Can You Side With the Thalmor in Skyrim? An In-Depth Look
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Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding no. Despite the Thalmor’s prominent role as antagonists within The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the game doesn’t offer the player the option to officially join or side with them. Skyrim employs a somewhat rigid faction system; you’re either with the Imperial Legion or the Stormcloaks in the main questline, and other factions like the Dark Brotherhood or Thieves Guild operate independently. The Thalmor remain a hostile force, regardless of your choices.
Understanding the Thalmor’s Role
The Thalmor are more than just generic bad guys; they are the ruling political party of the Aldmeri Dominion, an alliance of High Elves (Altmer) and other Mer races. Their ideology centers around Altmer supremacy and the suppression of human worship, especially the worship of Talos. This is a crucial plot point since Talos worship is banned by the White-Gold Concordat, a treaty imposed on the Empire after the Great War with the Dominion.
The Thalmor actively seek out Talos worshippers and any perceived threats to their authority. Their presence in Skyrim is a direct result of the White-Gold Concordat, giving them legal justification to operate within Imperial territory, albeit under constant tension and suspicion. You’ll frequently encounter Thalmor patrols throughout Skyrim, often apprehending suspected Talos worshippers, demonstrating their influence and enforcing their agenda.
Why Can’t You Join Them?
Several factors contribute to the lack of a Thalmor faction:
- Narrative Focus: The main conflict in Skyrim revolves around the Civil War between the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks. Integrating the Thalmor as a playable faction would fundamentally alter the narrative structure and likely require a massive overhaul of the questlines.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The Thalmor’s core beliefs and methods clash significantly with the player’s potential roles in Skyrim. You can be a thief, an assassin, a mage, or a warrior, but the game doesn’t easily accommodate a character actively dedicated to suppressing religious freedom and enforcing racial supremacy.
- Moral Alignment: The vast majority of players perceive the Thalmor as morally reprehensible. Allowing players to join them would potentially alienate a significant portion of the player base who might find the actions required to progress within the faction distasteful.
- Technical Limitations: Implementing a fully realized Thalmor faction would require extensive resources, including new quests, dialogue, and character interactions. Given the scope of Skyrim and its existing faction structure, adding such a complex element may have been deemed unfeasible.
Alternatives and Workarounds
While you can’t formally join the Thalmor, there are ways to interact with them and explore their influence:
- Diplomatic Immunity Quest: This quest, part of the main storyline, allows you to infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy and uncover their plans. While you remain an enemy, you gain invaluable insight into their motivations and operations.
- Roleplaying: You can roleplay a character sympathetic to the Thalmor’s cause. This could involve actively opposing the Stormcloaks, hunting down Talos worshippers, and generally acting in accordance with Thalmor ideology, even without formal membership.
- Mods: The modding community has created numerous mods that offer increased interaction with the Thalmor, including some that allow you to complete quests for them or even establish a closer relationship. Be mindful of the compatibility and trustworthiness of any mods you install.
- Exploiting Game Mechanics: You can exploit certain game mechanics to align yourself with the Thalmor on a superficial level. For example, you can avoid attacking them, allow them to arrest Stormcloaks, and generally avoid any actions that would provoke their hostility.
The Future of Thalmor Interaction
It’s unclear whether future Elder Scrolls games will allow players to join the Thalmor. Given their prominence in the lore and the growing complexity of the series’ narrative, it’s possible that Bethesda might explore this option in a future installment. However, it would require careful consideration of the implications for gameplay, morality, and player agency.
The Thalmor are complex and multifaceted antagonists. Although joining their ranks isn’t possible in Skyrim, understanding their motivations and methods enriches the game’s narrative and provides a compelling backdrop for your adventures. The nuances of the Thalmor are an example of compelling storytelling and game design that can be discussed at length at places like the Games Learning Society.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you become friends with the Thalmor in Skyrim?
No, you cannot become friends with the Thalmor in Skyrim. They are consistently hostile towards the player, regardless of your actions or choices, apart from the temporary truce in “Diplomatic Immunity” quest.
2. Are the Thalmor evil in Skyrim?
The Thalmor are widely considered evil due to their oppressive policies, their persecution of Talos worshippers, and their belief in Altmer supremacy. Their actions often involve violence, manipulation, and the suppression of freedom.
3. What is the Thalmor end goal?
The Thalmor’s ultimate goal is multifaceted, but it involves restoring the dominance of the Aldmeri Dominion, suppressing human influence, and potentially unraveling the fabric of reality to return to a pre-creation state. This is hinted at in various in-game texts and lore.
4. Do the Thalmor want Ulfric to win the Skyrim Civil War?
No, the Thalmor do not want Ulfric to win the Civil War. While they benefit from the conflict and see Ulfric as an asset (as evidenced by his Thalmor dossier), a decisive Stormcloak victory would create a unified and hostile Skyrim, making it harder for the Dominion to control the region. They prefer a prolonged stalemate.
5. Are the Stormcloaks allied with the Thalmor?
The Stormcloaks are not allied with the Thalmor. Ulfric Stormcloak despises the Thalmor, but his actions inadvertently further the Thalmor’s agenda by weakening the Empire and destabilizing Skyrim.
6. Do you get a bounty for killing Thalmor?
You do not receive a murder bounty for killing Thalmor soldiers, but you will receive a small assault bounty for the initial attack, usually around 40 gold.
7. Does General Tullius hate the Thalmor?
Yes, General Tullius despises the Thalmor, even though he must maintain diplomatic relations with them. He recognizes their manipulative nature and the threat they pose to the Empire.
8. Are the Thalmor trying to end the world?
While not explicitly stated, some lore suggests that a faction within the Thalmor believes that ending the world would allow them to return to a divine state. This theory is fueled by external writings from Kirkbride and the mysterious Ambitions of the Thalmor.
9. Do the Thalmor fear the Dragonborn?
The Thalmor do not outwardly fear the Dragonborn, mainly due to their superiority complex. While they acknowledge the Dragonborn’s power, they see them as a potential tool to be manipulated or controlled, rather than a threat to be feared.
10. Do the Thalmor leave if the Stormcloaks win?
No, the Thalmor do not leave Skyrim if the Stormcloaks win the Civil War. Their presence is based on the White-Gold Concordat, which remains in effect regardless of who controls Skyrim. They simply become more actively hostile.
11. Why do people hate the Thalmor?
People hate the Thalmor for their oppressive ideology, their persecution of Talos worshippers, their arrogance, and their manipulative tactics. They are seen as the primary antagonists of the Fourth Era and a major threat to the stability of Tamriel.
12. Was Ulfric brainwashed by the Thalmor?
While the extent of Ulfric’s manipulation is debatable, the Thalmor dossier confirms that he was interrogated and likely subjected to coercive techniques during his captivity. The exact nature and impact of this treatment remain ambiguous, but it could have influenced his later actions.
13. What happens if you wear Thalmor robes in Skyrim?
Wearing Thalmor robes in Skyrim has no special gameplay effects. NPCs will not react differently, and you will not gain any advantages or disadvantages. It is purely a cosmetic choice.
14. Who is the real villain in Skyrim?
While Alduin serves as the main antagonist of the main questline, the “real” villain is subjective. Many consider the Thalmor to be the true villains due to their long-term manipulation and the systemic threat they pose to the world.
15. Can you kill Elenwen in Skyrim?
Yes, you can kill Elenwen in Skyrim, the Thalmor Ambassador. However, doing so will not have a significant impact on the game world or the Thalmor presence. She will be replaced by another Thalmor official. You might find interesting perspectives on narrative choices in games at GamesLearningSociety.org.