Remaining with the Empire is in Skyrim's best interests. (TES V)

Skyrim still controls High Rock and Hammerfell and with Skyrim they can defeat the Aldermi dominion and legalize the worship of Talos." I'm not sure what you mean here, so I'll rebut this based on two different assumptions; that you meant it as written first (1), and as if you had written "The Empire" at the beginning of the first sentence, instead of "Skyrim"(2). (1): Skyrim never controlled either province, so this point is meaningless. Hammerfell held back the Dominion and forced them to surrender on more even terms five years after the White Gold Concordat (WGC). Bear in mind that in those five years, the Dominion had the luxury of focusing solely on Hammerfell, and they could not take the province. (2): Hammerfell is no longer part of the Empire; the Redguards broke away when they refused to bow to the terms of the WGC. High Rock remains loyal to the Empire, but a secession by Skyrim would leave Cyrodiil isolated from High Rock. I've been told Orsinium remains neutral, but that should be considered hearsay at this point. "The Aldermi dominion is relevant because without the Empire Skyrim is hopeless." I never claimed the Dominion was irrelevant; though the threat they pose is less than they would have you believe. What I said was that the empire's OPINION of the Dominion is irrelevant, because Skyrim is in a more stable position if they sever ties with the Empire. "Also morally the empire is better." I don't see why this is true nor relevant. "They handled the entire empire well during the Oblivion crisis." The Oblivion Crisis was handled by the Septim Dynasty. That dynasty ended when Martin sacrificed himself and sent Dagon packing. The Mede Dynasty didn't start until 4E17, 7 years after Potentate Ocato was assassinated, when Titus Mede captured the Imperial City.[1] By that time, the Oblivion Crisis was effectively ancient history. Praising the current Empire for their handling of the Oblivion Crisis is akin to praising modern Great Britain for its handling of the War of 1812. "The Empire has had a fairly good record of efficiently managing the world, back when it used to rule all of it. They were quite liberal in terms of letting their conquered provinces maintain their ways of life, and only required following Imperial law, and tribute of blood and coin to the Emperor." The Cyrodiilic empire never ruled the entire world of Nirn. In fact, they never got a lasting foothold on any continent aside from Tamriel, though not for lack of trying. And again, let me point out to you that this was the Septim Dynasty, not the Mede Dynasty. The Mede Dynasty has a much worse track record for ruling Tamriel, and in fact has never ruled the entirety of it, Black Marsh having seceded during the rule of Potentate Ocato. "The Stormcloak Rebellion is fledgling, and appears to have pretty poor governance." That's a matter of opinion. "Ulfric is racially intolerant and unconcerned with trivial internal issues." I'll grant that Ulfric could be more sensitive to the needs of non-Nord people; but he's pretty occupied with the needs of the Nords, so it's unsurprising that the needs of the other races are allowed to slide. However, if he were truly racially intolerant, then he wouldn't accept anyone into the ranks of his army that wasn't a Nord; yet he will accept anyone to fight for Skyrim's freedom, because he understands that others call Skyrim home, too. "Yeah, Tullius is kind of a dweeb. But he's just a general, he's not going to rule anything." My remarks about Tullius were not intended to be taken seriously. However, it doesn't follow that he's not going to rule anything; winning the war would put him in a position to be granted a county in Cyrodiil or the equivalent in High Rock, perhaps. A grateful Emperor would find a way to reward him handsomely. "I imagine that, in the game world, once Ulfric was defeated, the Empire would take immediate and dramatic steps toward reinstating loyal jarls, and most importantly, a new high king. Possibly the queen, but maybe not." Imagination is not required, except on the last point. The quest lines for each faction do result in new Jarls being installed in conquered cities. The natural end result if the Empire wins is these milk-drinkers emphatically voting in whatever High King or High Queen Tullius tells them to. The greatest likelihood is that it would be Elisif the Fair, for the convenience of the Empire - they're already established with quarters in Solitude, and Haafingar Hold has a road leading right into High Rock, another Imperial province, so they're unlikely to want to relocate even if Jarl Maven Black-Briar is elected High Queen. So they'll assign that role to Elisif, and the bought Jarls will agree. "Tullius is a non-factor for the aftermath. Ulfric Stormcloak is exceedingly power-hungry." I disagree with the characterization of Ulfric as "power-hungry" - his motives have been purely for the advancement of the Nord people. He did not rule Markarth when he seized it from the Forsworn Reachmen; he returned it to its rightful Nord Jarl. He was the conqueror, and he could have claimed the right to rule The Reach while his father still ruled Eastmarch Hold. And had he had any desire beyond that of the greatest benefit to the Nord people, he would have done so; Markarth is a very rich city and The Reach is a very rich hold - rich in silver. "This will not be good for Skyrim." As I said above, the Empire has more to lose than Skyrim. To expand on that, it's very likely that High Rock would secede and join whatever alliance was formed between Skyrim and Hammerfell; those two provinces surround High Rock on the land side, which has the effect of isolating High Rock from both Cyrodiil and the Dominion. With their ally cut off and their main enemy cut off from them by other enemies (at least in name), they would be foolish not to join with the Hammerfell-Skyrim alliance and add their prodigious magic talents to the impressive martial prowess of the Nords and Redguards. [1] http://www.uesp.net...