About the Imperial Army in ESO

Bruccius

So, as most of us know, the Empire we see in ESO is trashy, at best. 99% of its forces are openly hostile, commiting war crimes, or doing something else totally going against Imperial values. Only a handful of Imperials we see ingame stick true to the Imperial worldview that has been established; a civilized people aimed at prosperity and peace.

What happened? I know the Tharns are pretty insane in regards to Imperial power, but did the Empire really have to be this all-evil entity in ESO?

I was wondering what you guys think, do you think that if we were to see Imperial forces again in future DLC, they should appear a bit more positive rather than what we saw up until this point? Or do you think it should remain as it is now? I'd personally really like actually being able to work with Imperial forces to do good for Tamriel rather than seeing them mistreat whoever they come across. Murkmire apparently added some lore about the Ninth Legion there, but I can't imagine that being positive, as Imperial presence there most likely has to do with the Blackwater War (the Imperial invasion of Black Marsh).

If I recall correctly, there should be some Imperial remnants in southern Cyrodiil, ruled over by another member of the Tharns (fingers crossed this one is more... friendly to subjects), and of course, Skingrad is still left unchecked. We know the Colovians from Skingrad invaded Reaper's March, but we know that their misdeeds there had to do with the Tharns, so maybe Skingrad could show some positive light, if we ever get to see that? There's also Sutch which has become a settlement again, though little enough is known about that.

What do you think, should the Imperial army get a bit of a more open minded view?

Claudman

Other

Give Cyrodiil back to the elves.

Aldemeri Grandeur!

VaranisArano

Considering that the Imperial Army has been dealing with tons of emperors, including the Longhouse Emperors, and just dealt with Varen Aquilarios leading effectively a civil war/coup, and then vanishing with the start of the Planemeld in which a large chunk of the heartland legions were killed or made into Molag Bal's slaves, I'm surprised the Legions arent even more fragmented.

If you care about restoring the Legions the guy you want to talk to is Captain Caudex, fighting the good fight in the Nobles District of the Imperial City.

Shadow_Akula

The 9th legion lore added in Murkmire is a 9th legion from the 1st era not the 2nd era (eso is mid-2nd era)and it’s a nod to the Roman 9th legion...

The imperials are either scattered or under Molag Bals spell... I prefer it this way, if they were to regroup in cyrodiil, then that’d give us a 4th faction to fight in the alliance war, could upset the balances...

Perhaps in a future dlc maybe with the remaining parts of Colovia and Nibenay we could see imperial alliances?

MaisonNaevius

Yes, the Imperial army should stand for Imperial values

Actually you have :
- Legion Zero : Legion created by Molag Bal and Mannimarco. Non official.
- Second Legion : Mentionned... probably majority of the soldiers of "Legion Zero".
- Fourth Legion : Mentionned in book.
- Fifth Legion : Mentionned in book.
- Sixth Legion : 1 member trade in Raidelorn.
- Seventh Legion : 100% cooperates with Molag Bal.
- Ninth Legion : Probably Legion of general Raetus.
- Legion of the West Weald : Soldiers handled > return to Colovia.
- Other little groups of imperial Legion : In Cyrodiil. Not loyal to Molag Bal and factions.

The last garrison of second Legion was stationed in Kvatch... And finally destroyed in Gottshaw.

The seventh Legion is destroyed... The corruption of soldiers was total (fighting with Daedra and applauds the anchors).

The Legion of the West Weald interests me a lot : because the majority of the soldiers sent to Arenthia are mercenaries (farmers/peasants who have been promised land and social advancement)... My question is "where are the soldiers by profession?" (especially those patrolling between Arenthia and Skingrad). Because there is also real resistance to borders of Colovia.
They remained faithful to the Eight.
It is said that the count has a militarized people. Maybe another army...
(I hope to find Gavo).

Bruccius

Other

VaranisArano wrote: »

Considering that the Imperial Army has been dealing with tons of emperors, including the Longhouse Emperors, and just dealt with Varen Aquilarios leading effectively a civil war/coup, and then vanishing with the start of the Planemeld in which a large chunk of the heartland legions were killed or made into Molag Bal's slaves, I'm surprised the Legions arent even more fragmented.

If you care about restoring the Legions the guy you want to talk to is Captain Caudex, fighting the good fight in the Nobles District of the Imperial City.

Wouldn't Colovia be the breadbasket of the Legions? The Colovians have traditionally been the strong arm of Cyrodiilic Legions. Granted, Chorrol didn't seem to be doing so good, what with a river of lava going through the center of town...

Maki2859 wrote: »

Actually you have :
- Legion Zero : Legion created by Molag Bal and Mannimarco. Non official.
- Second Legion : Mentionned... probably majority of the soldiers of "Legion Zero".
- Fourth Legion : Mentionned in book.
- Fifth Legion : Mentionned in book.
- Sixth Legion : 1 member trade in Raidelorn.
- Seventh Legion : 100% cooperates with Molag Bal.
- Ninth Legion : Probably Legion of general Raetus.
- Legion of the West Weald : Soldiers handled > return to Colovia.
- Other little groups of imperial Legion : In Cyrodiil. Not loyal to Molag Bal and factions.

The last garrison of second Legion was stationed in Kvatch... And finally destroyed in Gottshaw.

The seventh Legion is destroyed... The corruption of soldiers was total (fighting with Daedra and applauds the anchors).

The Legion of the West Weald interests me a lot : because the majority of the soldiers sent to Arenthia are mercenaries (farmers/peasants who have been promised land and social advancement)... My question is "where are the soldiers by profession?" (especially those patrolling between Arenthia and Skingrad). Because there is also real resistance to borders of Colovia.
They remained faithful to the Eight.
It is said that the count has a militarized people. Maybe another army...
(I hope to find Gavo).

Wasn't Legion Zero an actual proper Legion, just one that (largely) turned traitor when Molag Bal invaded the capital?

idk

In current times there is no Emperor, we know this. So things are probably more out of control than other times.

MaisonNaevius

Yes, the Imperial army should stand for Imperial values

Bruccius wrote: »

Wasn't Legion Zero an actual proper Legion, just one that (largely) turned traitor when Molag Bal invaded the capital?

According to the analyzes of french [non official] loremasters, the Legion Zeron is an creation of Mannimarco and Molag Bal.
In game, We're talking about "take the oath" to the Legion Zero.

To come back to the subject (for Colovia), Cyrodiil does not have only the Legion as an army. There are other military factions of military application factions.
- In Independent Gold Coast, you have the Order of the Hour. A religious order but important military arsenal.
- In the West Weald : Order of the Silver Dawn... Even though they lost their headquarters recently.
But I am convinced that the Legion is still there in West Weald... Unless the count is angry after the Arenthia campaign.
But we must have an important faction that keeps the borders (Dominion in south, Convenant in north, three banners war in east).

Bruccius

Other

Maki2859 wrote: »

Bruccius wrote: »

Wasn't Legion Zero an actual proper Legion, just one that (largely) turned traitor when Molag Bal invaded the capital?

According to the analyzes of french [non official] loremasters, the Legion Zeron is an creation of Mannimarco and Molag Bal.
In game, We're talking about "take the oath" to the Legion Zero.

To come back to the subject (for Colovia), Cyrodiil does not have only the Legion as an army. There are other military factions of military application factions.
- In Independent Gold Coast, you have the Order of the Hour. A religious order but important military arsenal.
- In the West Weald : Order of the Silver Dawn... Even though they lost their headquarters recently.
But I am convinced that the Legion is still there in West Weald... Unless the count is angry after the Arenthia campaign.
But we must have an important faction that keeps the borders (Dominion in south, Convenant in north, three banners war in east).

''Imperial City? Has fought off lots of sieges. Big walls, towers keep attackers out. But, heh. Walls don't keep Daedra out. Blue gates. Dark fissures. And monsters drop, right out of the sky. Not what legions are trained to repel. And one legion betrayed us: Legion Zero. So, not much repelling, for our part. But ambush them? Yes. Murder them? Yes. We do. On and on."
-Loremaster's Archive: Resistance in the Imperial City

Though aside from that, not a whole lot on Legion Zero can be found.

Cyrodiil relies several Legions, I know. I believe every city even has a Legion (Chorrol is recorded to have a Legion, and the 2nd Legion is normally stationed in Bruma).

I'm also conviced there must be a Legion presence in the West Weald, considering the Legion of the West Weald was created under the pretense that the Elder Council had sanctioned expansion.

MaisonNaevius

Yes, the Imperial army should stand for Imperial values

The Legion Zero is recent... But the IC DLC is very contradictory with the vanilla game informations (context date, characters dialogue, ...).
The origin of the second Legion is also unknown. I think second Legion is from Kvatch... Or Chorrol (or maybe, principal Legion of the Colovian Highland). After that, second Legion and Varen are stationned to Bruma.
Game info is imprecise and some wiki sources take too many liberties.

There is one thing that scares me : the fact that all the Imperial Legions were reminded to the IC (you can see an order in Cyrodiil war zone).
However, grouping is not simple > the Alliance war complicates that. And then I think some counties have taken the liberty of keeping the local Legion for border security.

Outside the Imperial Legion, we have groups of bandits and mercenaries who wear imperial armor (difficult to make the difference for a novice / in ESO, the imperial armor is a racial armor, not specific Legion or faction armor).
ESO is a true anti-Legion propaganda... Even if the context does not help the Legion.

I do not know how the Niben forces is organized. Bravil is massacred, looted and occupied... We have just Leyawiin.

rexagamemnon

Yes, the Imperial army should stand for Imperial values

Make the Empire Great Again! I really hope ZOS puts forward some really awesome Imperial content, until then i am able to sleep at night knowing TES history stating that in about 100years after the events of ESO, Tiber Septim comes into power and the Imperials conquer all the lesser races and lands of tamriel.... to bad the invasion of Akavir was not sucessful.

Bruccius

Other

rexagamemnon wrote: »

Make the Empire Great Again! I really hope ZOS puts forward some really awesome Imperial content, until then i am able to sleep at night knowing TES history stating that in about 100years after the events of ESO, Tiber Septim comes into power and the Imperials conquer all the lesser races and lands of tamriel.... to bad the invasion of Akavir was not sucessful.

Completely agree.

ArchMikem

Yes, the Imperial army should stand for Imperial values

When the Anchor dropped on the Imperial City, the Legion stationed there had already been corrupted by Worm Cult collaborators within the leadership. Those soldiers who didnt immediately turn found themselves outnumbered and were either forced to turn, or eliminated.

Legions outside the city were given orders to cease whatever they were doing and march for the Capital immediately, either as a ruse to lure them in to be turned or killed, or because they were informed by whatever loyal leadership was left to regroup and retake the city. However some legions such as the one in the Alikr and Bangkorai questlines, were under the command of Tharns who were also Worm Cult collaborators. By this point the cult had infested the Empire so badly that the loyalists were few and in no position of strength whatsoever. All three banners declaring war on the Empire didnt help matters at all.

The Legion you know is still there, its just very badly broken.

ProudImperial

Yes, the Imperial army should stand for Imperial values

Make the empire great again god dammit.
The imperials, together with the altmers, are the scientifically, culturally, philosophically and artistically most advanced and progressive of Tamriel. Their scientific and cultural output vastly overwhlem that of the low life savage illiterate nords, warrioring-based redguard culture (although their ancestors were really developed) khajjits or argonians.

Mason_King

I don't know, before I vote, I don't think I know enough about the Imperials, and the war.

At a glance I feel they are Similar to the High Elves of Summerset (France) tho, Proud and Prejudice,
the Imperials, are the Romans, very Italian, Bold, and Relentless.

Unless, I feel like they need more land holdings, provinces to display their power.
Again, Like How High Elves Have Summerset, Redguards have Abah's Landing... Anvil on the other hand, is okay.

But the Imperials themselves, I don't believe they should always be and Evil Entity.
If I'm right, then I guess my answer is yes they should hold onto "Imperial Values" what ever that may be.

Bruccius

Other

Mason_King wrote: »

I don't know, before I vote, I don't think I know enough about the Imperials, and the war.

At a glance I feel they are Similar to the High Elves of Summerset (France) tho, Proud and Prejudice,
the Imperials, are the Romans, very Italian, Bold, and Relentless.

Unless, I feel like they need more land holdings, provinces to display their power.
Again, Like How High Elves Have Summerset, Redguards have Abah's Landing... Anvil on the other hand, is okay.

But the Imperials themselves, I don't believe they should always be and Evil Entity.
If I'm right, then I guess my answer is yes they should hold onto "Imperial Values" what ever that may be.

The Imperials have a very patriotic history, but in a better sense than most of Tamriel. The Imperials strive for education, prosperity, and peace for all Tamriel. They are strong followers of the Nine (though at this point of time, it's the Eight) Divines. The patron deity of the Imperial Army being Stendarr; the God of Mercy and Justice.

There are many Imperials who care a great deal for their people, but there are also many Imperials who care only for themselves, and are very corrupt. In general, Imperials tend to be the former.

Tatanko

Yes, the Imperial army should stand for Imperial values

Mason_King wrote: »

Unless, I feel like they need more land holdings, provinces to display their power.
Again, Like How High Elves Have Summerset, Redguards have Abah's Landing... Anvil on the other hand, is okay.

Help me understand what you're trying to say with this section in particular. I think you are possibly confusing the release of DLC zones with actual lore/history.

There's a huge amount of information to digest regarding everything we're talking about here: the Imperials, the Empire, the Legion, Cyrodiil, and Tamriel as a whole. These are all separate but intertwined things and it can be difficult to separate them in the mind: Imperials are a people, the Empire is not just one continuous organized government over the course of history, the Legion(s) are only military forces (not political bodies), Cyrodiil as a province is much larger than the zone we call "Cyrodiil" in-game, etc.

To your original point that I quoted above: the Empires of Tamriel that have been ruled from Cyrodiil tend to incorporate other places and cultures as provinces rather than claiming them as part of Cyrodiil. Imperials tend to take a cooperative approach to government as opposed to outright swallowing up territory and purging it of local influence. The island of Summerset (sometimes known as Alinor, not to be confused with the capitol city) is the main body of the Summerset Isles province, Abah's Landing is a territory of the Hammerfell province, and Anvil is just one city in the region of Gold Coast which is itself just part of the province of Cyrodiil -- none of these are conquered territories, at least not in the recent history of when ESO takes place.

It can be confusing because content for this game isn't released in a way that neatly fits political or geographical territories as they are outlined in the lore. There's nothing wrong with that, but it does make understanding the big picture a little more difficult if you aren't deeply engrossed in the Elder Scrolls series already.

LMar

I think it makes sense tbh. The Empire is meant to be in eclipse and the Imperial army in disarray. And that's what we get. How else would other armies have a field day around the Imperial City. A lot of the remnants of the army have defected or disbanded or are lying low till a worthy figure comes to lead them. See the Drake of Blades for example.

Bruccius

Other

LMar wrote: »

I think it makes sense tbh. The Empire is meant to be in eclipse and the Imperial army in disarray. And that's what we get. How else would other armies have a field day around the Imperial City. A lot of the remnants of the army have defected or disbanded or are lying low till a worthy figure comes to lead them. See the Drake of Blades for example.

What is that with the Drake of Blades?

LMar

Bruccius wrote: »

LMar wrote: »

I think it makes sense tbh. The Empire is meant to be in eclipse and the Imperial army in disarray. And that's what we get. How else would other armies have a field day around the Imperial City. A lot of the remnants of the army have defected or disbanded or are lying low till a worthy figure comes to lead them. See the Drake of Blades for example.

What is that with the Drake of Blades?

She said that her and the rest of her team are laying low waiting for the rightful heir to the throne to arrive even if it takes centuries

TelvanniWizard

No, the Imperial army should remain like it is now, to represent the current state of the Empire

Bad times require also proper representation.

Korah_Eaglecry

Other

The Empire no longer exists. Every province including that of the Imperial homeland, which is war-torn at this point, is under the control of another power or multiple powers. What we see in ESO is the remnants of that empire. There are a few imperial armies left standing after its fall but they are no longer representing a unified Tamriel or a sane and strong elder council/emperor. Those armies are loyal and devoted to whomever they call general. And most of those generals are Tharns or loyal to the Tharns. The good Imperials, the ones that still strongly believe in their cultures values and beliefs have fled to one of the three alliances or the numerous small kingdoms clinging to existence during the Interregnum.

You cant expect armies that are no longer fighting for the glory of the empire, but instead the greed and lust for power of their leaders to represent the "best" qualities of the Imperials.

I wouldnt mind seeing some strong holdouts in the regions of Cyrodiil we still havent seen. Some bastions of Imperial culture where the soldiers arent trying to sacrifice you to a Daedra or slaughter your village in the name of a Tharn.

notimetocare

No, the Imperial army should remain like it is now, to represent the current state of the Empire

Do we really expect civility from a people who have three factions trying to steal their country to rule?

Akrasjel

Yes, the Imperial army should stand for Imperial values

I would be nice to expand upon the Empire/Imperials/Imperial Army with them trying to regain what was lost, there position in Tamriel(Second Empire) and subdue those three waging factions.

But that's wishful thinking.

We will see what Abnur Tharn is up to this year.

Bruccius

Other

Akrasjel wrote: »

I would be nice to expand upon the Empire/Imperials/Imperial Army with them trying to regain what was lost, there position in Tamriel(Second Empire) and subdue those three waging factions.

But that's wishful thinking.

We will see what Abnur Tharn is up to this year.

We know that Elsweyr is being invaded by Nibenese Legions, or at least, they were noted as such in the introduction of ESO. Maybe we get a new view on them during this invasion, if it's still ongoing?

Smaxx

Bruccius wrote: »

We know that Elsweyr is being invaded by Nibenese Legions, or at least, they were noted as such in the introduction of ESO. Maybe we get a new view on them during this invasion, if it's still ongoing?

This already happened before the game's main story line (and partially during it). UESP

• In 2E576 (6 years before the game), Euraxia Tharn becomes queen of Rimmen during the Frostfall Coup.
• In 2E582 her son, Javad Tharn, leads the invasion trying to push through Arenthia down into Reaper's March

So considering all chapters happen in the years following, the Reaper's March invasion is most likely failed (basically depending on the player's zone story progress), but Euraxia seems to still be sitting on her throne. As such I'd assume that at least parts of Elsweyr are under Imperial control.