The Dragonborn will not stay. It wasn't a game mechanic, it was dialogue. Game mechanics is like four soldiers attacking a fort, but would really be a lot more.
You can't simply chalk up dialogue or lore as "Nothing but game mechanics"
Both sides release the Dragonborn, the Gods have need of him/her elsewhere.
Really? Yet throughout Skyrim's history, Tongues have been killed easily and have been defeated in the past. More powerful Thu'um users than Ulfric.
I just destroyed your argument there, Ulfric won't use the Thu'um lightly. If he used it taking Markarth, he would have used it at some point during the Great War. It was what made him leave the Greybeards in the first place.
The Last Dragonborn isn't a good example, since he/she is is on a driven path set by Akatosh. They also vanish after the events in Skyrim.
Ulfric was captured by the Thalmor in the past, he was captured by General Tullius in an ambush. If Ulfric can 'pwn' anything in his path, entire lines of soldiers. Why has he been captured twice during war?
The Thalmor aren't going to send an army, they'll disrupt Skyrim in other ways.
I'm not talking about Justiciar Agents. We're on about espionage, the undercover agents and various assets who conduct the illegal activities. The evidence is in what we know and see about the Thalmor, hence why they used a Khajiit to try and assassinate you.
How isn't it illegal? When the Thalmor resort to using their own execution squads they have Notes saying if caught by the local authorities they're unable to be helped. Imperial soldiers will even attack them if spotted.
They're doing such an amazing job, that they're so clueless and ignorant about the threat they face.
What job are the Stormcloaks doing? I haven't seen anything from them that they're preparing to deal with the Thalmor espionage.
Yeah that will never happen. Besides, wouldn't the Thalmor merely just enter Skyrim via Cyrodiil, High Rock and Hammerfell?
Get it into your head. The Thalmor aren't just Altmer, their agents and assets are of all races.
The Justiciars yeah, because they want to make people rise up against the Empire. So the Thalmor are pretty open about spreading doctrines, and making the Empire look as bad as possible every chance they get.
This is lore out of game. Thalmor have been infiltrating the Empire for a hundred and fifty years, you really think they'd skip Skyrim? They'd have their nests and sympathizers around there.
Yeah totally, the Empire should be all open about their secret operations, expose all the secrets of the Imperium, full on show and tell naming their contacts and hidden agents.
Maybe some high speed cart chases 007 style.
Because in the world of spies and espionage, being open about it makes it so much harder to be caught!
Actually it was those rich, snotty, supporters in Whiterun who were actually looking for him due to being concerned. Hence the letter from Tullius because they inquired about his location.
He wasn't kidnapped illegally, he was a Talos worshiper and off to join the Stormcloaks. Besides Tullius can have him released, except there is a bug that doesn't it to work unless on PC version.
Yeah, because that is the Thalmor objective. Indirectly aiding the Stormcloaks, sending Ulfric recruits is part of that aid.
You're being herded and acting like it was your own choice.
Good luck on that... You really have no idea what threat the Thalmor represent.
Who says they'd be in a cave? Is the world of espionage a new concept to you?
They're not going to have a single location. You're looking at things like dead drops, contacts, handlers, two people talking in a bar etc.
They won't be there. Their HQ in Solitude is empty, unused, and their embassy can be left behind.
There won't be a base.
We're not talking about Justiciars. Agents can be anyone, assets too. You will always get Thalmor sympathizers, same thing was with the Nazi's in WW2. People sided with them and sold out their own neighbors etc.
Not every Nord is like Rikke or Ulfric. Not every Nord values honor or loyalty. You're generalizing a race, which is stupid.
There isn't going to be an army, understand that, accept that. Learn how espionage works before replying again.
Telling you what? That the Thalmor have been infiltrating the Empire for a very long time?
Here is a quote relating to Cyrodiil.
There are Thalmor nests and sympathizers throughout Cyrodiil, and the Penitus Oculatus keeps undercover agents in at least one of them. p.152
Skyrim would have their own nests and we have already seen some sympathizers in-game. Thalmor are everywhere.
The heads will be the Thalmor leadership, their ideology will never cease but their power and influence can. Obviously they'll pop up again sometime in the future, but they'll be a minority for sometime.