Ashlanders

[Arbiter]

So... they actually hope that Houses fighti in betwen and against Imperials so that they don't notice them?

I don't Ashlanders could survive if alredy mentioned turned their full atention to them.

[KuKulzA]

look... if you talk to any Ashlander they'd say that IF there was a chance to overthrow the other Dunmer and outlanders, they'd do it no matter the cost....
the problem is, the Nerevarine is reluctant to lead them... also, they are for the most part ignored....
unless traveling in their territory, members of the Great Houses show contempt for them but ignore them unless they are a threat. Also, the Houses don't realy regard them as a real threat...
but thats not true... in reality if you could united every tribe on Vvardenfell... you'd have a sizeable army... add that to the fact that they are awesome at hit&run tactics and most inner settlements are isolated.... they could easily rush in, raid the town, loot and burn.... then run back into the badlands...

but the Ashlands hope the Great Houses will fight against one another and weaken each other and the Imperials... the Ashlanders are a proud folk and will not admit defeat or their enemies' inevitable victory as it seems... but the Ashlanders have a slim chance.... well not THAT slim... just unite a lot of squabbling tribes many of which don't like each other... and then you have a large horde, a mobile force... with mobile homes! yay

[Arbiter]

Another good point, since Houses probably don't have enough troops to frotify and garisson every town and village. But I wonder, why don't the Ashlanders just do that? Raid one town after another, but raid and destroy it to the ground.
Guess they're not united just like you said, KuKulzA. And Nerevarine fellow doesn't seem open to attacking outlanders...

[KuKulzA]

yep, you've got the main idea....
the Ashlanders say that IF there was a way...
but they are too proud to all fo them unite to fight off the Imperials... even if they did... it would be tough... they'd have to come out of the badlands where they have the advantage of guerilla tactics and fight in the open or raid fortified cities...

of course not all cities are fortified :yes:

[Arbiter]

Originally posted by KuKulzA
yep, you've got the main idea....
the Ashlanders say that IF there was a way...
but they are too proud to all fo them unite to fight off the Imperials... even if they did... it would be tough... they'd have to come out of the badlands where they have the advantage of guerilla tactics and fight in the open or raid fortified cities...

of course not all cities are fortified :yes:

Let your Enemy come to you, and you alredy have the Upper hand.

Can't they put aside their pride and unite for common good, they can worry about pride when they've accompished their goals? They should irritate Imperials so much, that they themselves would come to them to get them.... they would fail surely!

[KuKulzA]

....well Dunmer in general are a very haughty and proud folk... despite the fact that they are more humble than the stereotypical Altmer....

I dunno if Ashlanders would set aside their differences easily... but maybe with a lot of compromise and promises... they will united to slowly raid and harass the Imperials until they are forced to leave... its not impossible...

(Real Life Parallel)
you know, after the Spanish "conquered" the Yucatan, there was a time when a Mayan warlord actually led the defeated tribes until they came so close to victory... the Spaniards were pushed back to one city... their only foothold left on the Penninsula... but then the Mayans were on the brink of victory... and then suddenly left....
they went home to their villages to harvest the crops... it was time for harvest...

so what's more important... freedom or survival...
be free but have nothing except the freedom, or be harassed and confined but surviving well enough?

[Arbiter]

Originally posted by KuKulzA
so what's more important... freedom or survival...
be free but have nothing except the freedom, or be harassed and confined but surviving well enough?

Thats one well made sentence. :yes:
It should usually be balanced but in the Ashlanders case..... it's a slow guerilla war, thus it makes it hard to be balanced. In the end it'll probably be ALL or NOTHING.

[KuKulzA]

in the end... in the end.... IN THE END
well, in the end the Ashlanders are now a large majority but as the other Houses keep growing and no one wants to help them save the Nerevarine but he/she doesn't want to help them reclaim their lands...


in the end, they will have to unite and try to drive out the invaders or slowly die out as an ancient and defeated culture.... they preserve the traditions of the Velothi people... what the Chimer were before they settled down.... so the Ashlanders' traditions are like "living fossils" sort of

In end the end it is to fight for freedom or die out as a distinguished culture

[Arbiter]

Have you revealed a part of the main story just now?

[KuKulzA]

not quite... but the ashlanders will be VERY important in the main storyline....
a lot of the main quest will be symbolic... but on the surface, it will be wars, the supernatural, political intrigue, assassination, etc.etc.
I won't reveal anymore just yet... I am working on the quest outline right now...