True, however I'll just point out that every organization in TES history embellishes. The Empire brings peace and unity to all provinces, except for when they abandoned Morrowind during the Oblivion Crisis. The Stormcloaks fight for mankind, except Bretons, Imperials, and Redguards.
True, however I'll just point out that every organization in TES history embellishes. The Empire brings peace and unity to all provinces, except for when they abandoned Morrowind during the Oblivion Crisis. The Stormcloaks fight for mankind, except Bretons, Imperials, and Redguards.
I'm saying that there is one book about the Thalmor and it condemns them. There are no accounts that claim otherwise. Does it mean that one book writes the truth? Or that it's not as simple? I prefer the latter. TES usually presents two sides of the coin when dealing with issues like this. Example: Nords of Skyrim, Dunmer of Skyrim
The alternative for Malborn can easily be thievery. In his own words "I stole a lot from the Thalmor over the years". He might've had his eyes on something expensive and decided to cover his tracks. Why he was caught? For all everyone knows he was simply doing his job serving wine.
I'm saying that there is one book about the Thalmor and it condemns them. There are no accounts that claim otherwise. Does it mean that one book writes the truth? Or that it's not as simple? I prefer the latter. TES usually presents two sides of the coin when dealing with issues like this. Example: Nords of Skyrim, Dunmer of Skyrim
The alternative for Malborn can easily be thievery. In his own words "I stole a lot from the Thalmor over the years". He might've had his eyes on something expensive and decided to cover his tracks. Why he was caught? For all everyone knows he was simply doing his job serving wine.
On the other hand, when TES doesn't present two sides of the coin, it's usually because there isn't a whole lot of leeway in interpreting the subject. For example, there aren't any books they talk about how wonderful Potema's rule over Solitude was, nor are there any about argue that the Mythic Dawn allowed Mehrunes Dagon to invade Tamriel for the good of the people.
On the other hand, when TES doesn't present two sides of the coin, it's usually because there isn't a whole lot of leeway in interpreting the subject. For example, there aren't any books they talk about how wonderful Potema's rule over Solitude was, nor are there any about argue that the Mythic Dawn allowed Mehrunes Dagon to invade Tamriel for the good of the people.
True, but the events you described are clearly referenced by multiple independent sources or, in case of the latter, present in a game. While the exact actions of the Thalmor are only referenced by one clearly biased source and one book that condemns them. Personally, I think this was made deliberately and the next TES game may even focus on the Thalmor, in a way like Skyrim focuses on Civil War
True, but the events you described are clearly referenced by multiple independent sources or, in case of the latter, present in a game. While the exact actions of the Thalmor are only referenced by one clearly biased source and one book that condemns them. Personally, I think this was made deliberately and the next TES game may even focus on the Thalmor, in a way like Skyrim focuses on Civil War
Allow me to link you to this excellent piece of scholarship about the Thalmor and their aims: A Differing Perspective on Towers and Thalmor. It delves into the importance of the Towers and what they represent to Elven ideology, although I'm not sure it answers your questions which seem to be of the more mundane variety. The reason I feel it is relevant is because it may help you see things from their point of view or shed light on why they are doing what they do.
There isn't much support on this site for any sort of oog texts, so all this is based off a few forum posts by one particular ex-writer, but I truly believe they will be validated in the end as they always have before. The writing's on the wall guys, you just need eyes to see it Alternatively, Life in the Eagle's Shadow is worth a read because it's an interesting book which looks at the 2E Dominion through the eyes of a common mer.Again, it's not a pro-Aldmeri Dominion text and relates more to the past, but it starts with the author getting swept up in the grandeur of it all.
Allow me to link you to this excellent piece of scholarship about the Thalmor and their aims: A Differing Perspective on Towers and Thalmor. It delves into the importance of the Towers and what they represent to Elven ideology, although I'm not sure it answers your questions which seem to be of the more mundane variety. The reason I feel it is relevant is because it may help you see things from their point of view or shed light on why they are doing what they do.
There isn't much support on this site for any sort of oog texts, so all this is based off a few forum posts by one particular ex-writer, but I truly believe they will be validated in the end as they always have before. The writing's on the wall guys, you just need eyes to see it Alternatively, Life in the Eagle's Shadow is worth a read because it's an interesting book which looks at the 2E Dominion through the eyes of a common mer.Again, it's not a pro-Aldmeri Dominion text and relates more to the past, but it starts with the author getting swept up in the grandeur of it all.
There is a thin line between patriotism and fanaticism, mainly because both instill an "us versus them" mentality that, while very useful for politicians in times of war, is incredibly poisonous outside the battlefield. Anyone that isn't for us is against us and that normally means anyone acting outside their goals. You get this attitude with the whole idea of the "true _____". The true Nord, the true Elf, the real Dunmer. It goes on and on because one of TES's big themes (and I've always applauded them for it) is showing all sides and all possibilities of an incredibly real problem: racism, and in Skyrim, racism is turned into racial pride, which becomes even more toxic.
Like Vaz said, we don't have any unbiased information on the Thalmor, but we basically have 2 options.
1. The Thalmor goals are self-interested, driven by a lust for power. This makes the Thalmor very simple and it's not a theory I like. TES villains are not simple. Dagoth Ur, Ulfric/Tulius, and even Alduin to a certain extent (do not get me started on Oblivion) are very complex villains that make you think that maybe, just maybe, they have a point. For the Thalmor to be Bond villains would make me lose a lot of respect for Bethesda.
2. The Thalmor goals are in the common interest, driven by selfless patriotism ("We are the only ones who can save our dying people, we can give them back their dignity"). This I like better and is what I hope Bethesda will go with eventually. The Thalmor are already brutal and willing to do whatever it takes to secure their ends, infected with an "old style" Altmer arrogance and poisonous racial pride (cough cough like the Nords cough cough). Basically, it boils down to what villain you prefer and I'd rather have the Thalmor being so blinded in their goal to help "true elves" that they will slaughter and torture to make the men remember what they've done, but that we remember the Thalmor have a point somewhere in their madness.
And if there is another person who refers to the Thalmor as nazis, I'm going to blow my top. I wonder if there's a lore post somewhere that I can just link to when people accuse them of being nazis.
There is a thin line between patriotism and fanaticism, mainly because both instill an "us versus them" mentality that, while very useful for politicians in times of war, is incredibly poisonous outside the battlefield. Anyone that isn't for us is against us and that normally means anyone acting outside their goals. You get this attitude with the whole idea of the "true _____". The true Nord, the true Elf, the real Dunmer. It goes on and on because one of TES's big themes (and I've always applauded them for it) is showing all sides and all possibilities of an incredibly real problem: racism, and in Skyrim, racism is turned into racial pride, which becomes even more toxic.
Like Vaz said, we don't have any unbiased information on the Thalmor, but we basically have 2 options.
1. The Thalmor goals are self-interested, driven by a lust for power. This makes the Thalmor very simple and it's not a theory I like. TES villains are not simple. Dagoth Ur, Ulfric/Tulius, and even Alduin to a certain extent (do not get me started on Oblivion) are very complex villains that make you think that maybe, just maybe, they have a point. For the Thalmor to be Bond villains would make me lose a lot of respect for Bethesda.
2. The Thalmor goals are in the common interest, driven by selfless patriotism ("We are the only ones who can save our dying people, we can give them back their dignity"). This I like better and is what I hope Bethesda will go with eventually. The Thalmor are already brutal and willing to do whatever it takes to secure their ends, infected with an "old style" Altmer arrogance and poisonous racial pride (cough cough like the Nords cough cough). Basically, it boils down to what villain you prefer and I'd rather have the Thalmor being so blinded in their goal to help "true elves" that they will slaughter and torture to make the men remember what they've done, but that we remember the Thalmor have a point somewhere in their madness.
And if there is another person who refers to the Thalmor as nazis, I'm going to blow my top. I wonder if there's a lore post somewhere that I can just link to when people accuse them of being nazis.
The Thalmor are similar to the Third Reich and the Al Qaeda.
The bullying of the "lesser races" into submission is similar to what the Nazis did during the Holocaust.
Also, the Thalmor do "care for their own," it's just that the Thalmor see themselves as superior to all other races (similar to the Nazi idea of the "Aryan master race.")
If you view the Thalmor as similar to the Al Qaeda, then they qualify as "a bunch of well-funded lunatics with swords and magic" except that suicide is not on their agenda.
However, the concept of the Thalmor "master race" is odd - aren't the Thalmor made up of many races?
The Thalmor are similar to the Third Reich and the Al Qaeda.
The bullying of the "lesser races" into submission is similar to what the Nazis did during the Holocaust.
Also, the Thalmor do "care for their own," it's just that the Thalmor see themselves as superior to all other races (similar to the Nazi idea of the "Aryan master race.")
If you view the Thalmor as similar to the Al Qaeda, then they qualify as "a bunch of well-funded lunatics with swords and magic" except that suicide is not on their agenda.
However, the concept of the Thalmor "master race" is odd - aren't the Thalmor made up of many races?