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So, is it just me, or do people on these forums seem to think that the Thalmor are literally running the Empire and have total control of everything. This just sounds absurd to me though. Opinions?

They are everywhere, everywhere. And the Empire enforces their rules. They don't need to lead anything.

They legally do run the empire, after they conquered it.

But the White-Gold Concordat only gives them permission to enforce there part of the deal, doesn't it? I mean if they do run everything than that was either really bad writing on Beths part or a really stupid move by the empire, as it is the war was for nothing, the Elves got what they wanted in the first place, and the Empire doesn't seem to have gained any ground. But according to the Imperial Legion there the only thing keeping the Thalmor out of Skyrim, if this is true than wouldn't that mean they don't necessarily have total control?

They dont need to lead, the emperor does anything they do when they say so. The empire is the only thing keeping the dominion out of skyrim because it is letting them prepare for the next War so the thalmor do not need to enter skyrim before they are ready. The empire is probably preparing on their own but they are afraid to face the dominion once again or at least their leader is.

As for how much power i think they currently have? Not much. Im pretty sure a well lead army from the empire could take them down but it would not fall easily but that is because the average elven soldier has better equipment and magic than the average legionnaire but not the numbers and probably not the leadership.

Technically, the White-Gold Concordat only gives them the direct power within the Empire to enforce the ban on Talos worship. But I imagine this limitation is only theoretical, as they may arrest/interrogate anyone, anywhere for suspected Talos worship. And then there's all the behind-the-scenes influence they undoubtedly have over Imperial politics. But no, it's not just you; there definitely seem to be some people insisting that the Empire is utterly and completely under the Thalmor's thumb. I don't think that's a fair assessment, especially considering how little info we really have, but the Thalmor's influence is certainly quite substantial.

Hissien wrote:They dont need to lead, the emperor does anything they do when they say so. The empire is the only thing keeping the dominion out of skyrim because it is letting them prepare for the next War so the thalmor do not need to enter skyrim before they are ready. The empire is probably preparing on their own but they are afraid to face the dominion once again or at least their leader is.

As for how much power i think they currently have? Not much. Im pretty sure a well lead army from the empire could take them down but it would not fall easily but that is because the average elven soldier has better equipment and magic than the average legionnaire but not the numbers and probably not the leadership.

Why do people keep saying the Emperor and the Empire are keeping the Dominion out of Skyrim. They have Justiciar patrols, court advisory positions, and an entire embassy compound. face it, "the Dominion is, and we are watching." They know that they are already in Skyrim, and they aren't even ashamed to say it.

They mean the dominion actually burning the holds, slaughtering people and plundering. the normal war stuff.

Calm before the storm, I say. We're only in the hurricane's eye, mark my words.

We agree on that.

Ok thought I'd just mention, that if the Thalmor had as much power as some believe, than there would be no need for a second war. They would have already achieved there ultimate goal.

It sounded to me like the Thalmor had the definite upper-hand, the White-Gold Concordat was more of an attempt to prevent the Empire being destroyed. I'm sure if the Thalmor did anything too outrageous, there'd be some sort of rebellion, but I definitely get the impression that the Thalmor have the Empire in a headlock.

They still have to control everything via the Empire though, which I bet isn't what the Thalmor want. Even though they have huge influence, they'd almost certainly prefer to get rid of the Empire so there's no obstruction at all.

Anonymous98223 wrote:Ok thought I'd just mention, that if the Thalmor had as much power as some believe, than there would be no need for a second war. They would have already achieved there ultimate goal.

What? they already:
A)Destroyed all Talos worship and Talos as well?
B)Removed man from the past, present, and future?
C)Released the Time-Dragon and destroyed Lineat Time?

When did those things happen?

I'm not denying that they have influence, just that they have so much that they are practically leading the empire from the shadows.

They don't have to lead. They only have to stand in the corner and look tough while the Empire runs itself the way they want it to.

The Thalmor could also be putting on show, their real power is actually weaker than it seems.

They had to take power by doing a quick coup of the original ruling class of the Summerset Isle.

Remember Malborn from Skyrim's main quest? His family was killed in one of the Thalmor's secret purges. If they are doing purges and trying to prevent the rest of Tamriel know about it, then they know that no one will tolerate their rule.

Also, the guards in the same quest (Diplomatice Immunity) were making fun of the Thalmor, so it seems that they do not even have full control of their army.

In my opinion, the Thalmor are ruling with a Sword of Diomedes hanging over their head.

They don't have to lead. They only have to stand in the corner and look tough while the Empire runs itself the way they want it to.

And I assume that once they stop, that's when the next war starts.

The Thalmor could also be putting on show, their real power is actually weaker than it seems.

Yeah, all we've seen is how the Empire has been effected. I wonder how things are going in Alinor?

But I do think they have the upper hand. Even if only because the Empire thinks they do, enough so to sign the Concordat on the exact same terms that started the war.

All things I've seen shows the thalmor lost at evreything they planed and yet some how won

Da freak kind of luck is this?

They are like that one guy in life who gets EVREYTHIBG in the end dispite having the worse time of his life, he ends up with all he ever wanted with NO reasson for it.

I don't think they have as much control as everyone makes out, although they clearly are walking over the empire. I'd say the Empire hasn't done enough to prepare since the war and that Aldmeri dominance isn't far off (at least by elven life-span standards).

I think the Aldmeri taking over would make a great setting for a follow up game

Wolfie wrote:All things I've seen shows the thalmor lost at evreything they planed and yet some how won

Da freak kind of luck is this?

They are like that one guy in life who gets EVREYTHIBG in the end dispite having the worse time of his life, he ends up with all he ever wanted with NO reasson for it.

Random luck, huh? Apparently they're trying to weaken Talos so they can funnel more power to Zenithar. Sneaky [&@%!].

Yes, but they also try to FORCE men to do it, they failed and could of been wiped out and yet some how tyhe empire mangaed to give it to them, then they manged to keep it like this for decades...

Just going to throw this out there, but Pilaf supports the Empire. Do you think that he will support you calling it weak?

No one called anyone weak...

But you called someone else in control, you may not have meant this, and I may believe you, but it seems like you are saying the Thalmor are the "sly eagle", hiding their true claws not needing to use them.

Not even close, I'm saying there is NO logical reasson for them to be doing this well, they are no where near as powerful as the empire seems to think they are, they lost evrtey war they went to (by not getting what they wanted)

They are the person who for no reasson gets evreything they ever wanted, even when by all rights there is no reasson for them to gethat they want.

They lost their army in the war, empire still has theres, empire gives their freddonm away