So let's say the war does break out soon after Titus's death and it probably lasts around a decade, and so the Empire is preoccupied. How does Skyrim get rebuilt then?
Much of the Empire continues to function normally even while at war, unless the Empire is completely invaded. Think of the Empire as a large machine that if it stops, it breaks apart. The Military is one cog, while there are hundreds and thousands of other moving parts.
Trade still happens, farmers still farm. Look at the Civil War, there are still people working normally. Even if it has slowed down. The Jarls aren't fighting, they still keep rule over their Holds. Civilians who aren't in the Military don't just stop everything and stare at the ground. There are various construction guilds under the Empire, the Legion isn't creating an invasion force in Skyrim. So the demand on Skyrim's natural resources won't be as high.
If they were doing something along those lines then the Dominion wouldn't be able throw money around funding bandits to screw with the Empire.
That only hurts normal trade, and they could do the same to the Empire. You're forgetting that the Dominion control Elsweyr, and in turn control the skooma trade. They also have slavery, and unlike the Empire the Thalmor rule through fear and oppression. I doubt they even need to pay their soldiers.
Unlike in the Empire where private citizens can own mines, farms, mills etc. I'd say the Thalmor most likely control everything.
There are countless things you could spend money on for your military, so being able to fund some unorganized terror group who only want ONE portion of Skyrim would really suprise me. We don't underestimate the Dominion, the Dominion underestimates us. Both of us actually.
They tend to fund people who operate around one area. The Reach is the source of Skyrim's wealth, it is the largest silver mine in the entire province. The mountains would also be home to gold, gems, iron etc. I'm not sure why it would surprise you, since both the Legion and Stormcloaks see the strategic value of the Reach.
That "unorganized terror group" controls many of the roads, and trade routes. When the Stormcloaks take over, the Jarl mentions he will be requesting a lot of reinforcements to simply hold onto Markarth.
"No mean feat," and being a vampire it probably wasn't by normal means. But yes, it's possible to get to Skyrim from Alinor. Even easier to get to Cyrodiil.
Yeah, and they're in Cyrodiil. They spread like a plague.
Exactly, so why would Motierre go to all that trouble? This will be no simple succession coming up.
Because the Empire is threatening to fall apart under the inaction of Mede? Who knows.
In what way does the WGC affect everyone? Motierrie doesn't seem like a Talos worshipper, or someone who would care too much about Hammerfell. Did he maybe have a buddy in the Blades or something?
Thalmor Justiciars, and Talos was very important to nearly everyone in Cyrodiil/Skyrim. The WGC is causing a Civil War in Skyrim, and the Empire is threatened to break apart. I would say that effects everyone.
Like you said, we don't hear much about what happens outside of Skyrim. There are many things Titus II could be connected to.
Aye, but killing him to make it look like the Civil War was to blame? If they simply wanted him to die, they could have found other means. Instead it was very carefully planned to make it look like the war, and what is the war being fought over?
They didn't want THAT peace. There were plenty of others who wanted to fight on.
They did. Most of the Empire welcomed peace at almost any price, sure there would some who wanted to fight on. But a vast majority wanted peace.
A guy who supposedly lead armies into battle not too long ago.
Thirty years ago?
Anyway the situations were dramitcally different, you can't offer to ban Talos worship to a Brotherhood assassin in exchange for your life.
Can offer a lot more than twenty thousand septims. Can offer an entire kingdom with thousands of women to pick from every night. Could give you an army, lands, titles, a swimming pool of gems.
Can you elaborate here? War with the Dominion? And yes, that's one of the more annoying parts of Skyrim. Kill the Emporer and no one bats an eye. Kill a chicken and everyone loses their minds.
War with the Dominion.
Tiber was already a general, Nords made up the bulk of his armies. Like at H'roldan and Sancre Tor, and I'd guess northern Cyrodiil. The guy was Dragonborn, automatic Nord hero for crying out loud.
Colovians made the bulk of his army, and later Legions.
Yes, so there obviously aren't enough forces available to send to Skyrim. The Legions aren't in position to invade the Dominion, they're just preparing to defend against them if they have to.
There is, communication is an issue. Another Imperial force is assembling in Cyrodiil south of Pale Pass, getting ready to march into Skyrim. Fairly large force if they're using the Pass. The Legions await orders for the Emperor, at the moment there is enough of them to even personally escort trade shipments from one end of Cyrodiil to the other. You also have your Mercenaries, conscripted Auxiliaries etc.
Every Legate mentions the Legion will soon be called into service like never before. They're not talking about the Civil War, they've been preparing for twenty six years. They didn't sign the WGC and hope for ever lasting peace.
That Tiber's a bad man, letting Morrowind preserve their self-governance and avoiding an invasion that would've cost thousands of lives. From a strategic view, he left a massive Imperial print on Morrowind with Hlaalu and got dibs on all their ebony and other minerals.
At the cost of very weak Imperial authority. The Legion had it's fair share of problems in Morrowind for the remaining Era.
Nothing to counter assassination and plots huh?
"Indeed. There have been multiple attempts on the Jarl's life. We're not certain if it's the Dark Brotherhood or simply Imperial sympathizers. We've also had run-ins with spies attempting to probe our security for weaknesses. I work with the city guard to make certain they fail. At the end of the day, I'm the last line of defense for the Jarl. I will not allow her to fall."
Stopping someone trying to stab the Jarl in public? That isn't uncovering plots, that is just stopping the act. Run-ins with spies, I assume those would be Legionary Scouts?
Considering they're unable to figure out the Steward is working for Maven, and is misleading the Court. I also had a Thalmor assassin try to kill me in the market... Not to mention all those Thalmor Justiciars that somehow got in. I wouldn't be praising their counter skills.
I'll quote Rimfaxe here, from a piece of the novels.
"
He was just standing there, leaning against the banister of the bridge, staring off toward the lighthouse. He came here each Loredas, after visiting his horse at the stables. Often he met someone here; there was a brief conversation, and they would part. He never spoke to the same person twice.
After some chit-chat Colin listens to about how much the old guy likes ships and stuff:
"Well, it's simple today. You can tell them there's nothing new. And if anyone asks, tell them that no food, no wine, no lover's kiss is as beautiful as a long, deep, breath." (The latter part sounds a bit like some sort of passphrase...)
The only answer Colin gets is this here:
"You don't want to know that, son. I advise you not try and find out." and two sarcastic responses."
"...it wasn't his first case--it was his third. The first had been simple enough; he'd planted spurious intelligence in the minister of war's office and waited for it to come out somewhere. When one of their agents in a local Thalmor nest reported it, he easily backtracked the leak to a mid-level official w apparently hemorrhaging information to a mistress who was--as it turned out--a Thalmor sympathizer."
How is it any different than blindly clinging to an Empire showing no real signs of progress but plenty of signs of decline?
Because they're in a better position than the Stormcloaks. I believe Skyrim should go independent, but not by the Stormcloaks. I don't much like what the Empire has been doing, but I understand their reasons. Thalmor are too much of a threat for us to be fighting amongst ourselves. We defeat them, then go do whatever.
They would be officially handing over their lands to the Dominion. So either the Redguards stay and live under the Thalmor, or they are uprooted and now homeless. But because the Redguards died for the the Empire they should suck it up? What would you do if a foreign ruler signed away your home to the Thalmor?
Probably the same thing the Redguards did. But, it isn't like they just said "Here you go, all yours, you can go there freely." The Aldmeri had already occupied those lands, and controlled them for five years. The people living there had already been under Thalmor rule for five years, and would be for another five.
So a warrior king shouldn't have a decent sword? Elisif has the right idea sure but it's not like she's coming up with any ground-breaking ideas. She clearly has no idea how anything works, and so her Thanes and Tullius have their way with her.
There is something wrong when it needs to be all special, has to look ancient. A true Warrior King doesn't care what his sword looks like, take a look at Titus the First he was a soldier, king and then Emperor.
He wore a plain Colovian soldier’s tunic of dark gray wool and leather breeks. His crown was a plain gold circlet. A broadsword in a battered scabbard hung at his side.
Come fight for Colovia, we'll show you what a true ruler is.