Short question: What were Vivec's motivations to his surrender?
If I recall correctly, the factions (Dres, Indoril) closest to him were astonished and surprised when he did so. So it wasn't really something typical for Vivec to do..

Adrian

The http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Armistice page has some reasons, mainly that the Tribunal's power was waning. Also I'd say that Imperial influence on Morrowind was inevitable, and by signing the Armistice, Morrowind could negotiate and keep autonomy and slavery without war or invasion. Houses Indoril and Dres and would definitely have been appalled by this, because they are very conservative and nationalist - would rather die than see their land taken over. Dres only went with it because they could keep slavery.

I think 2920 hints that the Psijics were helping the Empire by the end of the War against Morrowind.

So the Dunmer would have had to fight alone against all of the human kingdoms plus the Psijics. In the long run it would?ve hurt them even more to resist.

By signing the truce, Vivec managed to hold some autonomy, but those times are gone.

Oh! plus, Vivec probably foresaw the coming of the Nerevarine and the fall of the Tribunal so im guessing the armistice bought Morrowind some time before piling up crisis after crisis

I've also read speculation that Vivec recognized Tiber Septim had a destiny. Vivec could see the mythopoeic forces at work in the Empire, the same way that the Tribunal's power was fated.

huge problem, Talyn. Wrong year. The Remans were the conqueror in chiefs during the end of the first era, 2920E1, but Vivec didn't sign the treaty till Tiber Septim began to reconqueror Tamriel at the end of the 2nd era.

And I thought Vivec gave up, for one Tiber who has a destiny, and two, a war with Tiber Septim would only end really badly as he found out when they tried to repel Reman.

Oh [censored]! You?re totally right, I got all mixed up!!! My apologies.

You have to remember that just because the Tribunal are gods at the time and couldn't be killed, their people could still have suffered massive casualties at the hands of the Red Empire. The war was already long and bloody at the time the treaty was signed - they'd seen enough bloodshed.

Also, as has been stated, the Tribunal or at least Vivec recognized Talos for who and what he really was, and made way.

No, that's wrong. The war with Reman was long and bloody, lasted for 80 years, and the dunmer suffered heavy casualties. Morrowind eventually lost, and was then invaded by Mehrunes Dagon shortly after.

With Tiber Septim, not a single drop of blood was spilled. Tiber was ready to make war and amassed his troops all over the northern, and western borders, and the dunmer were all prepared, though Redoran would be the only fighting force toward the west, with Indoril and Dres in Vvardenfall. However, Vivec appeared in Vivec City. Vivec and Tiber met, negotiated, and an armistice was declared and treaties were signed and not a single person died. Well, except for a lot of the Indoril nobility that committed suicide shortly after the treaty.

Pffft...typical. That's their answer to everything.

I imagine the Armistace was signed just for that reason. They lost their first war with a lot of causalities and suffering. Vivec did not wish to cause his people the same disservice once more.

Agreed. If Reman was able to defeat the dunmer, even when the Tribunal were in their prime, image would Tiber Septim could have done. And in the end, both parties got exactly what they wanted, except Tiber forgot to ask for a battery for his new toy.

Thanks all! It's really helpful to have some lore buffs come to the rescue!