Its not impossible but don't you think it would be documented. He would be the only person in the entire Imperial Army who had this amazing power. Not to mention that he was taught that using the Thu'um in war would result in punishment from Kyne. Thats a good enough reason for a young intrepid person not to do something.
Why would it be documented? It isn't even documented he used the Thu'um during Markarth, you only find it out by speaking to people.
The near destruction of the Empire would be a little bit more important news than a Nord who was captured fairly early in the war.
He was taught using the Thu'um for personal gain and the glories of man was wrong. The Greybeards even use the Thu'um for defense. They're not pacifists.
How about a "stupid traitor" is that going to be somehow romanticized in the eyes of a traumatized, old mother.
It isn't supposed to be romanticized, also she wasn't accepting it and was blaming them. They cared enough to spare her the truth, but she was the one who kept it going.
Ahh yes. Amore. Way to pull a fast one. Okay so Jon Battle-Born might care (I kind of suspected him to anyway) but, who else? Just because they weren't a feuding clan doesn't mean they all liked each other.
Because they mention they were very close and good old friends. It doesn't matter if the clan leader or the youngest child doesn't care. The others think the feud is stupid or in the case of Idolaf still cared about his friend.
But that's what I like about them. Ethically they're the way to go. and you just proved that.
I think you're missing the point. There is of course thousands within the Empire who are honorable, and good. But the Empire as a whole doesn't think within terms of honor and glory.
The Stormcloaks aren't ethically better than the Empire, they have their bad side.
Would you be more effective? sure but at the cost of making your agents go through horrible tasks, re living their awful deeds all so the Empire can get their grubby little hands on a small piece of information which might or might not be important seems.. well.. awful and immoral. You just said recruitment involves murdering an old man.
Well that isn't really the case. Information is always important, no matter how small. They're not slitting your throat or torturing you for sweetroll recipes. It is about doing what it is needed to safeguard the Empire.
Assassinating an old man was Colin's test. What if that old man was working for the Thalmor? What if he himself was an assassin, perhaps he wanted to kill the Emperor, maybe he kills children or this and that etc.
The point is, appearances aren't always what they seem. What good are you to the Empire if you let your guard down because you think someone is innocent, only to get stabbed in the back.
they only really stand a chance on an actual battlefield where killin' Elves comes as naturally as drinking mead, and making love to Nord Women.
. But in all seriousness none. You've convinced me. They don't have a snowballs chance in hell at performing real Espionage. I mean they can be sneaky and destroy enemy supply lines, as well as bribe officials and forge documents (like they did in the main questline) but against Thalmor and Imperial agents, heh, no chance.
If the Great War resumes right after the Civil War/Mede II's death, Stormcloaks have zero chance on the battlefield. They're struggling against the weakest the Empire has to offer, and the Aldmeri can match the proper Legions.
Besides the war is going to be a bitch, we'll probably get eaten by the Khajiit horses. Which are actually giant tigers who will die to defend their rider, who is often their sibling. We also have to watch out for all the various creatures within Valnwood, fight in the jungles of Elsweyr and get past one of the toughest naval fleets in Tamriel.
Tiber defeated the Aldmeri Dominion with a giant golem. Can you really blame the Empire wanting to regain strength and spend decades preparing for this bloody campaign?
As the Legate's say something like this: "Skyrim's days are darkening, and the Legion will soon be called into service like never before."
