>>14519382The context:
- Actual Thalmor occupation of the whole Empire
- Imminent Imperial rebellion against Thalmor
- Thalmor deep plot to unravel the whole of Reality to return to the primordial void forever
Pro-Stormcloak points:
- Potentially weakening Thalmor occupation by cutting easy access to Falmer and Dwemer sites and Skyrim's resources, at least temporarily
- The empire is unironically bad for the local population of skyrim
- Stormcloaks are hardcore anti-Thalmor
- Relatively strong popular support
Pro-Empire points:
- Potentially bolstering future anti-Thalmor struggle. At the very least, more soldiers (even if just conscripted) and more resources.
- Thalmor wants the civil war in the north to go on for as long as posisble to divert Empire resources away from Thalmor occupation while they dismantle resistence. The Dragonborn is probably instrumentalized to stop the war for this reason alone. Regardless of who they choose the war literally cannot be allowed to go on, from Talos' perspective.
- Ulfric (and the Stormcloaks) are listed as Thalmor assets, Ulfric knows his actions are exactly what the Thalmor want. Ulfric (wrongly) believes Stormcloaks can beat the Thalmor, or that the Thalmor wont attack Skyrim since they dont think its worth it.
- Skyrim is incredibly weak against any enemy that doesnt care about civilians or leaving structures intact. Stormcloaks wouldnt last a week against Thalmor.
- Stormcloaks are, at least immediately before the events of skyrim, powertripping mercenaries and bad for the average nord.
The right resolution to Skyrim would've been temporary commonwealth status, shelving the civil war for after the Thalmor invasion is done with, and making proper use of the Dragonborn. There's an easy 80% chance you could be fighting the war-for-the-existence-of-Mundus with human-Talos in the frontline and you're using him as a beating stick against random cities for petty politics.
