Pronged Pickle
Member
Except this rebellion is a direct result of there own actions, and if those actions are a means to an end then they should inform Ulfric of the situation rather than let countless Nords die until the time is right. Killing your own soldiers/ex-soldiers is hardly a smart move when you're trying to arm up against a supposedly superior force.
Why should they inform Ulfric Stormcloak? He killed the High King, that makes him a criminal. He's started some holy war against the Western Holds. But the Empire should inform Ulfric, they should plead with Ulfric, should make deals with Ulfric? Why?
Also if you think the Nords of Skyrim should know that the Empire is readying for an attack, that obviously means the Thalmor know about it, so why on earth do the Empire insist on enforcing the treaty and killing it's own people?
Because the Thalmor know the Empire can't attack this instant, which is why they decided to stir things up no doubt. Also the Empire enforcing the treaty and killing it's own people? Show me one instance where the Imperials enforce the treaty and kill someone for it. The Imperials just arrest you, and keep you from the Thalmor.
I get tired of hearing pro-empire supporters bang on about how it's the rebels fault and they need to stay with the Empire to fight the Elves, whereas the Empire is more than happy to sell out any province at the command of the Thalmor. It's more of the Empire NEEDING the other provinces than the other way around.
Generally an Empire does include more than one province. How is the Empire "more than happy" to sell out any province at the command of the Thalmor? It actually took five years of war and the near destruction of the entire Empire to just get the Imperials to agree to a ban that was poorly enforced.
If you're talking about Hammerfell, the Redguards refused the White-Gold Concordat as was their right. But they wouldn't have been able to create a treaty with the Thalmor if it wasn't for the Legion's actions.
I don't for one second beleive the Thalmor and the Emperor are best friends, but the way he decides to deal with this situation is foolish. One idea off the top of my head would probably work better. Inform Ulfric of the plan of attack, get him on side, pull out of Skyrim in a way that makes it look like Ulfric has won and seceded from the Empire, fortify Cyrodill for the upcoming fight, then use the Nords of skyrim as a guerrilla force to launch surprise attacks on the Thalmor who will think they're only fighting the Legion.
So the Empire should leave Skyrim. Hand it over to Ulfric, whom doesn't even have majority support in the land. So leave all the countless thousands of those loyal to the Empire at his mercy, and make a little deal with him that "makes it look like he won"?
Firstly, Ulfric won't ever do such a thing. Not only would it be against everything he stands for, he would never make peace with the Empire.
Secondly, majority of Ulfric's support come from anti-Empire fanatics, religious zealots and such. Do you honestly believe they'd back Ulfric Stormcloak if he made a deal with the Emperor to become High King?
Thirdly, why does the Empire have to be the ones who need to leave and please Ulfric and supporters? It isn't my side who is doing slavery and racial segregation.
Now onto your point about Nords doing surprise attacks against the Aldmeri Dominion. How would they be surprise? The Thalmor have eyes everywhere.
Curious, where do you find Stormcloak slaves?