Why Ulfric Stormcloak Is An IDIOT - Skyrim Civil War Lore

[@Crusader-iq7xy]

I love the Argonian that works the workbench. He's so sassy. "The Nords don't appreciate the Argonians. So what? I don't appreciate them right back"

[@madhattergamer3567]

@@mrflyingace Etleast he's being honest about it in a nice way unlike the elves at radiant raiment.

[@madhattergamer3567]

@@mrflyingace I love how you took that extreme, but did I say anything about it being justified? No, i just said etleast the delivery wasn't as insulting as the high elf from radiant raiment. thanks for the school session teach, but right now I've got some kids to beat up for lunch money at the park. Peace yo.

[@i-evi-l]

Thus why I play Argonian. They speak their minds better than the others due to being the most openly hated race for basically no reason. For Khajit, well they are the source of Skooma dealing so there's at least a legit reason to hate them unlike Argonians. Lmao.

[@madhattergamer3567]

@@i-evi-l and speaking of how they speak, I gotta say I really think the male argonian voice is pretty awesome.

[@i-evi-l]

@@madhattergamer3567 Ssithisss bless you child.

[@Galimeer5]

The dumbest thing Ulfric ever did was not realizing his hands were bound in front of him, so he could've just pulled the gag down himself

[@jackorooni2948]

dis the hap[ppuy ear3 of eye dis hqappy ear of euye

[@Kevin-zz9du]

Lmfao... wow.. yea.. what a dipshit 😂

[@-----REDACTED-----]

That’s entirely in line with his self, for Ulfric is a truly peerless idiot.

[@coleozaeta6344]

@@jackorooni2948Hello, Madgod.

[@olvustin6671]

...he surrendered.

[@Tabby3456]

Why can't we just declare war on the thalmor we have a damn dragonborn.

[@macasaurusrex4863]

Sunquad one soldier against an army would get bodied

[@Tabby3456]

@@macasaurusrex4863 hehehehehe...not with me in it

[@macasaurusrex4863]

Sunquad I mean I have Skyrim metabombed into the dirt yet imagine having to face off against the full might of the aldermeri dominion

[@Tabby3456]

I mean, with the combined powers of both Stormcloaks,Blades,Imperials. Any derelict item you come across, with your dragon shouts and being maxed in your selected profession (Me being a Conjuration,archer,heavy armor,one handed,block,Smithing,Enchanting,werewolf, and sneaking) then yea. Id...probably be fine?

[@luisomar5395]

@@macasaurusrex4863 the only migth thing the elfs are gonna see is how my 100% magic absorbtion breton laugths at them for nullifyng their main strengh

[@FahimAhmed-xj9lq]

It always bothered me that even after finding the Thalmor Dossiers I wasn't able to use them as evidence to show both sides who the real enemy was.

[@CyberCervine]

There was ALOT of cut content when it came to the Civil War questline and other big ones like the Mages College, but I am sure that this was actually apart of the cut content IF I recall correctly.

[@cr4yv3n]

Yeah this one was infuriating. Hey, morons, the Nazi elves are PLAYING YOU ALL.

[@MasonStevens9863]

Both sides know who the real enemy is.

[@LuminousWhispers11]

General Tullius is in Skyrim because of the rebellion. They are relying on the local recruitment because most of the Imperial Legion is on the border of the Aldmeri Dominion. So, the Empire knows. The Stormcloaks don't.

[@stevenrusch6341]

You know, I agree. The devs might have "forgotten" or not realized that showing both sides the Dossiers could benefit the game, and both human forces could unite against the Thalmor.

[@Eclipse4589]

Ulfric argonians are banned from my city 2 seconds later so argonian dragon born there’s a house for sale in my city

[@AegixDrakan]

In his head he's probably thinking "They're the Dragonborn, they're basically a Nord on the inside, they're not REALLY an argonian..."

[@squeezerD]

Eclipse 4598 yes the part I also noticed when joining the stormcloaks the next imperial I see is dead here comes the dragonborn imperial.

[@jamesmccloud7535]

@@squeezerD It's just the game. Bethesda wants the player to have access to ALL content and not be restricted. Imagine playing as a Khajiit and can't enter cities, yes, what a great experience!

[@jamesmccloud7535]

@@AegixDrakan That makes no sense at all LMAO

[@brandonlyon730]

They also don’t seem to mind if the dragon born is a high elf. The race of there greatest enemy and they hardly care.

[@NegotiatorGladiarius]

The best argument for how stupid Ulfric is, is from the smith in Riverwood, if you followed the imperial soldier out of Helgen. Yes, Talos worship was officially outlawed, but it wasn't actually enforced by the Empire. Everyone still had their little shrine to Talos at home, and nobody asked. The empire only started actually cracking down on Talos worshippers when they rose in open rebellion against the Empire. So, you know, it's less actual religious persecution and more, you know, cracking down on a rebellion. And just to make a point of how non-enforced it STILL is, unless you're actually a rebel, consider the fact that both the widow queen which is supported by the empire for High King, and Tulius's second in command are Talos worshippers and not particularly good at hiding it. Also, the Jarl of Whiterun clearly tolerates a shrine to Talos and a loud preacher of Talos right in the middle of the rich upper quarter, but as long as he's still pro-Empire, nobody tells him to stop that. So basically Ulfric is fighting against a problem that he created.

[@libertyprime3827]

The thalmor literally kill a guy in markarth for being a talos worshiper

[@vesamirbaby4429]

The Guardian markarth is only like that because ulfric captured it so he could worship talos making it so when he lost it that more attention to its worshiping would be brought to it

[@dutchpatriot17]

@@bethejudge1950 Did you just ignore the fact that he has to ask you - a stranger - to do so because Igmund is unwilling to help them?

[@fireblast133]

Nota Realname they only started cracking down on Talos worship after the terms of the markarth incident and Ulfric assisting there were brought to the Thalmor’s attention. Only after that do the Thalmor more actively patrol Skyrim. Up until that, it was exactly as said, Talos worship was outlawed, but the law barely enforced.

[@armedwombat6816]

Exactly. Plus everybody knows that the Empire doesn't want to outlaw Talos worship. They're just doing it to bide their time before they have recovered from the last war and are ready to take on the Aldmeri Dominion again. And if they win that war, they'll make Talos worship legal again.

[@leanfort5250]

Even if you’ll be allow to be the high king in Skyrim. There’s always somebody who’s going to tell you this: “Wait.. I know you..”

[@amazingsuperdan144]

Just tell them haters you REALLY don't have time for that, and ask if they do

[@matthewdoherty803]

There like wait i- I just press back and that's it

[@Winrarnt]

I find it funny that as long as you don't reply to "Wait... I know you" you are allowed to just exit the conversation and the guard won't care.

[@matthewdoherty803]

@@Winrarnt yea and sometimes there like ok have a good day

[@Winrarnt]

@@matthewdoherty803 "Hey wait. That's a wanted criminal! I should arrest him! Wait what? He doesn't want to talk? Fair enough then. Have a good one."

[@takkarsasori8961]

Imagine when the moot happens instead of the jarls electing ulfric, they just elect the dragonborn instead.

[@CatchTheMarmosets]

Like how cardinals can elect any catholic to be pope if they want to

[@WestbrickFansGotNoBrains]

I think this guy doesnt understand tradition trial combat and ruler by conquest. Everything to him must be a voting system. What is skyrim? Democratic state? Lmao. If empire used that energy and brain they muster against stormcloak. They would not have lost to the aldmeri dominion.

[@MrMilkyCoco]

Id hate my dragonborn to be chosen shes stupid as a bag of rocks. She only knows one thing and thats to kill dragons haahaa

[@jossebrodeur6033]

@@WestbrickFansGotNoBrains The Elective Monarchy was the traditional way of deciding a new king in most pre-Christian Scandinavian countries, which is what Skyrim and Nordic culture is based on. Ulfric himself is a firm believer in his people's traditions, and because of that he would absolutely participate in an election. Would it be a rigged election? Yes, but it would still be an election.

[@zherean42069]

I don't think it's a good idea

[@MyArchive930]

For a moment I thought the thumbnail said "Ulfric the THOT". For the briefest of moments, I believed this video was an April fools joke.

[@lemeres2478]

BEGONE REBEL

[@Ongawdfr]

Well that just turned me on

[@itsTeeRev]

This isn’t a manslayer video😕

[@feralcorvid4122]

@@Ongawdfr lmao

[@japastani]

yeah ok somebody has been watching a little too many horny mod vids

[@jaryl13]

I've always found it ironic that the one event that made me side with the Imperials was walking into Windhelm with the intention of joining the Stormcloaks.

[@duncanlutz3698]

Right? To enter Windhelm and join the Cloaks, you have to walk past two Stormbros harassing a dunmer woman for no reason, Brunwulf outraged that Ulfric won't send guards to defend argonian's from bandits, then walk past the Grey Quarter slums. They throw all of this right in your face before even talking to Mr. Cloaks himself. But but but the Stormcloaks fight for FREEDOM!* *Only applies to Nords

[@ASTRA1564]

@@duncanlutz3698 Sounds like Trump's freedom.

[@duncanlutz3698]

@@ASTRA1564 Ulfric: "We're going to build a wall, and the Thalmor are going to pay for it! They're all drug dealers and rapists anyway... real bad hombres (merebres?)!" "MAKE SKYRIM GREAT AGAIN!" I know Ulfric predates Trump's campaign... but damn if I can't unsee the connection now. Trump has really ruined "nationalism" for the foreseeable future... it all just comes out as a dog whistle for racism. AKA "Skyrim is for the Nords" is heard as "Skyrim is (only) for the Nords!"

[@ASTRA1564]

@@duncanlutz3698 That's exactly what I thought when I played the game, aha another Hitler within a game, I think the Aldmeri Dominion is supposed to be British, but I don't like the Thalmor, Aldmeri Dominion I can tolerate, but honestly all of the races are pretty brutal and racist.

[@ReallyUnexplainable]

@@duncanlutz3698 That's not a good example.. the Thalmors are actually bad. In fact, their main goal is to gain immortality through the sacrifice of every living being in nirn.

[@lilvon7669]

Ulfric using the voice in combat is like bringing a gun to a street fight

[@podroznikzpustkowi4805]

Yes

[@ViperPilotSleepy]

To quote Jayne from Firefly "I'll kill a man in a fair fight, or if I think he's gonna start a fair fight."

[@podroznikzpustkowi4805]

@@ViperPilotSleepy what?

[@Alex-yf9he]

Dragon born be like: 👁️👄👁️

[@Nyghtking]

Whats funnier was Ulfric was already the better fighter and they both knew it, the emperor knew that in a fair fight he was going to lose, Ulfric using the voice is like Mister Universe shooting a skin and bones IT guy because he thought he might gets scratched by him during the fight.

[@yeetthebeatout6906]

Ulfric in the peace talks on High Hrothgar: demands one of the largest/most prosperous cities in the country. Also Ulfric: nearly storms out when the empire does the same

[@gaminacthemaniac6444]

Dude for real, he expected to trade it for Winterhold and not Riften, which is also not worth trading Markarth for.

[@thechugg4372]

Not saying he's right but from his point of view, this town is rightly his, why the fuck would outsiders get any right to the largest cities in the NORD's country.

[@h3069]

@@thechugg4372 the Reachmen would like a word with you

[@silverblade357]

Dovahkiin: "Can't I just kill them all?" Bethesda: "No!"

[@smartalex22]

Well, that depends if Elenwen is allowed to stay. If she's forced to leave, then the Empire is the one who throws a fit when an even trade is suggested.

[@hueman8955]

Ulfric: *Can barely stalemate locally recruited farmboys and gets captured by a general who's only been there for 3 months* Also Ulfric: "When we're done rooting out Imperial influence here at home, then we will take our war to the Aldmeri Dominion"

[@UnQuacker]

lol

[@vesamirbaby4429]

RadTheLad a imperial legion who was beaten back and lost a lot of their forces because of elves and then were forced into a war because some idiots short sighted

[@armedwombat6816]

"The entire Empire only managed to fight the Aldmeri to a stalemate, but a single province will totally wipe the floor with those guys, especially when we just had a bloody, destructive civil war." Ulfric is just a complete idiot.

[@armedwombat6816]

@RadTheLad Nobody can do anything on their own. Unless the Dragonborn does anything, they're all just sitting on their lazy asses. I would have loved some game mechanic that lets at least some minor forts and villages change hands once in a while without the player doing anything. Just to show that there's an actual war going on. And if we want to get super fancy, maybe even damage a few houses, let a few mass graves appear, drive prices up a bit, fill the streets with homeless, etc. You know... stuff that would make it look more like an actual war. And maybe make me care more for the suffering of the common people of Skyrim.

[@dutchpatriot17]

@RadTheLad You are aware that the Legion in Skyrim isn't anything like a proper Imperial legion, right? Its troops are largely militia, armored like scouts and skirmishers. Only very few actual Legion troopers make up their ranks.

[@slyliezeroseven3696]

Is it bad that I’m more invested in the politics of Skyrim than real life?

[@gilgamesh8334]

Yes, part of the problem surely.

[@theaussieburwoodboy9943]

Nope......

[@uncleclem7381]

Yes, because Skyrim’s politics and lore is extremely shallow and riddled with plot holes.

[@omegamark9178]

@@uncleclem7381 sad fact is, real life U.S. politics are 10x worse!

[@oscarhf7569]

No Skyrim politics are interesting because of magic, deadra, invasions, dragons, and if an idiot like unfriendly were elected he wouldn’t cause harm to you and your country

[@tiptopphoenix6486]

He's only doing this for the empire's damn tasty nachos.

[@tcmugutc01]

You know how hard to get that in skyrim? Legions got decimated because of it.

[@sarahb1862]

They are pretty damn tasty

[@mortemtool1783]

Cheesy spicy

[@ra_alf9467]

But with little spices

[@korimcentire2346]

Hahahahaha

[@breadbread4226]

Let's be real, if his goal was to worship talos in peace, he should have attacked the Thalmor embassy, not the high King

[@NoName-mi8js]

If his goal was to worship Talos in peace, he would have just done it. It wasn't enforced at all until he did what he did.

[@damackabet.4611]

​@@NoName-mi8jsit was enforced, they just wouldn't enforce it heavily unless a thalmor was snooping around. Let me ask you a question, was being Jewish allowed in nazi Germany? According to you it was, after all they just had to hide that they were Jewish or the secret police take them away and kill them. Same case here, just hide it bro, but the moment it becomes known thalmor will show up to kill you.

[@damackabet.4611]

He didn't attack the high king, he challenged him to a duel as was his right. Then high king and the empire were the ones allowing the persecution and the thalmor into skyrim. They were also a problem. Also are you retarded? If he attacked the thalmor the imperials would have still attacked ulfric as the thalmor would have threatened war if they didnt. The empire is the current dog of the empire, beaten by a stick so hard they still obey 26 years after great war.

[@theeternal2734]

He Challenged Torygg Honorably

[@lysandergorisch1969]

@@theeternal2734 how it happened "Ulfric storms into the Palace "Me is Ulfric i came here to beat you to death with big stick as the founding fathers intended" "i shall defend myself but no magic, magic is for pansies and elves" "agreed FUZ ROH DAH" Thorygg slams into the wall, his head breaking upon the wall. "Now i shall tell everyone how i randomly killed this King so everyone knows i will murder every king until i am high king. Then i shall weaken the empire. That will show those stupid Thalmor bitches"

[@giovannag9783]

Me a true neutral: Joins the imperial legion, also assassinates the emperor. Balance :3

[@darkqwartzsytal834]

When you finish the Imperial questline but want to be part of the Dark Brotherhood

[@usoroa.6904]

@@darkqwartzsytal834 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqXapn-arKufoqc

[@usoroa.6904]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqXapn-arKufoqc

[@viniciusbersot18]

The Thanosborn

[@aceshotz5051]

@@viniciusbersot18 what about Anakinborn?

[@DrErikNefarious]

Todd Howard: You have to make SOMEONE high king of Skyrim. Me: *downloads "Become High King of Skyrim" mod* Todd:......wait, that's illegal.

[@archiveacc3248]

Halt! You've violated the Creation Club!

[@john02222]

I used that mod ot before but it also gliched the end of the game whare you fight alduin for me

[@HisRoyalMajestyKingofWeedshire]

“It just works!” Todd: “Understandable, have a nice day.”

[@YABBAHEY1]

Do I smell another revolution ?

[@sheogorath5486]

I'd like a mod where a good Jarl becomes High King. Like Balgruuf!

[@d00p58]

Tulius himself even says “You realize this is exactly what they wanted” when you’re about to kill him at the end of the Stormcloak quest line

[@andrewnavarro1185]

Good. He died the traitorous pawn that he was.

[@mitchell8003]

@@andrewnavarro1185 By they, Tulius meant the Thalmor.

[@Underworlder5]

that does not mean he is correct. according to the thalmor dossier on ulfric, the thalmor want the war to drag on as long as possible, and either side winning is detrimental to them. likely, tullius either believes otherwise, or it was just the last, spiteful words of someone who lost a war and wants to get in one more verbal jab before he dies

[@khalduras784]

@@Underworlder5 Nah while it'll benefit the dominion more for the civil war to go on, the empire losing the dominion would also still benefit the dominion.

[@Underworlder5]

@@khalduras784 depends on how you see it. if the stormcloaks win, then the empire just leaves skyrim alone and spends more focus on opposing the dominion or preparing for the inevitable war. the way i see it, if the empire wins, then the civil war was just a minor speed bump they can recover from, while if the stormcloaks win, skyrim is under an independent rule that hates the thalmor even more than the empire does. basically, they either barely slow down their greatest enemy, or create a new enemy that might prove even worse

[@leafonhead777]

Not to mention Ulfric's strategy to take Whiterun from Jarl Balgruf is to hurl firebombs over the walls to ensure maximum collateral damage and civilian casualties.. I'm sure that will go over well with some of the most influential and powerful families in Skyrim, or the Companion's..

[@mc.builder8267]

Dude, the mage doesn’t portray Companions as honorable warriors, but rather as thugs for hire. A lot of our quests with them are generally “person A payed us to beat up person B”.

[@mapleflag6518]

@@mc.builder8267 They gotta make coin somehow.

[@marcusgraham3257]

@@mc.builder8267 exactly

[@tefky7964]

@@mc.builder8267 Thugs for hire,but still pretty well trained thugs who won´t accept well when someone burn down their home.

[@serbiey3232]

the guy that says in Whiterun, "there's a nip in the air." actually dies because his house was hit, so you don't hear his dialogue after.

[@aaa-to3kb]

In my first playthrough I sided with him because I thought we were some kind of friends because we were sitting in the same carriage at the beginning. I realized that I made a big mistake after winning the civil war with them and still being hated by the stormcloaks. I played as an Argonian

[@datwhiteboi6256]

I side with the Imperials because they looked like Romans and Romans kind of look cool then eventually found out the actual story

[@quincy7258]

Bruh moment

[@datwhiteboi6256]

@Agent Deception I guess both since I was like 11 years old I'm 20 now

[@StardustLegend]

honestly i am still on my first playthrough and i almost would have sided with him if my friend hadn’t told me how much of a dick ulfric is before i had bought the game. On an initial run it’s hard to not side with him given you’re literally being executed by the Imperials the first minute you play the game

[@asdergold1]

@@datwhiteboi6256 if you find the actual story, without the extreme Ulfric bias, you can easily tell the Empire is the only side that could ever be right. The problems Ulfric's bois complain about were caused by Ulfric throwing a tantrum in the first place. Ironic.

[@barrydalton4743]

No way in hell I was gonna side with this guy if it meant my man Jarl Balgruff would be dethroned. Screw that I rather have him as High King.

[@CanidRose]

Balgruuf is like... The only purely respectable leader tbh. He's the only one I have basically no problems with. Just looking out for his people and trying to lead well. He's the best, man.

[@ferretmayn7045]

This comment has more wisdom then anything I have ever read before

[@eaglebearer]

Then you're a traitor to Skyrim and Talos.

[@aceaj2620]

“Highest high king of skyrim “

[@TheSlammurai]

@@eaglebearer So be it. Skyrim won't be there when you need it, but Balgruuf WILL.

[@DarkLordSelrahc]

There's also the fact that Ulfric is too scared to make a move against the emperor when he visits Skyrim because he knows that he can't possibly win if the Empire responds seriously to his insurrection, but he still thinks he could take on the Aldmeri Dominion.

[@superjlk_9538]

If he fights the Empire, he also fights the Aldmeri. If he fights the Aldmeri, he might get some help from turncoats

[@Chud_Bud_Supreme]

Also, Alduin prevents Ulfric from being executed to keep the war going. That's easily the most damning thing

[@DM-Oz]

@@Chud_Bud_Supreme I am pretty sure that there are no evidences of Alduin's reasoning behind his atack and it was most probably an accident

[@Chud_Bud_Supreme]

@@DM-Oz They say in game that those slain in the war end up as victims to Alduin. It's easy to deduce that as the reason for Alduin attacking. He wanted more souls to hunt

[@thebk247]

The Dominion have no chance at invading Skyrim.

[@johanbatcron1206]

5:10 Ondolemar is very open with the info that the Thalmor attacking again is a fact, and the reason why they haven't allready is because they want to take advantage of Ulfric and his Rebellion as much as possible. Also something to keep in consideration here is that not even all Stormcloak supporters like Ulfric. For example if Dengeir is asked why he supports the Stormcloaks he will answer: "You think some Emperor sitting on a gilded throne in Cyrodiil is going to know what's best for Skyrim? [...] I'm no man's fool. I know Ulfric Stormcloak's selfish and power-hungry, but he's the devil I know". To me this means that even those who openly supports the Stormcloaks thinks that Ulfric is a selfish idiot.

[@CaesarLvcivs]

Even Ralof says he doesn't really like Ulfric that much.

[@NegativeDumpster]

Leila Law-Giver also doesn't seem to think too highly of Ulfric. I once heard dialogue from her stating that while she believes in the idea of a free Skyrim, she doesn't full trust Ulfric himself.

[@nicholasemjohnson47]

Here's something: when you win the Civil War for the Empire and Brunwulf becomes the Jarl, he will try to improve things for Windhelm, but confesses that he is a soldier, not a politician, and knows almost little about governing. Also you can ask him if he will allow the Argonians into the city, he'll say that as much as he wants to, it isn't that simple. Most people of Windhelm still feel prejudiced towards outsiders, so the Argonians have to remain outside for their safety.

[@gunnarswanson9438]

Wait, Brynolf doesn't become the jarl of windhelm.

[@amanem6857]

@@gunnarswanson9438 isn't he living in riften?

[@gunnarswanson9438]

@@amanem6857 Lol yeah exactly he's a nightingale and I think he becomes a companion too after completing the thieves guild questline

[@gunnarswanson9438]

@@littlecousin5630 lol yeah I was trying to remember his name

[@nicholasemjohnson47]

Sorry everyone. Their names are spelled very similarly.

[@CMAzeriah]

*Titus Mede ll dies* *Dragonborne becomes the Emperor of Mankind*

[@ulfricstormcloak6569]

What if I become the emperor of Tamriel?

[@Searly255]

Well Falk Firebeard says that a resurected Potema would technically have rights to the throne you know bieng dragonborn and a septim.. if there willing to give the rights of the throne to a zombie queen i wouldnt knock your chances

[@CMAzeriah]

@@Searly255 it was a reference to 40k

[@physical_insanity]

This legitimately should happen. The dragonborn takes power, reinstates the blades as a secret circle of bodyguards (keeping the Penitus Oculatus as a front and outer circle of bodyguards) and builds up the Empire's might in a non-suspicious manner. Then, with the power of Thu'um at his side, he wages war against the Thalmor and brings peace to the realm. Of course, this is all wishful thinking, but it works for me.

[@tauempire1793]

This ain't warhammer

[@jonhillman871]

i wish there was a "Yes Man" option in skyrim where you didn't have to support the Stormcloaks or the Empire.

[@ashwolf2006]

Become the High king option. yeah i would really like that to.

[@Dogmaguy74]

@@ashwolf2006 Bro the throne was vacant and with our actions (Assuming they were righteous) we have more than enough earned the right to govern skyrim!

[@ashwolf2006]

@@Dogmaguy74 also have partysnaxx flick ulfric's whiny ass off the top of the throat of the world along with the Delphin the Bitch.

[@ceasefire2825]

put the dragon back on the imperial flag :D

[@tannermarkland6402]

@@Dogmaguy74 theyres a high king mod

[@mark5222]

Ulfric claims that his cause is for the free worship of Talos yet attacked Whiterun, the only city with a free worship of Talos. What's worse is that he appointed Vignar Grey-Mane as a Jarl, the same guy that Vilkas joked for going senile.

[@NAMI20207]

​@HomeOfTheHeisenburgerMost of Skyrim players kill him, so yeah that Heimskr argument is irrelevant

[@alphadoughnut2651]

@@NAMI20207I love how your defense for wrongful imprisonments is unjustified murder.

[@damackabet.4611]

First of all, not only city with free worship. Talos is worshipped in all stormcloak lands. Secondly whiterun bans talos worship they just don't enforce it letting the thalmor, and imperials enforce it. Just because a guy praised talos in whiteout doesn't make it legal, what he is doing is illegal in whiterun as its part of empire.

[@gabesarti7184]

@JustinianTheGreat535actually, Heimskr is forced to live in a tent because his house is destroyed in the battle.

[@Power_scaling_is_stupid]

@@alphadoughnut2651*justified

[@hamzaferoz6162]

Another Reason. The Jarls he installs are exceptionally Delusional and Emotion Driven. They don't think rationally. Eg Laila and Skald

[@bgill6623]

Dont forget Thongvor, you cant have a conversation with him without all that aggression

[@hamzaferoz6162]

@RadTheLad Siddgeir might be spoilt but he isn't incompetent Jarl Igmund is trying to do everything he can about the Forsworn but those Silver Fucks have his hands tied Jarl Idgrod may look like that she depends on visions but is in reality far seeing. She had the intelligence to defend Falion as he proved to be Morthal's protector.

[@hamzaferoz6162]

@RadTheLad The Imperial Jarls aren't really that deluded

[@maxkernfeld7928]

RadTheLad it’s no use when you confront them with facts and logical military decision the only argument they have is: Muh RaCiST NoRDs

[@selestielwolf7949]

@RadTheLad Why did you get cured of your vampirism? Being a vampire is awesome.

[@ladyselin35]

He and his steward treats you second class Nord even if youre a Nord! Calls you Outsider etc. Imperials calls you Citizen! Kinsman!

[@anprabh1]

Selin Sevgi Terzi you've clearly never played Morrowind.

[@WildRaven2008]

@@anprabh1 That is because Skyrim players don't understand the lore. Even though skyrim was my first elder scrolls game I then went on to play oblivion because of how I kept looking into the elder scrolls series lore. But, other players don't want to look at the scenarios because they don't want to understand a future with an elder scrolls historical event even if Bethesda makes it canon.

[@BySpartan]

Usnis the Immortal then explain

[@WolfyFancyLads]

Yeah, I just joined the Empire cos they let me date cute guys. XD Nords are... Okay. But I'll not stand idly by as they slag off Derkeethus! Nobody insults that adorable scalie bastard!

[@bloodjunky9214]

Yeah but if I say praise Thalos they’ll throw me in the fucking dungeon

[@GunBuilt]

When I first played Skyrim I loved Ulfric and the Stormcloaks while hating Tulius and the Empire but over the years I've come to hate Ulfric and the Stormcloaks while still hating Tulius but liking the Empire. I gotta get give Ulfrics voice actor credit though

[@justelliot4870]

When I first played Skyrim, I was ten at my friend's house. I asked him on the way to Helgen which side was the good guys. He said the stormcloacks. Now he sees the error in his ways, and is a staunch empire supporter.

[@CoffeeSuccubus]

@@justelliot4870 You are just as bad then. Be loyal to neither a thalmor puppet nor a thalmor pawn Fuck the Medes. And ulfric.

[@justelliot4870]

@@CoffeeSuccubus oh I agree. I hate the Medes. They are illegitimate twats, I do the dark brotherhood, just so I can kill them, over and over again. But who else is there to take the throne? There are no more Dragonborn emperors. The most legitimate emperor would be the player as an imperial.

[@NuclearWintr]

We were all Stormcloaks at first, but everyone grows to side with the Empire.

[@jamesfitzgerald8267]

Why do you hate Tullius? the only reason I can think of is that he doesn't understand Skyrim's traditions, I don't know why else you wouldn't like him, it's not really his fault that he doesn't understand them, he lived in Cyrodiil all his life.

[@davidhackett6317]

After many years of playing, I always choose the Empire. You can't trust Ulfric, but meeting the Emperor during the dark brotherhood, I found that I really liked him. He he was calm in the face of death and even pulled off one last political maneuver to defend the Empire by having you kill the guy who hired you. I don't even like taking the dark brotherhood questline because of him. He's my favorite npc.

[@hyperboi4077]

The only character I ever regret killing in the dark brotherhood quest line is the orc bard since he’s such a cool dude. He also helps you kill the vampires in the cave during the burnt down house mission.

[@netsquire]

@@hyperboi4077 he just stood outside of the cave all scared for me lol

[@sojuforsake]

@@hyperboi4077 He turns around scared in that mission (Original, SE & AE) unless u have mod that changes that. A Nord joins you in the cave but doesn't go past the frost spiders.

[@Random_guy56755]

If you kill Astrid after she kidnaps you you'll start a secret quest called destroying the dark brotherhood

[@Broomer52]

@@Random_guy56755 I’m today years old when I found that out

[@selestielwolf7949]

I actually was a proud Stormcloak until yesterday when I realized after years that I could have Ulfric's outfit if I joined the Legion and killed him.

[@dutchpatriot17]

Not the reasoning I wanted, but the outcome is good.

[@shadowstrider5033]

At least you have your priorities straight.

[@KaiserDaChoom]

prefer tullius armour but if you have immersive armour mod it replaces ulfrics with a nice viking/jarl aesthetic armour

[@ReapersLove69]

@@dutchpatriot17 skyrim belongs to the nords

[@YouTubecanfuckagoat]

Only if you play a male character. His outfit looks like Jarl Raven Crone’s or Bryling’s if you’re playing as a female character.

[@dylank2428]

"The empire didn't go around arresting Talos worshippers until Ulfric started the revolution." ~That guy from Riften who married the emperor's sister This shows that Talos worship wasn't even that brought down. Sure, shrines may have been shut down, and public worship may have been a slap on the wrist, but worshipping Talos was fine. It wasn't until the Stormcloaks got violent that the Empire start arresting anyone for the smallest transgression

[@floydlechner2445]

Dylan K sure, maybe people got abducted by the thalmor, and sure, they camped in front of his shrines to kill the worshippers. But ulfric is the real bad one for not loving elven cock as much as the emperials

[@crooker23]

@@floydlechner2445 theres a thalmor dossier you find in the thalmor embassy. too cucked lmao

[@floydlechner2445]

Human Man yeah which says that the elves think the civil war will benefit them cuz humans die. But little did they know about aryan rage, they saw it when they try taking hammerfell and failed. 500 nords pushed the falmer out of skyrim, the thousand of nords who live there will have no problem with elves. The effect the civil war had is that now the nords are more wartrained and angry. They will face the same faith as the ayleids

[@kanorcubes329]

Good point. Not good enough, yeah after Ulfric's uprising the Thalmor forced the empire to be more strict against Talos worshipers. Except you forget the fact that the White-Gold concordat pretty much lets the Thalmor run around doing anything they want. Including capturing and torturing Talos worshipers.

[@floydlechner2445]

Deathsdayoff person yes cuz the nords will be fight trained.

[@CorvusBlood]

What really got me was the peace meeting. Alright so everybody is good to ceasefire right? General Tilluis: ya sounds good Grey beards then its setl.... Ulfric: I want Markarth Like hold up there buddy I'm trying to save the world here. At that moment I realized he is a power hungry piece of garbage.

[@varangiangaming7178]

He also sucks at diplomacy due to him willingly giving away a hold if you tell the thalmor to fuck off from the meeting

[@Meow_Zedong_1949]

You know if the Stormcloaks hold Whiterun and you do the negotiations, then General Tullius will start by demanding Riften.

[@saekisadako2118]

@@Meow_Zedong_1949 yeah but in neutral path (canon path) it is ulfric who demands markarth in the first place.

[@asdergold1]

It's fair, he has to deal with the Forsworn. I wish that did happen lol, imagine that shit!

[@187revrend5]

@@Meow_Zedong_1949 in my play through i was neutral doing the main quest, Ulfric started the peace treaty meeting by demanding Markarth, traded it for riften..Ulfric unpleased stands up and threatens to leave, convinced to join table again, Ulfric demands another settlement for Riften ( imperials handing over 2 for one) i disagree Ulfric gets up and threatens to leave the peace meeting again...at this moment i saw the "entitled only out for himself and not the good of skyrim brat this guy is" that all of the freethinking npc's had warn me about. he's the bad guy with the high charisma level, just likes to talk loud and figures if he does it long enough the dumb will nod and agree" this really erked me especially since general telluis would only attend the meeting if ulfric took it seriously as he should (being the fate of the world) Ulfric agreed to go...only to get a chance to use the grey beards council to advance his own position..... that right there set an alarm off in my head with a npc voice " ulfric storm cloak is only out for Ulfric Stormcloak" admittedly Ulfric probably was enitially pissed off cuz i let "that thalmor bitch sit at the peace treaty" but i only did so cuz i thought having the true enemy there might make the meeting more interesting and also....you don't get to decide who is in and not in on a peace treaty assembled at the sacred site of the Greybeards. especially if that person has a dyplomatic relationship with the party your trying to make peace with..... i killed ulfric nuff said, not to save skyrim from the thalmor (hes a secret agent) but to save Skyrim from the NORD's...just look what they did the the Falmer to the falmer** EDIT

[@Frostbi7e385]

Honestly, the thing which made me realise that Ulfric was just a bit power hungry, but also incompetent, was how in my stormcloak play through, they started talking about invading Summerset. Y’know, the homeland of the people that have one of, if not the best, navies in Tamriel and fought the Empire to a stalemate as the invading army, meaning they didn’t have the home advantage. Ulfric needed a Dragonborn to win against a small portion of the legion, how in the hell did he think invading Summerset was ever an option? Defending against an invasion from Summerset might be possible, attacking them would be suicide

[@thebk247]

Ulfric specifically says “when the time is right.” Please pay attention to context. Best navies? The Dominions navies can barely fend off hammerfell pirates and maomer pirates…. Defending against a dominion invasion isnt just possible, it is impossible for the dominion to invade Skyrim. Skyrim has never been successfully invaded by any nation of Tamriel.

[@Frostbi7e385]

​@@thebk247 I did a big response but I'll make it simple and shorter He said he'd take the fight to the dominion once they rooted out imperial influence in Skyrim. I don't remember him saying when the time is right. Can you give me the full quote? I might have missed that one. The first though implies he'll attack the moment the empire can't retake skyrim Pirates and Navies are very different. Saying that is like saying the imperial legion isn't one of the best armies because a bandit tribe attacked a random village and got away. It's very different from an outright battle between naval powers. Also, the Maormer have been trying to conquer Summerset for thousands of years. Most of that has been raiding, not actual warfare, but the times they have tried have ended the same way, with the Altmer still in power. Considering how the Maormer are entirely based around their naval capabilities, as the name implies, I would say that is proof the Altmer are a powerful naval force. Skyrim meanwhile doesn't even seem to have a navy, or at least not a big one. The only naval power that might rival the Altmer are the Redguards, and we don't truly know that since I can't name a specific battle where the two have clashed. Skyrim has never faced a force like the dominion, since it joined the second and third empires willingly. They were conquered by the akaviri as well, so we know a far foreign power can do it. But ignoring that, Ulfric admits he can't fight the full power of the empire. Let's say the empire and the dominion are equals in strength, unlikely since Hammerfell left and the skyrim civil war has weakened them. That would mean that the dominion is definitely strong enough to take skyrim. Easily? No. Possible however? Certainly. Summerset meanwhile took Tiber Septim with the Elder Scrolls equivalent of a weapon of mass destruction and an army comprised of every conquered nation. It's even said that he wouldn't have tried without the Numidium. I don't see how Skyrim alone could ever hope to even land in Summerset, let alone conquer it, when Tiber Septim himself was so hesitant to do so

[@DarkOmegaMK2]

That would be funny to see, several ships full of dumb nords that refuse magic getting pelted by the very experienced altmer wizards.

[@annpc8266]

@@thebk247 cumskin white

[@redxhand]

yep. one of the stupidest plans ive heard from him wtf

[@godsavethequeen7614]

I really wish there was a option to bring the imperials and stormcloaks together against the thalmor

[@N3xtStopHell]

It’s a civil war, the Empire isn’t going to settle for anything less but total defeat against the Stormcloaks

[@heavyweaponsguy2944]

@@N3xtStopHell it's also the other way around

[@shylogik]

I mean technically their is that greybeard peace option, but I guess that’s more for the dragon situation then the thalmor situation.

[@ZeldagigafanMatthew]

@@N3xtStopHell The Empire sees it for what it really is. A distraction. Ulfric on the other hand, sees this as an afront that must be burned down and ashes strewn in the least respectful way possible.

[@Leitis_Fella]

I always wanted to get through Ulfuck's thick skull to help or recruit the Dunmer, since most of them are house Hlaalu Dunmer who were betrayed by the Empire as well.

[@iamslightlybetterthanyou2679]

You should do why the Thalmor are idiot's

[@powerdrake2906]

I agree would love to see this

[@iamslightlybetterthanyou2679]

@GreenTea a plot twist no one saw coming The Thalmor are all straight

[@silentdrew7636]

They started a war that forced Skyrim and the Empire to strengthen their armies and train better soldiers.

[@McHobotheBobo]

@GreenTea Genius? Yes. Good guys? No, as they're basically seeking to end the world

[@LocksAndChains]

I don't get how they won... They're an army of squishy wizards who have a talent for grossly underestimating their enemies.

[@helpmereach690subscribers3]

I heard a quote that was to the effect of. “We see that the thalmor are sabotaging and influencing the empire but don’t think for a second that the empire isn’t doing just as much sabotage and influencing on the Dominion.”

[@chickenking1753]

Most stormcloaks seem to think the thalmor were the clear victors but if that were true they wouldn't have agreed to a treaty in the first place. The truth is both sides took a beating and both sides know this, THAT is why a treaty was formed not because the empire gave up. Ulfric would know this too if he cared to think for 5 seconds.

[@skytheneko]

@@chickenking1753 But look at the treaty and who it favours, it HEAVILY favours the AD

[@tcmugutc01]

@@skytheneko emperor was hurt during recapture of cyrodiil. They removed invaders but couldnt be sure if A.d or their allies would send army again. Which is possible because empire had left lesser power. Hammerfell was invaded during that time so they had to sign that treaty. Also aldmeri dominion lost the support of elseweyr and valenwood after that treaty.

[@willianyano8596]

@@chickenking1753 They lost Hammerfell, their roots by negating Talos, their main force of inteligence (Blades) and still had to pay taxes to the dominion, forcing it's people to strenghten the enemy. What did the Thalmor loose ? I guess even the emperor didn't know that the Thalmor were not clear victors (even tough it makes no sense to make a treaty if you are "blatantly winning"). Best case scenario, the Emperor is retarded.

[@Axxikon]

@@chickenking1753 This is untrue, a treaty would be much more favorable to the Dominion as that would not only show them as the victors but also put the Empire under their thumb, allowing them to control Skyrim without having to send their own resources and men there.

[@The_Floosh]

It was always funny to me how khajiit and argonians were disliked and banned, but the Dragonborn is just entirely overlooked. An argonian Dragonborn can even join the Stormcloaks, with Ulfric having no negative opinions on the matter

[@TheUnseenPath]

Because the DB is the chosen one why would they overlook him? A DB nord, imperial, orc, anyone can be a DB.

[@hollaxow3331]

@@TheUnseenPath You're overlooked also before you're revealed the DB

[@asromeburns3588]

the argonians are banned from windhelm proper because the dark elves are in the city. what, you want open race war in the streets?

[@immortalfrieza]

This is not the first nor do I suspect will it be the last time something like this has happened in an Elder Scrolls game. It's a gameplay contrivance to ensure that players that want to play Khajiit or Argonians are still able to do everything players playing other races can do. As a result the various races are effectively interchangeable because the only differences between them are the occasional very very rare lines from an NPC rather than anything that actually effects the gameplay or story in any manner like they should have it do. Bethesda are very bad at having their various worlds react to player choices like this.

[@mapleflag6518]

Some of the guards call you “cat” if you’re a khajiit.

[@Greenrange70]

"I fight so that all the fighting already done, hasn't been for nothing". That's a sunk cost fallacy

[@thegrayinthefield8764]

This is actually the best point against him I've seen yet. The real reason that he's a moron is because of his lack of critical thinking and rational reasoning, not because of his character flaws.

[@gaygekko]

​@@maxkernfeld7928 And that's exactly the biggest flaw of humankind. In our heads and bodies we (usually) only have one mind, consciousness and spirit. In essence, we're biased towards ourself and our own feelings. We'd never stand a chance against an alien hivemind or the likes thereof. Now, I'm not trying to discredit what you're trying to say. You have a point in the fact that a lot of people are sitting here saying all kinds of smart things without thinking about the reality of it all and how it would be like to actually be there. I would probably feel the same way. It's just human nature. It's only natural. But just because it's human doesn't mean it's the smartest decision. Being able to put your own feelings aside to take on a logic-based decision-making and not let emotions cloud your judgement would be the best. This is where Ulfric fails. He might be smart, he might be intelligent. But none of that matters if his emotions and human nature ends up making his decisions instead.

[@maxkernfeld7928]

Gekko that’s the flaw of all arguments. „Just because it’s emotional driven it is somehow *always* wrong“ This is a narrow minded thinking. We could apply this to every nation that got conquered just to keep them under the cage. What is more people forget that these are times where the sword rules and not diplomatic decisions like today. Even more just because you are emotional behind something doesn’t *automatically* mean that you don‘t see the bigger picture. Like you said we are humans and (nearly) every action is emotional driven. This would lead now to a different discussion but think about this for a moment. P.S. stubbornes is also an emotion

[@aaron75fy]

@@maxkernfeld7928 I disagree about it being narrow minded, emotion I have seen does indeed cloud judgment. it can and has prevented many from seeing the bigger picture, that's why you have to put your feelings second and see what is fair and just for the moment with a cooler head

[@maxkernfeld7928]

Aaron Page not the point. Read it again...

[@nmorgan7170]

Did you leave the Thalmor intelligence found in the chest on Ulric out of the video on purpose? The dragon born can find it when on the idiotic mission for the Blades. Apparently Ulfric was allowed to escape Tamriel by the elves to sow unrest as an unknowing dupe, so.... more idiocy?

[@justelliot4870]

Ulfric is playing right into the hands of the thalmor, even if he doesn't know it. If he is, like many suspect, a thalmor sleeper agent, he is actually very, very smart.

[@dutchpatriot17]

I wouldn't say an unknowing dupe - he established direct and cooperative contact with the Thalmor after the Great War, and proved his worth as an asset to them. He was a bit stupid by organizing the Markarth Incident though, as the Thalmor demanded he be arrested. That's why he became uncooperative to them.

[@armedwombat6816]

Yeah. I mean, how terrible do you have to be at your job when your enemies consider you an unwitting assert on their behalf?

[@Viraak795]

i don't believe this could be used against Ulfric he didn't know he was allowed to escape.

[@XenrickDHeart]

Nick Morgan isn't the point of a sleeper agent being that said sleeper agent does not know anything about it?

[@lauriallantorni3761]

Long live the Secret Khajit empire

[@aleph1057]

skyrim may belong to the nords but everything in it belong to khajiit

[@rvbxn04]

Pussy Riot

[@AlastorTheNPDemon]

@@aleph1057 Perfect.

[@AlastorTheNPDemon]

I can roll with that.

[@richardlionerheart1945]

Thalmor and empire are warring it out while khajiit are smugling fully automatic rifles and rpg-7s

[@Not-an-Alien]

The empire tried to execute me. Im not helping them. Enemy of my enemy.

[@rlowellm]

The only time I've ever joined the Stormcloaks was when I played as a high elf RP'ing as a spy for the Thalmor to continue instigating chaos in Skyrim.

[@pearsemolloy9656]

If you were playing as a Thalmor loyalist then you shouldn’t get involved in the war at all and just let it drag out lol

[@aarontribula6480]

@@pearsemolloy9656 I mean the thalmore would definitely prefer the stormcloaks to win

[@pearsemolloy9656]

@@aarontribula6480 ideally they want neither side to win. The Thalmor dossier on Ulfric says that a stormcloak victory should also be avoided. By helping either side win you are technically thwarting the Thalmor’s plans. Sure if one side is to win it’s better that it be the stormcloaks but that is still not the ideal scenario for them they don’t want the civil war to end at all.

[@Resursator]

I played as a high elf and first thing I did - joining mages. And this fucking thalmor tried to assassinate me. So I've joined the imperials later just to pay them back, so the empire has more chances to strike back thalmor.

[@Brelicity]

I like it

[@ronaldmcdonaldtrump4446]

I join the stormcloacks in my first play through 1. Because Ralof was charismatic 2. The empire tried to execute me Note skyrim is my first elder scroll game so i didn't know the lore Elves vs Humans Now i side with the empire

[@aceshotz5051]

I blame Todd for #2 why some people hate the empire just because they tried to execute you but gotta realize that for whatever reason Dragonborn crossed the boarder illegally and therefore was going to be executed

[@ra_alf9467]

Are you a soldier, I want to be a soldier. But my pa said I don't have a belly to be a soldier. He was right, I'm a fucking pretty princess.

[@jwmorse5221]

Skyrim is for the Nords!!!

[@willianyano8596]

@@aceshotz5051 right, trying to leave the country and getting executed for it is so fair. What happened at Helgen, with the incompetent Imperial sending you to be executed was just a microcosmus of how bad the things are for the Empire.

[@aceshotz5051]

Gato Preto well it’s more of results of the war. Look at the Cold War for example when Eastern Germans tried to cross the boarder they would get immediately shot for crossing the boarder. War has unfortunate consequences does that make the Empire good people? No but they aren’t the Thalmor. The Stormcloaks aren’t saints either you know

[@TheMock5000]

I walked around windhelm and asked myself "Is this really a city ruled by a hero?"

[@randomfox12245]

And the defense is always "well the dunmer were douchebags in Morrowind." Always amuses me because the only response I ever have to that is "so we agree Ulfric is just as bad as the dunmer in Morrowind were?"

[@Glumbus1]

@@randomfox12245 shut up n'wah

[@warrioroflight6872]

@@randomfox12245 Exactly, two wrongs don't make a right. Besides, Dunmer may have long lives, but is there any evidence to say that those living in the Gray Quarter were responsible for the filth and stains of their culture and society? Why should an individual be punished for their society's crimes?

[@smartalex22]

@@warrioroflight6872 I mean, the Nord's embrace anyone who embraces their culture and works hard to intigrate. That's why an Altmer is able to run a lucrative trading stand alongside Nord shop keepers while the Dunmer cope and seethe in the gray quarter. An ALTMER. You know, the primary population of the Dominion? Heck, the guards even point you toward shops in the gray quarter!

[@keyburri3095]

@@warrioroflight6872 My favorite is that the same people who say "well the dunmer were racist slavers back in Morrowind" are GUARANTEED people that also didn't kill Partysnax even though he also was a bad person from a bad society in the past

[@josepablobonillajimenez6297]

Everyone discuses the duel itself but very few people question if the duel should've even happened in the first place, according to Elisif, Torygg was not only a worshipper of Talos but he admired Ulfric, and if he had come to ask him its possible that he would've sided with him, in other words Ulfric passed a great chance at Diplomacy just because in his hotheadedness he needed to demonstrate his "power" when he could've secured an alliance with the High king himself or at least come to an agreement, knowing this is part of why I almost all the time choose empire

[@nn-db4fw]

Torygg should have spoken out about his stance, but he didn't, which made him a coward. Torygg got what he deserved.

[@hellraiser338]

He's so damn arrogant and hotheaded while Elisif seems compassionate and empathetic.

[@mohamedbelkacem9889]

Because many saw the high king as a naiive fool who was more interested in entertaining his queen that running his country. Had he just joined ulfric then those bitter towards the high king would also be bitter towards ulfric, it would be just politicians passing power. Killing the high king wasn't about the throne, it's about sending a message.

[@redwings0142]

@@hellraiser338yeah but you can tell she’s way in over her head. She’s a weak leader and imperial puppet. Something members of her own court point out and take advantage of.

[@JZjzred]

Don't trust vampires my dude.

[@frostycane5134]

I always felt that Bethesda kinda wanted you to join with the Stormcloaks, even though that would lead to making Skyrim weak. Think about it - in the beginning of the Game you are captured by imperials. - at the chopping block the legate doesn’t care that your not a rebel and puts you to the chopping block. ( even though we know that in Skyrim the death penalty is usually reserved for rebels or unholy creations, as shown by guards simply trying to apprehend you even with a bounty exceeding 1000 gold) - you are more likely to feel a kinship with ralof as he is the first character you meet in game - not knowing anything about any other elder scroll games a new player will simply see the empire outlawing freedom of religion. Put a sense of bigotry towards the empire Over all it seems that the game is kinda pushing you towards the Stormcloaks

[@sameraiza5767]

Because the empire are the bad guys. The empire have a torture chamber, the Stormcloaks don't. That Legate was working directly under general Tulius, he's ok with killing innocent people without trial

[@eyeballjay]

Maybe it's trying to teach players to actually think about their choices and take everything into account rather than taking stuff at face value..or maybe Bethesda are just lazy lmao

[@jahrhome]

That is exactly my experience. Skyrim was my first introduction to the elder scrolls

[@Logan_93]

No, they want you to read between the lines and not take things at face value.

[@benbutton4193]

I agree with you. When the game first released, i remember getting a lot of shit from everyone else because i sided with the empire. The main reason most folks join the rebellion is heavily influenced by being captured and quick to kill. You're literally headed towards your death and one of your captured companions is Ulric himself. When you add in the fact the game is massive with hundreds of other stories and missions, fully understanding the implications of the civil war gets lost when that story line is easily forgotten with hundreds of hours of gameplay. I remember feeling very frustrated because i recognized the dominions threat and felt like i should have been able to convince both sides into a peace treaty but by doing so, the game forced me into joining the Empire. I leaned that way anyways but my goal was to unite them overall. It felt like my attempts to remain neutral were wasted. As an opportunist myself, i also figured having both sides friendly would be financially beneficial for my character as well as safer traveling while i'm out exploring. Bethesda did a better job with decision making in FO4. Especially with the far harbor dlc. It actually allowed you to keep the peace. Perhaps Ulfric was truly intended to be a god damn idiot. A representation of how no matter how much you try, you can't always predict the actions or influence the person who can't see past their own nose. No matter what, that civil war couldn't be prevented.

[@pikaboi4408]

When i first played this game i didnt pay attention to any of the lore. i just looked at windhelm and taught "man this place sucks, always gloomy weather around here" So i hung out more in other cities and eventually joined the empire.

[@legiohysterius4624]

Fair

[@prestonhunt6206]

Chad solitude vs virgin Windhelm

[@darthlazurus4382]

I see Ulfric as a traumatised survivor. His torture at the hands of the Thalmor and the lie that his breaking helped contribute to the fall of the Imperial City would have given him insane guilt. I'm pretty sure that Ulfric secretly blames himself for the White-Gold Concordate and the Outlaw of Talos Worship. His belief that the Empire is weak? How else did the information he gave lead to the fall of the Greatest City in the Greatest Empire? Why didn't the Empire save him while he was being tortured? Not justifying his actions, I'm just theorizing his motives.

[@joe_youtube]

This is a really interesting perspective

[@darthlazurus4382]

@@joe_youtube Thank you both.

[@darthlazurus4382]

@Kenzie Waltz Not at all, I'm chill. Given that the Thalmor Dossier was an internal document that strictly was eyes only, I'm of the opinion it was all true.

[@forreal2624]

He killed the High King. He doesn’t deserve mercy. He made a widow who literally did nothing to him.

[@darthlazurus4382]

@@forreal2624 I didn't make any such suggestion. I was only guessing how his head worked.

[@marcosangelmedina5845]

Nordic: "SKYRIM BELONGS TO THE NORDS!" Snow Elf: "WTF ARE YOU SAYING?"

[@spiker.ortmann]

Argonians and khajiits "encrypting" imperial missives in "Navajo code": 😒

[@larpdude7308]

Can we appreciate his VA at least? That emotion!

[@litewave5186]

VA did an *amazing* job of portraying his character. Kudos to him. I still hate Ulfric and his ideologies are idiotic.

[@kamixakadio2441]

Indeed. Despite how much i dislike his actions and motives, His voice actor fucking Slaps the role.

[@ZirkaZironka]

As much as I hate Ulfric, damn his VA did a good job, and even if I don't argee with him, one hell of a speech he delivered too!

[@nobodyimportant4778]

"If he was elected, he must have been a man of some intelligence" *glances at the world leaders of today I don't know if I'd say that...

[@Rosibrosibuns]

nobody important I snorted my coffee out of my nose, and it feels like I almost drowned. Thanks a lot.

[@Kellethorn]

Lol, agreed....

[@McPedro96]

Make Skyrim Great Again

[@Kellethorn]

@Crynaotlod a "very stable genius" hahaha

[@fred5594]

Kim Jon Un: hides

[@EatWave]

Torygg's old court mage Sybille Stentor suggests that Torygg may have been about to go over to Ulfric's side before he challenged him to a duel. Had he just waited a short while longer, then Skyrim as a whole could have rebelled against the Thalmor once again.

[@ajunta2270]

Interesting. Though Ulfric would have had no way of knowing that...

[@mapleflag6518]

@@ajunta2270 Even if he did I imagine he would still challenge him because he wants to be high king.

[@JZjzred]

She's biased and a vampire. Also, according to the owner of bits and pieces, all Torygg did in his speeches was talk about "the Empire this and the Empire that."

[@johnroscoe2406]

@@JZjzred simply being a vampire has no relevance, and to insinuate that pro-imperial bias is worse than pro-rebel bias by conspicuously stating her bias but making no mention of anyone else's is dishonest. Also, it's a fucking video game. The Stormcloaks, like the Imperials, are not real. These aren't real things.

[@Direwolf9818]

@@mapleflag6518I doubt it as long as Torryg could prove he wasn’t an imperial puppet Ulfirc probably would have trusted him.

[@naotohex]

Its even more frustrating when you think about how the banning of Talos wasn't even enforced until the civil war. The empire basically let people continue with people praying they just didn't want it to be super public so they can fend off the war with the Thalmor for longer. By having Ulfric win the civil war they basically doomed all of Skyrim just so they could openly pray a few years earlier.

[@jimbeam8338]

To be fair the Thalmor were already hunting people down, torturing and killing them for suspected Talos worship, so.....

[@kaleidoscope3234]

@@jimbeam8338 Thalmor wasn't even allowed inside the Empire, or Skyrim for that matter, up until the rebellion. Elewen's dossiers highlighted how beneficial Ulfric's rebellion was to the Thalmor as it gave them perfect reasoning to send insquisitors into Skyrim. Basically all the fk up things that Ulfric rebelled the Empire for was all caused by him and his rebellion.

[@freziaplanet4198]

If they actually win the dragonborn is on their side, and end game dragon born also has an army of dragons. I'm farily sure Skyrim would do just fine.

[@legion4902]

​@@freziaplanet4198 PARTHURNAAX has an army of dragons, not the dragonborn. Parthurnaax wouldn't help any side. There is only one dragonborn.

[@masveil]

​@@freziaplanet4198not the army. Maybe just 2 dragon atleast. I'm sure paartunax doesn't want to join any mortal war. Odaviing and duhrenviir maybe want to help.

[@t.b.cont.]

After playing through the stormcloak quest line all those years ago I felt like an asshole, because I essentially just put an egomaniac into power and there was a lot of evidence to suggest that he only wanted to be in power and didn’t really care for his people that much. I couldn’t really sympathize with his cause after that and I have a hard time seeing how people still can

[@GhostBear3067]

I did not care for either side of the Skyrim Civil War, so I just killed both Ulfric and General Tullius. What do I care, there are dragons to deal with.

[@GhostBear3067]

@alvi syahri not for the main quest.

[@OldPanther]

@@GhostBear3067 No they are essential as in the game doesn't allow you to kill them. It's a designation within the game mechanics.

[@GhostBear3067]

@@OldPanther then WTF happened in the copy I got to play?

[@OldPanther]

@@GhostBear3067 No idea. You're suppose to only be able to kill one as part of the quest.

[@hopadamaron9928]

To top this off when you do the peace treaty with the imperials and stormcloaks, you see that Ulfric is more impatient, power hungry, and more focused on his speeches than the meeting. Even after the meeting you can tell that Ulfuc only cares about himself when he immediately leaves while general Tullius stays to discuss the dragon threat. Also Tullius in the meeting was a lot more reasonable and more mature than Ulfric.

[@lukec2004]

Both were unreasonable, unless you sided with them, when talking to you they basically have the same dialog

[@dutchpatriot17]

@@lukec2004 No they don't. A neutral Dragonborn does the following: 1. Lets Elenwen stay, since she's part of the Imperial delegation, and thus has a right to be there 2. Trades Markarth for Riften 3. Does nothing else. That's a fair deal, and the only one throwing a tantrum there is Ulfric.

[@hopadamaron9928]

General Falco yes the entire negotiation was just Ulfric complaining

[@SevereArtisan]

@@dutchpatriot17 Pretty much. And even if you send Elenwen away, Ulfric is always the first to speak up and start the demands, wanting Markarth. It's only after that when Tullius starts getting understandably snippy.

[@sebastjankrek1744]

@@dutchpatriot17 "Let Elenwen stay" Of course Ulfric is pissed off, she is literally a Thalmor who should never get to participate in the fate of skyrim to any extent.

[@ivancerecer5758]

I regretted helping him the moment i realised that he made me go on a quest to get a stupid crown, only for him to never wear it

[@felynecomrade]

Yea that's a flaw of the game. I'm as diehard Stormcloak as they come and even I'm like "C'mon bro, wear the damn crown, you alone have the right to."

[@RyanBlazeheart]

You can give the crown to tullius

[@ladyrendarkstrider2398]

Like RyanBlazeheart said, you can give the Crown to Tullius, and switching sides along with it, if you regret joining Stormcloaks.

[@JZjzred]

It's for the High King to wear and the moot hasn't voted for him to be that yet. It's actually honorable he doesn't throw it on as soon as you get it to him.

[@Direwolf9818]

No it gives him more leverage to be High King, Bethesda should have added a moot as a dlc and choosing and expanding the civil war instead of dawngaurd imo

[@dylanplumley280]

I wish there was a mod that, after the civil war, had visible changes and events for the winning side. Like the Elisif becoming high queen and the moot being called and she is elected. Following her becoming high queen after the moot she wears the jagged crown and has much nicer attire and she gets that imperial legion parade she wanted which there would be a quest that the dragonborn helps prepare it. With an imperial victory there is a massive festival in solitude with fanfares and all kinds of stuff. Dragonborn given some fancy title for supporting the victory in the civil war. Same thing for the stormcloaks, ulfric gets the moot and they elect him as high king and he gets new drip and wears the jagged crown. Festival in windhelm. It is honestly something that should have been in the game anyway. If I ever learn how to mod, Ill make it myself.

[@frankshcleuterbomb2538]

Sounds awesome! You should totally do this!

[@dylanplumley280]

@@frankshcleuterbomb2538 I am pretty much planning to do this. I just need a computer powerful enough to mod, let alone run Skyrim. Nonetheless it is on the long term to do list. If I ever manage to pull it off it will probably be on nexus mods.

[@WatchtowerSeven]

This does sound pretty dope. Have you started working on it yet?

[@pawecebula248]

My cousins reason why ulfric is good: Because he didn't want to cut my head off at the beginning of the game Me: Bruh

[@SirDankleberry]

Smoll brain time.

[@themudpit621]

Only a fool would join up and and fight with the group of people that tried to kill them for no just reason, and only a foolish group would accept such a fighter! Smart cousin.

[@pruthweeshasalian3688]

Your cousin seems naive, and made the right choice, for the wrong reasons lol.

[@AcelJean]

He never had the fucking chance...

[@ARCHER-ch4xn]

that's mostly the reasons why players who sided with the Stormcloaks reason with

[@bughugger6774]

If Windhelm is how Ulfric manages a single city under the pressure of a civil war, I'd hate to see how he would manage all of Skyrim while at war with the Thalmor :-\

[@pruthweeshasalian3688]

To be fair, Windhelm is among the most woke and progressive of all Skyrim holds. It's the only hold that actually received and accommodated a substantial refugee influx, in the form of the Dunmer refugees who fled the Red Mountain eruption. Not to mention the climate of Windhelm is, well, not exactly designed for prosperity, let's say, unlike Solitude or Whiterun.

[@Ultimaton100]

@@pruthweeshasalian3688 The refugees in Windhelm didn’t really resettle there as a matter of choice and it wasn’t because of the good graces of the Nords living there. That city just happened to be the closest to the northwestern end of Morrowind where the majority of Dunmer refugees escaped to after the eruption of the Red Mountain and the Argonian invasion. Seeing the conditions the refugees are forced to live in, with some being banned from even entering the city itself due to their race alone, along with the casual and overt racism they suffer at the hands of local Nords like Rolff Stone-Fist is proof that when it comes to tolerance and inclusion, Windhelm is not by any means the best location for either in Skyrim. Heck, even after the civil war if the player sides with the Empire, the new Jarl who is more tolerant than most of the local Nords states that even with Ulfric gone things can’t improve for the refugees too fast because of resistance from the Nord population, and some refugees still need to remain outside the city for their own safety.

[@pruthweeshasalian3688]

@@Ultimaton100 > some refugees still need to remain outside the city for their own safety. You're only proving my point here, bud. Argonians are barred entry because of the bad blood between themselves and the Dunmer who historically enslaved them. > That city just happened to be the closest to the northwestern end of Morrowind where the majority of Dunmer refugees escaped to after the eruption of the Red Mountain and the Argonian invasion. I never said anything that insinuates Windhelm isn't the closest Nord city to Morrowind or that its proximity to Morrowind is the reason for its substantial refugee presence. > ... along with the casual and overt racism they suffer at the hands of local Nords like Rolff Stone-Fist is proof ... As I have mentioned elsewhere in one of my comments, the motivation for Rolff and other seemingly racist Nords is not the fact that non-Nords are different, but the fact that non-Nords are largely indifferent to Nord suffering. If you listened carefully, you'd know that Rolff and his mate reprimand the Dunmer woman for refusing to support the rebellion against Imerial tyranny. There is at least one Dunmer, namely Belyn Hlaalu, who has earned the respect of the Nords of Windhelm, by running a farm and paying taxes to untlimately aid the Stormcloak rebellion. It's easy to brand people as being "racist" but it takes honesty and patience to see the entire picture and study the motivations for people's behaviours. For the record, I'm not condoning Rolff's actions. I'm merely suggesting he doesn't hate Dunmer for their existence, but because of their neutrality and unwillinglness to help his political interests. All said and done, Windhelm still is the single most refugee-laden city in Skyrim, its geographical position notwithstanding; and other holds/cities have no authority to virtue-signal Windhelm merely because they haven't handled a refugee crisis of similar scale.

[@EthanL21800]

@@pruthweeshasalian3688 regardless Windhelm is still a shit hole

[@johnwilson6324]

@@Ultimaton100 You act as if the Dunmer wouldn't have done even worse to the Nords just like they did to the Argonians. They want inclusion? They can find it in Morrowind.

[@jesterjake88]

Reasons I always support the empire. Besides even general tullious hinted at the fact that the empire is trying to bide it's time and consolidate its strength mentioning "you never know when we might face off against them again, but we will keep that between us"

[@calmtree6521]

He didn’t even hint he basically outright stated

[@rixille]

The thing is, even the Stormcloaks are a threat. If you read the thalmor dossiers; you will see that the Stormcloaks are only useful in their rebellious state. The dossier mentions to "keep them under control and to not let them win"; implying a Stormcloak victory is a threat to the Thalmor.

[@jesterjake88]

@@rixille they don't understand commerce or the full picture of what a war would take to achieve victory against the thalmor. Yes the thalmor perceive the stormcloaks as a threat but not in the way you think it mentions later that the thalmor actually benefits from trade with the empire and deemed it more lucrative not to rule over them or destroy them. The stormcloaks would ruin not just themselves but just taking over skyrim wouldn't thwart the empire. Example if the stormcloaks won then the empire would have no choice but to request help from the thalmor to take skyrim back. This is terrible for all parties involved. In order to secure thalmor help the empire would be indebted to them indefinitely and further harming any chances of getting free from the thalmors influence

[@rixille]

@@jesterjake88 The Thalmor want to destroy the towers of Nirn so they can re-ascend to their place as gods; they don't care about trade or commerce, they simply use things as a means to an end. The peace treaty is just a convenience for them to deliberate their next moves at annexing territory so they can destroy the towers in lands they aim to conquer. The Empire's weakened state means they are incapable of protecting other lands, as is evidenced by how they withdrew from Morrowind during the oblivion crisis, and that was even before the war with the Aldmeri dominion. Basically, it doesn't matter if the empire is destroyed or not, the rest of the world is being left behind or siphoned of its life and resources to keep up a fragile state incapable of reciprocating to its subject lands. Skyrim could arguably bolster its standing army once the Empire is driven out, since it would not be subject to imperial taxes and its natural resources would be distributed to all the holds for quick rebuilding. Who knows what Bethesda is going to do with them though, the writing can be inconsistent at times.

[@jesterjake88]

@@rixille but you're talking theoreticals... they even admit in skyrim that trade is good for both the empire and the aldmeri dominion. Besides the fact that ulfric is a prejudice psychopath hellbent more on domination than liberation, i really have my doubts that he would be what's best for skyrim as a province despite the empires short comings and again general Tullius admits also that the empire is still pursuing Avenues of war with the the thalmor and if we look to the red guards which are allies of the empire they too think a united front with the empire is a better idea than separate provinces trying to fight the aldmeri dominion alone individually....

[@creativename7230]

Ulfric the pretender uses this holy war as leverage in order to pursue the empires pretty damn tasty nachos

[@creativename7230]

@Brandon Quist it was a gamerpoop video that was popular

[@sethwell2552]

Video posted by The Empire Gang, Long Live Tullius

[@bloodjunky9214]

I bet you love bending over for those damm elves. Empire has no balls. Praise Thalos Biach

[@SirDankleberry]

@@bloodjunky9214 Talo's created the fucking Empire. The Stormcloaks spit in Talo's face by destroying what he created in his mortal life.

[@michaelhowze8198]

@@bloodjunky9214 Thalmor spy you can't even spell the great Talos correctly.

[@s4ndr3x98]

Empire gang

[@hangmingzhang5067]

@@SirDankleberry Talos would be fucking pissed about ten years before Ulfric started the rebellion. The empire did jack didley squat for decades.

[@aiden-sy3ex]

Thalmor Dossier: Ulfric Stormcloak: Status: Asset (uncooperative), Dormant, Emissary Level Approval Description: Jarl of Windhelm, leader of the Stormcloak rebellion, Inperial Legion veteran Background: Ulfric first came to our attention during the First War against the Empire, when he was taken as a prisoner of war during the campaign for the White-Gold Tower. Under interrogation, we learned of his potential value (son of the Jarl of Windhelm) and he was assigned as an asset to the interrogator, who is now First Emissary Elenwen. He was made to believe information obtained during his interrogation was crucial in the capture of the Imperial City (the city had in fact fallen before he had broken), and then allowed to escape. After the war, contact was established and he has proven his worth as an asset. The so-called Markarth Incident was particularly valuable from the point of view of our strategic goals in Skyrim, although it resulted in Ulfric becoming generally uncooperative to direct contact. Operational Notes: Direct contact remains a possibility (under extreme circumstances), but in general the asset should be considered dormant. As long as the civil war proceeds in its current indecisive fashion, we should remain hands-off. The incident at Helgen is an example where an exception had to be made - obviously Ulfric's death would have dramatically increased the chance of an Imperial victory and thus harmed our overall position in Skyrim. (NOTE: The coincidental intervention of the dragon at Helgen is still under scrutiny. The obvious conclusion is that whoever is behind the dragons also has an interest in the continuation of the war, but we should not assume therefore that their goals align with our own.) A Stormcloak victory is also to be avoided, however, so even indirect aid to the Stormcloaks must be carefully managed. ~Book End~ Remember my friends, the rebellion is only helping the Thalmor

[@laurene988]

The one thing I like about ulfric is his speech at the beginning of this video. It's full of logical fallacies but there's one thing that rings true : 'I fight for the men who came home only to find their homeland filled with strangers wearing their friends faces' Not only is that just a genuinely good line with great delivery it kind of makes me think that Ulfric doesn't actually really care about the talos ban, he's just after being so traumatized by the war and his imprisonment that he just doesn't know how to settle back down and live his normal life. And of course with skyrim being the culture it is he can't complain about the toll fighting has taken on him so he just goes out to find another war. Anything to distract him from the life he no longer recognizes. It's kind of sad honestly. He doesn't mind dying in this fight he's started because hopefully he'll be able to get the peace he lost in sovereignguard.

[@dutchpatriot17]

That's a new one. One that makes, sort of, sense.

[@jonquilgemstone]

Ulfric: I fight for the wives and children of my dead brothers! Also Ulfric: *endangers the wives and children of his dead brothers* Ulfric: I fight for my people! Also Ulfric: *neglects his people bc he can't multitask or even properly delegate*

[@scotch1148]

The Empire: We were preparing for a second war with the Aldmeri Dominion, no, really! And you ruined it! Also the Empire: *Signs a peace treaty crippling their power further and embedding Thalmor agents all throughout, making a second war with the Aldmeri Dominion impossible.* The Empire: We weren't really outlawing Talos worship! We only had to when Ulfric forced us by bringing attention to it! Also the Empire: *Allows Thalmor to root out Talos worshippers, kidnap, torture and murder them*

[@TheUnseenPath]

@@scotch1148 They were forced to do it because of the rebellion and if the nords win, thalmor win. They want Skyrim weaker. It's a tough call.

[@scotch1148]

@@TheUnseenPath Skyrim wouldn't end up weaker, the Thalmor want the civil war to draw imperial resources, but they don't want it to end, especially not in a Stormcloak victory. An imperial victory is still bad for the people of Skyrim though. Skyrim remains as it is, with relatively few warriors as they've all been conscripted into the Empire, if the Imperial capital falls, and the war against the Aldmeri Dominion ends in a Thalmor victory, they now have access to a naturally impenetrable region such as Skyrim with little opposition. If the Stormcloaks win, the Stormcloaks now have an easily defendable region, with few entrances, harsh terrain in favour of the people of Skyrim, and not to mention that for the Thalmor to invade they'd need to go through one of their enemies' regions to reach it. Skyrim would probably help somewhat if their neighbours were being invaded by the Aldmeri Dominion, since they obviously don't want them to succeed. The only scenario in which they might not is if the imperials are attacked, but even then, I think it's possible that Skyrim might still help and intervene, since an imperial loss may doom everyone eventually.

[@ryanchase9332]

@@scotch1148 Except that a Stormcloak victory practically assures the rampant slaughter of peoples not of Nord blood with Skyrim's borders, crippling Skyrim's infrastructure.

[@celegon410]

@@ryanchase9332 stormcloaks arent nazis my man

[@twiphead]

I love how we can have discussions about the politics of a virtual world, Bethesda made something special here. What a time ti be alive.

[@ibtiago18]

I imagine that the fact that Aventus Aretino is sent to the orphanage while Sophie is left wondering the streets as proof of Ulfric not paying nearly enough attention to his own city. In theory at least the Aretino's estate should allow Aventus to stay at home with a guardian, while Sophie, who has nothing and lives on the streets) should have been sent to an orphanage. Yet, Ulfric is so busy with his rebellion that he left those matters to some oficial who didn't care to do their job properly.

[@damackabet.4611]

Happens, corrupt officials and useless officials on every side, but ulfric is leading an entire rebellion at moment, he had to create his faction from scratch. The empire already had theirs set up.

[@TheRedRaccoonDog]

Ulfric: I fight FOR THE SUNK COST FALLACY!

[@resolutionblaze363]

Its also good to note that, further delegitimizing the Moot, its said that Ulfric stationed Stormcloaks in every city he captured during the war. So even if the Jarls wanted to vote otherwise, Ulfric would just use his Stormcloaks to intimidate them to vote 'correctly' or have them replace them with another Jarl. At least when the Empire wins, sure, they remove the pro-stormcloak Jarls, but they otherwise don't meddle with the Moot that would take place.

[@redwings0142]

The Imperials would make sure Elisif took the throne, even if they had to do a little "persuading". The EMPIRE would absolutely play backroom politics, or even resort to more overt measures to influence the moot to crown their candidate if the need arose.

[@cookieaddict5956]

​@@redwings0142nope, based on what?

[@Yamaha4335GS]

The people have made it clear that they just want the Jarls to get on with it and get Skexit done.

[@ddipster9342]

S k e x i t

[@ArmchairChemist]

lol, that was cringeworthy

[@brig.gen.georgiiisserson7226]

wtf did I just read

[@quandaledingle4488]

I wish there was an option to start your own faction and just name yourself high king of Skyrim

[@podroznikzpustkowi4805]

You know there is that thing called a moot or something like that

[@MHurley21]

I can't remember who, but an NPC does mention that while Talos worship was "outlawed", it wasn't really enforced and everyone hsd their own private shrine to Talos until Ulfric and the Stormcloaks began making waves about it, which drew the Thalmor's attention and forced the Empire to crack down. All because Ulfric is an egotistical jackass.

[@haslamabad_]

the blacksmith in riverweood

[@percussionfellow6168]

Fascism 101; invent a non-existent problem in order to gain power to quell it.

[@thebk247]

Are you talking about Igmund, who hired Ulfric to retake the Reach and promised Ulfric and his militia free worship in return. Then turned around and arrested Ulfric and his men because the Thalmor found out? Yeah… totally Ulfrics fault…. Not.

[@cookieaddict5956]

@@thebk247 it is though? Its how he went about it.

[@thebk247]

@@cookieaddict5956 how did he go about it? Ulfric did what Igmund hired him to do.

[@okaypal5213]

Ulfric was just a power hunger, bloodthirsty, warlord. He caused more death to the nords, and way more distress. The choice was easy picking the imperials

[@jamesmccloud7535]

@Dark Light good choice

[@billybob5553]

@Dark Light good choice

[@aneeq2479]

@Dark Light good choice

[@dinoburre9826]

best choice!

[@rixille]

And you think the Imperials are any better, with the Imperial-backed Jarls being crooks? The Imperials are trash, they aren't even ruled by an proper emperor. They are just decadent fools.

[@Treegonaut]

Basically I'll put it this way Side with empire = long term victory and survival for Skyrim Side with stormcloaks = short term victory for skyrim but long term a future filled with nothing more than chaos, violence, bankrupt economy and starvation.

[@SlappedRat]

In other words, all Chaotic Neutral and Evil characters must be Stormcloaks.

[@derpro8125]

The Empire is not equipped to deal with the Aldmeri Dominion at all. They already lost.

[@Pl9906]

I understand that the Stormcloaks aren't perfect but neither is the Empire a fact that most TES fans seem to be oblivious to. The Empire already lost the Great War soundly. They signed a treaty to regain strength but guess what... The Thalmor are doing the same thing. Do anyone seriously believe that the Thalmor are just waiting and they don't know that the Empire are waiting and are "biding their time" before the next war. The Empire isn't even trying to win allies such as Hammerfell that just won a war against the Thalmor. They aren't trying to win back the support of the Khajiit or the Bosmer. The Empire is just like a pig waiting for slaughter. They are waiting and bowing to people that execute their people for slight suspicions of worshiping Thalos. The Empire lost the right to rule over Tamriel the second they let their people die at the hands of their enemy. The Thalmor in Skyrim answers to no one. At least the Stormcloaks defend their people and their freedom. Maybe the Civil War will weaken the Empire but the Empire is just as responsible for the Civil War than the Stormcloaks. Maybe a Stormcloak victory and a free Skyrim could help to forge an alliance with the recently freed Hammerfell. Maybe not but it sure as hell is better than to sit, wait and do nothing. If the Empire had something resembling a plan I would gladly support the Empire and I am sure that the Stormcloaks would also, but sadly they dont.

[@Treegonaut]

The Stormcloak shills are out and about ladies and gentlemen

[@derrickbonsell]

Except your example of what would happen if the Stormcloaks win is what is already the case.

[@fawnieee]

Never played Skyrim in my life, only Oblivion, yet I'm obsessed with these videos.

[@jsmooth7160]

Especially if you get the inigo mod

[@viva6235]

Dude, you'll be hooked. Give it a shot. It's super cheap now too.

[@i-evi-l]

Skyrim is hella fun dude. Even without mods is a great game. Just be prepared to hate draugr and falmer.

[@grefsteel3989]

bitch please, go buy the game for a few dollars on g2a and play it

[@BroadwayRonMexico]

Honestly, the biggest things that proved to me that he's the worse choice are 1) what Hadvar and his uncle say about how before Ulfric started his revolt and the Thalmor started being active in Skyrim, there was no enforcement whatsoever of the ban on Talos worship 2) he not only lets the Silver-Bloods keep running Markarth with all of their corruption (without them, the Forsworn wouldnt be the massive problem they are), but outright makes it an official family feifdom for them (whereas the Empire was actively investigating their corruption and conspiracy with the Forsworn) 3) his "if you're not with me, then you're against me" mindset that leads him to invade the neutral Whiterun and make them side with the Empire, even without the Dragonborn on his side (which given Whiterun's position, would have been strategic suicide without the LDB) 4) everything about his duel with the former high king was retarded on his part 5) he doesnt even realize that the Thalmor covertly back his rebellion

[@mayalewis2956]

fun fact the forsworn do rightfully own markarth/the reach but bethesda decided to fuck up their writing making these tribes out to be little more than savage bandits not people pissed they were tricked out of thier own city

[@BroadwayRonMexico]

@@mayalewis2956 It belongs to Reachmen rightfully, yes. But not all Reachmen are Forsworn, which is a cult/rebellion movement among Reachmen. All of the "Breton" NPCs in Markarth are actually Reachmen, and most of them aren't demon-worshipping brutal savages like the Forsworn are. And the Silver-Bloods' corruption and brutal rule are what led a lot of Reachmen to join up with the Forsworn in the first place

[@mayalewis2956]

@@BroadwayRonMexico I really wished they did something like eso with the forsworn/reachmen it was fun getting to know them as a people even if markarth still confused the hell outta me XD

[@johanliebert9400]

I thought he is working for thalmor all along .

[@mayalewis2956]

@@johanliebert9400 no, he's helping them alright but he doesn't realise it and it still pisses me off that we find proof and can't show him

[@Abdega]

7:40 It does *kinda* make sense to have people who can breathe water work at the docks. Jerk move to force them there though

[@arbiteras]

Ignorant comment, as you haven't researched enough, Windhelm's racial rule is something that was done to prevent dark elves and argonians to kill each other since the dark elves enslaved the argonians for centuries.

[@Abdega]

Clone Stormtrooper I am indeed ingnorant to the lore. That’s why I’m watching a lore video

[@arbiteras]

Just as you know, this isn't a lore video, this is a biased guy's opinion on Skyrim's civil war and Ulfric. If you really care about lore, google "Skyrim Lore: The civil war", and you'll get all details, like the Markarth incident, the thalmor interference and the motivations of both factions.

[@Khoros-Mythos]

Ulfric doesn't force them to live anywhere. The CHOOSE to stay in Skyrim and refuse to leave.

[@kanorcubes329]

@@Khoros-Mythos tbh why are dark elves even in skyrim, they already gave solstheim away

[@rustyshackle8000]

There are some people who argue that Ulfric was justified to use the Voice when dueling Torryg, as traditionally, the Thu'um was revered in Skyrim. But the thing is...Torryg didn't know the Voice. And why should he? It takes years and years for someone who isn't Dragonborn to even learn the Voice, years that could be spent learning how to actually run a province. I'd rather have a High King who knows how to run Skyrim than one who knows how to use the Voice. So really, Ulfric would have been justified if Torryg had wasted half his life learning from the Greybeards, and being an overall weaker monarch. Oh, the irony...

[@Werrf1]

"It was a perfectly fair, legal, and honourable duel. Yes, the other guy was armed with a butter knife and a pamphlet entitled "why I like to do it with girls", while I had a Challenger 2 main battle tank, but it was still _perfectly fair!"_

[@bloodjunky9214]

It doesn’t take as long as you think. That’s why all drager can shout. And ulfric was like 20 to 25 when he left the graybeards

[@jedimastertitaniumdickmana2939]

Yeah but let’s not forget that this King was being groomed and manipulated by a vampire i hate the SKs as much as you but it’s better he died for he was a puppet not of the Empire but by something evil and malicious

[@alexanderchippel]

It depends on how it's used. The Grey Beards study The Voice as a means to attain enlightenment. If oakbrook used it for any other purpose other than a weapon in war, then his rule would be a lot more justifiable.

[@jedimastertitaniumdickmana2939]

Umm actually it was the wolf queen that the Vampire was serving

[@luiscesarvianagomes970]

Many people sympathize with the stormclocks, i on the other hand, cant find one single reason to. From the way Ulfric killed Torygg to the way he rules Windhelm, he show to be dishonorable and self-centered, he does not care for the people of skyrim, just for himself. His always talking about how strong and worthy he is, but never leaves the confort of his throne, while skyrim is painted red with the blood of imperials and stormcloaks. But the worst is, he was the one that actually made Thalos worship outlawed, because even if the Empire did outlawed it in paper, they didnt actually enforce it, just see how many statues and shrines there are across Skyrim. The empire only started actually enforcing it when the Thalmor noticed the rebelian and started snooping. Plus, and for me, the final nail in the coffin, is the Thalmor Dossier on Ulfric that clearly states that Ulfric is a Thalmor agent, even if he became a little less inclined for direct contact after some time. But it says that he is still an agent and they could use him, but prefer to watch from affar because the war, as is, benefits their goals. Maybe Ulfric didnt start the war on Thalmor orders, but its hard for me to believe that it has nothing to do with the Thalmor, or that he wouldnt "give" Skyrim to the Thalmor if he was to become high king. And it states clearly "The incident at Helgen is an example where an exception had to be made", if Alduin did not show up, they would have prevented Ulfric's execution.

[@zekun4741]

From the player's perspective, I never understood how anyone could sympathise with the Empire. The game starts off with your character being captured by the Empire when accidentally being around Stormcloak soldiers at the border or Darkwater Crossing, if you're some blonde Nord then the Imperials probably assume that you're a Stormcloak rebel, if any other race, then you're not likely to be a Stormcloak but the empire doesn't care and still transport you to Helgen. Ralof is respectful to you, even if you are not a Nord. At Helgen, even though you are not a known Stormcloak soldier, you don't have the uniform, and they don't even know who your identity, they still decide to execute you along with Lokir, a mere thief, who at best belongs in a jail cell. But Hadvar feels bad about it, I guess, so it makes it better? The Stormcloaks during the execution demonstrate that they are not afraid of dying for their cause. General Tullius does his monologue to a gagged Ulfric, at this point we don't know about this Voice he mentions, but later we find out that if that gag were to be removed, Ulfric could kill Tullius in a second. Then when we hear the dragon noises, Tullius does the typical movie schtick and says "it was nothing" before the dragon arrives and destroys the town. Then, in the chaos, Ralof kills the executioner and tells you to follow him and you run into the tower with Ulfric and some of his soldiers where we hear Ulfic's first line "legends don't burn down villages". There is an injured Stormcloak there and they talk about how they're gonna have to carry him, the Stormcloaks leave no man behind. You go up the tower as even Ulfric tells you to run. During the escape we see a glimpse of Hadvar's heroism, and then we get to decide who to follow. This is such a weird choice because who would actually follow Hadvar given the circumstances? Most people didn't even think it was an option and just went with Ralof. Even if you replay the game, and realise you don't agree with the Stormcloaks, Hadvar is still an asshole compared to Ralof. In the fort, siding with Ralof, we get to kill the captain that wanted our undeserved execution, we get to kill the torturer and his assistant in the torture chamber and then flee outside and travel to Riverwood. If siding with Hadvar, he tries to peacefully reason with the Stormcloaks, which makes him calm and reasonable, I guess, but the Stormcloaks want none of it, which is surprising, why would captives ready to be executed in an enemy fort not want to be friendly with the enemy? Then we get to see the torture chamber, and once again, Hadvar feels bad, this time about the existence of the torture chamber, where we find dead Stormcloaks and civilians in cages, and the torturer laughs about some nonpartisan mage screaming for months after he lost the key to his cage and dying. The rest of the journey to Riverwood is uneventful, but whether siding with Hadvar or Ralof, by the time you reach Riverwood, you will be a Stormcloak sympathiser. When we reach Whiterun, we get to meet the Gray-Manes, the Battle-Borns and the Companions. We discover that most of the Battle-Borns are obnoxious assholes, they are aggressive and self-centred. They brag about their wealth and expect you to know about their families and their feud, and want you to take a side. They also mock the Gray-Manes for having less wealth than them. The Gray-Manes on the other hand are much more humble and likeable, they do boast about being proud Nords and great warriors but are much more bearable than the Battle-Borns. Gray-Manes are also friends of the Companions and Eorlund Gray-Mane will encourage us to free Kodlak Whitemane from Hircine's werewolf curse. Of course, the Gray-Manes are staunch Stormcloak supporters and the Batthe-Borns are Empire loyalists, and the top things off, the Battle-Borns mock the old lady Gray-Mane about her missing son, who they claim they know nothing about, which turns out to be a lie, the Battle-Borns did in fact capture her son Thorald during a battle against Stormcloaks and handed him to the Thalmor, where he is tortured, probably for information that could be used to manipulate the Stormcloaks to their own interests. When/if you rescue Thorald with the help of his brother Avulstein, they say they must go into hiding in Windhelm and will join the Stormcloak army yet again. Vignar claimed that much of the Battle-Borns' wealth comes from the Empire, probably true and possibly even worse, they likely received a nice reward for giving Thorald to the Thalmor. And these are the earliest experiences of the player with the Empire and its supporters. You can later learn that maybe Ulfric has flaws and did some questionable things, therefore shouldn't be High King , and is too proud that he has become short sighted, maybe even think that Imperial victory and stability is better for Skyrim, but I don't see how anyone would like the Empire while not liking many Stormcloaks and understanding why most Nords want the Empire to fuck off.

[@luiscesarvianagomes970]

@@zekun4741 Ok, i am sorry because i just cant read all of that, but i will give you my take from when i first played the game, i when with Hadvar, because he was the one that actually took me through the burning houses into safety, Ralof just left me at the tower saying "jump to where the dragon was 2 seconds ago". Buts its not that i like the characters, but the idea and position. The empire is a union of many/most teritories were every one is welcome, the Stormcloaks are just racists, the very first thing you see when entering Windhelm, the a dark elf being insulted and harassed for no reason, and the worst part, is that this things are actually condoned by Ulfric. But my main point is: there is a clear war going on humans vs altmer, were it not for the White-Gold Concordat, humans would probably be facing extinction or enslaved. And the stormcloacks decide to start a civil war because ON PAPER they cant worship talos. and i say on paper, because you could worship talos, that law was never inforced, untill the civil war started and the Aldmeri dominion started to asking questions. And then the last drop of water... Ulfric is a Aldmeri agent.

[@zekun4741]

@@luiscesarvianagomes970 I did say that Ulfric might be blinded by pride and honour, loves strength a bit too much and is a bit short sighted, but you can understand why Nords are so anti-Empire, if they find the idea of banning Talos, even if mostly unenforced, to be too humiliating, then it's their right, and this happened because a foreign land was forced to make a compromise without any part of Skyrim being occupied. It's clear that half or perhaps even the majority of Nords support secession of Skyrim and the Empire should withdraw from Skyrim, but they can't, because the Thalmor want Skyrim to remain under the Talos ban, as a result the Empire is now fighting in Skyrim and this is why Nords want to fight them off and make them gone. The Empire is willing to kill many Nords to keep Skyrim part of the empire, even though they don't like Nords and Imperial armies don't even have many Nords, so Skyrim is actually weaker as part of the Empire, and the Empire is only fighting the secession because the Thalmor wants them to fight. Regarding the "racism", Windhelm is a legendary city founded by Ysgramor himself, a great and honourable city. The Dunmer refugees turned the Snow Quarter into a crime filled slum, full of violence and thievery to the point that guards don't patrol it, possibly also because the Dunmer don't trust Nord guards, so they let them sort things out amongst themselves. The Dunmer also worship Daedra, which does not make them popular among the Nords. Dunmer also dislike outsiders, so they are bitter about relying on Nord hospitality. It makes perfect sense why the Nords don't like them too much. The two men that insult the Dunmer are two bums, one of them a literal homeless, the other a drunk commoner. It's not like they come from Nord high society. But other than not being in love with the grey elves, the Nords let them go about their business unmolested, and there are many Dunmer and even Altmer who are well liked by the Nords.

[@luiscesarvianagomes970]

@@zekun4741 The Grey Quarter exists, because Ulfric made it, the elfs did not choose to group there, they were forced to live there. Most of Skyrim although not liking it (i agree with you), understood why the Empire signed the White-Gold Concordant... it was a necessity, the Aldmeri Dominion would have killed every human had they did not signed a peace treaty. One that the Empire knew the Thalmor would not honor for long, but it would give the Empire some time to prepare. Either Avarti or TheEpicNate315 (i dont remember which) has an interesting video on this, where he gives his opinion on why the Empire does not send an army to just kill Ulfric and end the civil war. And the Thalmor didnt force the empire to fight in Skyrim, they actually had nothing to do with the rebelion, but do acknowledge that it benefits them. The Empire wants Skyrim to say part of the Empire for multiple reasons: - They know a war is approaching with the Thalmor, and want every one united, not divided. - They dont want to show weakness by losing a country. - The Empire was founded in Skyrim, so it has historical significance. Just to list a few. But look at the real world, how easy has it been for any region to separate from a country and declare independence?

[@zekun4741]

@@luiscesarvianagomes970 The Gray Elves can leave Windhelm whenever they want, but they were given their own area, nothing wrong with that. The Imperials might or might not be right in the long term, and they have good reasons for wanting Skyrim to be part of their Empire, but the Nords don't want to be part of the empire anymore, partly because of the Talos ban, partly because they don't believe an Emperor who is not a Septim or Dragonborn is worthy to be their Emperor, they also want a proper high King and not an imperial puppet. And it's clear that invading an independent Skyrim would be problematic for the Aldimeri Dominion. The Imperials need to fight their own wars and not waste their men in Skyrim's civil war. It's quite clear that without the Empire, the Stormcloaks will overtake every hold. But my initial point was that when you play the game, the Imperials seem very bad and unlikable. The Battle-Borns, General Tullius, Thalmor Agents roaming Skyrim hunting and killing Talos worshippers. It's only when you learn about the bigger picture that you start to understand the Empire's affairs.

[@claritycontrol1530]

I expect (and sincerely hope) that a renewed war with the Aldmeri Dominion will be a pivotal storyline in TES6. We know this cold war isn't going to last forever. The Thalmor despise the Empire, and the Empire despise the Thalmor. The chance for peace is essentially nil. The war WILL reignite, and by the power vested in me by the Nine Divines, I intend to fight it.

[@natedaniels3655]

Unlikely. They'll consider that storyline "old news" and will focus on something new. Otherwise it'll come across as "elf hate"..

[@lordironhidex]

@@natedaniels3655 pfft while the Thalmor are acting like literal nazis lol

[@natedaniels3655]

@@lordironhidex That's fine.. but the REAL enemies will have to be white males somehow.. otherwise the woke mobs will pitch a fit. All 3% of them.

[@cryptosporidium1375]

I pity Ulfric... he is merely a tool of the Thalmor. I wish there was a quest for that.

[@mallios13]

The Empire is a puppet nation for the Dominion. The Dominion is manipulating everything.

[@hailervin]

They actually all are... just Ulfric happens to be their catalyst. I fucking hate the Thalmor though. They got slaughtered in my playthroughs regularly.

[@mythshark409]

@@hailervin why? they are the ones who are right and know what they're doing

[@hailervin]

Steven Mann “They know what they are doing” lol you must be an elf in your playthroughs , pfft for starters they are ungodly arrogant and pretentious and lack any sense of humility . They historically in Elder Scrolls lore hate men and basically gave the finger to the worship of Talos which blah blah blah they weren’t fucking enforcing it until the Rebellion etc but I don’t give a shit, it reminds me of my homestate where we still have stupid as fuck laws that only get enforced when it’s convenient . That to me is the Thalmor, opportunistic assholes that pretty much talk a lot of shit and often use the most tasteless moves to stay in place as rulers so they can make others not even affiliated with the Almere Dominion follow THEIR laws. They have a narcissistic need for power and control to the point it is just disgusting. Yet, they don’t know how to be leaders , they know how to be rulers and they are especially dislikable rulers that get whiny when they don’t get what they want.Which to them, Skyrim being at war is perfect for them because it fits in with their agenda to control men and in turn, eventually all of Tamerial. Then you have that Ancano fool that represents the worst of them, (technically from a splinter group but the attitude is multiplied by three in his case). They act so high and mighty yet got their little asses handed to them by Hammerfell when they tried to conquer them and other then destruction magic, traditional redguards don’t use spells very much. Technically all the provinces have stories in the lore of conquest of bloodshed but the Thalmor is just so damn unlikable. Everyone of them reminds me of goddamn Malfroy from Harry Potter and I always wanted Harry to fucking finish him Mortal Kombat style deep down because he annoyed me so deeply. So yeah...that is why they are my least favorite faction in Elder Scrolls.

[@Athanatoi]

The Thalmor want that Ulfric rebelion continues, but they do not want if Ulfric actually win against the Empire either.

[@devina7819]

I thought ulfric banning the argonians was to keep them away from the dark elves

[@PiPArtemis]

@@bearwhiteraven4820 he lists "coming home to a bunch of foreigners" as part of his motivation for starting a civil war Yeah definitely not a racist

[@kanorcubes329]

​@@PiPArtemis "only to find our country full of strangers wearing familiar faces." meaning the thalmor.

[@TheBayzent]

Ulfric banning the Argonians was because they could kick the Legions of Oblivion on their own. Which makes them a mixture between Chuck Norris and Space Marines.

[@gabenvandenbrink9114]

@@TheBayzent True haha

[@wolves600]

@@bearwhiteraven4820 and the fact he refuses to help non nords who are attacked in his lands by doing this he proves he is not worthy of being a Jarl let alone the high king

[@ezra5323]

The reason the dragonborn became hermaeus Mora's champion at the end of his story line is so he isn't a factor in the second great war.

[@wtpiv6041]

I wasn’t aware that being Mora’s champion would remove TLDB from the story. I figured Mora needed a Dragonborn to beat Miraak who was sorta running the place. Interesting take though.

[@bolg892]

He doesn't become Mora's champion though.

[@joshuaseagondollar2495]

@@bolg892 Mora dubs your character as his new Champion after tentacle-stabbing Miraak, so yeah the Dragonborn is likely Mora's new champion.

[@tcmugutc01]

@@joshuaseagondollar2495 i think so too. He said he needs miraak in apocrypha so he could directly control him. Also civil war was only prophecy. For rp purposes. I still think dragonborn is not in apocrpha because he went to sovngarde and windcaller said if he follows way of the voice he will return here. Also tsun said similiar. After you kill Miraak you return, Frea warns you about Mora. It implies dragonborn actually returned from apocrypha. But since elder scrolls series dont leave any character behind ( make them lost, die , change ) etc i think it was the end of the prophecy. Dragonborn saved the world and disappeared. End of the story

[@varangiangaming7178]

That doesn't mean that the Dragonborn would be bound to oblivion, if anything they would be fighting in the second great war to further the interests of mora

[@LynnWinx]

Nords: we hate the empire now because we want to keep worshipping the human who founded the empire 700 years ago.

[@nikor6603]

I always allow Tullius the honour of killing Ulfric. I feel like the Civil War is his story to end, not mine. It's just a bonus that Ulfric didn't get the ending he wanted.

[@Aester]

Never realized there was this option. I sure don't want that idiot Ulfric to have satisfaction to be killed by a dragonborn.

[@warrioroflight6872]

I always kill Ulfric myself because it doesn't feel right to deny him his last request even if he is a big stupid horker. He's easy to hate, but he's honestly far from the most evil person in Skyrim. At the very least, he's only trying to do what he thinks is right and deserves some dignity. I just wish there was another, less bloodthirsty dialogue option to do it, like: "I can't deny a man's last wish." Instead of just: "I'll gladly kill him."

[@ecvjtv2778]

I kill Ulfric myself most of the times and use my Thu'um to do so. I kinda felt like I owed that to Torygg

[@YouthRightsRadical]

Meh, Tullius doesn't give a shit. He just wants Ulfric dead. I can respect his pragmatism and off Ulfric like a good soldier.

[@saiyanfang1047]

It should've been allowed to soul trap Ulfric then have Tullius kill him

[@litewave5186]

one of the things I've noticed most recently is that Ulfric seems to be a relfection of Madanach, the 'mad king' of the Forsworn. their combat quotes are virtually the same. "Skyrim belongs to the Nords!" "The Reach belongs to the Forsworn!" both the Forsworn and Stormcloaks *HATE* each other due to preexisting conflcts, like in Markarth. Yet they're virtually the same, as stated by Madanach himself: "Some of us refused to bow. We knew the old ways would lead us back to having a kingdom of our own. That is who we are. The Forsworn. Criminals in our own lands. And we will cut a bloody hole into the Reach until we are free." This sounds a LOT like how the Stormcloaks view the Civil War. They refused to bow to the Imperials, pursuing the ways of ancient kings to claim their freedom. They were branded criminals in their own lands, forced to reject their own gods, and through the Civil War, Ulfric intends to cut a bloody hole into Skyrim's Imperial holds until they have their freedom, no matter the cost. Once Whiterun is taken, Ulfric shows no hesitation in taking down the entirety of Skyrim and forcing it all under his rule.

[@dark_spawn_3543]

Never thought to compare the two but the way you put it makes it make so much sense

[@madlovegaming8333]

I literally did the stormcloak quests so I could get general tullius’ armor

[@etwiro1159]

I joined the empire just to get Ulfrics armor

[@billybob5553]

I joined neither just to get nothing

[@brickation8282]

Billy Bob I blame you for that

[@madlovegaming8333]

It’s funny, cuz I didn’t even use it... I think I put it on my mannequin and forgot about it

[@madlovegaming8333]

ANTOINE RAFAEL R. MAXIMO mod support definitely fixed the ugly armor problem though

[@tankerguy05]

One thing you didn't mention that I think would be important to consider is that if Ulfric wins the civil war, and allows Talos worship to come back to Skyrim, not only would he not have the protection of the Empire, but Skyrim would become the first target for the Aldmeri Dominion. They would've seen the Empire try to uphold the White Gold Concordant, and that Ulfric did everything in his power to go against it, making him, as well as Skyrim, a target.

[@rustledentity5511]

Conversely you could argue that the Dominion would suffer a Vietnam War situation and go through a lot of attrition trying to conquer Skyrim. The Dominion wouldn't lose that war (at least not on the battlefield) but they would suffer great losses that would give the Empire the advantage.

[@immortalfrieza]

@@rustledentity5511 Unlikely. The Dominion would roll in and crush Skyrim without much thought. Unlike the United States with Vietnam the Thalmor have nothing they want from Skyrim other than to subjegate it, and to do that they would anything up to completely decimating Skyrim down to the last man, woman, and child if need be. The reason that the United States lost the Vietnam War was because their strategic goals were not met. If what the United States wanted was to just flat out invade and conquer Vietnam they could've done so with ease. The whole reason there were boots on the ground at all was because wanted something out of Vietnam other than just a smoking crater. The Thalmor would be perfectly fine with turning Skyrim into the Elder Scrolls equivalent of a smoking crater if that's what it took, and they wouldn't wait long to decide to do so.

[@foxymetroid]

They'd probably try to take out the Empire first since it would still be the greatest threat. If they attacked Skyrim first, the Empire might attack them while they're distracted.

[@MFenix206]

@@immortalfrieza any attempted invasion of Skyrim is a strategic disaster waiting to happen. there is no land route, and the sea routes pass directly astride both hostile Hammerfell and imperial High Rock. it would be a logistical nightmare to get any force of significant size and supplies to skyrim, a nightmare to keep them supplied, and a nightmare to take ground in the province. any large commitment of forces would also leave the dominion vulnerable to Hammerfell or Imperial counter attacks in the south. any hostility there would also completely isolate the forces in skyrim without supply, making them easy targets for the nords. no matter what happens, any attempted invasion of Skyrim with any hope of success would be the *Last* part of the thalmor's campaign, not the first. they would need to claim land routes through hammerfell or Cyrodill to ensure even semi-stable supply lines, and then attack and supply through the restrictive mountain passes. a naval invasion is the best option, but only from captured ports in High Rock. in effect, in order to invade Skyrim the Empire would need to have been already defeated.

[@libertariandragon9142]

​​@@MFenix206 That's not even mentioning the only other sea based route goes past Morrowind and Black Marsh. Two nations that as far as I know are currently in a very tenuous ceasefire with each other. And have very good reasons to make assumptions should the Dominion send ships that direction. Which would result in them getting involved in the two nations war.

[@Hektols]

When the game starts Ulfric was already defeated by Tullius due to his arrogance and about to be executed, only saved by Alduin's attack, a sign that he is not the most capable leader around.

[@medo2118]

but alduim also saved you

[@justanaveragehuman3557]

farofa comempada and your point is?

[@Pakkuzou]

@@justanaveragehuman3557 His point is that the dragonborn is on route to prove themself to be the most capable person in all of Skrim. So it seems silly to judge Ulfrics capabilities in such a way.

[@justanaveragehuman3557]

Pakku it is perfectly reasonable to judge ulfrics ability in that way. The stormcloaks can barely handle a small and weak part of the empire so what makes you think the stormcloaks can hold their own against the thalmor. It’s perfectly reasonable to judge ulfric this way because tullius has only been in Skyrim for a few months and was still able to outsmart ulfric on his own homeland. The war was basically over and the only reason it wasn’t is because ulfric got lucky. The Dragonborn at this point in the story is an average person who got caught in the middle of the ambush so I don’t get what your point is.

[@Pakkuzou]

@@justanaveragehuman3557 Its not my point. you asked what his point was so i elaborated from what was implied. Aside from that all we know of the ambush is where it happened, when it happened and who was involved. I might be wrong but i dont believe we know how it happened. There are plenty of reasons to question Ulfrics leadership, being ambushed at darkwater crossing without any context to his leadership during that encounter isnt one of them.

[@Makaveli3k.]

This is an extremely unique yet still interesting and totally reasonable take on Skyrim Very Nice

[@Viraak795]

I Agree its a unique standpoint but personally i support the rebellion.

[@JohnSmith-hn6ow]

@@Viraak795 I did too for a long, long time. Supporting the rebellion is stupid. Skyrim is full of a bunch of dumb Nords. Without the Empire's influence, they'd be stuck in the stone age. General Tullius is a jerk, but he's a jerk who's right. The stupid Nords and their customs are backwards.

[@armedwombat6816]

The Empire forbids Talos worship because they have to. They didn't want to, but they needed to buy time to prepare for round two with the Aldmeri. If they win the next war, Talos worship will be allowed again. The Stormcloaks have to know that. They have to know that independence would weaken both Skyrim and the Empire, worsening their odds for the next war against the Aldmer. Yet they're fighting a war for Ulfrics ego. Meanwhile they don't oppress non-Nords because they have to, but because they want to. And they do not plan on changing that in the future. That makes them a lot more morally in the wrong than the Imperials. That's why I kinda hate the intro. It's a good introduction to showcase the basic factions and conflicts, but it lets you start the game with a heavy anti-imperial bias. Because you'd have to be an idiot trusting the people who just wanted to behead you for basically nothing just a few minutes ago. Luckily there's the 'Live another life' mod.

[@RachmatRL]

Even Legate Rikke and Jarl Balgruuf are Talos worshipper and they support the Empire

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

Armed Wombat Bullshit, literal bullshit. The Altmeri Dominion itself (read Ulfric's Dossier) outright states that a Stormcloak victory is meant to be avoided at all costs. Stop pulling shit like this out of your ass please. Also, Ulfric has nothing against other races. There's an Aldmeri drug dealer happily trading wares in his city. She lives in the upper stands, yes an Aldmeri, his inherent enemy by race, living as one of the richest and most well-off in his city. She outright states that the Nords don't like the Dunmer and the Argonians because the latter two are disrespectful to them. So what, it's okay to enter another race's city, disrespect their way of life, trade in shady wares, steal their shit, and harass their people, but it's not okay for those people to take a stand against it? What is it with that sickening mentality in 2019? It's fine to be assertive and nationalistic. It's why Ulfric has the right of it in fact. You either assimilate, help, or get the fuck out. Since when is Ulfric responsible for the lives of asshole Argonians living in a country they don't belong in? Fucking hell... Oh look, there goes your weak ass argument! I feel sorry for you and the 42 people who liked this comment. You're deluded little sheep.

[@DevilDaRebel]

Straight White Male Thats the thing Ive noticed about people defending the Empire, they cherry pick points that are really shut down easily. Also, how is Skyrim going independent likely to hurt the Empire in the next great war? They can still convince Skyrim to unite with the Empire once they are ready to attack the Thalmor which is what the Stormcloaks want more than anything. The stormcloacks winning would also inspire other lands to stand up against the Thalmor. Hell even General tulluis implies that Ulfric cause is maybe righteous. The Empire knows it is bending its knee to the will of the very people who want them eradicated.

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

@@DevilDaRebel Exactly! People seem to think an Independent Skyrim equals no alliances. That's bullshit. Makes me wonder if these same idiots ever studied history. Alliances are more likely to happen in fact considering it is now up to Ulfric alone. As long as Skyrim is part of the Empire, Skyrim has no control over which friends or enemies it picks. Independence doesn't harm any country.

[@elivevile]

clever intriques are domains of a select few people. you try to involve masses of stupid angry people into one of your clever tricks, you will just get yourself killed. bad idea. That truce shouldn't have been accepted.

[@JeffreyBCampbell]

8:48 With a game as open world and full of content as this, I never would have expected to hear the developers called “lazy”. Lol

[@TheScathed]

Ironic seeing this comment about the developers who have a reputation for letting the modding community fix up their buggy, incomplete games.

[@danieltrifa7713]

Mate, he fought in the great war, was tortured by the Thalmor and then he was arrested bechaose he worship Talos even if the emipre promised him that they shall not intervine then he wasan’t alowed to attend to his fadher burial

[@arkaz5879]

Ok I’ll admit that Ulfric is a badass, but he still doesn’t use enough rational thinking and is too emotionally driven.

[@danieltrifa7713]

Lebogang Manne he may be mad or actualy the thalmor made him to belive that he is how it is

[@HansLandaNaranja]

The Thalmor are happy with Ulfric because he weakens the empire. You can even read the reports you get from the Thalmor embassy when you do that one quest. And on top of that Ulfric is a HORRIBLE leader. You can see enough proof of that in Windhelm. He looks only after the Nords and the others can rot somewhere out of sight.

[@stunner9005]

Orpheus he doesn’t really look after the Nords either. Let us not forget their was a serial killer on the loose in his town and he did nothing.

[@HisRoyalMajestyKingofWeedshire]

“Even the name Grey Quarter is an insult” The entire fucking city is grey.

[@Lizzifer7]

It doesn't refer to the actual colour of the city 😅😅

[@AcelJean]

@@Lizzifer7 yep...

[@dgalv007]

Great video but you missed a point about the taboo of Ulfric Killing Toryyg with a shout. The voice is not meant to be used to gain power. That is why the ancient nords are cursed with undeath and you find draugr in the catacombs. It is divine punishment for misusing the voice. That's why the way of the voice became a thing. Ulfric is not dragonborn, who are free from such restrictions. His blatant use of the voice in battles for control would bring divine punishment on all of Skyrim and the Nords he supposedly wants to protect.

[@coleeckerman1390]

Yes, the Dragonborn is pretty much considered a dragon, and it is known that dragons must seek out power as it’s in their nature. But Ulfric is just a greedy thug of a Nord with no honor.

[@valeclaw1697]

"Some people are born stupid. Like me, for instance." - Literally Nords.

[@wburchell3468]

Ulfric: Oh look there's the people with the new supplies. The people, dressed in Thalmor clothes: Hello im a nord supporting organization here's ur supplies you heret-I mean, trai-oh, I truly mean, you totally reasonable person who worships a totally real god! Hope u kill the General and test the Empire! Ulfric: yes true nords Also in ESO, the Thane of Windhelm has the last name "Stormcloak".

[@Ollyatlas]

Cus they're descendants of ysgramor