245 replies to this topic

[Kestrellius]

In general, I've loved-to-hate the Thalmor throughout my time playing Skyrim, but recently...I'm finding that harder to do. Part of it is just how polite and agreeable they are during the Embassy infiltration. There's just something cute about the guards apologizing and saying that they're on duty, for example.

 

But there's more to it. I think most dedicated players are aware of the Thalmor's eventual goals, correct? They intend to "unmake" the world, as indicated by Ancano during the Eye of Magnus incident. Now the thing is...I agree with them. At least in real life. I don't know if I'd want them to destroy the TES universe, but if such a group existed here? Yeah, I'd join them. Granted, I don't appreciate their lack of any apparent intent to extend their godhood to non-mer races, but nonetheless, I can appreciate their desire to escape reality.

 

Of course, there's probably a lot more to the Thalmor than we've seen, given MK's remarks on the subject. As far as we know, they're a cult that wants to destroy the world and become gods. That's a pretty significant threat, but it's hardly "utterly unknowable" and "without a doubt the most powerful threat Tamriel has ever faced". (Not perfect quotes, but that's the jist of it.) So I would guess that there's something really weird going on in the upper levels of the faction. Possibly something to do with Sithis. He is, after all, basically who would benefit most from their plans succeeding.

 

Anyway, I just thought I'd mention this little dilemma of mine. I want to hate them, but I almost can't at this point. Still, they don't show any respect to the Dragonborn, so I can at least hate them for that.

[Lachdonin]

All of recorded history is the Elves getting smacked around. Lorkhan cheated them, the Divines abandoned them, the humans committed genocide against them on at least 3 seperate occasions. All the Thalmor want is to go back to how it was before the God of Man ruined everything.

Lorkhan and his human pets are the real villains here.

On the other hand, the Thalmor would be better off following the teachings of Veloth. He found an escape, and through his teachings Vivec and to a lesser extent Hjalti found an escape that doesn't kill everyone.

[khmp]

I cannot follow sadly. They are colored so thoroughly vile in Skyrim that it is hard for me to see any other side of the spectrum. Their society has become an insular echo chamber for misguided hateful ideas that beget destruction. And that's the tricky part for me as every faction seems to fall into that category in vacillating shades. It just so happens that I find the haughty misanthropic Thalmor the least appealing of the group.

 

Their dictum reminds me of the batarian hegemony in Mass Effect now that I think about it.

[Mechanopie]

It all depends on how you look at it.

 

For instance, the Dwemer wanted to transcend as well, and they up and disappeared.  Whether they succeeded or not is unknown, but think of it this way;  If the Dwemer did succeed, then the Thalmor would wage war with them, because the Thalmor believe that the High Elves should be the only race to transcend with the Gods.  Think about that;  an all out war on the Ethereal plane between two of the strongest races in TES history.  Mind you, that's only IF the Dwemer succeeded.  And if they didn't, and they had all of their power, magic, and technology, then how are the Thalmor going to do it?  Also, the Psjic Order has clashed with the Thalmor as well.  If the world isn't ready for the Eye of Magnus, (and that thing essentially gives the wielder the power of a god) then how are they going to react to the Thalmor BECOMING gods?

 

My character, for instance, sees the Thalmor as detriments to his plan.  He cares not for the ban on Talos worhsip, as he is a devout follower of Lord Molag Bol.  The only reason why he cares about them enough to want to destroy them is because they want to 'unmake the world', and that conflicts with his plans. He believes that Skyrim should be independent, but seeing as how the Thalmor consider Ulfric Stormcloak to be an asset, he wants to eliminate him.  Thus, he sides with the Empire.  Then, once Ulfric has been taken care of, he plans to rise to the position of High King of Skyrim, ( the Become High King of Skyrim mod should help there, especially since it allows you to start a war with the Dominion over control of Skyrim) by whatever means necessary, and slaughter all of the Empire in Skyrim, along with the Dominion.  >:3

 

Also, the guards are only being polite because they HAVE to.  There are Imperial representatives there, (most likely) and they need to appear to be the 'good guys'.  They want to win over as many willing subjects as they can to support their cause, so they want to seem agreeable.  And about the Sithis thing, I doubt it.  Since Sithis isn't a Divine, (or a Daedra for that matter) I doubt that the Thalmor would support him.

 

Overall, I don't think that the Thalmor are to be trusted.

 

 

 

Edited by Mechanopie, 14 August 2014 - 08:37 PM.

[Lachdonin]

I think you misunderstand. The Thalmor don't want to ascend at all. They want to UNDO the need. If they win, they will erase man and Mer, and only the Et'ada will remain. They hate Altmer as much as the Nords, because they are less than the spirits of the Dawn. The majority of Altmer are convinced of their own superiority, but the Thalmor are something else entirely. They want to errase EVERYTHING that has happened since the Dawn

[Valkasha]

I don't think you have met any inquisitor patrols. Those people murder anyone worshipping Talos or even those defending the right to do it that don't do it themselves. They are like super atheists, trying to shove their non-believe of Talos down everyone's throat, with violence.

[Lachdonin]

Is it really murder, when you're just gonna erase them from existence past-present-future? Can you murder something which never existed at all?

[Valkasha]

What are you talking about?

[Lachdonin]

The Thalmor goal is to remove the Convention, the point in which linear time is imposed on Mundus. They literally want to unmake the beginning of time. It's not about destroying the world, it's about preventing it in the first place. 

 

If they accomplish that (they sorta do, sorta don't if we go with the whole Landfall thing...) then everyone and everything that has ever lived on Mundus will simply never have been. The original Et'ada will still be in their cosmic playground, Lorkhan will never have tricked them, and humanity will never have been created. 

 

Can you murder something that never existed?

[Valkasha]

Not sure if that's a serious question or if you're just making fun of the Thalmor