So there's some degree of oversight? See, I have trouble understanding this from a Doylist perspective. If your religion is banned and that ban is enforced AT ALL, you care.
Technically it is the Imperials religion. The Empire created the Eight/Nine Divines, majority of Nords don't actually worship them. Preferring their own religion of Shor, Kyne, Tsun etc.
Of course you care, but thousands died for that treaty. It wasn't like there was much of a choice in the matter, it wasn't the Empire's finest hour and many of those currently serving in the Legion don't like it, they don't agree with it. But they understand why it happened.
Talos is buried in Cyrodiil, his chapel was in Cyrodiil. His worship wasn't only contained to Skyrim.
Ulfric calling so much attention to it made things worse (although it's wrong-- Ulfric is not responsible for the Thalmor's action, the Thalmor are responsible for the Thalmor's action).
Ulfric's action is by extension what the Thalmor want, aiding their goals.
I'd expect to see Talos worship go a lot more underground, become more covert and symbology become more careful except for those who are willing to risk their life to send a message.
This whole "yeah, it's awful, but oh well" kind of attitude I keep seeing doesn't parse to me.
The Talos Cult? Many of the Imperial Legion are part of it. It isn't simply "Oh well" thousands died in the Great War, but also the religion itself has eight other Gods. Many Nords didn't pay attention to the treaty and all had their little shrines to Talos. The ban has been in effect for twenty six years, it didn't simply happen the other day.
Legate Rikke worships Talos, Jarl Balgruuf worships Talos. People worship Talos, and they did for many years without fear, but fear comes when you're being dragged out of your homes because the people who kept that from happening are now dealing with open rebellion.
But you yourself have said that Empire forces are severely weakened-- have they built up that much strength by now? Also, I was looking for a source on the current Empire troop placement, if you don't mind.
The Empire has enough soldiers to assemble a completely new force to head into Skyrim once Pale Pass is cleared. They have enough soldiers to escort trade shipments through Cyrodiil. The Empire employs not only Legionnaires, but thousands of mercenaries.
Current troop placement, is mentioned by General Tullius.
"Most of the Legion is tied down on the border with the Aldmeri Dominion. The Emperor can't afford to risk weakening Cyrodiil's defenses. From the Imperial City, our war here is just a sideshow. An interlude before the main event against the Thalmor resumes." - General Tullius
Though you're going to want to hope the Empire wins, Skyrim depends on the Empire for food and resources. If the Empire falls, Cyrodiil falls. Cyrodiil falls, it becomes a chain reaction. Especially since the White-Gold Tower contains the power to stop Mundas dissolving back into Oblivion.
And again, is this information that's available in the game to the DB? Have I simply missed finding it? I read much of the Stormcloak position as a lack of confidence in Imperial follow-through, they feel the Empire has abandoned Skyrim and that this isn't going to change. You're very positive that it would change, relatively soon, and the Empire would certainly win. Why do you think that information is doubted by so much of the populace?
You'll always hear, "Empire is weak" "Empire can't do this" If the Empire was as weak as they claim, do you think Ulfric would have said this if the quest line to assassinate the Emperor or the Emperor's Cousin is active.
"We're ready to march on Solitude, but the Emperor's cousin is getting married! If royal blood was spilt, all of Cyrodiil would be up in arms. We can't afford an all out war with the Empire." - Ulfric Stormcloak
Though you'll also hear Stormcloak Officers telling you the Empire surrendered when the Imperial City was nearly destroyed. Battle of the Red Ring never happened in their minds. So I take what they say with a grain of salt.
Hence my saying that it's ironic that most Stormcloak players have Nord DBs, I think a Nord Dragonborn has the toughest row to hoe in making the Stormcloak contract happen. These are tremendously difficult diplomatic obstacles to overcome. I do think it's possible, with the right influence. (The DB, notably, does a lot of good for House Redoran in the Solstheim quests and becomes an honorary member. That's a very exploitable diplomatic pipeline if used correctly, and if the cultural mess in Windhelm gets sorted out.
Ah, you'll see I'll never use the Dragonborn as a reason why something is possible. I remove the Dragonborn from things, because it can swing both ways. Redoran and Empire Dragonborn etc. The Dragonborn will get little mention, most likely vanishing without a trace after defeating Alduin, like majority of the other player character hero in the past TES games.
I'd actually forgotten that, about Rikke. I played for a short bit when I first got the game and then recently picked it back up, so I haven't seen that in quite some time. About Tullius, though, what I said still stands. He comes to respect Nords at the end, but that's too little too late when it comes to swaying people (notably you). When you're assessing which to choose, Tullius is as culturally competent as a brick.
It isn't too late when you come to think about it, he wasn't there to sway people's opinion. The man is simply there to do his job, later after he's dealt with the rebellion he has come to respect the Nords. Though it still swings both ways.
Ulfric:
"Damn the Jarls."
Tullius: "You people and your damn Jarls."
Ulfric:
"And damn the Moot!"
Tullius is frustrated too, it shouldn't be used too much against him. He's been thrown into a province where everything he knows about politics is wrong, and when he does finally grasp some understanding of it, it suddenly changes. The fact he made Rikke his second, shows he's willing to learn. He's learning as he goes, he's only fairly new to Skyrim. He wasn't planning on staying long, now he's going to be there for years.
You can't expect someone thrown into something that is completely backwards and different to everything they know and understand type province. To suddenly be an expert in the culture and politics of the province.
