Doesn't matter, the alliance was broken after Old Hroldan fell. The armies of Skyrim belonged to the Nord nobles who feared the expansion of the Imperials again. Talos being Dragonborn doesn't mean they won't fight against him when his politics differs from theirs.
Wait, what? Old Hroldan fell before Sancre Tor did, and all of this was before Cuhlecain was killed. The supposed war with the Nords supposedly commenced after Tiber Septim took the Ruby Throne. It's also stated that he pacified Old Hroldan with a Nordic army.
Stormcloaks will try and kill an Empire sided Dragonborn. They don't grovel at your feet.
Yeah, that would be a REALLY fun quest if they DID.
Obj 1:Walk by the Nords groveling at your feet and secure Windhelm.
Obj 2:Allow Ulfric to commence fellatio in accordance with Old Nordic Traditions
Obj 3: Win.
Isn't on the Stormcloak agenda since they support Laila and Skald. Take what you can get in politics.
Never said it was, but you seem to defend your course as though the Imperials do which they clearly don't.
He can't risk losing, that is his issue. Nordic Tradition only matters when it will benefit him.
Trust me friend, a Skyrim under Elisif is not a dystopia in which you want to live in. I'm not quite sure you Imperials would play fair in the election either, all things considered. Of course the Imperials would have more sway with rich nobles, who by the way will be the governing body of the Moot, whereas Ulfric appeals to the common man. Question for you: What kind of man would Ulfric (who is known and respected by the Children of Skyrim for being a fiery rebellious warrior) look like to his soldiers were he to allow Elisif to take the throne unopposed?
Because it's totally fair to judge a man's ability to lead as he wages total war on an enemy that's stronger than him.
What is overlooked? Erikur has a side deal with a pirate Captain?
Well that, and his other myriad of corrupt and shady dealings.
And he uses them. Solitude Guards being sent to the front lines is no different. They're able bodied men and women, know how to use a sword.
Hold Guards are not sellswords, they're sworn to fight for their Jarl. The Jarls in the East have sworn fealty to Ulfric, their soldiers thus serve him too.
But there's a clear difference here. That difference being that one of these cities is the luxurious, civilized and frankly sissified city of Solitude, and the other is the rugged working class mining port city of Dawnstar, whose citizens might I add often take it upon themselves to repel the numerous bandit raids and animal attacks that constantly afflict the residents. Here's a few excerpts:
Frida:
"Now, who was it that kidnapped the Jarl's son 20 years ago?"
Thoring:
"You mean Hildolf the Skull-Splitter? Remember when we rounded up the townspeople and dragged him out of that cave?"
Frida:
"Those were the days. I'd never seen my husband fight so bravely before."
Thoring:
"Aye, to your husband. Divines bless his memory."
Frida: "Thoring, do you remember the time when that wolf pack come clamoring into town?"
Thoring: "How could I forget? That old alpha male almost took off my leg."
Frida: "Never did find out why they came sprawling into town like that."
Thoring: "Animals in the Pale don't need a reason to attack Dawnstar. It's just their nature."
Frida: "Dawnstar has always held its own against the bandits and wild animals of the Pale."
Karita: "Did you ever have to fight off bandits, Frida? Like in your stories?"
Frida: "Why, I once fought alongside your father when we were both younger. Saved him from getting his fool head sliced off."
Karita: "Who were you fighting against?"
Frida: "Oh, dearie, it was so long ago. But I do remember the celebration we had afterwards. Mead never tasted so good."
(Side Note: Frida's a real badass)
The conscription of guards from Dawnstar would not nearly affect the city as much as it would from Solitude. Especially with the way Bolgeir puts it;
Bolgeir: "We lost another five guardsmen, my Jarl. If General Tullius continues to conscript our men and send them off to battle, we'll have none left to protect the city."
Elisif: "Yes, I know. The general acted with my blessing. It is vital that we bring Ulfric to justice, but that cannot happen until his army of Stormcloaks is defeated utterly."
Bolgeir: "Told you that, did he? I'm sworn to protect you, my Jarl, but I'm the last line of defense. The first line is the walls around this city and the men who patrol them. Men who, I might add, we're precious short on."
Elisif: "I'm aware of that, Bolgeir, and I appreciate your dedication. However, if we lose the war, the guardsmen of Solitude will make little difference in the end."
Bolgeir: "No disrespect toward the general, but sometimes I wonder if he's got your best interests at heart. In any case he won't be turnin' me into no Imperial soldier. I know my place, and it's at your side."
Elisif: "It comforts me to know that, Bolgeir."
You skipped a line. But then Ulfric and his "Sons of Skyrim" started agitating about it, and sure enough the Emperor had to crack down.
It used to take the Thalmor seven days of someone shouting about Talos in public to get arrested.
That really doesn't mean that it took them Seven days to round up every individual case of Thalmor Worship. You always use one incident as an undeniable testament to every other situation. It's not like that, it really isn't. Hell, maybe it took the Thalmor so long because they were just busy with other more time constraining things, like shipments of torture devices running late or whose mother won the Cloudrest Bridge regional finals. You never know man.
Besides the Justiciars are stretched thin and have limited resources. Bandits are killing more people than the Thalmor.
Bandits are also dragging people away in the middle of the night, you have a giant kidnapping operation in Eastmarch. Your own capital has one of the most organized and well funded bandit groups in the entire province. Bandits and shady mercenaries all the way to Windhelm are signing on with them.
but Bandits have always been a nuisance and they have always done these things. Not only this, but they will never become as big as a problem as the Thalmor.
They can do what other people in Skyrim do, keep it to themselves. The Talos Priests after Imperial Victory go on about how they'll defy the Thalmor and worship Talos in their hearts. Could have done that the first time around.
Yeah... Silently defying things is not really a Nord's forte, we prefer to just tell you straight out our bash your skull in. Just our way.
Here how about we change your question a bit more: You like eating ice cream, and eat it all the time whatnot. One day your house is invaded and your father beaten up, and after a large fight a truce is agreed. These men ban you from ice cream. You don't really pay much attention to it and eat ice cream in secret, and your father looks the other way. Your brother then starts eating ice cream more openly and shouting about eating ice cream because he's a fat rebel who thinks only about himself. These men get tougher and you can no longer get ice cream secretly, so your brother decides to attack your mother because she represents the authority of your father when he isn't there. These men enjoy this and decide to indirectly aid your brother as he destroys your home and your father's things. Then he tells you you're with him or against him, no middle ground. You help him destroy everything you know, or he'll destroy you. What do you do?
After this little victory over who gets ice cream, in your trashed house, the father leaves and then your brother suddenly goes "Oh, what if they just come back?" screen goes black and then it says the End...? dun dun dun.
I think what we both need to come together on is that this is a war of perspective. You obviously prefer to take the loyalist perspective which is "it was the fault of the selfish rebels who stirred up trouble in the first place." I look at it from the Nordic commonman's perspective and say "I've been getting plops on time and time again by the Empire that I (or my relatives) bled for and the Thalmor whom I (or my relatives) fought against, and what Ulfric's suggesting sounds pretty good." And how do we know people weren't being summarily taken in the middle of the night before the Reclamation of the Reach? How do we know it wasn't commonplace? Simply because there weren't more books or more open conversations? And what we all have to remember is that most commonmen aren't going to think like you do.
No it doesn't. Unless it is Morrowind or the Aldmeri Dominion now. Cyrodiil and the mankind provinces of the Empire has had all races in positions of power and never focued on a single ethnic group. All citizens are considered "Imperial" citizens. High Rock didn't focus solely on Bretons, even though they're the majority. Though Bretons hate themselves more than others... But anyway.
High Rock isn't Skyrim. How other cultures go about their laws is of no concern to you nosy Imperials.
"He uses this holy war as leverage in order to pursue the throne." - Laila
"The Stormcloaks are destined to win this fight. Talos is with us, and when you fight under a Divine's blessing, victory is assured." - Skald
"He's a fool, if you haven't met him already. Thinks Ulfric Stormcloak is invincible and spits dragon fire." - Frida
"Just like Talos himself at the Battle of Old Hroldan, reclaiming the Reach from those heathen natives." - Thongvor
Like Ysgramor, Ulfric Stormcloak is a true hero of Skyrim. His name will ring in Sovngarde for generations to come. Only he had the courage to single out King Torygg and challenge him to trial by arms. Ulfric's thu'um, a gift from Talos himself, struck down this traitorous ruler. - Nords Arise!
That is just one taste of what the Stormcloaks truly are. The supporters damn near worship Ulfric as a God, often comparing him to Talos or Ysgramor. His officers calling him the "truest of us all".
You're basically the Alessian Order 2.0 and instead of worshipping the One, you're about Talos and Ulfric.
Actually a lot of the Nords are simply doubtful of the Empire's strength and it's so called judicious rule over Skyrim.
"How'd you end up here?"
"My cousin disappeared one night. Some say the Thalmor grabbed him. It wasn't long before I found myself under Ulfric's banner."
Never spoke of religion simply didn't like what the Empire was allowing the Thalmor to do.
I don't remember. Unless we're talking about the Reman Empire where Jarls had to uphold conscription quota.
No we were definitely talking about the Third Empire and the Old Holds reluctance in participation.
They once managed to conquer the Imperial City, don't underestimate the crazy deer head wearing bastards.
I don't doubt their ability to take one and murder everyone inside. Holding it seems to be their Achilles' Heel However
Reman managed to conquer Valenwood, Elsweyr and Summerset Isle without it. The Empire and Aldmeri Dominion were never officially at war with each other, Tiber sent them demands and they had skirmishes in which Talos' Colovian forces nicknamed them the "Old Mary" Dominion. The Thalmor did have representives at the Imperial City during this time, they had border disputes and threatened. The Third Legion did manage to conquer parts of Elsweyr and fought in Black Marsh for a bit though.
Tiber turned his attention on them after he had Morrowind, in which he was given Numidium and he used it. Legion was never given orders to attack Summerset Isle.
I seem to recall the Empire losing a battle to the Elves and it was a crushing defeat, however I can't quite recall the name of the battle;
No, but Militia can't be used forever.
Of course we'll establish a standing army but it's not as if every man in the province will be recruited.
They killed thousands of people. The Red Dragon of the Empire under the command of Lord Admiral Richton aided the West Imperial Navy in annihilating the Redguard's forces at the Battle of Hounding Bay.
Of course that was a Red Dragon which are considered to be the most powerful.
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Dragon#Red_Dragon
That can read and write better than some Nords? That have maps of Skyrim? The Forsworn rose twenty five years ago, they may be savage but they're not clueless.
Madanach can read and write. He's not definitive of every Forsworn. He is the King after all he would have a better education one could assume.
They still manage to infiltrate Jarl's courts and steer them.
One more reason to fight against Solitude.
Healers that are having trouble keeping up with wounded in the Civil War, a Daedric Plague should be easy for them, I'm sure. Though I bet them backwards Nords would blame the College for it.
The ones in Winterhold would anyway. We're not all backwards you puffed up stifflip
Only to be released shortly after. Are you this man's political tool, his poster boy?
Why not? If it drives up morale why wouldn't I?
Penitus Oculatus. They are not the Legion. Though yes, Colin was instructed to observe and kill a target. What Colin observed was curious, on how the old man never spoke to the same person twice, he gave a coded phrase and threatened him subtly. Most likely a Thalmor asset. That was the focus of the Penitus Oculatus at that time.
What does that have to do with morale? The Penitus Oculatus Inspectors are intelligence agents, what they do is secret.
I don't know, you tell me? Perhaps you can explain why messages are sent by courier? Why do the Stormcloaks and Legion use couriers and we get information about riders carrying messages to places in lore. Only long distance communication is done by Legion Battlemages.
Are there even pigeons in Tamriel?
One would assume, and you'd think an Empire with damn near infinite resources would find a better way of delivering messages. Running a courier from hold to hold can't be too proficient.
Acted like one, looked like one.
Not a Nord. It's all in the spirit.
"These Stormcloaks are ridiculous. They won't shop here because they think I'll sell them poisoned tonics. I should just go back to Cyrodiil." - Arcadia
And yet the racist Stormcloak Guards still recommend me to visit her shop. Maybe she's just been inhaling too many alchemy fumes. Mixing a bit of Moon Sugar in her potions here and there.
No it isn't. It is established few people are arriving. The Legion Legates constantly tell you they get few reinforcements, so they've been forced to recruit locally.
Which is what keeps brothers killing brothers.
You really cling to anything you can. Ulfric gets soldiers from those Holds, they are sent to the front lines. Thus being conscripted to fight. Tullius delights in it... Lol. Tullius doesn't conscript civilians, only redeploys soldiers of the Jarls who he commands as the Military Governor.[/quote]
Dawnstar can handle a few missing guards. Can Solitude?
Of course Ulfric would conscript from Holds loyal to him, the man isn't an idiot. You yourself are only questioned by Galmar because you're an outsider. You're not a citizen of Windhelm, nor are you a citizen of Skyrim.
Quite frankly the fact Tullius is using non-Legionaries and opened local recruiting to bolster his limited number is smart, the only reason you find a problem with it is because it is Tullius. When Ulfric does it "it isn't really him, it is this other jarl" you're just grasping and it gets more amusing with each new post.
It's the fact that Tulius has fooled these people into believing that he has Solitude's best interests in mind.
It doesn't matter, the cover is designed to look like a book. It is an old worn book, much like majority of the books in Skyrim.
A worn book and chipped wing doesn't = "EMPIRE IS DOOMED IT IS fl*ffED THEY'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!111"
No it does matter because that symbol means one thing in modern day Tamriel. The Empire. It's always meant the Empire, stop denying that, it's not just an old book cove. a huge theme of the entire game is the War that consumes Skyrim and how it weakens the Empire. The Empire isn't doomed per se but it is symbolic of it's slow degradation. The Empire is slowly dying.