's safety. Not that you can blame them. But still. Without the Empire (or a similar, huge power) to unite the nations and races, all of Tamriel will fall into cold apathy where every region is out for themselves. That equals chaos and constant wars. Much more so then now.

Obviously Hammerfell would ally with Skyrim, they beat the Aldmeri Dominion on their own but it won't be as easy next time, the AD was severely depleted from the Great War at the time as well.
It would be easier for them to defeat the AD if they attacked it together, their combined naval strength could be enough for an invasion of Summerset Isle, if the Empire was smart it would side with the newly independent kingdoms as well and spare any naval fleets remaining.

Black Marsh I imagine would sense the danger in letting the AD grow, they haven't bothered with it yet but they want to completely dominate Tamriel and make elves (mostly high elves) as the dominant race. Anyone who isn't an elf is an enemy of the AD, unless their helping them in some way, and when their usefulness ends they become expendable.


And obviously the AD would be interested in the Hist, they'll want to try and turn it into a weapon they can use.

A Stormcloak - Empire agreement would be awesome. Though I don't see it happening. Even if I'm an Empire supporter, the Stormcloaks are fighting for their freedom from the Empire. I don't see an agreement happening where the Empire will be happy to accept that doesn't involve Skyrim becoming part of the Empire.

It would have to though if it had any sense. It can't spend it's time forever fighting Skyrim when the AD is attacking it from the South, a ceasefire would have to be agreed given the common goals of the two, as I said Hammerfell shares that goal as well, it wants the AD gone.. Black Marsh I'm sure is well aware of the danger the AD could potentially pose to them, I think they may well lend a hand in the end.

I have been screaming for an option for this ever since I was introduced to the civil war.