UESP: "Under the Septims, Tamriel prospered and its provinces enjoyed peace and stability" there's your golden age.
Besides Hammerfell, the rest of the Empire was peaceful and prosperous under the Medes. As for the Septim's, that would be a matter for debate.
Penitus Oculatus? Lol not really. Where does it say they've been effective against thalmor.
In the TES Novels, they were actively against the Thalmor. They also were quite effective, Lol yes really.
Pre-war imperial espionage was done by the blades.
The Blades went off and did their own thing, while they still did espionage they weren't an arm of the Imperial Government.
And the PO sure did a bang-up job in skyrim eh?
That was the Imperial bodyguards, and actually they did do a pretty good job. They had nearly wiped out the entire Dark Brotherhood (Save for the player who saved two others)
Synod and college of whispers were before Mede.
No they weren't. They came out of the fall of the Mages Guild and around Titus' ascension.
The Great War: "Despite the warnings of his generals of the Empire's military weakness..." The legion was not ready for war 100 years after Umbriel. Yikes.
Yet that Empire still stands, and the Legions did quite well during the war. Military weakness depends on the Emperor, not the dynasty. Obviously whoever was prior to Titus II wasn't military focused.
According to UESP Titus got the the throne in 17. Summerset coup was 22. Valenwood in 29. The Medes still lost Valenwood, who cares how?
Doesn't really matter, the Empire was still gathering itself. It was extremely weakened from the Oblivion Crisis and Stormcrown Interregnum.
Umbriel was more than 100 years before the war. So if it takes the empire that long to recover from that, I guess the empire isn't instigating any wars with the dominion anytime this century. And you think the empires gonna be ready to go even after Titus is assassinated.
I never said it takes that long to recover, you said the Empire should have known. No one expected the Great War, not even the Blades.
The forsworn number very little after the Markarth incident. Again what I meant was the nords don't have to siege a city this time, have you looked at forsworn camps? Not very many walls or gates.
They've taken over forts, and their camps are easily moved. The point is, the Forsworn do not fight openly. They do hit and run tactics, it'd take a long time to effectively remove them.
The Stormcloaks formed after the markarth incident and didn't really get going until Torygg died. But sure no reason they couldn't have helped hammerfell fight off the DOMINION when they barely existed. Plus the journal is by an insane necromancer. Can't get much more reliable and unbiased than that.
The Stormcloaks were going for years, having skrimishes between the Holds. While I'm not saying her word is the bible, it is still something to consider.
Hammerfell is also in no shape to go help Skyrim. Their war with the thalmor left them in a similar state as Cyrodiil.
Hammerfell has had sometime to recover also.
Nothing of late suggests nords and redguards don't like each other. They share a common goal: not be bossed around by imperials and destroy the thalmor. Their cultures and ideals are very alike.
They don't share a common goal, the Redguards never had a goal of "Not being bossed by Imperials" they never were "bossed around" their treaty ensured that. They considered themselves "part of the Empire, but not a subject"
The Redguards seem to believe they can destroy the Aldmeri Dominion
with the Empire.
Orcs also share a common warrior culture, doesn't mean the Nords liked them. Nations having similar culture doesn't mean they become allies, more often than not they become enemies fighting for dominance.
The nords were willing to aid Alessia (foreigner) to fight elves.
The Nords were expanding, and they aided because they were on their crusade against elves.
And the Nords dislike elves and Beastfolk. No one in tamriel seems to care much for Beastfolk, and nords have always warred with elves. Nothing about redguards. They had one war, centuries ago with redguards. Pretty much everyone has fought everyone in tamriel so (again, including Summerset/valenwood and Elsweyr/valenwood). The nords who fought the Ra'gada were ones who had been displaced/enslaved by them.
Nords dislike everyone. Redguards and the Nords have fought two major wars and many battles, and they've never once allied together. Besides, as the book "The Great War" mentions the Redguards are quoted to saying they can destroy the Aldmeri with the Empire.
Pocket guide was INCREDIBLY biased and written by the same imperials who think all nords are nothing but barbarians. In the past Cyrodiil has proven equally/more undivided.
Pocket Guide still has some truth to it, the Nords have often been undivided and often dissolve into Hold/Clan wars.
Cyrodiil gets divided, yes. But that happens when an Empire falls.
Explain how skyrim is poor. They have minerals, timber, farms. They are overflowing with resources.
Skyrim is poor from Civil War, that takes a large toll on resources. They're not "overflowing with resources" if you actually took the time to listen to people, many citizens are starving and supplies are extremely hard to come by. Between recovering from the war and dragons, Skyrim isn't wealthy. Many Jarls all comment about the lack of wealth and stockpiles, Windhelm included.
Yes, the nords have a navy. You didn't see the Imperial navy in oblivion but it's there. Nords are obviously skilled sailors, they're based on Vikings for crying out loud.
The Nords do not have a navy, they have merchant vessels, not military. The Imperial navy is mentioned quite often, the Nords being skilled sailors doesn't mean they have a military navy. It doesn't matter if they're "based on vikings" they have no military ships. Only trade vessels, and majority of them are from out of province.
No indication of redguards having battlemages either, but won against the dominion.
They didn't "win", they fought to a standstill until the Dominion decided to withdraw, signing a treaty with the Redguards. Also the Aldmeri Dominion was extremely weakened from Red Ring.
Unless you defeat Summerset Isle, you
haven't won against the Dominion.
Giants may have their own language but they can be problematic at times, especially because of their size and strength. Some are good while others as assholes. Remember the giant in whiterun that was fighting with members of the companions on a farmers land?
Some do that, doesn't mean they all are. Be like comparing all Nords from how Skald behaves.
Maven does care
She like the rest of the nobles with an exception of Balgruuf was enjoying the luxury parties that the Thalmor was giving them.
The other Jarls don't like the Thalmor either, except maybe the guy from Falkreath. Enjoying parties doesn't mean anything, Elenwen spends large amounts of money on them. I could hate you, but still enjoy being served good food and drinks, while we both lie and say how good it is to see each other.
The data doesn't agree. In fact General Tullius relationship status with Elenwen is positive; Confidant (2).
I wouldn't take that to heart, Ulfric is apparently friends with an Argonian who celebrates when he gets killed.
"Elenwen is a formidable woman. She lacks for neither cunning nor ambition. Now that I think of it, she would have made a fine Imperial general."
Respecting your enemy, something you should learn. Never underestimate them, respect their ability. Many historical Military leaders have respected their foe.
Yet the blades hasn't change. The organization it self is gravely ill and on life support. Under Stormcloak victory the Blades can recover from their wounds, and thrive.
Nothing indicates they're expecting any problems. Under Stormcloak victory, you simply remove the Empire and any counter-espionage protection it may have brought.
To be fair the Grey beards are harboring a criminal. A mass murderer. Protecting him from seeking justice.
Paarthurnax even acknowledge that the Blades are in the right of not trusting him.
With Alduin gone what makes you truly believe that he will return to his former days? After all Dragons true nature is to dominate.
The Septim's protected him, not just the Greybeards. Paarthurnax is far more useful than the Blades, he's spent thousands of years sitting on a mountain mediating the way of the voice... Some would call that time served.
They can't stop Alduin but they can certainly aid the Dragonborn. Arngeir wasn't making it easy for the Dragonborn, and was giving him a hard time while Alduin was burning down villages and killing people below. Even one of the Greybeard members had tell Arngeir to STFU and to let the Dragonborn see Paarthurnax already.
Exactly another Greybeard, one doesn't represent all. They're all Greybeards and each a Master.
You're right. The Justiciars are in Skyrim because the Empire let them come as part of the WGC. At least were on the same page on that.
Justiciars aren't the worst thing, it is what the Thalmor aren't showing in public that is the issue.
According to every source in game, Titus II is the reason for the White-Gold Concordat. With his death, could lead to the removal of the treaty and war with the Dominion.