Since the Stormcloak vs. Imperial thing has been done up and out the wazoo - all the wazoo - I'm making this as a calmer alternative for people who want to cut their intellectual teeth without busting an intellectual spleen.

Have at it, lads

So much wazoo.

The reach belongs to the forsworn. They had settled there before the nords. And before anyone says the forsworn took Markarth in a bloody fight, keep in mind the nords had done far worse before that. Battle of Red Eagle as an example. Sure the forsworn took Markarth. But they held it peacefully. After the war during the Markarth incident... the empire/nords killed countless innocent reachmen/women/children even. Anyone thought to be associated to, knew, supported or were a forsworn were caught and executed. Children were not spared this injustice.

The Reach will be ours again.

I have a lot of sympathy for the Forsworn in theory, but in practice, they seem to mostly just be a bunch of bandits rather than any kind of Noble Freedom Fighters. I don't much like the people in charge of Markarth, either, though, it's one of my favourite cities in terms of architecture and interesting stuff going on, but there's hardly anyone you meet in the city/related quests who isn't, well, pretty terrible. (The Orc smith and the lady who runs the Hag's Cure are both pretty awesome, though, can we put them in charge?)

I only have a fairly sketchy understanding of the situation, though, it's probably fair to say, so I'll be interested to read other people's arguments! (Also I presume a fair amount of the 'bunch of bandits' thing is more of a gameplay than a lore thingy?)

I voted Markarth.

All Forsworn must die.

Markarth. I have sympathy for some of the Forsworn, but they're pretty much bandits from what we experience first hand in game.

I go with Markarth, while a sympathize a bit with the Forsworn, they're just too violent.

Voted for Markarth, but I would have voted against the Silver-Bloods if that had been the alternative. The conflict is really between the Forsworn and the Silver-Blood family, rather than the city, Jarl et al. The people of the city are the victims of both sides, especially as they're being used as terrorism targets.

I usually take the evil side in games, and this topic is no different. The Reach is my favourite region, and the Forsworn's lore is infinitely more interesting than that of the modern Nords. Markarth however would also be my favourite city. It has beautiful interiors, the best looking keep, many hidden secrets..

I can't argue the point, I just kinds prefer the Forsworn.

Damn it, I was looking forward to busting my intellectual spleen. there can never be enough wazoo

Forsworn, screw Markarth. Although I wouldn't join them if I got the chance; they come at fault by justifying racism and mass murder. They should be amassing an attack on Markarth (seeing as the imperials don't have Ulfric to save them this time), not murdering and pillaging travelers who've done nothing to them, reducing themselves to merely bandits.

although Forwsworn armour turns me on

M'aiq leans towards Markarth, but he also somewhat supports the Forsworn as well.

Small text hides nothing, Dempsey

Markarth supporter checking in. The Forsworn can't justify their wanting to wipe out every Nordic inhabitant of the Reach.

And you'll basically win every debate with that viewpoint, to the extent that I'm starting to change my mind about the subject. I just like evil stuff.

I could go all devil's advocate and start arguing they can justify that, I'm not fussed

...I...uh...don't know what you mean...

I completely agree with you, but really in this case both sides have enough repulsiveness to turn me away. So technically I'm neutral here, with just a small amount of sympathy for the natives.

The Reach belongs to the Kingdom of Skyrim.

Plus, Madanach's comments about painting the walls red with Nord blood did not sit too well with my some of my characters.

That's true, the Silver-Bloods must have a pretty high body count. Lore-wise, hundreds at least.

I support Markarth. Of course, for me this entails scouring the town of cannibals and corrupt mine owners as much as fighting the Forsworn.

The Forsworn are little better than Beasts and have plagued every Faction that has controlled the Reach since the Dawn Era. The Heathens acknowledge Thier "Old Gods", and refuse the Love given to Man and Mer by the Aedra. The Forsworn once may have been able to become a Civilized People, but instead chose to serve the Foulest of the Daedric Princes.

Hagravens are regularly seen amongst the Beastmen of the Reach, and have made any efforts to Civilize the Forsworn pointless.

This Author had hoped that the Barbaric Actions of the Forsworn during the Great War could have made the Empire see the Forsworn for the Beasts They are, and allowed the extermination of the Plague to finally happen, but the Idealised Works of My misguided Colleague and His large stipends from the Dominion point to where the "Tolerance" for the Forsworn originates.

We Reachmen have suffered enough because of the actions of the Forsworn, but even the Bretons that preach of being the most Civilised of Men have never aided Us against Them!