Bethesda hasn't said anything about the future of the Elder Scrolls series, but one of the most common topics of speculation is where the next game should be set. Rather than trying to keep this in the official suggestion/discussion thread we've decided to give this an official home.

This discussion doesn't need to be tied entirely to geography, other setting details are also appropriate. However let's please keep this focused on the game world and leave other matters, like gameplay mechanics or NPCs, in the other thread.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1510036-tes-vi-location-and-setting-speculation-13/

Yeah. We definitely have a different perspective. I certainly agree that the Septim Dynasty nearing its end was far from perfect and perhaps questionably credible. However, they had a divine right to rule because of the Amulet of Kings and the necessity of a Dragonborn Emperor to light the Dragonfires in the Temple of the One. Especially with the Oblivion Crisis, it is increasingly apparent how many take the Septim Dynasty for granted given their sacred duty to maintain the barrier between Oblivion and Mundus.

The problem with Titus Mede II and the Fourth Era emperors is they do not have a divine right to the throne. Even with the barrier between Mundus and Oblivion allegedly, permanently sealed, it gave previous empires legitimacy for their reign. Now those who claim the Ruby Throne are merely partaking in mortal affairs that have no relation to the Divines. With how poorly the empire has been managed, provinces seceding, and the controversial White-Gold Concordat, I'd say things haven't been worse in a very long time. At least the empire was actually united under the Septims.

Now the empire has been reduced to Cyrodiil and High Rock with everybody else either part of the Dominion or independent. At this point, it's almost illusory to even call it an "empire" considering the territory aggrandizement methods the Aldmeri Dominion has used to consolidate power and authority in Tamriel.

I am not ignoring Daggerfall at all. I'm merely saying that it cannot be used as an excuse to not consider it as a future province. With Arena, we technically saw every province. With ESO, we technically see every province. One was developed twenty years ago at the beginning of 3D world building and the other was built by a separate developer in the form of an MMO. I see little value in using them to justify what BGS should do next.

I disagree about Morrowind vehemently. It was very human-esque in its approach. That's why I liked it. That's why it was immersive. It felt real and I could relate to it. If it was too fantastical and strange, it would just be another fantasy RPG. Instead, Morrowind was dealing with the issue of slavery, discrimination, separation of church (Tribunal) and state (Empire), mythology, prophecy, history, and many more facets. That is why I loved Morrowind, and I believe that's why many others did as well. It wasn't because of the Dunmer or the giant mushrooms. That merely added flare to the environment. The history of the land, the culture of the people, and the player's position in all of it is what made the game so memorable.

I wouldn't mind a game set in Black Marsh. It would also be interesting to see if the Argonians captured various Dunmer during the fall of the Ministry of Truth and brought them back to Argonia for the purpose of manual labor and servitude. I also believe the Hist and the nature of Argonian culture could lead to some interesting possibilities. With the Aldmeri Dominion being that far east, however, you would think Cyrodiil and the Imperial City would have fallen by that time more than likely.

I love how you just entirely discredited Skyrim and its explanations of how the Redguards repelled the Aldmeri Dominion invasion in Hammerfell. Classy.

My only major criticism, other than you indirectly trashing Skyrim and Hammerfell lore, is that you have this assumption that the empire is still relevant. I don't see that. The Fourth Era really seems like a return to the Second Era after the Reman Dynasty. This is a period of turmoil, instability, and a weak central authority. There are no strong emperors. The ones who do rise are being ousted or assassinated just as quickly. This is a period where the empire really just isn't a major player. I think it's more likely BGS will take this into a different direction where outside forces will have to upset the Aldmeri Dominion stronghold to bring unity and stability back to Tamriel.

Your idea of Akatosh and Lorhkan getting into a fight is interesting, considering Lorkhan is dead. Unless you believe Mankar Camoran that the Aedra are pretenders, Lorkhan is actually a Daedra ("true divines") who cannot die, and that Tamriel is his plane of Oblivion? Not really sure where you are going there.

Exactly, we now have an opportunity to forge something new, like Alessia did. The Dragonblood and the Dragonfires weren't relevant before her, but power stilll resided in Cyrodiil. She forged a new paradigm within the lines of the old. That paradigm is now gone, and it's time to build a new one, but the significance of Cyrodiil as the center of the wheel remains.


You don't see a problem with the vague exlination given? That the Crowns and Forbears, United for the first time in almost a thousand years, couldn't drive a beaten enemy out of their own lands? Or how about the dramatic turn of face on the part of the Dominion in their negotiation practices, going from dictating after a crushing defeat to aquessing after a begrudgingly stalemate. Either the Redguards were grossly incompetent during the war and couldn't rout a beaten for or the Thalmor are being shifty.


Lorkhan has revived once before, though briefly, during the Un-time at Red Mountain. Shor was shouted into the world to fight against the Dwemer and Chimer, and briefly recovered his heart before havijg it cut from his chest once more. Now his heart is MIA, his sons are waning, and the Altmer seek to undo everything he died to create. Sounds like a good time for the old snake to come back.

Perhaps. Cyrodiil currently reminds me of a sick and dying empire at death's doors. There isn't much strength left and it is more of a historical marker than anything else. It would require the efforts of an Alessia or Tiber Septim to fight back the Aldmeri surge, lest men and beast lay subjugated under the tyrannical heel of mer.

The Redguards competed in a war of attrition and defiance to beat the Aldmeri Dominion. It didn't matter if the Aldmeri Dominion had a larger force as they could only sustain an offensive campaign before being forced to retreat. What makes the Redguards different from other races is their fierce independence and iron will to die to the very last person. A victory for the Aldmeri Dominion was becoming less likely and too costly. They realized they have bigger obligations as Hammerfell is unlikely to help the empire in a future conflict. Not to mention the Redguards were furious when the empire turned its back on them, providing them with even more motivation to kick the mer out.

I'm not personally a fan of frequent divine intervention on the part of the Aedra. That is something more expect of Daedra and their never-ending meddling in mortal affairs. Seldom do the Aedra ever get involved, unless it is of the utmost importance. Lorkhan is an interesting figure, but not someone I would want BGS to continuously rely on as a plot device.

gonna Point out, the Reason the Dominion had to pull out of Hammerfell was not likely just "but Redguards are so Strong!"

it is most likely the Same case as Germany's invasion of Russia in WWII.. the German Soldiers were not prepared for such a Fierce Climate, which is the main reason the Russians were So Successful in Pushing them back..

With what we know of Hammerfells Geography, it is very likely the Reason the Dominion was pushed back is for the same reason..

Except that the Dominion took the southern territories, which were far less hostile than the cast Al'akir desert or the rocky northeast. They Dominion had control of the most hospitable regions of Hammerfell... But more importantly, it had control of the region's formerly claimed by clan Roruken. These were also consequently the territories they initially demanded.

Furthermore, the Dominion army had already been driven back beyond the Al'akir by the time the White-Gold Concordant was signed, and there is no evidence that they ever managed to recoup from their push out of northern Hammerfell. Nor were the Redguard able to actually drive them out.

When you look at the negotiations and terms of the treaties, as well, you see a massive shift in the posture of the Dominion. Despite catastrophic losses in Cyrodiil, and being pushed back in Hammerfell, the Aldmeri Dominion still dictated terms from a position of power and authority in terms of White-Gold. But against the Redguard, who had managed no victories and who, by the indications of In My Time of Need, are still relegated to resistance practices and hushed anti-Dominion sentiments, they did a near complete 180 and relinquished the territories that they had fought hard for, and demanded through two treaty attempts. From an anthropological, historical and political background, the Dominion withdrawll from the Second Treaty of Stros M'kai is suspicious.

The two possible explinations are either the Redguard were unable to route a beaten enemy in their own lands (lands which has historically been impossible for anyone but them to hold with any degree of success) or there was something else afoot.

One option paints the Redguard as incompetents, the other paints the Dominion and the Thalmor as crafty villains adept at subterfuge. Tue second options is further supported by their covert annihilation of the Blades, their provisioning of the Stormcloaks, and their infiltration of the Empire in the novels.

It could just be bad writing on the part of Bethesda, but I for one like to hope it's deeper than just Redguard incompetence.