Although there were many other ways that Ulfric could've accomplished his ends, he challenged Torygg to an "honorable duel" that he knew he had no chance of losing. He may not be the only NPC with dirty laundry , but he's got a pretty big pile of it.
The Empire has classically been the primary leading power in Tamriel, but after its recent war with the Aldmeri Dominion, it seems to be on the verge of collapse. Its holdings are the lowest that they've been in ages, and although they managed to reclaim Cyrodiil from the Dominion, the terms of the White-Gold Concordat keep their recovery in check.
In fact, if the Dark Brotherhood questline is to be taken as canon, the Emperor himself has been recently assassinated. This no doubt triggers internal strife and political conflict that further erodes its ability to govern itself, much less Skyrim. King Ulfric and his generals are definitely shown to be capable tacticians, having been able to raise, arm, and lead their motley rebel forces in such a way that it puts their military might on relatively even ground with the Empire's forces.
However, it's worth noting the Imperial Legion has been battered and depleted by their recent conflict with the Aldmeri Dominion, and even before then, they were on the verge of losing that war. Ulfric's Stormcloak rebels might give a broken Empire a run for their septims, but they'd be ripe for invasion by the Dominion while they recovered from the liberation of their homeland.
One of the most contentious stipulations of the White-Gold Concordat, and by extension, one of the primary driving forces behind the Stormcloak rebellion, is the banishment of Talos worship. Free worship of all Nine Divines is one of King Ulfric's biggest sticking points when it comes to recruiting more troops.
Even if the Empire restores order in Skyrim, it'll be a tenuous peace at best. The banishment of Talos worship isn't something the Nords are ever going to find themselves entirely on board with. So long as it remains in effect, pockets of resistance, if not further rebellions, will continue to plague Skyrim and steadily drain the Empire's dwindling resources.
The Stormcloaks see the White-Gold Concordat as an unforgivable affront, if not an outright betrayal of everything the Empire should stand for. While they're not far off base, they fail to see the reasoning behind why this treaty needed to be accepted. Continued conflict with the Aldmeri Dominion would've seen the Empire ground to dust. Acceptance of the treaty, at the very least, gives them time to consolidate and rebuild their forces to a point where they could successfully resist further incursions.
The White-Gold Concordat, while clearly devised to further divide the Empire, was a necessary evil to ensure its continued existence. If the Stormcloaks had their way, they would've fought the Aldmeri to a point that assured their own destruction. This is somewhat peculiar, given the commonalities between Nords and Imperials. The Stormcloaks believe that the Empire betrayed Skyrim by signing the agreement that ended the Great War.
According to the rebels, the Empire is corrupted by the Aldmeri Dominion and is therefore a threat to the Nordic way of life. When the Jarls and Leaders received chests of gold in order to support the treaty, the Stormcloaks viewed the Nord Imperial supporters as bought by the Empire and traitors to Skyrim. You can certainly argue that fighting for the rights of the Nordic members of Skyrim is a morally-sound adventure. After having their right to religion and true culture taken away, siding with those looking to reestablish that could certainly help your chances of getting to Sovngarde Nordic afterlife.
If you see the true playout after the civil war, siding with the Stormcloaks could very well result in freedom for those in Tamriel from the Empire. This would also mean no longer being bound by the rules of the Thalmor. You were trying to cross the border when you walked into an Imperial ambush, leading to your subsequent death.
The main idea of the Stormcloaks is that they want to have Skyrim back under the control of the Nords. Who do you usually side with and why? Let us know in the comments below.
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Or check out our YouTube channel. There's also the more obvious consideration — the Imperial Legion was trying to cut off the player's head. The Stormcloaks weren't. Bygones are bygones if you decide to join the Legion, but the fact of the matter is that they would've happily gone ahead with it had Alduin not crashed the party.
The primary seat of power in Skyrim is the city of Solitude, where the High King used to sit before Ulfric shouted him to death. While it was the Imperial emperor Tiber-Septim who declared Solitude as the capital, players ought to agree with his decision after seeing Solitude's layout. It's only the best and most aesthetically pleasing city in Skyrim sorry, Jarl Balgruuf. It also appears as the most modern and the most defensible, unlike Whiterun which can be assaulted from all angles.
Joining the Imperial Legion pretty much makes Solitude the player's home city, which is quite a privilege. A proper house there will cost the entirety of an arm and leg, however. Nobody likes the Thalmor in Skyrim due to their nefarious schemes and the fact that their noses a thoroughly upturned to the rest of the Tamrielic races.
The Empire, on the other hand, works with the Thalmor for a momentary peace, even though they're also competing against the High Elves for control. The Stormcloaks' confidence indirectly opposing the Thalmor is admirable in its degree of bravery. Jarl Balgruuf is one of the best Jarls in Skyrim and a true fan-favorite character. Sadly, players will have to oust him if they decide to commit to the Stormcloaks. That's because Balgruuf will always choose to side with the Imperial Legion regardless of which side the players pick.
That means he's pretty much the final enemy the players have to face in the Whiterun Siege if they joined the Stormcloaks. Furthermore, the man who replaces him, Vignar Gray-Mane, is less charismatic, less wise, and needlessly abrasive compared to Balgruuf.
One of the main reasons for the civil war was the banning of Talos, a Skyrim native and favorite son who founded the empire and ascended to godhood. The Thalmor are opposed to the idea of a mortal becoming divine and this made a lot of Nords very, very angry. Fighting for the Stormcloaks means fighting for the right to worship Talos and help continue this religious tradition that is central to Nord identity.
You can help the Nords take back their homeland and their culture. They see the chaos and what to extend it indefinitely so that two enemies are weakened at once. But, if the imperials win, what may look like a Thalmor victory on paper could easily be their undoing. A strengthened empire would have the means to bide their time and wait to strike the Thalmor once they are strong. If the Stormcloaks win, then the empire is fractured even more and Skyrim is left wide open for an invasion. The first friendly face you see upon waking up, Ralof is another fan-favorite NPC and potential guide to surviving the dragon attack in Helgen.
If you decide to join up with the Stormcloak army like he suggests you have the chance to battle by his side once again.
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