What actually happened was that the Imperial leadership lost their beloved home, so they pulled all the forces they could out of Hammerfell to save one city(one General decided to do what he could to help the locals, without Imperial orders to do so), then went on to give much of the southern of Hammerfell to the Dominion. When the Redguards refused, the Emperor, instead of risking to break the WGC, simply denounced them as a province.

Also keep in mind, that the Dominion put everything into taking the city. There weren't many Legions in Cyrodill to begin with. That's why they left Hammerfell. The Dominion left Hammerfell for Cyrodill.

Could, maybe. But it would be quite an asspull unless it happens a good deal off from now. As I said, the game just doesn't make it seem like it is even remotely a threat to worry about on a grand scale. If it happens, it would likely be a fair deal off, or it would seem very out of the blue. To me anyway. They weren't portrayed as anything greater than goblins. Goblins are more intelligent and there's no talk of a goblin uprising.

Source? I quickly re-read the Great War parts related, but it never says that soldiers from the Hammerfell invasion was sent to Cyrodiil, only "all available forces" which I don't think would count in an army in action.

That's certainly a rosy way of looking at it when the empire has leached off men and treasure for its own armies for centuries, but when push comes to shove it can't or won't protect the people it insisted on ruling.

And the Altmer refugee community being ravaged in the Night of Green Fire. The fact that they neither respond to an imperial call for aid in Skyrim, nor to a Stormcloak call, is a signal they're prepared to go their own way.

People certainly lack imagination if they can't picture Tamriel as being run by anyone other than Roman LARPers from Cyrodiil. The Septim empire is gone, and the Medes just a waystation on the decline. If the writers wanted to, they could introduce a Sload invasion or an elven hegemony, the latter being more likely IMO.

I think the OP has a point.

The "Empire" is really only an empire in name only in the time of TES V.

Maybe TES VI could have re-establishing the Empire as a Main Quest. That would be somewhat epic, perhaps.

The Dominion you mean? Yes, since they thought capturing the IC was too easy they put everything into it.

Under "Sack of the Imperial City".

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Great_War

Your specific claim was that the Dominion left Hammerfell for Cyrodiil, which is what I am objecting to. Where does it say that? And Why does it refer to Lady Arannelya as leading an army in Hammerfell in the section where the Imperial City is retaken if that is the case?

Goblins where also never a great and ancient civilization at one point. Unless that one theory of Cyrodilic Goblins being devolved Ayleids do to their loss of White-Gold is true.

At the Very least the Nords would be hard pressed to defend Markarth if the Falmer decided to raid it. They have the advantage of the Tunnels and Dwarven ruins to freely move all over skyrim. They would pretty much be able to raid the surface with impunity well the Nords are busy fighting the Thalmor or anyone else, they wouldn't have the manpower necessary to contain them in all the caves and ruins let alone go in and deal with them decisively they also have the advantage of having almost 4000 years to adapt to the ruins and caverns.

The Falmer are more of a threat then people like to admit as for their Intelligence it's hard to Judge. Gelebor has noted that they have Increased noticeably in intelligence since they first sacked the chantry and that there may still be hope for them yet and he would be a pretty good judge of whether they could ever come close to their old selves or a comparable level. They are also advanced enough to raise chaurus for various uses perform Alchemy, craft weapons and heavy suits of armour and they still have some degree of Magical prowess although certainly nothing on the scale of the other races any more at least no t that we've seen.

Heh this has gotten really of topic of whether the Empire should still be called an Empire.

So on the original topic It controls it's hope province and at least western skyrim and is ruled by an Emperor so it qualifies for being referred to as an Empire. But I don't think it deservers to be referred to as The Empire. It's fallen a long way from the Height of the Septim Empire or the First Empire for that matter. Its certainly lost all of the glory of past Incarnations.

Hmm, I think I may have made a minor exaggeration. Arannelya's forces (Were weakened and could no longer move) are likely the force the Redguards faced after they were let go. But I'm assuming any Dominion force that was available in Hammerfell was sent into Cyrodill.

I think it is more likely that they sent whatever forces they could from Dominion lands, since the Empire couldn't threaten their borders at the moment.

As it stands, its still a big if. What they used to be like doesn't matter much as their intelligence is still below goblin. They don't even know how the outside world works, much less invade it. It's a cute theory, but dismissible as far as I'm concerned. The game doesn't even take it seriously.

They could also go the way of something similar to the Warring states period of Chinese history, Every province out for themselves that would certainly be interesting and would shake up the trend of Either Elves or Men having Dominance in Tamriel.

The book always gave me the impression that they stayed to fight the invalids and Hammerfell forces. When the WGC was signed, half of Hammerfell was Thalmor controlled.

"The Aldmeri Advance into Cyrodill" I think I found it, 5th paragraph before the next section. It was her main army that was stuck, but she had other forces. Those are likely the forces I mentioned that left Hammerfell for the Imperial City. I could be wrong, you tend to be good at these things so I'll let you judge.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Great_War

Smarter than goblins, much smarter than goblins. Gelebor states otherwise. Falmer's servants also say otherwise. The dead caravans with falmer arrows sticking out of their bodies also say otherwise. A book also says otherwise. A loading screen says otherwise.

Yep, of course they're not a threat. Because the threat is never staring at your face. The worst things always happen when they least expect it, at the worst time possible by the unlikest of sorts.

Lady Arannelya's force is the one in Hammerfell. She stays there until they leave after the five years they fought the redguards past the WGC signing.

It says her main army managed to cross the desert(at great cost apparently), meaning she moved further north from her earlier position. I think it is reasonable to conclude that the rest of her forces worked as an occupational force for the southern areas. Not a good thing to suddenly get angry Redguard militia assaulting your rear guard.

Yes, her main. Which means the other forces there would be the ones that left Hammerfell. As you said, it would be that army (with reinforcements I'm sure) that face the Redguards the next 5 years.

They seem pretty much the same as goblins to me. Goblins know magic, and even some can talk. Nothing about the loading screen or the in game sources say they're smarter than goblins. What it does say is they're getting smarter. So eventually they could be an issue. But not in the immediate future. This was likely just done to have an excuse for a new enemy anyway. As it stands its just wishful thinking. (And I think you know that )

I think the Betrayed could do some damage in the areas like Markarth, but in an invasion of the surface they would face some disadvantages, mainly their lack of sight. That may not be a great deal in caverns, but when you have to navigate a land they likely have very limited knowledge of geography of, not having eyes can be fatal.

How'd I miss the most obvious point against the theory? Lol. At least goblins can see and are known for waging war. Among themselves, but still, they show that they know how to gather forces like an army. And they have clans and such. If they aren't warring on the outside world, I cant see falmer doing so.

I know its a minor thing, but they were able to take care of that carriage as it was littered with Falmer arrows.

There's a difference between hitting a noisy target and directing an attack on whole armies and cities.

You don't know much about wartime politics, do you? If the Emperor didn't denounce the Redguards, he risked igniting another war when the Legions didn't have a chance in hell of facing it. Do you honestly think that the Emperor didn't know full dammed well how the Redguards would react?