Are there any books I should be on the lookout for as I adventure across Skyrim that contain woodelf lore? Thanks!

Your first stop should be the http://www.imperial-library.info/content/dance-fire series. I'd say it's the most significant one in terms of actually describing the lands and the lives of the bosmer. You might wanna have a look for http://www.imperial-library.info/content/mixed-unit-tactics, a common read among imperial soldiers. Mainly focuses on Khajiit warfare, but touches on their elven adversary as well. There are a few others like Beggar Prince and The Marksmanship Lesson that has Bosmer characters in them too, but I don't think they really help fleshing out the race.

A couple other relevant links:

http://www.imperial-library.info/content/pocket-guide-empire-third-edition-wild-remain-valenwood
http://www.imperial-library.info/content/pocket-guide-empire-first-edition-aldmeri-dominion
http://www.imperial-library.info/content/varieties-faith-empire
http://www.imperial-library.info/content/races-tamriel-bosmer

Great, thanks so much for the links and the in game books. I'm trying to determine my side in the Civil War based on my history. Despite the fact that in recent years the Bosmer have become more and more isolationist, I personally would like to take up arms in this conflict. From the treatment (or lack there of) that Valenwood has recieved from the Empire, I'm leaning towards the Stormcloaks. Any other insites into which side would make more sense for me to take?

The default for a Bosmer would be to be pro-dominion, meaning that if you've decided to take part in the conflict you must already be very convinced of the wrongheadedness of the Thalmor. In which case either side works, as resolving the conflict is not in their interest. I guess that the Imperial side will be more familiar for the Bosmer, but the meat eating hunter type Stormcloaks might appeal as well. Then again, as you point out, the Empire's handling of Valenwood hasn't been perfect through history (although we know little of more recent events), and the Stormcloaks nationalistic side might also be a deal breaker. Personally with a Bosmer, I'd go for the Empire, but I reckon it comes down to your personal opinion in the matter.

The second paragraph may contain a DB spoiler so please read at your own risk.





Ah I see where you are comming from with the pro-dominion comment now. The Bosmer are allies with the Altmer as part of the Aldmeri dominion, hence pro-dominion. If I took up the Empire's cause against the Stormcloaks, wouldn't that make the Empire that much stronger when it comes to resisting the Aldmeri Dominion? I am lacking in knowledge of the end goals of the Thalmor and the Aldmeri Dominion. As the governing body over the Aldmeri Dominion, is the end game of the Thalmor and the Aldmeri Dominion one in the same?

To give you some insight as to why I was originally leaning Stormcloak...I've completed the DB questline which leads me to believe that I've already started to turn the tide in favor of the Stormcloaks, and can't reconcile the fact that with the events that took place during that questline, how I can turn and fight for the Empire. I am personally torn about my actions. On one hand, I am/was dedicated to the DB, although with the completion of "Hail Sithis" I am seriously thinking of abandoning my murderous ways.

It it isn't completely obvious, this is my first TES experience, but am loving every bit of the game and lore along the way. I'm currently level 35 and around 70 hours in on master. For now, I am still very much uncertain about which cause I will take up. Which is awesome to me because I haven't been this interested in an in game decision since I can remember. I'm going to be on the hunt for The Great War and Rising Threat books as well. From a short read online, those seem to tell the Thalmor story. I enjoy reading the lore in game if possible though.

Spoilers are our bread and butter in the lore section, so don't worry about that.
The point is that as long as the civil war is ongoing, the Empire will be committing troops to the region, troops that would be necessary for defense in case, let's say, the dominion decides to make a move. Any side winning would be bad for the Thalmor.
As for the end goals, well, the dominion currently exists because of the Thalmor and they are in control of it so basically yes, they are aiming for the same thing. L'état, c'est ces gars, as Louis XIV would've said.

If there had to be a winner, the Thalmor would want the battle to be long and drawn out with both sides suffering massive casualties. Didn't get a chance to play too much yesterday, but I was able to find all of the Rising Threat books. I have some reading to do this weekend!

My Bosmer wants nothing more than to see his forests freed from Thalmor occupation. He wants no part of the Aldmeri Dominion. Also, he couldn't care less about the Skyrim Civil War. He'll side with whomever gives him the best chance to survive in Skyrim. I just wish I could play both sides, as the situation warranted.

I would think that the Stormcloaks don't care about the political landscape outside of Skyrim, so they probably wouldn't even consider liberating Valenwood. In terms of surviving in Skyrim, I consider myself well protected since I have both the theives and DB looking out for me.

As do I.

I loved this series. I'm currently following Scotti into the Black Marsh now in the Argonian Account series. I also got a chance to read the Rising Threat series. As a woodelf Dragonborn, I care more about stopping Alduin than this petty civil war the Empire is in. For the time being, Alduin is my focus. While I'm not too keen on either faction, the Empire would ultimately be able to liberate Valenwood from the Thalmor, so I will likely side with them. Plus, I don't think I can handle those elitest Nords for an entire quest chain

Makes sense, keep in mind though that the Nords under Ulfric will likely at one time or another go to war with the Thalmor, although they are definitely less likely to free Valenwood, they are also slightly less likely to occupy Valenwood in a new Empire. So that might be worth your consideration as well.

I say slightly less likely, because as of now Ulfric doesn't seem to have any intentiosn of ruling the Empire, but I don't see why that would stay the same in the future.

I feel the same way. My wood elf is following a similar path.

So who would most likely help us defeat the Thalmor, but not occupy Valenwood. I can't really see that happening anytime soon. It would be interesting to see if the Stormcloaks took Skyrim how that would play out. Ulfric wants a society dedicated to worshiping the Nordic gods, so his ultimate beef would be with the Thalmor. Not that he would lead a conquest all the way to Summerset, but he would want to get rid of any Thalmor presence in Skyrim for sure. Clever of those Thalmor to use the Empire to enforce their rules.


I've been wondering how this whole thing will play out with the Thalmor. With the Oblivion Crisis and Alduin, those were/are events that seem like a pretty open and shut case to me. You vanguish them and life continues, albeit shaken up a bit, on in Tamriel. These instances of conflict are easily broken up across different game releases. The conflicts have a beginning and an end. Political strife is different though. Take the Civil War for example. Who will ultimatly win? I mean, you can play out either way across multiple games, or you can simply ignore the war altogether.


So I guess my question is, in the past, how has Bethseda resolved events that could have had multiple outcomes such as the Civil War?

By http://www.imperial-library.info/content/warp-west it.
This time though, we have a Rebel and a King who's identities can switch and a potential Thane (nine times over, even) who can be killed off. And if that plays out, it won't matter who won the war.

Between the Nords and Empire, you're out of luck either way. The Nords would probably be more interested in killing elves (Bosmer included) than occupying, and the Empire would be more interested in reclaiming lost territory than killing non-Thalmor elves. I'm not really sure the Bosmer saw the Empire as being that bad though, all things considered. At least, I haven't heard of much dissent from them against the Empire before the Thalmor (unlike the Dunmer and Altmer).

I am utterly addicted with Bosmer lore, from the wild hunt to the green pact. I swear up & down that Wood Elves are natural born killers that are built to stalk their prey like the predators in the wild.

Moar!!!

Also, I chose to fight for the Empire to use them in liberating Valenwood against the thalmor occupation.