Let's talk about politics

[Thatoneuser]

Ulfric seemed pretty intent on destroying all empire in Skyrim, which is hardly how you forge alliances. Ulfric would have to go.

Ulfric may be spiteful yet he is not stupid he knows when to make alliances when he has too. For example when the Dragonborn needed to catch that dragon in the Whiterun keep Ulfric was willing to make peace with the Imperials. So I'm sure that he would sooner ally with the empire then go into a war where he has almost no chance of winning.

[King Canuck]

There is no reason that the empire and Skyrim cannot be in a military alliance. It would be difficult considering that they were just recently warring against each other but I'm sure that the empire can see the benefit in keeping the Altmer out of Tamriel and would therefore take an alliance with the Nords in the event of an invasion of the Dominion

Ulfric seemed pretty intent on destroying all empire in Skyrim, which is hardly how you forge alliances. Ulfric would have to go.

[Thatoneuser]

But independent they are nowhere near strong enough to take on the Dominion. Nor are the Imperials. When you win for either side both leaders (Tullius and Ulfric) Say they're going to turn to the Dominion, but numbers diminished or no the Altmer are fucking incredibly powerful. It would take the might of both Skyrim and the Empire, plus maybe the Last Dragonborn's Thu'um and some key allies to stand a chance.

There is no reason that the empire and Skyrim cannot be in a military alliance. It would be difficult considering that they were just recently warring against each other but I'm sure that the empire can see the benefit in keeping the Altmer out of Tamriel and would therefore take an alliance with the Nords in the event of an invasion of the Dominion

[King Canuck]

The Nords have lost control of the empire and it has become a tool for the Thalmor. It doesn't matter how it was founded as it stands during the time of Skyrim it is better for them to remain independent

But independent they are nowhere near strong enough to take on the Dominion. Nor are the Imperials. When you win for either side both leaders (Tullius and Ulfric) Say they're going to turn to the Dominion, but numbers diminished or no the Altmer are fucking incredibly powerful. It would take the might of both Skyrim and the Empire, plus maybe the Last Dragonborn's Thu'um and some key allies to stand a chance.

[Thatoneuser]

But the Empire was founded by Nords, and nothing would make the spirit of Tiber Septim happier than to unite his people with his empire once more, and take the fight to the filthy elves...

The Nords have lost control of the empire and it has become a tool for the Thalmor. It doesn't matter how it was founded as it stands during the time of Skyrim it is better for them to remain independent

[Elmo]

"Got to fight those filthy elves..."

[King Canuck]

Stormcloaks Skyrim belongs to the Nords

But the Empire was founded by Nords, and nothing would make the spirit of Tiber Septim happier than to unite his people with his empire once more, and take the fight to the filthy elves...

[Thatoneuser]

Stormcloaks Skyrim belongs to the Nords

[aileron]

Imperials! Although I didn't play much of either of those two storylines back when I was playing Skyrim.

[King Canuck]

Fundimentally, the Empire is better unified. Ulfric could have simply asked Torygg to stand down, and Torygg's ghost said that he would have. Ulfric simply wanted to seize power in his hatred of the High Elves. It's far better to unify the empire, so that the Empire has Nordic men to take the fight to the elves.

[Alexrd]

The Thalmor are zealots though. They will fight to the very last death.

Apparently not since they have accepted the treaty.

Temporarily giving in to their demands is the only way to get them to cool it for a while so the empire can regroup and attack again.

Giving into their demands is a way to break the spirit and morale of your people. Specially when their demands revolve around having power over said people, forbidding them to be themselves, to live their culture, living in fear of punishment, to not have a say over their lives.

Also they breed very slowly. So the empire can refuse any kind of peace and fight to the death with the Thalmor (and maybe lose) or temporarily give in to some Thalmor demands for the greater good. A ceasefire for even just a few years will put the empire ahead again as the races that make up the empire breed much faster than High Elves, so there's a constant trickle of boys (and girls in this universe) reaching conscription age. The Thalmor, on the other hand, don't have that luxury. It's very slow for them. But they're zealots, and zealots don't think straight. They just want to mutilate people who are worshipping the wrong God (Talos in this case).

Their numbers (of both factions) are proportional to what they will be in the future. So why not take care of things in the present, since the disadvantage of numbers exists?

The Stormcloaks aren't the type of people to work together with "others" for the good of anything.

That's false. What they aren't is the type of people who are willing to sell themselves and their ways to appease their enemies.

And they keep killing each other in duels to be the king. Rapid changes of kings like that will lead to constant civil wars. They'd end up being no use whatsoever in the coming war.

They don't "keep killing each other in duels". Their kings can be challenged (and only by Jarls) and killed in duels. That it happens doesn't mean it keeps happening. It's rare.

Also the Nords ARE the Empire. Most of the emperors were Nords. It's nonsense.

The Nords aren't the Empire. They are part of it. And the Empire during the events of Skyrim is a joke, in practice a mere puppet institution for the Thalmor.

[Omegapyrate]

Neither- I install a ton of sex mods from LL and become a monsterous vampiric slaver.

[Elmo]

I've always chosen Stormcloaks.

[Damian Cunliffe]

If the Thalmor are as fragile as the Empire, then there's nothing to gain by submitting to the conditions of the treaty. The Empire is only hurting their own people and giving ruling power to their enemies for the sake of time that both factions need.

The Thalmor are zealots though. They will fight to the very last death. Temporarily giving in to their demands is the only way to get them to cool it for a while so the empire can regroup and attack again. Also they breed very slowly. So the empire can refuse any kind of peace and fight to the death with the Thalmor (and maybe lose) or temporarily give in to some Thalmor demands for the greater good. A ceasefire for even just a few years will put the empire ahead again as the races that make up the empire breed much faster than High Elves, so there's a constant trickle of boys (and girls in this universe) reaching conscription age. The Thalmor, on the other hand, don't have that luxury. It's very slow for them. But they're zealots, and zealots don't think straight. They just want to mutilate people who are worshipping the wrong God (Talos in this case).

The Nords can have their freedom and independence and still ally themselves with the Empire to fight the Thalmor. One thing doesn't exclude the other. Instead, the Empire in their arrogance wants to fight their own people to keep the power they have over their land instead of letting them be and help each other when the time comes.

The Stormcloaks aren't the type of people to work together with "others" for the good of anything. And they keep killing each other in duels to be the king. Rapid changes of kings like that will lead to constant civil wars. They'd end up being no use whatsoever in the coming war.

Also the Nords ARE the Empire. Most of the emperors were Nords. It's nonsense.

[Fexel]

Who cares, more blood for the blood god¡ /s

Probably Imperial though.