I'm talking post-OB, and obviously Hlaalu Helseth is the King of Mournhold. What do you think we will do now that the Empire is weak? I've always seen him as someone who allies with the Empire because it's sensible. But now that he has a chance, do you think he'll try to drive out the Imperials in Vvardenfell, by perhaps gaining the loyalty of the ashlander tribes?

This is something I'm quite interested in and I'd like to hear your alls' thoughts on the matter......

There will be a lot of differing opinions on this, but mine is that if the Empire is collapsing, he would probably secure the loyalty of the now Empire-less Imperials in Morrowind to strengthen his position, before renewing his sibling rivalry with his sister, leading up to a war between Morrowind and Wayrest. If the Empire collapses, that is.

He'll never gain the loyalty of the ashlanders. I don't think that he'll drive the Imperials out because the Imperials are weakened but not weak.

I still don't understand why the Empire is suddenly going to collapse. It is weakened, but it won't just disappear.

Care to elaborate?

We still got Ocato and the Elder Council, and with the legions deployed in the provinces, secession is unlikely. And Cyrodiil, although most of their forces are abroad, united to defeat the Daedra.

What Crimson Paladin said. Also, Cyrodiil controls Tamriel's economy. And most empires just don't fall apart.

True I never thought of it that way. Plus, I don't think the Royal Guard would be large enough to stand against the Empire's size. That is where I think they could get the help from the ashlanders, but you all don't seem to think that could happen, right? Why so, if it would mean to rid the land of the foreigners?

They don't like the House Dunmer either. The ashlanders just hate to many people to get anything done. The only way to get the foreigners out is by allying with the House Dunmer, that's awful for them. And there probably aren't enough Ashlanders to really make a difference.

True, true. You write very convincingly.

The Empire's fall is a fanfiction cliche around these parts. Ever since the advent of Political RPs, everyone seems to want a feudalistic Tamriel with cheesy princesses stuck in castles to be rescued from dragons by the kings of a kingdom that encompasses about one square mile. As opposed to, you know, a MASSIVE FREAKIN' EMPIRE!

*panting*

Right. Well, I hope the Empire doesn't fall. But given Bethesda's recent lack of creativity in the setting department, I think it probably will...which makes me sad.

No, Empires don't just dissapear. They often split and fragment into many different, and often warring provinces untill the empire melts away into a plethora of new cultures and nations. Since the empire is basically made up of a plethora of nations anyway, who go to war with each other at any slight opportunity, I'd say an Empire-shattering furture is in store for us.

As for Helseth, I don't know. I don't think what he is doing is best for Morrowind, only for his own House, but that's another story. As for Dres, I still can't see how the devs can justify it. Dres doing what they did is like the all the Middle Eastern Sheiks suddenly abandoning their oilfields for absolutely no reason other than the EU saying Nuclear Power is morally better.

And the whole "The massive country with loads of money, a strong council that was stronger that the emporer, a massive army and proof that their god favors them falls apart because their Good Emporer died and that's all that matter."

Edit: That is the other cliche. A country needs the benevolent monarch to thrive.

I read somewhere that Helseth supposedly married a Dres, securing loyalty by blood. Even if they did disagree with him, they probably knew that slavery's days were numbered, and the only way for them to survive emancipation would be to side with Helseth. After all, if you can't beat them, join them. And they're slavers; they're not the most moral people; they will switch sides just to survive.

Yes it does, since it didn't happen that way. The Good Emperor was the vital link with this god or gods, otherwise the whole scenario with the amulet of kings becomes worthless. No one else actually saw the dragon do what it did, and few people knew who Martin was. If anyone saw everything, it was Ocato, and we all know he's a bit useless.

I wouldn't take it as a sign that Akatosh favours whoever more than anyone else. Every culture has experiences of the gods, Aedra or Daedra, and every nation in Tamriel has a religion which expresses this in at least in one form or another. Martin's sacrifice saved all of Tamriel, not just Cyrodiil and it's awfully pious citizens.

If you listen to Ted Peterson and his RPs, there was a war, a new generation of Dres, and Helseth found some serious cajones.

I still suspect the war in Morrowind was a very big House War. That would explain why Hlaalu and Dres won; they got more money to buy writs.

and use the Dark Brotherhood

Listen? lol Mp3s?

Where can I find these RPs?

Argh, this is the last place you should be taking things literally.

Heh, I know. But, what's the answer?

Small note: "Hlaalu" refers to the fact that he's from House Hlaalu...it's not his name... I didn't know that until MUCH later. JSYK...

No. But if someone were to find a good voice actor for Vivec, I would listen the Sermons every night before bed.

It'd probably end up giving you some very strange dreams.

I can just imagine how Microsoft Sam doing the V/O would sound.

You probably would achieve transcendance that way, come to think of it.

You could try sending a message to Nalion, who has been the archivist for Loranna's RP, or to Loranna herself. Nalion has kept the threads archived as far as I know, and might be able to download them on request.

Here's a page from the wiki: http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/Loranna%27s%20Roleplaying%20Threads%20-%20A%20Summary%20of%20Events

The RP is on hiatus for now, probably until the next TES game. Ted Peterson wrote Helseth as realizing his place is in Morrowind and not attempting to become the Emperor.