Skyrim is such an enduring experience that I’m not sure its almost magnetic influence will ever dissipate. After over a decade since its release, “The Elder Scrolls: V” continues its ubiquitous ascent to being my go to game for procrastination. I could exhaust hundreds of hours looting bandit camps or endeavour in the morally questionable pillaging of ancient draugr tombs. Being promoted through the ranks of the thieves guild or becoming the eminent authority at the mages guild. And if my prolonged diversions allow, perhaps save the denizens of this frozen tundra from the desires of a world consuming dragon that thrives for nothingness. Of course out of all of the extrenuous activities available to the Dragonborn, one of Skyrim’s most seditious side-quests is “Civil War”. A territorial skirmish that envelopes every resident in the continent. But which side should you align with?

On the surface siding with the Imperials is the obvious choice. With my character being almost exclusively Khajiit, it makes little sense to side with a movement that will ultimately be prejudicial towards my race, or any ethnicity that isn’t a native Nord. Though the stormcloaks rebellion isn’t necessarily predicated by racial segregation, by virtue of being what the residents of Skyrim would deem as immigration, it’s really associative discrimination. One might be inclined to say that this rebellion is purely motivated by a bigoted agenda that subjugates its citizens to preserve the solidarity of its ancestry. Harbouring a neglect for inclusivity in favour of a staunch aversion to compliance. Yet it’s odd to side with what is essentially the government, rather than the separatists defending their heritage. A people preserving their culture from the invasive conformity of an institution they never elected.

Really the whole sordid conflict is a matter of perspective. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the imperial forces are emblazoned with a facsimile of Roman Centurion uniforms. An empire that controlled roughly 40 countries, for close to 1000 years. Motivated by a need for expansion that often involved brutal violence rather than bureaucracy. And though the stormcloaks aren’t exactly known for their diplomacy, the imperials are not exactly adverse to brutality. They were after all potentially responsible for separating your head from your shoulders! The stormcloaks and their supporters are really only defending their identity as a people. To claim independent sovereignty from an empire that aims to besiege other jurisdictions merely to demonstrate its authority over other cultures. And it’s to the games credit, even after so many years and various playthroughs, that I still find myself questioning whether or not I’ve made the right choice.