You are introduced to the different sides of this conflict at the very beginning of the game, during the first Main Story quest you make a choice there to either follow a Nord Stormcloak named 'Ralof' or an Imperial soldier named 'Hadvar'. To resolve this rebellion the Empire deployed the Imperial Legion to challenge the Stormcloaks. Recently Ulfric challenged the High King of Skyrim, Torygg, to a duel and killed him. Recently, in defiance of the Imperial treaty, a Nordic rebel named 'Ulfric Stormcloak' rose up against the Empire to reclaim the land of Skyrim for the Nord race establishing the 'Stormcloak faction'. Talos is a very important deity in Skyrim, as he originated there, the Nords of Skyrim were therefore greatly distressed by the ban to worship him. The Empire stopped short the invasion by signing the вЂWhite Gold ConcordatвЂ™- a treaty prohibiting the worship of the Imperial God Talos throughout the Empire. Only thirty years ago the Aldmeri rejected a final ultimatum from the Emperor Titus Mede II, and the governing body of the Aldmeri (the Thalmor) invaded Cyrodiil triggering the 'Great War'. The provinces of the Summerset Isles (home to the High Elves) and Valenwood (Wood Elves), have formed an Elven Empire called the 'Aldmeri Dominion'. It is now the Fourth Era and 'Titus Mede II' has conquered the Imperial City in Cyrodiil causing the lands of Valenwood, the Summerset Isles, Black Marsh and Elsweyr to withdraw from the Empire. Skyrim is at war! It is two hundred years after the Oblivion Crisis in Cyrodiil, but to the north, in the hardened land of Skyrim there is new unrest.

Skyrim join the legion