Hammerfell didn't fight for independence from the Empire. The Empire disowned Hammerfell. Most importanly, Hammerfell was of one mind when it decided to to defy the White-Gold Concordat while Skyrim is absolutely not. When people make the comparison between Hammerfell and Skyrim they simply don't realize how unanalogous the comparison is. The Redguard resistance was fighting against an invading occupying force with overwhelming support from the native population. The Stormcloaks are fighting against the government of Skyrim and the Empire that has been in place for over half a millenium which includes an Imperial Legion that is constituted largely from the native Nords of Skyrim and the Stormcloaks lack even a majprity of the native populations support. It's comparing apples with oranges and any argument advocating for support of the Stormcloaks by comparing them to the Redguard resistance is a losing one.
I must of missed something when I read the lore, but where did it say that the empire disowned Hammerfell? According to the lore: “When the war ended,
Emperor Titus Mede II ceded a portion of southern Hammerfell to the Dominion and outlawed worship of
Talos throughout the Empire.
The Redguards, outraged, continued to defy the White-Gold Concordat, forcing Titus Mede II to release Hammerfell as its own, independent state.”
The Empire didn't wanted to disown Hammerfell.
Ulfric is clearly motivated by self-interest when he instigates the civil war. His actions are colored by his biases against the Empire which are understandable based on his personal experience and interaction with the Empire but that doesn't make them any less self-interested. He may sincerely believe he is the only man for the role to gain independence for Skyrim and that it's in the realms best interest but that's often the case with leaders of a movement. Narcissism and egomania are all too common traits among military leaders be it Ulfric or Napoleon Bonaparte. He has the blood of thousands of innocents on his hands, a fact which doesn't escape him when he has no words to answer Legate Rikke's words challenging the wisdom of his actions before her death (if you choose to pursue the Stormcloak quest line). That doesn't make him an evil man, but it undeniably makes him a porously flawed one.
Who isn't motivated by self-interests? Ulfric is Ulfric, a politician. The difference is that hes willing to fright and die for what he believes in while High King Torygg did absolutely nothing to protect his people from the Thalmor that the legion gave a warm welcome to. The civil was was necessary because Skyrim could no longer survive under imperial custody. The legion in skyrim does nothing to the thalmor when they snatch up their nord citizens that worship Talos, and then either imprisoned them or down right kill 'em. Where is the imperial protection? Even the guards don't do a damn thing when you get attacked by the Thalmor.
Ulfric: "The Empire is weak, obsolete. Look at how far we've come and with so little. When we're done rooting out Imperial influence here at home, then we will take our war to the Aldmeri Dominion."
Rikke: "You're a damn fool."
Galmar: "Stand aside woman. We've come for the General."
Rikke: "He has given up. But I have not."
Ulfric: "Rikke. Go. You're free to leave."
Rikke: "I'm also free to stay and fight for what I believe in."
Ulfric: "You're also free to die for it."
Rikke: "This is what you wanted? Shield brothers and sisters killing each other? Families torn apart? This is the Skyrim you want?!"
Galmar: "Damnit woman, stand aside."
Rikke: "That's not the Skyrim I want to live in."
Ulfric: "Rikke. You don't have to do this."
Rikke: "You've left me no choice... Talos preserve us."
How exactly does this make Ulfric an evil man? In fact Ulfric is trying to persuade Rikke to stop, and even went as far as to tell her that shes free to leave...in spite of her role of being a legate. Rikke wasn't even Ulfric and Galmar target.
What Rikke failed to realize when she questioned Ulfric: "This is what you wanted? Shield brothers and sisters killing each other? Families torn apart? This is the Skyrim you want?!" It was the very same empire that she devoted her life to serve that caused all of this to happen when the Emperor signed the treaty banning the worship of Talos.
Speaking of evil isn't it evil for the empire to want to execute Ulfric without a fair trial and a conviction? Isn't it evil for the imperial legion in skyrim to snatch up innocent people, and send them to the chopping block in spite of their names not being on the list? If that isn't evil then I don't know what is.
What brands him as evil though are the unrefuted allegations of his conduct after retaking Markarth from the Forsworn. The killing of unarmed non-combatants including adolescents is absolutley inexcusable and vile. The developers had an opportunity to portray Ulfric more sympathetically by giving a different side to the story where the actions could have happened without his authorization and with his remorse over the fact that it happened under his command but they elected not to do so. Still if a player wants to perceive him as less repugnant they're always free to RP some non-existent content to that effect so their character can regard him as less than evil. That's what I did the one time I allied with the Stormcloaks.
Jeremius has a point. Arrianus Arius is an Arthur of 2 books. I Googled up his name to find more information about him, and received nothing. I question this author credibility. If Ulfric truly killed innocent people like the author claim to have done, then why isn't anyone else talking about it? I'm certain that their were plenty of witnesses that seen Ulfrics supposed crimes. Why is he the only one writing about it, and not other people?
Come on now, Raijin, you should know better than that. NO ONE likes the Thalmor. Except maybe those being bribed by them. Aside from that, I'd wager not a soul.
