12 replies to this topic

[Dwalin2012]

Sorry for a newbie question, but I am still rather new to Skyrim: 

About the Thalmor, as I get it, they are Altmer leaders interested in the fall of the Empire. But in this case, why are they said to be the Legion's side in the conflict with the Stormcloaks? Wouldn't the Nord rebels winning hurt the Empire and therefore be favorable to the Thalmor?

I mean, whoever I choose to side with, it will be favorable to the Thalmor? I mean, if the Legion wins, then it's good for the Thalmor because it hurts the Talos cult and eliminates a rival (the Stormcloaks). If the Stormcloaks win, the Thalmor will be happy because the Empire is weakened by losing a province. Is there no way in the game to help the Empire to stop being puppets and hurt the Thalmor at the same time?

 

[Ball11]

 The empire and the thalmor in skyrim are working together (thalmore have a base in solitude next to the castle where imperial general is , and thalmor hate talos, when your playing the game you may encounter random thalmor with captured talos believers ( stormcloaks usually)  as stormcloaks hate thalmor as they think skyrim should be the "Nords" and not the empire or elves ect, Do you get it know? if you need help on Elder Scrolls history check the Elder Scrolls WIKI out.

[Rennn]

 

Sorry for a newbie question, but I am still rather new to Skyrim: 

About the Thalmor, as I get it, they are Altmer leaders interested in the fall of the Empire. But in this case, why are they said to be the Legion's side in the conflict with the Stormcloaks? Wouldn't the Nord rebels winning hurt the Empire and therefore be favorable to the Thalmor?

I mean, whoever I choose to side with, it will be favorable to the Thalmor? I mean, if the Legion wins, then it's good for the Thalmor because it hurts the Talos cult and eliminates a rival (the Stormcloaks). If the Stormcloaks win, the Thalmor will be happy because the Empire is weakened by losing a province. Is there no way in the game to help the Empire to stop being puppets and hurt the Thalmor at the same time?

 

 

 

The Thalmor already beat the Empire in a war. Now they're using the Empire as puppets and making them fight the Stormcloaks, with the goal of having the Empire and the Stormcloaks wipe each other out. That way the Thalmor can easily beat the remnants of both. The Empire is going along with it because they believe that if they can quickly take back Skyrim from the Stormcloak rebels, the Empire will have the strength (perhaps) to kick out the Thalmor.

 

If you fight for the Stormcloaks, it's with the hope that Skyrim will be able to defeat the Thalmor alone under Ulfric's leadership, once they're free of Imperial laws, obligations, and battles.

if you fight for the Empire, it's with the hope that ruling Skyrim again will give the Empire the resources and manpower to rise up against the Thalmor and win this time.

[yourenotsupposedtobeinhere]

The Thalmor are "A militarist regime founded on beliefs of racial supremacy" Not all Altmer, infact they have Khajiit, Bosmer and even a nord!

As stated on UESP they have a "specific intent of establishing the racial superiority of Mer over Man"

In the Civil war, who ever the victor, does not hurt or help the Aldmeri Dominion/Thalmor.

It is a common misconception that all Altmer are Thalmor or that all Thalmor are Altmer.

[Rennn]

The Thalmor are "A militarist regime founded on beliefs of racial supremacy" Not all Altmer, infact they have Khajiit, Bosmer and even a nord!

As stated on UESP they have a "specific intent of establishing the racial superiority of Mer over Man"

In the Civil war, who ever the victor, does not hurt or help the Aldmeri Dominion/Thalmor.

It is a common misconception that all Altmer are Thalmor or that all Thalmor are Altmer.

 

Yes. The Thalmor is the military arm of the Aldmeri Dominion, which is a specific government of high elves that persecute all non-elves. In fact, they also persecute other types of elf, such as bosmer.

Using 'high elf/altmer' and 'Thalmor' interchangeably is like using 'Nazi' and 'German' interchangeably.

[Lachdonin]

Eeeeeh... There's more to the Thalmor than that. The Thalmor themselves are a noble house of Altmer, formed during the Second Era for the purpose of ruling over Valenwood in the name of Camoran Anxemes. While they do maintain lower 'subordinates' under the Thalmor umbrella, the Thalmor themselves are something very different.

 

Where they were originally an administrative house for the rulership of the Bosmer, they have become something of a magical and metaphysical cult. 

 

In essence, there are 3 types of Thalmor. You have the members of the Noble House its self, which took control of the Summerset Isles following the death of the King of Alinor and the loss of many of the nobles during the Fall of Crystal-Like-Law. Then you have the members of their 'cult' which seeks to regain the godhood of the Ehlnofey in the Dawn Era. Then you have the 'administrative' leadership of the Third Aldmeri Dominion. 

 

In Skyrim, you only see the lowest branch. Elenwen MAY fit into the second level (though she seems rather clueless about Dragon Breaks and the Aedric fragments that are the Dovah) but she is almost certainly not a member of the actual Noble House. 

Edited by Lachdonin, 03 March 2014 - 05:04 AM.

[BrettM]

In essence, there are 3 types of Thalmor. You have the members of the Noble House its self, which took control of the Summerset Isles following the death of the King of Alinor and the loss of many of the nobles during the Fall of Crystal-Like-Law. Then you have the members of their 'cult' which seeks to regain the godhood of the Ehlnofey in the Dawn Era. Then you have the 'administrative' leadership of the Third Aldmeri Dominion.

Nicely said. I would also add that it is not correct to count paid or coerced informers, Khajiit assassins, and other collaborators as being "Thalmor". Just because someone sucks up to the Thalmor and/or takes their coin does not make him Thalmor. Such agents are merely hirelings.

[LeddBate]

Poor Dwalin is likely reading all this and maybe thinking something along the lines of: "Oi, government and social studies flashbacks!"

 

Hee, sorry, couldn't resist.

 

The Thalmor in Skyrim are basically playing "both ends against the middle". If you choose a side (and force the war to an quick conclusion) then it puts a monkey wrench in their long-range plans. If you ignore the civil war and simply broker the peace, then you still louse up their plans ('cause no one is dying during the truce.) So, basically you ARE hurting the Thalmor just by playing the main-quest. Whether you wish to side with the Empire or the Stormcloaks in the civil war is strictly up to you. Either way, you're giving the Thalmor the finger and reserving yourself a high position on their future $#!% list. So take comfort (and pride) in that.

 

Hmmm. I haven't finished the main-quest yet. I wonder if I can go back to the Thalmor Embassy with Odahviing and... introduce the Thalmor to my new buddy....

[Relativelybest]

To answer the question as specifically as possible: The Thalmor really don't like Talos.

 

Beyond that, they mostly seem interested keeping the humans too busy fighting each other to focus on the elves - their dossiers stated that they don't particularly want either side winning any time soon. They mostly just side with the Empire because they have a treaty, and because a Skyrim under Ulfric would be harder to control.

[ponyboy10]

Poor Dwalin is likely reading all this and maybe thinking something along the lines of: "Oi, government and social studies flashbacks!"

Lol, I was thinking the same thing.  

 

I really wish they explained this more in-game (or made it more obvious).  The more I hang out here, the more I'm starting to hate those dirty Thalmors

 

I may have to head over to the Thalmor embassy as well with my new Dov and Skyrim hero buddies.

 

So, did we ever find out if there was more behind Alduin's return too?  Maybe the Aldmeris had something to do with it?  The first half of the main quest was all hinting at some type of conspiracy, but nothing ever materialized beyond coincidence. (This might be leading more off-topic and spoilery)

Edited by ponyboy10, 12 March 2014 - 09:30 PM.