Costin_Razvan wrote...
I don't expect any lasting alliance between the individual provinces of Tamriel, free of the Empire, for longer than is necessary to push back the Thalmor.
That's the thing though. What if the Thalmor don't invade and just sit back to wait until the various nations start fighting each other? What then? They aren't above such a long term plan and in fact that's exactly what I would expect them to do.
I can't see anyone coming up with an invasion plan of the Dominion if the Empire breaks apart, after all the Dominion borders Cyrodill right now and I don't think the Imperial would try such an invasion if the entire empire breaks apart, in fact I'd suspect the Imperials would really resent the nords for the end of their empire.
Even if they do ally to invade the Dominion, what are the chances they would actually win?
EDIT: In regards to Hammerfell, I think it could be argued that a greater presence of redguard troops at the battle of the Capital city would have ensured a not so costly victory for Mede there.
Edit: I may have gone off on a slight tangent here.
Speaking to the Thalmor at the embassy, they do say the this is the calm before the storm, now how long that calm will last I don't know, possibly decades. But, with the Empire in its weakened state, militarily, economically, provincially (if it looses control of Skyrim) and it's leadership in question. I wouldn't expect the Thalmor to wait that long. They after all have the advantage, Cyrodiil whether they hold Skyrim or not will only get stronger, whether it can actually survive the coming invasion is another matter entirely. They've already waited 30 years since the end of the conflict. Whilst the rebellion in Skyrim only bleeds the Empire of more resources.
There was no point in them immediately launching another attack as they were already engaged in Hammerfell, and withdrew after a stalemate, which was simply draining their resources and man power. Indeed after the destruction of their main force in Cyrodiil I believe all the book on the Great War mentions is that it would take a greater commitment of Manpower and resources as well as money for the Thalmor to complete the the conquest which wasn't their initial goal. That was the invasion of Southern Hammerfell, which they failed to achieve, inspite of the force tasked to do so.
Hence, it appears they underestimated the Redguard's tenacity, the Nords are just as obstinate and warlike as their Hammerfell counterparts. The logical target is a weakend Cyrodiil, which is at it's weakest now. I don't think the Thalmor will wait until it recovers, a century down the line, in the hope that a major conflict will arise and everyone will forget the Thalmor's agenda, which is plain to see. Cyrodiil is on it's own at the moment, politically isolated it presents an ideal target.
And there is no reason that the Nords, or the Redguard for that matter do not choose to start raiding the Dominion, due to an expansionist agenda or retaliation by the Redguard for the devastation of Southern Hammerfell.
I agree that a united Empire gives the greatest opportunity for a cohesive invasion against the Dominon, even devoid of manpower from Hammerfell. But I don't see it as unfeasable that the Empire would launch it's own invasion, not on the scale of the Great War, if the Dominion coastline is already being raided by aggressive Nords or Redguard. For all their cunning, the Thalmor revealed their hand in open war and whilst they may have split the Empire, they also made enemies of the Nords, Redguard and Imperials. I won't get into the hypotheticals of how it could work because of the variable of the politics in the future.
But I agree that whilst the Thalmor are the dominant force in Tamriel now, like the Empire, fighting three or four different faction even independent of one another is a serious drain on their resources. And the Dominion in Vallenwood is not paticularly loved. Whilst the Empire may not be able to win a decisive victory and regain all it lost, it's quite possible, that the Dominion would have to make concessions to them, in the face aggression by other factions. Yet at the moment I don't think a united Empire would be able to defeat the Thalmor, not on their current footing at least.
In regards to Hammerfell, yes the inclusion of the veterans would have been useful at the battle of Redring, but it would have precipitated the fall of southern Hammerfell, which pivoted on those veterans which were left behind.
Modifié par billy the squid, 22 juillet 2012 - 07:08 .
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