#first era mer and beastfolk

[xollii]

my history bookshelf in my skyrim house is better organized than my history bookshelf irl.....

[joyful-patatas]

They're Just A Kid

Chapter 5 || i just know that being a modern kid in a medieval times fantasy world is going to be ROUGH

6“Yeah, but I wouldn’t go as far as to see them as dangerous. I’d honestly think they’re just tourists or going to a comicon or otakuthon depending on the season.” “What’s ‘comicon’ and ‘otakuton’?” ‘Shit.’ “They’re events. Sort of like a festival. People all around come to it.” “I suppose you are a more peculiar child than I initially thought, Kid.” “In a good way or bad way?” “I am not quite sure to be honest. I am hoping in a good way.”

Word Count: 2,964

ao3 link

‘I’m fucked. I’m fucked. I’m fucked!’ Piper's breath hitched as they slowly glanced back at the now snoring Krog.

With a sigh, they looked back at the overhead stone above them, but the starry sky poked outside the outline of the stone. Piper quietly and carefully moved away from being under the rock to get a clearer view of the sky once again.

It was a breathtaking sight. Piper definitely saw pictures and immersive video domes in planetariums, but it was nothing like seeing it in person. The night felt bright and it also looked bright and lively. In the city, you can only look beyond the streetlight and the only thing interesting in the night sky was the moon. A singular moon. Not two moons like in Tamriel. As much as they hated the idea of surviving in an era that is equivalent to the European medieval times, Piper believed that this…this made it somewhat tolerable.

Will they be able to recognize constellations? Will they witness boreal lights? Oh, how Piper would adore seeing those colourful dancing lights in the dark sky with her own eyes.

‘You gotta live long enough first to see it, bitch.’ The smile Piper had faded once that thought crossed their mind.

As much as they wished they could just learn how to survive on their own like the other Skyrim isekai fics and those manhwas where a modern protagonist dies and enters the body of a character in a novel and must figure out a way to live in their new life, Piper knew they couldn’t do it. Life in Skyrim is far too different and much more dangerous. If wild animals weren’t bad enough, there are bandits, hagravens, giant spiders—!

Piper shivered at the thought. Although the game doesn’t show explicit sexism, there are a few comments here and there that hints that there is still discrimination towards women. Despite Piper considering themself to be a demigirl, talking to people about gender identity might be more troublesome here than back at home. At least there was scientific evidence that would back up her claims and asking people to use both she/her and they/them when referring to Piper would seem unusual.

‘There you go again, worried about people referring to your proper pronouns instead of thinking of a solution on how to survive this place.’ Piper sighed into their hands and dragged them down on her face.

Piper can rely on Krog, but only for so long. He doesn’t seem like he’d try to hurt her because he could have done it long ago. Though, his current helpfulness is mainly bounded by honour, but that will only have him help them for a bit. She’ll have to think of what to do once reaching the nearest village. He could just make her stay in the town, but Piper wanted to go home. They wanted to figure out how to get back. Maybe they should go to the College of Winterhold? No, that place kinda sucked in the game. Maybe learn how to communicate with the Aedra or Daedra? Whatever the case, Piper needs to get Krog to agree to have them travel with him.

What can they do? They’re leg is fucked up right now, but if he’s an adventurer, he’d probably be going in dungeons, right? Piper knows the traps, enemies, treasures, and puzzles in a lot of them. Their knowledge should be good, but if he’s not an adventurer, she’d need to think of something else.

‘Come on, Pip! What orsimer lore do you know in that stupid brain of yours?! Orcs. Considered to be beastfolk, wait…but there’s the word ‘mer’ in their race…name? Ethnic group name? Anyways, okay. Orcs are great warriors and blacksmiths that the legions hire them for wars. What did those orc blacksmith NPC often say? ‘It is said an orc first wields a hammer in her mother’s womb’? Basically meaning natural born blacksmiths. They live in strongholds and Krog is from a stronghold. Narzulbur–or something–and it’s a small community. Not big fans of outsiders but it is possible to be accepted into a stronghold if you complete a quest for them…This is useless to me!’

Piper turned to look at Krog who let out loud snores while leaning his back on stone with arms crossed. How he felt comfortable, she has no idea. Piper stared at him before sighing and sitting up, staring at their bandaged leg. It still hurt, but it felt like a numbing soreness and pushing it made her wince. She needed to get better. She needed to convince him to let her join him. They needed to think about what they could offer him. 

She can’t rest until she does.

~|~|~|~

“I assume you must not have slept well,” Krog stated while taking out an apple from his sack and extending it towards Piper.

‘I couldn’t think of anything else I could offer.’

“Eh. Nothing new,” Piper muttered before taking the apple. “Thanks.”

He gave a nod and started rolling his bedroll. Piper watched carefully how he did it before biting into the apple to hold it before rolling their own tightly while making sure to not to put too much weight on their injured leg. There was not much to pack so it was quick, but to Piper’s surprise, he was quick to announce their leave.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Piper asked.

“We ate late last night. It would be wise to start moving in case those damned bandits dressed as Imperial soldiers are still around. The longer we stay in one place, the more dangerous it is.”

“Aye. Gotcha.”

The journey lasted a couple of hours with conversations starting and dropping whenever one of them felt like it. Piper has often asked him if he needed a break, to which he had to continuously tell them he was not tired and reassured that they were not heavy at all. At some point, they reached a town protected with stone walls and banners of a deer decorated the stone. Guards were standing at the entrance and quickly took notice of him

“Halt!” Krogarz stopped walking, complying with the order. “State your business, orc.”

“We are not looking for trouble. This child needs a healer and a place to rest.” The guard slightly leaned to see Piper on his back.

The guard hummed before speaking once again, "Alright. Runil should be able to heal the wound in no time. He’s a priest of Arkay and you can find him at the cemetery. But no funny business, orc. I'll be keeping my eye on you."

"Dude,  relax. It’s not like we’re planning to burn the fucking place to the ground." Krogarz tensed at Piper’s hostile words as the guard looked ready to speak back, but Krog beat him to it.

"They meant 'thank you'. And, I thank you for giving us passage." The guard took a moment before letting out an annoyed grunt and took a step aside as Krog walked in. Once they made it past the gate, Krog glanced back at Piper with a glare.

"What?" They asked.

"Don't antagonize armed men. Especially in your condition."

"He was being rude to you." Piper protested.

"How so?"

"He made it sound like there was no way you wanted to enter the place just to find a healer and an inn. 'No funny business, orc. I'll be keeping an eye on you'. Fucking asshole."

"Not every outsider entering the walls of someone's home has good intentions. You always need to be vigilant. Letting people in carelessly will only endanger the people you're meant to protect."

"He still didn't need to be a racist prick about it."

"'Racist phrick?'" Krogarz repeated questionably, but ended up sighing. “Either way, you should not pick a fight with people in their own homes. Do you not get suspicious when strangers or people of a different race enter your city wall?”

“No. Not really. The place is so fucking huge and it’s filled with immigrants so I just assume they’re residents. Even if they are undocumented immigrants or something, I don’t care enough to report it and they’re mainly there because they want a better life for their family.”

“Even filled with orcs?” Piper didn’t reply as Krogarz hummed. “So it is quite rare for orcs to be wandering around your city?”

‘Orcs never wander around the city because THEY’RE A FICTIONAL RACE!’

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t go as far as to see them as dangerous. I’d honestly think they’re just tourists or going to a comicon or otakuthon depending on the season.”

“What’s ‘comicon’ and ‘otakuton’?”

‘Shit.’ “They’re events. Sort of like a festival. People all around come to it.”

“I suppose you are a more peculiar child than I initially thought, Kid.”

“In a good way or bad way?”

“I am not quite sure to be honest. I am hoping in a good way.”

‘Yeah, that’s not reassuring.’

As the walk through the town continued, Piper’s first observation was the size and number of residents. She was not sure if it was bigger, but the residents of Falkreath were familiar. They did seem more…real? Krog came to a stop and Piper looked at where his gaze landed that fell on a Nord blacksmith hitting a heated metal blade on an anvil. 

‘Does he like blacksmithing?’ Piper hummed before turning to the trees where the familiar graveyard stood. She noticed the Altmer standing in the graveyard and some figures overshadowed by the trees. After some time, Piper poked Krog’s cheek and said, “Oi, Krog.”

“Hm?”

“The graveyard is that way,” they said while pointing their finger in front of him in the opposite direction from the blacksmith.

He stood quiet before muttering, “Good eye” and finally starting walking down the rocky path until he reached the dirt path leading to the graveyard. As they approached, Runil’s voice was heard reciting a prayer.

"—Arkay was once like us, bound to winding mortality. But he willingly gave up his existence so that we might better understand the vagaries of life and death. It is through the ebb and flow of this cosmic tide that we find renewal and, in the end, peace. May the spirit of Lavinia and all those who have left this world and its suffering know the beloved serenity of Aetherius.” There was silence as Piper whispered at Krog to wait as the Altmer prayed for the two grieving parents. “...and may we one day rejoin them in eternity.”

“I never liked funerals.” Piper muttered as Krog kept silent.

They waited a bit more, feeling unsure what to do but not wanting to interrupt a funeral that was being attended by a sobbing man placing a comforting hand on the weeping woman in front of a grave. 

‘Yeah, I always hated funerals.’ Piper silently scowled before looking away, silently waiting. Krog also seemed to be waiting. Once the rites have ended and Runil left the grieving parents alone, he quickly took notice of Krog and Piper and approached them with a welcoming smile.

“Greetings travelers. May I ask what brings you here?”

“Are you Runil? The priest of Arkay?” Krog asked as Runil nodded.

“I am. How may I help you, my friend?” He asked warmly.

“This child has been injured and we were told you could treat them.” 

“Oh dear. Well, let’s not waste any time. Come on in.” Runil guided Krog to the nearby building, holding the door open for him to enter. “You may place the child on the left bed.”

Krog did as instructed, bending to get Piper to sit on the mattress as she hesitantly unwrapped her arms from his shoulders. He stood back up, but stayed next to Piper as Runil took a chair in front of them. “What is your name, child?” Runil asked.

“Piper.”

“Piper. A lovely name,” he smiled. “Now, let’s heal that nasty wound, shall we?”

He instructed her to relax their leg as he unbandaged the wound, looking surprised at the bloody gash. “That does look painful. May I asked what happened?”

Piper didn’t answer, so Krog spoke up, “Bandits. The wounds seem to be from an arrow.”

‘What the fuck? How did he know it’s an arrow?!’ Piper stared at their wound, seeing any indicator that could suggest any weapon other than arrows. “Yeah…it was an arrow.”

“Hm, bandits are wretched. It is fortunate that you have not met Arkay so early. I do not know if I would be able to bury two children on the same day,” he smiled mournfully. “Fortunately, this wound will not kill you and I will be sure you are walking once again in no time.”

“Healing magic?” 

He nodded before gesturing to her wound and asking, “May I?” Piper nodded as Runil hovered his hand over the wound before a soft golden glow appeared. She watched with awe as it felt warm and comforting on her skin. 

‘Maybe…maybe I could learn magic? If I learn magic, I could defend myself to some extent and I could be a medic. I could learn a bit from Runil. I know his backstory. I could blackmail him…no. Don’t blackmail him. Just need to ask him. If he asks for payment, I’ll offer labour. Yeah! I’ll become a magical girl! Man, I’m a genius.’ She smiled, satisfied at her plan Piper’s wound didn’t seem to be sealing closed and they looked to see Runil who had a deep, seemingly confused frown.

“Is something wrong?” Piper asked

“This is…very strange,” the priest said, baffled.

“What? What is?”

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Krogarz was getting quite annoyed with the lack of clarification. “What is it? Can you not heal them?”

“No. Not at all.”

“‘Not at all’ as in, ‘healing them is not a problem at all’ or ‘I cannot heal them at all’?” Piper asked.

“I…I'm unable to heal you at all,” the priest answered. “My magic doesn’t seem to have any effect.”

~|~|~|~

“No! I want to put the last one!” Piper grimaced while hiding the last glow in the dark star sticker behind her.

“Okay, okay.” Jojo chuckled while lifting his hands up. “Do you want me to lift you up so you can reach the ceiling?”

“Yes, please!”

“Alright. 1..2…3!” He lifted her up, as she reached her hand up to stick it while exclaiming, “BAM!”

“You got it?”

“Uh-huh!”

“Wanna go down?”

“Yeah!”

“Cool.” Piper shrieked in both surprise and delight when he dropped her on her bed. “Nice job, brat.”

“Kill the lights! I wanna see!”

[puts star and turn off lights to show starry ceiling]

As they both laid down on the bed, they looked up to admire their work. The stars and dots were all glowing in the dark room and Piper started tracing the stars, making up constellations and Jojo also joined in on it. As they managed to name several, conversation slowly died down as they merely stared at the decorated ceiling that is the closest they will ever get to stargazing within the city.

“I’m gonna be an astronaut when I grow up,” Piper chirped.

“Oh, yeah?” Jojo chuckled. “That’s not going to be easy.”

“Why?”

“Well, you’ll need to be really good at math and science, and you’ll also need to pass a physical exam.”

Jojo turned to see Piper frowning while counting on her fingers before a huge grin appeared on her lips. She turned to her brother while shoving three fingers before him while yelling in excitement “That’s just three things!”

Jojo blinked at Piper for a bit as she looked back at her newly decorated ceiling. “I’m already really good at math and science, but I’ll be sure to learn even more. I’m bad at gym, but I’ll do it if it means I can go to space. Aw, but I want you and mommy to be able to come too…I know! I’ll study really hard and then I’ll make spaceships like airplanes where people can travel in space but to see the stars! I’ll also make a lot of money so mommy doesn’t have to work anymore and we can buy a house near NASA and ooh! I can buy a giant telescope so we don’t have to travel to the countryside to see the stars! And—!”

Jojo started laughing as Piper turned with an offended gasp and hit his side, “Ow! I’m not laughing at you! I swear!”

“Then why are you laughing?!”

“I’m just really happy you have a job you’d love to do.”

"Doesn't everyone?"

"Most do," he gave her a small smile. "I never really had a dream job."

"No way!" Piper gasped.

"Yes way. I would say I wanted to be a teacher, then a policeman, then a firefighter, a professional MMA fighter. I dunno. Nothing stuck with me."

"Is that why mommy's upset with you?"

"Yeah…I guess she's upset that I didn't make anything of myself. Buuuuut-" He bopped on Piper’s nose, earning a small giggle. "You're a smart kid. You'll get into college and uni and get a degree in no time!"

She grinned and nodded at his words. At some point, Piper was getting overcome with fatigue and started yawning. She did put up a fuss at first when Jojo was trying to get her to bed, but with enough convincing and a promise of a bedtime story was enough to stop it. Once she only replied with soft snores, Jojo closed the book and set it on the bedside table. He stared at Piper’s sleeping form, his smile slowly turning into a solemn one as he gently brought his hand to stroke her hair.

“Keep dreaming, Pips.” Jojo whispered. “It never gets better than being a kid with a dream.”

[templardragonknight]

The Stormcloak Bible DEBUNKED PART 7 (Stormcloaks Are Wasting Skyrim’s Resources?)

In the seventh part of this “bible” (http://colonel-killa-bee.tumblr.com/post/152901379035/stormcloak-bible-part-7-stormcloaks-are-wasting) the author talks about if the stormcloaks are wasting Skyrim’s resources or not, about if Ulfric was the true cause of the war and even about the Thalmor. Lets get started.

"From the Imperial perspective, Ulfric is causing this war by revolting, and they’re keeping the Thalmor out of Skyrim by fighting Ulfric and preventing Talos worship." it is extrenely funny how he distorted the imperial arguments in this part (and I can already say that distorting facts to support his position is a characteristic of the author) because imperials do not say that the empire is keeping the Thalmor out by fighting Ulfric, they say that Ulfric's rebellion is actually preventing the Empire from rebuilding itself effectively and deal with the Thalmor as soon as possible. Also saying that the Empire is preventing Talos worship and not the Thalmor shows eighter ignorance or dishonesty from the author having in mind how:

> The Thalmor had to come personally to demand Ulfric's arrest after they found out the imperials were trying to secretly allow Talos worship in Markarth;

> There are no legionnares guarding the Thalmor Embassy or Northwatch Keep;

> Imperial soldiers are not sent to help Thalmor Justiciars around;

> The Thalmor Dossier about Ulfric reveals that they wanted to intervene in the war and save Ulfric from being executed, wich means that General Tullius refused to allow Elenwen to enter Helgen;

> If the player ends up becoming an enemy of the Thalmor to the point of the Thalmor sending troops specially to kill him/her, the Empire does not give a shit and does not send soldiers to assit the Thalmor;

Then he says that Ulfric was not the true cause of the war, what is already nonsense. First the war did not start when Ulfric killed Torygg, it became WORSE after that. Hadvar, Vuwulf and Solaf reveal that the war was already going on years before the return of the dragons and Hadvar specifically reveals that Torygg died months before Alduin attacked Helgen. And even if the war started when Torygg died: it would have never happened if Ulfric tried to use diplomacy instead of violence since Torygg was open to debate (if you say this to the author he will probably cry about how talking to the High King at "the belly of the beast" would be foolish... but KILLING the High King at the "belly of the beast"? Totally wise I suppose).

Now talking about the laws thing: Solitude was under IMPERIAL control, and by the imperial laws, the nords are allowed to follow their traditions IF such part of the tradition does not hurt anyone (that is why the nords are allowed to visit the Hall of the Dead, make war paints, have long hair and beards, worhip Shor, etc), so this already makes Ulfric’s action illegal. “But it not part of Skyrim’s laws” well this is the main problem with most stormcloaks: they do not distinguish law from tradition. Just because something is tradition it does not mean it should be a law (or that it would make sense to make it a law. Like forcing people to visit the Hall of the Dead would be just ridiculous). And being or not na actual law, such act is nonsense and savage as only the dumb brutes try to solve everything by using the sword. The art of ruling men (and also mer and beastfolk) is not just about battles and wars (that is also what dictatorships often do), it is more about debate and diplomacy, about trying to solve a problem without causing the deaths of many. All of this without mentioning that your physical abilities (and in this case magical abilities as well, since Ulfric used the Thum’m to unfairly kill Torygg) have absolutely nothing to do with your intelect and your efficiency in diplomacy.

The author says that "Skyrim law allows the Jarls to challenge the king or queen of Skyrim to a duel, and if the King is slain, a moot is called and then a new king or queen is decided" but as it turns out it is another arrow on his own knee. While it is true that the moot should be called when a king dies without direct heirs (https://www.imperial-library.info/content/pocket-guide-empire-first-edition-skyrim in the fourth paragraph), if by nordic tradition the king's widow is a direct heir Elisif should automatically becomke High Queen. If the widow is not considered a direct heir, the moot should be called with or without a war on (as the book does not mention any exception), but Ulfric not only does not want such Moot to happen (during the quest "The Jagged Crown", at least if you joined the Stormcloaks, he can be heard screaming "And Damn the moot!" when Galmar tells him that the jarls are upset and demand the Moot) and even says that it will not elect Elisif as long as HE has any say in it (and the tradition does not say the Jarl of Windhelm has any priority, you know). Ulfric's actions actually go AGAINST the nordic tradition.

When the author says "You might think that Empire law automatically overrules Skyrim law, but consider that in the Empire, slavery is illegal, and yet the Dunmer of Morrowind were allowed to continue the practice regardless" he shows ignorance regarding Morrowind's history, as slavery (that was actually outlawed by the king of Morrowind during the events of TES IV http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Slavery “By 3E 433, it is mentioned that Helseth Hlaalu, the king of Morrowind, has outlawed slavery.[5]"* https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Helseth "Subsequently, he renounced the slave trade, setting the remaining Houses of Indoril and Redoran against him in a bloody civil war. Helseth emerged from the war battered, but without the loss of his essential powers, leaving the slave trade generally destroyed, and slavery without a foothold in all of Tamriel, although the practice persists in remote areas away from Mournhold") was allowed in Morrowind thanks to something called the Treaty of the Armstice (http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Armistice) and the terms of the treaty allowed Morrowind to retain a high degree of self rule and allowing things that were not allowed in other imperial provinces in exchange for giving the Numidium for Tiber Septim and allowing the imperial forces to act in the province. Skyrim has no treaty like that.

Then he talks about the Thalmor (typical). Lets see what he says: “And if they did secede, the Thalmor would be removed from Skyrim altogether, and anyone that’s read my previous entries know that logistically, the Thalmor cannot invade Skyrim anyway, so the Empire do not in fact keep the Thalmor out, they are in fact the sole reason the Thalmor are there in the first place” you mean when you said that the Aldmeri Dominion can not invade Skyrim thanks to how treacherous the Sea of Ghosts is (and fuck the fact that the Atmorans, who did not have the same technology the Aldmeri Dominion has, have dominated such seas and used them to travel to Tamriel and raid it for centuries) while you said that the Empire could send reinforcements to Skyrim trough SHIPS (you know: passing trough Dominion controlled seas, going all the way from Hammerfell's to High Rock's seas only to reach the Sea of Ghosts in northern Skyrim)? Or how you mentioned that mountains would prevent the Thalmor from reaching Skyrim, even tough the Empire has managed to overcome that obstacle for centuries (with Tullius even saying that controlling The Rift would secure their communications with Cyrodiil during "Season Unending")?

Without mentioning that saying that “Empire do not in fact keep the Thalmor out, they are in fact the sole reason the Thalmor are there in the first place” is actually not true (it may look like a fact, but it is not), for this we just have to take a look at the so called "Markarth Incident" itself: Jarl Igmund and Cedran reveal that the Thalmor themselves demanded the Empire to arrest Ulfric, with Cedran even saying that a whole group of them personally came to Markarth for it. If by 4th Era 201 the Thalmor are directly acting in Skyrim, personally hunting arresting Talos worshippers, while a short time after the end of the Great War they did not personally do it, the Empire itself is not the (only) reason of why they are acting in Skyrim (and the only faction that could have made it worse by revaeling the Thalmor how Talos worship is strong in Skyrim is the Stormcloaks thelselves). The fact that the Thalmor were not present in Skyrim right after the Great War is also revealed by Alvor: en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Alvor "It's from that treaty that ended the Great War, remember, when the Emperor was forced by the Thalmor to outlaw Talos worship. We didn't pay much attention to it when I was a boy - everyone still had their little shrine to Talos. But then Ulfric and his "Sons of Skyrim" started agitating about it, and sure enough the Emperor had to crack down. Dragging people off in the middle of the night... one of the main causes of this war, if you ask me." Alvor basically reveals that everything was just fine before Ulfric and his followers began agitating. If we take these clues and combine them, it becomes clear that, altough the Thalmor would be allowed to do it, the Dominion did not immdediately come to imperial lands to hunt down Talos worshippers, hoping the Empire would arrest them by itself and only after the events in Skyrim (in other words: the Stormcloak Rebellion) clearly showed the Empire was not doing it so the Thalmor decided to hunt Talos worshippers all by itself.

Then he talks about how the empire left Morrowind at it’s own during the Oblivion Crisis. *Sigh*, how many times will I have to refute Part 2? If the empire was having trouble protecting Cyrodiil, how in the name of the Aedra would the imperials be able to protect Morrowind? The best chance Morrowind had was being helped by the empire AFTER Cyrodiil defeated Dagon’s forces, otherwise both provinces would be weak against the daedra at the time (it is also funny how he blames the Empire for not helping Morrowind when the heart of the Empire is under attack, but does not give a shit about how Ulfric sends most of Windhelm's guards to the war to the point of them being barely able to investigate murders in the city, or about how Ulfric does nothing about bandits that do not threaten nord land as it is revealled by Brunwulf. Hypocrisy again). And at the moment he citated Adril Arano he shot himself (AGAIN). How? Due to what he previously said about slavery in Morrowind: if there is really slavery being illegally practiced in Morrowind, and House Redoran supports it form some reason, the currently weakned empire would face difficulties trying to find the slaves and their owners in Morrowind.

Then he talks about how the Empire “abandoned” Hammerfell (*sigh*, this post is gonna be just an enhanced Part 2, but that is okay). If the empire did not care about Hammerfell, then how can we explain General Decianus' decision? In the book it is explained that "In Hammerfell, General Decianus was preparing to drive the Aldmeri back from Skaven when he was ordered to march for Cyrodiil. Unwilling to abandon Hammerfell completely, he allowed a great number of 'invalids' to be discharged from the Legions before they marched east. These veterans formed the core of the army that eventually drove Lady Arannelya's forces back across the Alik'r late in 174, taking heavy losses on their retreat from harassing attacks by the Alik'r warriors." and this eventually helped to weaken Arannelya's army, what obviously helped the redguards of Hammerfell when they fought the weakned forces of Lady Arannelya to a standstill for five years. And if one still thinks that the empire really betrayed Hammerfell (in other words: if the empire had other choice), then it is worth mentioning another part of the book: "there is a great difference between agreeing to such terms under the mere threat of war, and agreeing to them at the end of a long and destructive war. No part of the Empire would have accepted these terms in 4E 171, dictated by the Thalmor at swords-point. Titus II would have faced civil war. By 4E 175, most of the Empire welcomed peace at almost any price." and having in mind how I previously showed that the empire was in no shape to fight by 4E 175, then seeing the sign of the concordact as a betrayal is foolish (what would not be the case if it was signed by 4E 171).

Then the author says “And yes I know they say they can’t because they’re watching their southern border, so their answer instead is to run Skyrim’s economy and resources into the ground to protect their own interests, at the cost of Nord lives and money with little or no sacrifices of their own?” I think he never read Hadvar's dialogue in the UESP. Hadvar explains that the Empire only had it's attention caught after Ulfric killed Torygg, wich means that the Empire barely cared about Skyrim and it's resources for most of the war. And this contradicts what the author himself revealed in his post about the conversations in the Blue Palace, as one of the conversations there shows that Solitude alone has had more efforts towards the war than Cyrodiil itself (Bryling: “Simple. Let the Empire fight its own war, with its own funds, and without hijacking our supplies and soldiers. Let Haafingar rebuild.”), and it is dfinitely not like the imperial supporting provinces were just trying to protect themselves from the Stormcloaks.

About the rest of the dialogues dialogues: I already talked about them in Part 6 and showed that his observations about them are biased and nonsense. Also what he says here: “ If they really wanted to do what was best for the greater good and to defeat the elves, they’d have let the moot take its course, and unite with an independent Skyrim if Ulfric won, having an ally against the elves with full resources and a full army free of the casualties of a civil war because the Empire couldn’t let go of their source of free silver and bodies to protect themselves.” is nonsense since I already explained how the one preventing the Moot from happening is Ulfric, not the Empire.

Now to end this post: I already showed that the empire is not wasting Skyrim’s resources as they need such resources not only to continue to make Skyrim a good place to live, but also to rebuild themselves for an eventual second war against the Dominion… and the empire is now forced to use part of these resources for a war started by the Stormcloaks.

Well, the author already cried about this critique, saying that Tullius stuck in a stalemate with him until the dragonborn gets involved (and fuck the fact that this is just part of the game’s mechanics, to prevent any side from winning before the players joins one of them... and it is definitely not like Hadvar says that Tullius has turned things around for the Empire), saying that Rikke struggles to make Tullius take the rebels seriously (yet this is just a proof of what I said as a great imperial general would only underestimate his enemies if they were no match for the imperial legion if the legion decided to use everything it has), about how many rebels are former leggionaires (even tough they still not use the strategies the legion taught them) and also crying about the nords being the bulks of the empire (and fuck the fact that one can not win a war only with brute force, as strategy is also extremely important).

*oh wait, it appears that all I said is irrelevant because The Stormcloak Guy says the Wiki is full of misconceptions and that my points are irrelevant simply for using it. It is argumentum ad hominem but you know, someone that is biased does not care and fuck if the UESP, that the author heavily relies on, says the same.