February 2, 2017 2:12 PM EST
for me, imperial seems the most logical option. Yea the white gold concordat banned the blades, banned talos and all that, but it also stopped Cyrodil from falling under complete control of the thalmor. Cyrodil, you know, the heart of the economy in Tamriel? The imperials were losing the war, it was accept the terms of surrender or be wiped out by thalmor forces. Once the empire is rebuilt stronger, perhaps after a certain listener assasinates a certain emporer in the hope that the next brings a new age of prosperity through Tamriel, then Skyrim and Hammerfell can declare war on the summerset ilses, with economic aid from Cyrodil - the economic heartland of Tamriel, just in case you forgot - and force the Altmer to give back thier portion of Hammerfell and admit they're just wankers who all look like they have liver failiure.
Now let's see what happens with the stormcloaks in charge. Ulfric is happy to keep skyrim running independantly, preparing for an attack from the elves. The empire, now with no influence in skyrim, decide to completely withdraw. After the embarassing execution of General Tullius, the empire is happy to leave Ulfric to his isolationist views. Now the elves attempt to reclaim Skyrim. Stormcloaks at every port, as you said. the elves wouldn't stand a chance in a full frontal assualt. But what about stealth? As Delphine said, "We fought them in the dark." spies and assasins everywhere. Jarls killed in thier quaters. A skilled illusion mage - the schoocl altmer are most gifted in - can get almost anywhere. But that's not an issue, a secret police can be formed, extra guard put up everywhere, checkpoints in each hold, spies would become impossible. But who's going to pay for all that? Skyrim? Ulfric can barely afford to keep his men armed and armoured. His men never carry sharpened swords, thier bows are simplistic, designed for hunting rather than warfare, so what happens when a powerful illusion mage armed with a dagger summoned from oblivion and the ability to make his skin hard as a dragonhide walks into whiteren and takes out the jarl? pandemonium. Clan Battleborn grab the throne and order the exile of the greymanes and boom. No more stormcloak influence in whiterun. Jarl Ulfric goes to Hammerfell, but they redguards are too busy holding off the thalmor. He goes to Cyrodil, but after the civil war Ulfric and the Emporer are probably not on the best of terms. He goes to the neutral provivnces, but, as keep saying, Cyrodil is what keeps Tamriel going. To ally yourself with Skyrim could destablise trade links with Cyrodil. And whiterun, the trading hub of sjyrim is under Battleborn control, and seeing as Ulfric betrayed the empire, it's unlikely the Battleborns would want to do any to aid him. So they set up blockades around Whiterun. More assasinations. Everybody loyal to Ulfric is dying. Winterhold falls under the rule of an elven jarl, a jarl that does not shun magic users. More assasinations. Stormcloaks either stay and die, or take thier families to Cyrodil or Morrowind. more Ulfric begs the Empire to help. He is more than happy to die, but not to let his precious land fall into the hands of the elves. So The empire steps in. Checkpointss are set up Guards are tripled. Clan Battleborn is convinced to reopen whiterun. The empire saves Skyrim.
Dang that was a long response! Sorry if I rambled a bit, if it doesn't make sense I won't be offended if you challenge everything I've said.