Remember Uriel "Captain Picard" Septim and his son Martin from Oblivion? They're descended from Tiber Septim, the guy that united the continent under human rule. Their dynasty ran through all of the first four Elder Scrolls games. Before he became emperor, he was a Nord warrior named Talos. After his death, he ascended to godhood under that name.
Nords and Bretons, understandably,
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in' love the guy. He's a home-grown god. Elves, though? Hate him. Don't like the idea that a human could become a god. So after the Septim line died out and the empire was weak, the wood elves and the high elves seceded, formed their own nation (The Aldmeri Dominion), and waged a war against the old empire. The empire faired rather poorly, and one of the terms of the piece treaty was the outlawing of Talos-worship in the empire.
This has got the Nords (specifically the Stormcloaks) all pissed off. "Talos built the empire, he became a god, and now you're turning your backs on him, Imperials? No.
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that. Get the
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out of our country. We're not gonna be part of an empire that shits on its founders and kisses the ass of its enemies."
Imperials (and their Nordic supporters, specificall Jarl Elisif), on the other hand, say, "Chill the
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out, Nord-bros. This infighting just strengthens the elves' hands. Calm your tits, bide your time, and we'll kick their mer-man asses when we're strong enough. Then you can go back to your favourite church, yeah?"