But Balgruuf specifically states using Tullius' legions instead of his own warriors to fight Ulfric, and the legion, according to the wiki, is mostly made up of Imperials with the few nords coming from, like you said, recent local recruiting. Going by this information I'd say that killing the Stormcloaks and Ulfric is more benefitial to Alduin than fighting the Empire.
Not exactly, the Imperial Legion isn't mostly just Imperials. The Nords of Skyrim make up thousands in the Legions, which they have long been considered the strong arm of the Empire.
The Legion in Skyrim are Auxiliaries, local recruited militia. The forces in Skyrim would be majority Nordic.
People make the mistake of looking at this debate the wrong way. If the Empire is all high and mighty, why are they wasting resources trying to quell a rebellion caused by their own cowardice rather than appealing with the people who's lives they are playing with?
Cowardice? The Empire was nearly destroyed, it isn't just soldiers one has to consider. There are the thousands of innocent civilians people have to take into account. The White-Gold Concordat isn't the best thing, but Titus II felt it was needed to secure peace and rebuild for the next round of fighting.
The Thalmor are against everything the Empire stands for, they want to weaken the Empire as much as they can. Ulfric's rebellion is about Ulfric. Two of his own Jarls can see he's after the throne and he's selfish.
All this poor talk of the Empire and how stretched they are and how they're doing everything to keep the Thalmor out of Skyrim, yet they willingly allow citizens of the Empire to be taken and tortured without doing a SINGLE thing to stop it, how do you expect to gain the support and trust of a people you willingly allow to be kidnapped and tortured?
They're keeping the Dominion out of Skyrim, blocking an inading army. The Legion is stretched thin, they're all in Cyrodiil. Few garrisons remain outside of Cyrodiil. The citizens being taken is bad, you're right about that. But, what about the bandit issue?
Ulfric's rebellion has allowed bandits to gain a huge foot hold. They're killing citizens, raiding farms, robbing what little merchant traffic passes through Skyrim. The Thalmor problem is ironically smaller than the bandit issue that came from Ulfric's actions. In response to one issue, they created a new issue that is even worse.
They're in it for them selves only, the only reason they care about Skyrim is strategic and financial gain..
Actually the Empire was ignoring Skyrim, they weren't very active prior to Ulfric's rebellion. They were dealing with issues in Cyrodiil. The Legion stepped in because Ulfric had killed the High King and the country was thrown into chaos.
There are also many citizens within Skyrim that want to remain part of the Empire.
If Skyrim had nothing to offer, it would of been abandoned during the war with the rest of Tamriel, simply because it didn't effect the privileged few in Cyrodill
Skyrim was abandoned during the war, it is mentioned the Empire turned a blind eye to everything else when it was invaded. Skyrim does have nothing to offer, the country is plagued with Dragons and every Hold is poor due to the Civil War. Tullius has to tax trading vessels to get enough money for the war effort.
What is Skyrim offering at the moment?
a Cyrodill that wouldn't be standing if it weren't for General Jonna and his Nord legion.
What? It wasn't just the Nord Legions (General Jonna was holding position to cut off Aldmeri retreat) Imperials, Nords and Bretons are credited with saving the Empire.
If anything, Titus II and General Decianus did the most during the Great War.
The only Nation that stayed true to the Empire were royally fluffed over. It all boils down to a proud warrior race having there traditions and customs abolished by a tyrannical government, only to be labeled traitors and be hunted for wanting to live there life the way they always have.
Only Nation? What about High Rock, they're still loyal to the Empire. As for tyrannical government? Are you somehow forgetting Ulfric is doing a Military coup? The Empire isn't abolishing traditions and customs of Skyrim. The worship of Talos was ignored and wasn't even properly banned until Ulfric started making a scene.
With us or against us, that isn't tyrannical at all.
The 'murder' of the high king was justified within their own laws and customs, but because it effects the Empire and there hold over Skyrim they totally ignore it and class Ulfric as a murderer. I see no reason for the Empire to even exist at this point, every action they take is a benefit to the Thalmor.
The killing of High King Torygg wasn't justified by Imperial Law, which Skyrim has followed for at least 600 years.
"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."
Yeah, I can see preparing for war against the Aldmeri Dominion must be a real benefit. Ulfric's entire rebellion benefitted the Thalmor, they're indirectly aiding the Stormcloaks.
I don't see a reason for the Stormcloaks to exist, they're too ignorant to even realize the Thalmor are playing them.
So by your logic Alduin ate up all of the "Untold numbers of Nords died defending the Empire against the Dominion." and so now hes starting to munch on the civil war souls? Sovngarde is full of souls from Nords who have perished. Don't mistake game mechanics from reality. I find it hard to believe that he had devoured them all.
What? The Great War was thirty years ago and Alduin only returned during 4E 201. He can't eat the souls inside. The Civil War sustains him, makes him more stronger because it is a large supply of souls.
Oh come on. I find it hard to believe that Alduin attacked Helgan just to keep the civil war going. That's complete and utter nonsense. I know you, Drunkenmage. And I know that you can't possibly be serious by saying this. Do you honestly believe that Alduin gives a pl*** about the Civil war? No. What he cares about is killing the Dragonborn, which he possessively believes he has that right, and not the Imperial Legion.
Alduin doesn't even figure out yoiu're Dragonborn until you come across him waking up another Dragon with Delphine. Then he has a conversation with you.
Yes, I do believe Alduin cares about the Civil War. Because it is part of the prophecy to what allows him to end the world, "When the sons of Skyrim would spill their own blood"
The war is sending him the souls he needs to gather strength.
You're reading too much of what severely depressed Ulfric and the highly annoyed Esbern said. Ulfric is weeping in defeat and Esbern got tired of the rambling that was going on, and so what he said was a polite way of saying STFU to Tullius and Ulfric.
Seriously? Is that how you work your way around arguments. "He's just depressed, he's just annoyed" therefor the loremaster of the Blades who has a lot of knowledge about Alduin is wrong, and Ulfric who is now dead and understands what is happening in the spirit world is actually just depressed and is talking plops?
How do you draw these conclusions?
