Buckle your hats, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. 1. [b]Ulfric is a rascist, lying, no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealin'- -blam!-hole.[/b] Ulfric takes advantage of others for his own, personal gain. This can be exemplified by using the Thu'um to murder innocent people. Trained by the Greybeards themselves in the way of the voice. The Greybeards teach that the Thu'um is more than a weapon; it is a way of life. Violence is beneath those of the voice. Ulffric, however, sees it in a different light. He knows the advantageous power of the Thu'um, and will use it to HIS desire no matter what to accomplish what he needs to be accomplished... even if that means murder. Did I mention he is rascist? Yeah, he is rascist. When you first walk into Windhelm, go right into the Gray Quarter (Past the Dark Elf being bullied by two nords which I'll get into later). You'll see a man talking to a Dark Elf. For those who didn't know, the Gray Quarter is a poverty stricken slum that Ulfric forces the Dark Elfs to live in. He'll tell you he is trying to help the Dark Elfs because Ulfric won't. He'll give you radiant quests to destroy bandit camps harassing Dark Elf, Argonian and Khajiit cravaans. It is not that he doesn't have the men. He bails out Nord caravans all the time. He is power hungry. Did I mention he is power hungry? Ulfric murdered the High King (NOT in fair combat, he used the Thu'um for evil against the will of the Greybeards) [u]JUST[/u] to get the attention of the other jarls. That in it's self is pretty selfish. I'll get back to Ulfric later. 2. [b]The Markarth Incident[/b] [quote]While the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion fought the Great War, much of the Empire was abandoned by the Imperials. The Reachmen long held that they were the true owners of the Reach and for centuries begrudgingly accepted Nord rule. Seeing the perfect opportunity, they rebelled against the Nords and captured the nearly undefended city of Markarth and all of the Reach. Their control over the hold lasted for two years from 4E 174 to 4E 176 and was administered relatively peacefully, with only a few of the harshest Nord landowners put to death. Igmund, the son of the deposed Jarl, and the Imperial Empire, made a promise to Ulfric Stormcloak and a group of Nord militia in 4E 176 to allow free worship of Talos in exchange for putting down the rebellion and retaking the Reach. Igmund knew this promise was in direct violation of the White-Gold Concordat, but wagered the Thalmor would not discover it. Ulfric led a Nord militia against the Reachmen and used the Thu'um to shout them from the very walls of Markarth and then drove them from the city. Captured Reachmen were brutally tortured and executed, with very few being spared. The surviving Reachmen fled to the wilds of the Reach, creating what would become the Forsworn. Their leader, Madanach, was secretly imprisoned in the Cidhna Mine by Thonar Silver-Blood in an attempt to leverage control over the Forsworn. When the Thalmor discovered the presence of Talos worship, they demanded the arrest of the Nord militia. Igmund was forced to arrest Ulfric and his men or risk outright war over religious conflict. The Nord militia were eventually allowed to leave, but Igmund's broken promise left a fissure that would eventually widen into the Stormcloak Rebellion. The Forsworn still remember the cruelty of the Nords who deposed them, and seek vengeance against all Nords as a result. [/quote] Huh. How 'bout that. Guess nobody is guilty. While this does show the untrustworthiness of ONE imperial, it shows the cruelty of MANY nords. This looks bad on Ulfric. This once again proove he is willing to murder innocent people to get what he wants. He did get betrayed, but for killing that many people I'd wager he deserved it. 3. [b]Ulfric is insane in the membrane. For real.[/b] Let us step into a time machine and go back... before the Markarth Incident. "Why would he do such a thing?" You may ask? Well, to put it simply, he was brainwashed. Made to believe false information, proving he is an embecile. Let's read. [quote]Ulfric first came to our attention during the First War against the Empire, when he was taken as a prisoner of war during the campaign for the White Gold Tower. Under interrogation, we learned of his potential value (son of the Jarl of Windhelm) and he was assigned as an asset to the interrogator, who is now First Emissary Elenwen. He was made to believe information obtained during his interrogation was crucial in the capture of the Imperial City (the city had in fact fallen before he had broken), and then allowed to escape. After the war, contact was established and he has proven his worth as an asset. The so-called Markarth Incident was particularly valuable from the point of view of our strategic goals in Skyrim, although it resulted in Ulfric becoming generally uncooperative to direct contact.[/quote] So, in short, the Thalmor is USING the stormcloaks to pave way for an invaision. Pretty good plan, really. 4. [b] Ulfric and his 'Minions' cannot see the big picture.[/b] The Great War had many loses on both sides, both Empire and Thalmor. Due to the Thalmor's equipment and reliance in magic (The Empire wasn't fully prepared for war.) With the Thalmor slightly more dominant, but taking loses, an agreement had to be made. This is the agreement that would protect the citizens of the empire. The White-Gold Concordat was signed, and the war was over... for now. The Empire is currently under the appresion of the Thalmor, but not for long. Tensions are high. [quote]In all accounts, and with all things concluded, the result of the Great War is simply summarized: the Aldmeri Dominion is now the dominant force in Tamriel. Ominously, Thalmor correspondences found in Skyrim have revealed a different name to describe the Great War: "The First War with the Empire." This suggests that not only do the Thalmor intend a second Great War, but have already begun to plan for how it can be executed. [/quote] This starts with Skyrim. Ulfric is their real puppet, not the Empire. Creating a rebellion to weaken the Empire. Smarty. This leads to my next point. 5. [b]Hammerfell was not a victory.[/b] The Redguards, seeing the White-Gold Concordat as betrayal, seceded from the Empire. [u]This is exactly what the Thalmor wanted.[/u] The war began for Hammerfell. This war was fought to a standstill. For unknown reasons, the Aldmeri Dominion pulled out. Why? Because they had bigger plans. Skyrim. What many nords fail to see is the big picture. The Thalmor are very powerful. The only chance we have of retaining our last freedoms, is fighting together. The Empire has the most ties, alliances and trade routes, rivaling the Aldmeri Dominion. This reminds me.... 6. [b]TRADE TRADE TRADE TRADE TRADE[/b] Skyrim is very cold, in case you did not know. Obviously, it is not very good for farming. Many of the food throughout Skyrim comes by way of trade. The East Empire Trading Company connects Skyrim with other provinces and nations, making it an invaluable asset to the empire. It is not just food. It is everything. If Skyrim truely breaks off and closes it's boarders, it is endangering everyone. All ties is cut off. I DON'T THINK RASCISM helps either. With absolutely no help from other nations/provinces, it leaves them to take a slim chance... and when dealing with lives, chances are the least thing you want to chance. 7. [b]The Empire and the Stormcloaks [u]BOTH[/u] desire the worship of Talos.[/b] The Stormcloaks refuse to admit. It is not like the Empire wants to enforce the Talos law. They despise it. They hate the Thalmor just as much, if not more. I'd also like to mention lots of time it isn't even the Empire enforcing it; it's the Thalmor. [u]The Empire is waitng for the right time to strike back against the Thalmor. The Stormcloaks cannot see that, and are messing up the plan.[/u] It confuses me when I think about the Stormcloaks. They have heart, I'll give them that. But that is the only thing I'll give them. Stop and Imagine; The Stormcloaks were defeated. The Nords think there is no hope. Than, all of a sudden, the Empire sucker punches the Thalmor right in the jaw. Support would rise [u][i][b]DRAMATICALLY.[/u][/i][/b] Were it so easy. The next three are on the way, as soon as I have time. [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9Dv4Hmf_O8]Stay strong my fellow legionnaires.[/url] For the legion. FOR THE EMPIRE! [Edited on 06.23.2012 10:08 AM PDT]