I know that this might be better to post on the Skyrim mod forums, but before I get started on building a team for it and the other planning stages, I want to get the concept and the main story outline out there for the lore experts to look at and make sure that it matches up and makes sense with the established lore. I just want to check that it isn't too nonsensical, is lore-friendly, and sounds interesting.

(fair warning, it is a bit of a read)

The mod I am in the process of conceptualizing and planning will take place in this area of Hammerfell http://imgur.com/LsDgksT (concept map) and is roughly 1/4 the size of the Skyrim map.

The main quest resolves around the PC resolving heated tensions between the Crowns/Forebears (I’m aware of the Luthonics, but they’re not really involved here) in the area that have flared up in both Sentinel and Gilane over the recent death of the governing officer of Gilane (fancier name to be made later). He was ambushed by pirate raiders. This is the result of oddly increasing pirate activities on the coasts surrounding Hammerfell. The Crowns and Forebears are quarrelling over who will replace him. The security concerns and chaos have caused Gilane to be locked down by the guard captain. The agent of the former governor, Esha, works with the PC to uncover what she believes to be a conspiracy behind the death of the governor.

Before the PC gets down to chasing conspiracies, he/she goes through a few situations, such as being stalked by a fearsome (to be revealed) desert creature and a crazed group of mages who believe themselves to be Dwemer returning to retake old Volenfell. After the dust settles, the PC is forced to take a side on the Crown/Forebear conflict, to gain trust with one of them. Along the way, you meet a strange dragon, who can take the form of a man (it is an illusion, he is not Dragonborn), who was one of the old Imperial thrall dragons.

Eventually you, Esha, and your dragon ally track down the headquarters of the pirate group that killed the governor. You find governments/overhear that both the Crowns and Forebears were both involved in the death of the governor, although with separate agendas and without knowing each other’s involvement. The pirates were paid by both parties to discredit or distract the governor long enough to remove him from his office. The pirate leader (bastard) played both sides simply for more money. Meanwhile, you learn that the governor was also hiding something by keeping all explorers and travelers away from the Hew’s Bane Peninsula.

Exiting the headquarters, your dragon ally explains that he was asked by the governor to observe and guard the peninsula from trespassers. The dragon had a sense of duty and commitment to stability in Hammerfell, having been a servant of the Septim Empire. Although Hammerfell was no longer an Imperial province, he felt that it needed to be kept free from threats, including the Thalmor. He had even helped, in secret, to fight the invading Aldmeri Dominion decades ago. He reveals to you that in the past few months, the Thalmor have had a (mostly) secret expedition within the rocky bluffs of Hew’s Bane. The governor, not wanting to risk another war or getting the attention of the AD, hid this knowledge and kept it between him and the dragon. Even Esha was not allowed to know. However, the Crowns and Forebears caught wind that he was blocking off the peninsula, and, in an effort to both sate their curiosity and a chance to use a weakness of the governor, tried to swoop in and take influence in the Gilane area. This led to the recent conflict.

Returning to Gilane, you witness an open battle between Crown, Forebear, and city guard forces. Allied with the guard, you fight through the city to reach the gate blocking the only path into the peninsula. You, Esha, and the dragon agree that the secret Thalmor force on Hew’s Bane must be uprooted.

Venturing into the peninsula, you encounter scattered brigands, even more dangerous creatures, and finally a ruined fortress. On the outside, there are scattered Thalmor units and Dwemer architecture. If you stop to read journals/notes found throughout, you will learn that the ruins were first a Dwemer weapons research facility. The Ansei who came to Hammerfell before the rest of the Yokudans discovered this facility. They set it up as a place to store their precious knowledge of fighting and sword-singing techniques. They also experimented with some of the Dwemer weaponry. You discover that the Thalmor were not interested in invading Hammerfell again, but were seeking the weapons in the ruin and the knowledge stored there. Remember, the sword-singers may have even inadvertently destroyed Yokuda with their techniques. You and Esha quickly realize that if the knowledge falls into the hands of the Thalmor, that it could be catastrophic. You search the depths of the ruins, discovering memory stones that grant you unique abilities and powers that are remnants of Ansei knowledge. You finally reach and destroy the last of the Thalmor presence there. On the way out, you destroy the entrance to the fortress to ensure that nobody will ever learn these secrets again, for the safety of Tamriel.