Stormcloak questions

[Check-Nate]

So let me get all this answered i have a couple questions
Is it the stormcloaks that think skyrim is just for the nords?
is the imperial legion the faction that almost kills you in the beginning?
If you're not a nord, can you still join the stormcloaks? If so are the members of this faction racist towards you?

[Lord Elvewyn]

Yes to all I think.

[OblivionDuruza]

Essentially, yes to all three. You can join any faction as any race (it'd be silly for Bethesda to do it otherwise, cutting players off from certain quests, etc. in a big way like that). The Imperial Legion does capture you just prior to the beginning of Skyrim, and they do attempt to execute you as a criminal, however this has no real bearing on them letting you join their ranks. And yes, arguably, the Stormcloaks want Skyrim to be independent, and not just that, they want to expel most non-Nords too, particularly Mer. This never happens in-game though, even if they do win.

[Keyouse]

This suuucks. I don't want a land full of racist [&@%!].. but I surely don't want a dumb hierarchy over the whole land. Why do Nords have to be big, stupid, macho-men racists?

Will the Khajiit hate me if I am sided with the Stormcloaks? And also, does anyone have a reason that I should dislike the Imperial Legion, besides wanting to rule the entire land? Are they corrupt?

[Daemos Avetorii]

This is why I play my characters independent. Nords want a cival war? Let them. I do my thing. They do their thing.
Some stormcloaks attacked me when I stood next to them for a minute. Don't know why. Oh well they're swimming with the fishes now.

[Wolfie]

This suuucks. I don't want a land full of racist flankhole but I surely don't want a dumb hierarchy over the whole land. Why do Nords have to be big, stupid, macho-men racists?

Will the Khajiit hate me if I am sided with the Stormcloaks? And also, does anyone have a reason that I should dislike the Imperial Legion, besides wanting to rule the entire land? Are they corrupt?

They dont want to kick evrey one out, just the ones who band their God's or wronged them in the past in another way


Also yes, the Empire is not following Nord traddiions, the Empire is weak and falling apart,
and last but not least, if you go in to the Empire you will find that they want a puppet on the throne

now some of those may seem bad some may not I dont think the nords or the empire are bad they both ahve a legitmate claim for what they want

Do you belive nords should not be aloowed to worship their God?
Do you belive the nords have a right to leave the Empire?
Do you belive Ufric gad a right to kill his king?
stuff like that, no right awnser

[MathiasFlynnias]

Nords do want the expulsion of everyone whom is not a Nord as they see it as 'their land'. They want Talos worship back, and yes the Khajiit would not like them. They do not like them already, and plus, the Khajiit favour the Thalmor as they see them as saviors (The return of Masser and Secunda [sp?]).

I favour the empire if only to keep some form of unity amongst the races against the Thalmor threat. But if you want negatives of the empire, most likely that they are all about the finance, so you could see this as selfish. They want a High King they can control and they are weak. But then again, Skyrim can not stand alone, and no doubt, their independence would leave them vulnerable and friendless.

Even if you joined the stormcloaks because you love Skyrim and the Nords, in the end, it would most likely destroy them.

[Arkhon]

So let me get all this answered i have a couple questions
Is it the stormcloaks that think skyrim is just for the nords?
is the imperial legion the faction that almost kills you in the beginning?
If you're not a nord, can you still join the stormcloaks? If so are the members of this faction racist towards you?

1)Yes, their rebellion is nothing more or less than just Nordish nationalism, regionalism.
2)Yes... But the point is that they mistaken you for the Stormcloak soldier while you was crossing the border from Cyrodill to SKyrim (Skyrim's borders are semi-closed because of the civil war).
3)From the lore point of view, you could join them as long as you would have hatred towards the Empire, Thamlor and support the independence of Skyrim. For example, Malborn's family was slaughtered by the Thamlor that's why he helps the Blades. Malborn himself is a Bosmer so "naturally" he should support the Aldmeri Dominion but as mentioned before, life isn't white and black.

From the game point of view, anybody can join the Stormcloaks...

This suuucks. I don't want a land full of racist flankhole but I surely don't want a dumb hierarchy over the whole land. Why do Nords have to be big, stupid, macho-men racists?

Will the Khajiit hate me if I am sided with the Stormcloaks? And also, does anyone have a reason that I should dislike the Imperial Legion, besides wanting to rule the entire land? Are they corrupt?

I don't see any sense in this rumbling. It is like if in USA now, some states would create independent state (yes, there are still Americans who do not feel as a citizens of the USA but are loyal to their states instead) and invade other states. Who's right here? USA or the people? The interesting point is that USA was never intended to be a one country, it was established as a "Union of States"... I don't want to go deeper into this issue, but nationalism is on the left and right, on the religious and anti-religious side. Nationalism is not "wrong" or "good", "bad" or "evil". The war of independence against the Great Britain was a form of nationalism - people here were basically the British citizens. So claiming that people who want their land, which was theirs since thousands of years, to be "racists" etc. is very ignorant. On the other hand, calling the Empire "dumb hierarchy" is ignorant too. It is not a win-loose world, it is how you feel about certain things. Plus most of the Dunmers in Morrowind are nationalistic too. Just my three cents from the socio-historogical point of view...

Nords do want the expulsion of everyone whom is not a Nord as they see it as 'their land'. They want Talos worship back, and yes the Khajiit would not like them. They do not like them already, and plus, the Khajiit favour the Thalmor as they see them as saviors (The return of Masser and Secunda [sp?]).

That is a controversial statement. Talk to the Khajiit traders, one of them will tell you what Khajiit think of the Aldmeri Dominion...

***

Regarding the Empire, I sided with it. Why? First of all, Titus Mede II could continue the war against the Aldmeri Dominion as Empire won the Battle of the Red Ring. That's true but Empire's victory was pyrrhic - Imperial Legions could not continue the war due to the bloodbath on both sides. Titus Mede decided to sign the White-Gold Concordat which basically is a peace truce. Many Imperial Soldiers clearly admit that it is Emprie which keeps the Aldmeri forces from literally occupying the Empire. Plus they also say that concordat was needed so that Emprie could rebuild its forces and then strike once for good and "punish" the Aldmeri Dominion. However, up to this time the Talos worship is enforced. Here the real problem starts. Talos, Timber Septim, was a "human god" and basically main god of the Nordish pantheon. As Alvor in Riverwood states, "problems really started when people were dragged from their homes in the middle of the night"... Talos ban is a cost for keeping the Elven supremacy from the streets of remaining Empire. Most likely after Imperial Legion will be again capable of destroying the Aldmeri Dominion, then the Talos worship will (officially) come back. Beside all of this, Thamlor are highly racist against non-elves and see humans as nothing mroe or less as "citizens". They admit that the only thing which matters is an "Elven supremacy over the human world". Titus Mede decided to end the Great War because many people forget about one thing, there are also external dangers for example Akavir. Beside all of this, it is Empire which kept provinces from the racial tensions. Remember Night of Tears? Not among all, but many (?) hold some prejudices against others. Elves see humans as something less than them, while humans think that elves are "funny" and it creates hatred... It is not all as simple as one may think...

[Duderino Abides]

My first character that I just decided to retire fought for the Stormcloaks, but I really don't like how it turned out. All my future characters won't take part in the civil war. The Empire are Thalmor puppets and the Stormcloaks are racist [censored].

[Torinir]

My first character that I just decided to retire fought for the Stormcloaks, but I really don't like how it turned out. All my future characters won't take part in the civil war. The Empire are Thalmor puppets and the Stormcloaks are racist [censored]

Spoiler:

Ulfric is a Thalmor sleeper operative

There is no black and white, only infinite shades of gray.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Is it the stormcloaks that think skyrim is just for the nords? - Technically they believe Skyrim "Belongs" to the Nords. From what I've seen, this means that Skyrim is the home of the Nords, the other nine races are something like guests in Skyrim. The very fact that they're there is a gift from the Nords.

is the imperial legion the faction that almost kills you in the beginning? - Yes, but then again, same thing in the last four games and many times you end up working for them.

If you're not a nord, can you still join the stormcloaks? If so are the members of this faction racist towards you? - The main thing they care about is loyalty to Skyrim. If you make that clear you can join the Stormcloaks. Nobody is very racist in the entire game let alone the Stormcloaks.

[OblivionDuruza]

This suuucks. I don't want a land full of racist flankhole but I surely don't want a dumb hierarchy over the whole land. Why do Nords have to be big, stupid, macho-men racists?

Will the Khajiit hate me if I am sided with the Stormcloaks? And also, does anyone have a reason that I should dislike the Imperial Legion, besides wanting to rule the entire land? Are they corrupt?

They dont want to kick evrey one out, just the ones who band their God's or wronged them in the past in another way

Have you not been to Windhelm? I was there less than 15 minutes ago. I witnessed Nords abusing a Dunmeri woman, and I was informed later that the Nords want the Dunmer and Argonians out of their city, accusing the Dunmer of being spies. I then went to join the Stormcloaks to get a better view of the other side on a fresh save, and I was confronted by racism from Galmar even when I was there to help the poor [&@%!]. Any doubts I had about the Stormcloaks have been reaffirmed by joining them. They're great for Nords, and I don't question their morals in wanting to retake Skyrim for the Nords, per se, but there is NO denying their racism.

[Chaos the N'wah]

Objectivity Duru, both Galmar and the street racist drunk share a clan name of Stone-fist

[Wolfie]

Duza show me one place, anywher, that dose not have pepole doign that yes some pepole have rasistm, but not the majoirty,
yes those two where, yes some of the top guys wher,e it happens evrey where, but it is NOT shraed by them all

Show me WHERE the stormclock say if they win they will kick evrey one out, they just want to be indepedent and fre to worship who ever they wat, nothing says they want no one but nords in skyrim

[Theificka]

I'm completely lost on this;

Is Stormcloak planning to disband all races that aren't Nords?
What is the Empire's slice of the cake if they win?
Is there an independent quest line?

[Wolfie]

#1 no they dont want EVREYONE out who is not a Nord, this can be seen by the fact that the stormclocks have some pepole living in their own walls, they could easily kick them out, but they do not so its defreintly not somethign they want, all they want is to rule their homeland

#2 they get one of their only remaining provinces to stay, get the nords to fight the Thalmor, and get the mines\ wpeons.

#3 No

[Quixotique]

You don't have to join either faction.

Do so if you feel strongly either way, or want the powerful friends, but do not feel compelled.

Both sides will more or less accept you regardless of who you are, although you may see others of your kind, or your principles, treated less well at times.

They both have a darker side, whether it's bigotry or unhappy compromise. On both sides there are occasional injustices.

Most individual adherents of each side are honourable. Some few on each side are less so.

Sadly even your Dragonborn Archmage Supreme Warrior Multiple Guildmaster Thane of Every Hold doesn't have the clout to force a sensible peace...

We can learn a lot from this for our world, I reckon.

[Squiver]

I think what's important is to not look at what the individual members of the factions believe, but what their leaders believe.

After all, it's not really fair to generalize an entire faction based on the point of view of a few people. For instance, Duruza points out that two people in Windhelm "said that Nords wanted the Elves and Argonians out", but the two people that he talked to were later revealed by the Dunmer woman herself to be especially racist. In the tavern in Windhelm, you hear from a veteran of the Great War that he can't stand the "Skyrim for the Nords" type people, implying that they are a particular type of person.

While I haven't joined either side yet, someone who played an elf claimed that when he joined the Stormcloaks, Ulfric asked "Why would an elf want to join our cause?" He replied "Because Skyrim is my home" and that was more than a satisfactory answer for Ulfric.

Now I'm not claiming that Ulfric's cause isn't necessarily one with some racist overtones (the book about the native uprising in Markarth and Ulfric's quelling of it does seem to paint Ulfric in a very similar light to that of General Custer), but it also can be personally confusing to you, if you're trying to figure out which faction to join, to try and generalize the motive of the entire movement based on the opinions of a single person who happens to be loyal to the Stormcloaks.

In it's defense, I would think if I were a racist in Skyrim, and I were forced to take up arms, I would choose the Stormcloaks. In other words, was it the Stormcloaks that instilled the racism, or did the racists just happen to tag along, being already sufficiently racist?

[Wolfie]

Thaats my point, the sotmrclocks are not racist, some pepole in it are

[OblivionDuruza]

@Wolfie, the Stormcloaks explicitly state that they wish to send the "damn Elves" packing. However, nobody in the non-Stormcloak areas really makes any comment that is racist, to my knowledge. Further, the Nords do wish to expel the Dunmer, I took some screenshots of the encounter I am talking about for you, which I'll upload when I next get the chance.

@Squiver, it's not only them though, people will comment that Ulfric would never send help to other settlement that were not Nordic, and that he distrusts non-Nords. Galmar Stone-Fist also gives the impression that only Nords are truly accepted, and in fact one of the dialogue options is to ask if they only take Nords as a result.

Some within the city of Windhelm, of which Ulfirc is jarl, even reveal that he refuses to send aid to caravans and towns that have been victims of bandit raids within his hold if the victims were not Nords.

It's not just a few grunts, it stems much higher, to their leader, and his chief advisor.

[Lord Elvewyn]

Seems like Third Reich 1936 - Jews welcome, they just need to know their place. In this case the charismatic Fuhrer Stormcloak sees everone not a Nord as needing to know their place. Oh, and any 'True Nord' will join the Stormcloaks, all the rest are what, traitors?

[Nightingale]

Seems like Third Reich 1936 - Jews welcome, they just need to know their place. In this case the charismatic Fuhrer Stormcloak sees everone not a Nord as needing to know their place. Oh, and any 'True Nord' will join the Stormcloaks, all the rest are what, traitors?

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

People follow powerful, charismatic leaders, it happens all the time.

Ever since the Septim line died, I've liked the idea of a new incarnation of the Empire starting in Skyrim. The Kingdom could be just the first step...and may be the best hope for those who wish to oppose the Altmer.

[RedDeadFred]

This suuucks. I don't want a land full of racist flankhole but I surely don't want a dumb hierarchy over the whole land. Why do Nords have to be big, stupid, macho-men racists?

Will the Khajiit hate me if I am sided with the Stormcloaks? And also, does anyone have a reason that I should dislike the Imperial Legion, besides wanting to rule the entire land? Are they corrupt?

The Legion is just trying to unify its remaining provinces so that if the Thalmor attack again, they will be ready. Try not to let that one [&@%!] Imperial Officer from the beginning create your entire opinion of the Legion.
Also, you should hate the Storm Cloaks more because they are extremely racist and

Spoiler:

Ulfric Stormcloak is a Thalmor sleeper agent. He started the war with the Imperials most likely so that man would be weaker when the Thalmor attack again.

[Rynkar]

What what what???

[Squiver]

@Squiver, it's not only them though, people will comment that Ulfric would never send help to other settlement that were not Nordic, and that he distrusts non-Nords. Galmar Stone-Fist also gives the impression that only Nords are truly accepted, and in fact one of the dialogue options is to ask if they only take Nords as a result.

Yes, although I tend to take what the civilians say with a grain of salt. While many of them say that, it doesn't necessarily make it true - many of them could have a bias, or are merely spewing out what they've been told by those of like mind.

Of course that's not to say it isn't true, either; like I've said, I haven't made up my mind either way yet. Although I am beginning to lean towards Imperial, simply because, obviously, a divided nation is a weaker one, and the Thalmor threat is still extremely present.

-- Plus, I'm beginning to think I really don't like Ulfric himself, on a personal level. I don't like General Tullius at all, either, but he's not the one in charge, he's just leading the war effort. It just seems like Ulfric never even seriously gave diplomacy a shot in trying to bring the issue of secession to the forefront of the High Court - he just jumped straight to violence.

Spoiler:

In his speech in Windhelm he so stoically states that he would "gladly retire from the world if such a day [that soldiers were no longer required] would dawn", and then, in the next sentence, proceeds to immediately make plans to spread the war which he started. That's the sort of attitude that makes soldiers necessary.