Their arrogant. Arrogance in a single mind leads to narcissism, and racism. While arrogance in a major population... will lead to xenophobia and extreme nationalism

I think this is the case.

The first step to destroy man is to eradicate Talos from existence and make him an afterthought, then they wish to eradicate mankind and wipe them from existence. Then they want to unbundled the dragon and shatter the Mundas then ascend to their spiritual plain they feel they have lost. The only way they think they can do that is destroy Talos completely then destroy the physical world.

That is exactly what it is. There is nothing else to be said about it, really. They instituted the ban on Talos worship to cause the Empire to fragment. They want the war to continue as long as possible, because it keeps the Empire weak. See the Thalmor Dossier on Ulfric Stormcloak that is found in the Thalmor embassy:

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They are both. They don't tolerate dissidents among their own kind, but they don't tolerate the existence of non-Mer races (nor Orcs for that matter) at all.

It isn't just MK's writings about Talos holding back the next world. Other devs have posted on it too(This was before the game was even out)

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1249697-on-boethiahs-summoning-day

OOC
First of all I am neither fascist nor socialist but socialism used in the right way (not communism) is saposed to liberate people (and it does go against human nature which is why it fails ) . Fascism used in the right way is meant to rule over men and put power into the government.
PS:I do not want to spark a debate so please do not reply

It offends them that a man would attain godhood I think.

That and Talos is a epic, inspiring figure to people.
He led the first men to skyrim and then there was the whole war with the elves that led the Falmer to end up subterranian and angry.

Could also be a chance to put down a hated figure.
He originates from a race of elf hating people who won a lot of battles when nords first came to skyrim.

It's probabely just temporary. They know the white-gold concordat won't last. It's to distract people and avoid them looking too closely at the true strength of the Dominion.
Maybe the dominion is'nt as strong as it seems post conquest and the empire took more out of it than they will admit.

The nords are a scary, strong and aincient people. If they were on the empires side, it would be bad for the dominion.
The rebellion is in the dominions favour.
The dominion feel a bit desperate, trying to consolidate power and control before the others fight back and realise they expended too much of their forces in the conquest.

Also maybe the main most ardent of Talos worshippers are nords, a race that dates back to very aincient times. Maybe they don't want the aincient history and history of elven defeats found out if the area is at peace.

We are not arrogant merely right. We are superior to men and we are xenophobic because we have no tolerance for vermin and rats that is men. They are not even fit to inhabit mundus and before the end we will have put you out of your misery.

Well it is true that high elves are the very best at running away. Those long legs really are an advantage.

Angering the Nords is just a bonus. It's actually an Elven P3nis problem. To the Elves, the fact that a human, an inferior race, was able to achieve godhood upon death is inconceivable to them.

The Thalmor have never run away from a fight. We merely strategically withdraw in order to defeat our enemies down the road.

There was nothing strategic about being destroyed outright in Cyrodiil and giving up fighting in Hammerfel after 5 years of hopeless fighting.

As long as redgaurds and humans were killed it was worth it. It was worth it to see the human lands in ruin while the Thalmor lands in top order.

Wow, that's...

I sometimes think you need to be drunk to read the lore forum.

Getting used to the basics of TES metaphysics is probably aided by alcohol.

I'll say it. Finally a game, a story where the racists and persecutors of a religion don't have German accents.

Not according to all the "Stormcloaks are raaaacist" discussions.

Orcs are better smiths. Anyway, Dovahkiin > Thalmor without any effort.

First off, let's just say your taking this game way too seriously. Please cut the act as it's almost more embarrassing then your contradiction within your own words.

"We are not arrogant"..Then you continue on to say "We have no tolerance for vermin and rats that is men." Call me crazy, but that's a prime example of Arrogance. Not to mention you say "We are Xenophobic".

Lol, Xenophic + High regard for one self = Arrogance.

Three reasons. Two being strategic and one being the a-holes the Thalmor are.

1. Talos was a Nord, AKA: Men. Thalmor believe that Elves are superior in every way so they can't accept the fact that an Elf didn't ascend into being a Divine while a Man did.

2. In a strategic point of view, crushing the worship of the Talos is a detrimental morale loss to the entire Empire, especially Skyrim. Talos was the greatest Hero in Tamriel, a Dragonborn and a Septim. He's basically the Champion of Cyrodiil and Dovahkiin rolled into one person. Not to mentio that praying to Talos before wars is customary and without that, it kind of lowers morale.

3. In another point of view, it sparks a Civil War. Ulfric Stormcloak, while a threat to the Thalmor if he's High King, is an asset when he's fighting the Empire. Only the Thalmor benefit from a prolonged Civil War. They don't want either side to win so what better way than pit a fresh, new organization with an old, weakened, but still able Empire.

I think so. Sober, I crack my brain trying to follow the twists and turns. After half a bottle, "Oh, riiiight, I get it! No problemsh!"

It's a great link, though, thanks for that. I should've paid attention more in the lead-up to the game.

haha

screw booze in this situation.

Alduin is their antecessor, but only if Hjalti fails. Talos holds back the divines of the next world. This is why he became a divine of this one - divine yet unanticipated, thus his uniqueness. He upholds the dividing lines of the cosmos. Defends romance lest we lose it the pit of singularity.

I thought this bit was absolutely beautiful from an artistic and even literary standpoint.

Skyrim is more of a high game lol

I loved the Talos bits. It was some of the other stuff that's hard to get a handle on. I don't really grasp Lorkhan and all that.