Is it just me or does the time period in Skyrim seem like a real dark time for everyone in Tamriel. A weakened Empire, Morrowind "gone", the Thalmor taking over, now Dragons are coming back. Even the Dark Brotherhood is falling on bad times. Even after the MQ everything has a feel of despair. Even though Skyrim just came out I'm super curious what the DLC will deal with and what the next ES game will cover.

This Kalpa is stale, going off, and needs to be eaten :goodjob:

You'd be correct. Skyrim's taken on a much darker turn than previous ES games. No big, central government to protect everyone, everything we thought we knew about Tamriel changing...it's become quite the gritty, hopeless place.






Not complaining, I love the new feel

I dont know, you cut it pretty close in Oblivion. You were probably a few minutes from becoming Mehrunes Dagons' new home.

I think I said something like this before Skyrim was released.

Well the Argonians seem to be doing well, without being total jerks to everyone like the Thalmor.

Yeah, I have to admit, Skyrim pulled off the air of quiet dread that even Fallout struggled to portray, and the world is still vibrant and alive. I think the 'cold' scene of Skyrim helps wth the atmosphere too.

Actually, I feel they did a little too well, because after/before the main quest in previous games I felt like I could happily dwell in the worlds, roleplaying as a smalltime/retired hero and just enjoying the world. I don't... feel that in Skyrim. The civil unrest is still there, no matter who wins the civil war. The Empire is still weakened, more so even, and the Thalmor are still pulling strings behind the scenes. Dragons still ravage the countryside. Most of the cities are little more than inhabited ruins. I'm hoping that some DLC sometime will add a spark of hope, since frankly the Dovahkiin doesn't seem like they will be going the Tiber Septim path.

Actually... don't suppose anyone can point out some hope (from anywhere) that I can keep in mind as I play?

I think it's due to the Towers falling, and due to that, the amount of strife in the world increasing. Daggerfall, Walks-Brass is destroyed. Morrowind, Red Mountain's Stone, the Heart of Lorkhan, is unbound. Oblivion, White Gold's stone, the Amulet of Kings, is shattered. Skyrim, I dunno, probably something happening at High Hrothgar. I bet that at the end of the series, all the Towers will fall. The final game will be preventing the end of existence itself.

Dark? I think not. A glorious day is ahead for Skyrim. A day is coming when the Gift of Kyne will be heard on the streets of Alinor itself.

Is it "fus-ro dah?"

Point blank.

i don't see the dragons as big of a problem as other things

Yeah I feel like the dragon threat is really overshadowed by the implications of the Thalmor wanting to metaphysically erase humanity from existence. Alduin might have seemed like a bigger threat if he had made me feel that there was ever a time in which I should've been afraid of him eating the world.

Things are indeed looking bleak, and the best hope for men and mer resisting Thalmor domination is the crushing of the Stormcloak rebellion. A bunch of idealistic but ignorant peasants under a self-interested regicidal usurper are endangering the future of Tamriel just so they can play Braveheart; it's a travesty.

Long live the Empire.