Ultimately it comes down to whether you favour thalmor, empire, or independance as an Argonian.

If Skyrim falls, the Empire's back is completely broken. Thalmor will take power - Black Marsh will eventually come on their radar. If Skyrim is independant, it might be possible for the Argonians to negotiate an alliance with the nords to face down the Thalmor... or Ulfrik might just sign up Skyrim as a client state of the Aldmeri dominion; it'd be a big gamble.

If the Empire takes Skyrim, the empire can consolidate it's strength and try stand up to the Thalmor. It's a long shot but in the long run if the empire suceeds it's ienvitable they will conquer and re-annex black marsh so all you've done is swapped one potential tyranny for another.

But you might also ask yourself "Is the Aldmeri dominion a bad thing?" - the Khajiit have flourished under dominion rule, and the Argonians, like the khajiit suffered awful oppression under the Empire. For them, staying out of the conflict - entirely is the best way to support the Dominion (As long as the empire and nords are killing each other, that weakens both states further), perhaps black marsh would be better off forming an alliance with the dominion, instead of supporting nord independance Vs imperial ambition





Difference is, the argonians didn't deliver blackmarsh/morrowind into the hands of the Aldmeri dominion by doing so, whereas the Nords are going to wrap up cyrodiil AND skyrim in a nice pretty parcel complete with a ribbon, gift-wrap and a "to Thalmor" tag on the top. "Fighting in the name of freedom and liberty" is all well and good when all things are well and right in the world. But tamriel is a complex situation.

Think of the austerity measures in Europe right now - some countries have to cut public spending, raise taxes and inflict a degree of poverty just in other to re-establish their economic standing. If a new party came forward and said "We'll raise spending, and lower taxes", people might support the idea, but they're ignoring the fact debt is continuing to rise and the rules imposed upon them served a greater good. The nords don't WANT the empire's intervention or to live with their rule, when a leader says "skyrim for the nords, and worship talos!" everyone says "yay" because it's what they want - but they're ignoring the bigger problem; the aldmeri dominion - and being imposed upon by the empire might be the only thing that can save them

Wow, OP! Great post. Why would =anyone= side with Ulfric? He is worse than the people he claims to hate!

Now, why would an Argonian side with Ulfric? Maybe to try and show him the error of his ways. Maybe to subvert the Stormcloak ideals by becoming the Stormcloak champion... showing how wrong the Stormcloak views are? Maybe as blind (and stupid) revenge against the Empire for centuries of domination in Black Marsh?

Maybe he's on the Skooma. :drool:

Can't you just side with the imperials instead? I haven't gotten far into the game but it seems like that, I followed the imperial guard at the begining instead of the stormcloak and he offered me a spot in the legion

Have any of you actually killed Ulfric and done the main quest? Because if you did, a certain part would show you that he knows what he is doing is wrong yet has no ill will at you for killing him.

To be fair i remember before the games release most people who planned to play stormcloak did the exact same thing :biggrin:

Even if that's not something that would ever happen in future lore, nothing's stopping you from role-playing that way.

Which is why it'll be a shame if they force the lore that way. Seeing how in my world the Dragonborn is a Khajiit, loyal to the Aldmeri Dominion and their motherland. It wouldn't make any sense in TES 6, the lore states that the Dragonborn went on to lead the empire to defeat the Aldmeri Dominion/thalmor

Unfortunately, that's how TES games work. Like in Morrowind, where you're able to kill Vivec and still complete the main quest. Bethesda never actually wanted you to, so he was never killed by the Nerevarine in the lore.

HA HA dont you think its strange that a lizard would be born a dragonborn, gods or whatever? Its a poor story I cant believe this isnt more of an issue! I know it was similar with the nerevarine but the beginning spoke of your being and your fate in the FMV, That made it more appropriate. With Skyrim we have whatever race becoming a Nord legend that has terrible sound effects, unless you look the part. I wouldve preferred being the dragonborns protector through the same quests and always having him follow me then only being the dragonborn if playing as nord. Ridiculous but the story is wrote for a nord.

After all the complaints about martin i can see why they avoided that route though ^_^

I'm sticking to Argonian personality traits, hard to gain their trust but loyal once gained.....

The stormcloaks where going to kill me at the beginning of the game.... The imperials more or less took me in.

If that doesn't at least deserve my respect and trust, I dunno what does.

Also being that I created more of a back story for my character and imperials have played a more of a part than Nords have.

The only question I have for myself is what I'm even doing in skyrim in the first place..... Leyawiin was oh so nice and warm.

...the Imperials were going to kill you at the beginning of the game. You were in a cart with Ulfric.

Unless I've made a big mistake, there is a flaw in your logic here sir.

I wasnt in forums then though Id liked to have been. I actually preferred Oblivions story and I liked Martin, cant see how he wouldnt be believable except he was a little courageous in battle.

Most complaints where more that he stole the spotlight then anything wrong with his character. I quite liked him too

Why would an Argonian Dragonborn side with Ulfric?

Because at the beginning of the game the Imperial Army decided to cut your head off for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Seems a bit of a no-brainer does that one.

Azrael
The Nord with the Sword

Argonians hate Dunmer.

Stormcoaks hate Dunmer.

The End.

Stormcloaks hate everyone <_<

You could hate the Empire for supporting Morrowind for hundreds of years and allowing the subjucation and slavery of Argonians. Maybe you even figure you can raise the status of your people by proving yourself to the Nords.

Because if you help take down the empire thats one less big faction that won't later try to occupy Black Marsh.

Aha, good points, thanks guys. Another thing I came up with... The empire of Mede is definitely not the same Talos Empire ruled by the Septim line.. That empire fell, and the new one, ruled by the Medes, is trying to stand on the old one's foundation.. But with the Hammerfell, Black Marsh, Elsweyr and Valenwood effectively not being part of it anymore, it's a whole another entity... So technically there should be no reason to have a goodwill towards this empire.

Also... Spoilers for main quest, act 3:
And, spoiler for main quest ending:


So.. yeah. It's almost weird how the main quest starts you off predisposed towards Stormcloaks, then throws you over to Empire's side (though mainly via sidequests), and then again pulls you over to the Stormcloak side.

Dayum, good post. I mean I still hate Ulfric, but good shout nevertheless.

Argonians are the most plausible dragonborns as far as I'm concerned.

Being dragonborn because you're "blessed by the gods" is totally silly and you have to have a huuuge imagination to roleplay that kind of character.

Being of reptile/lizard race is the only plausible way of having some dragon-like power.



I mean, did you look at your own character and then look at one of the possible creatures from Black Marsh?

If my Argonian had wings he would look like a mini dragon. Your character would just look silly.

I was going to say the same thing. Maybe your lizard hates dark elves sooooo much and he just loves to see the way the Dunmer are oppressed in Windhelm. He might even have a mental block from seeing that the Nords treat Argonians even worse, just because he's so glad to see the Dunmer getting stepped on. It's easy to see the Stormcloaks accepting your service while laughing at you behind your back. (Really, if you imagine it with real life racists, it's not hard.) Then either you earn their respect and it's a cool After School Special moment, or you end up seeing through their patronizing smiles and turning against them. Either way, great story.