Stormcloaks Or Empire (One Of The Three Certainties Of Life)

[veti]

I think what we're talking about here is a conflict between what the game is presenting and what it's trying to present, but I do think the intent is relatively clear from the game as written.

I disagree. I think "massive racism" is your headcanon, you want to see evidence of it, and so the fact that there is no such evidence becomes a writing failure. But I think it makes more sense to adjust your opinion of the Stormcloaks to match the evidence that is there.

There's still plausible reasons to hate them, e.g. Ulfric's cult of personality and his undisputed failures as a ruler. But then we have to offset those against similar level failures on the Imperial side. You can reasonably defend either choice, neither is a particularly comfortable fit.

But using "Stormcloaks are massive racists" as a shortcut to a definitive once-for-all answer? - that just doesn't stand up to scrutiny.