I'd say the Argonians. They've already started expanding, and I remember reading something about how they took down multiple Oblivion Gates by themselves, which is no one other than the CoC could do.

However, the Imperials could easily build another Empire. They have the military discipline, and could probably get into a tight alliance with the Nords. They are fairly diplomatic (10+ to Speechcraft, anyone?) so the peoples they couldn't reconquer, they could sign treaties with.

What people? All five of them?

I don't think there will be one single Empire. I think we'll see wars between several strong kingdoms/empires, and in the beginning, many small ones. IIRC, Nords have already begun expanding to the west, and High Rock is once again falling apart and turning into several warring states, and divided they won't be able to stop anyone or do anything. Same with the Redguards.

Altmer aggression in the South-West wouldn't surprise me either. I don't think the Argonians will build an empire though. I think that anyone whos foolish or brave enough to try to take Black Marsh by force will have a hard time, but I don't think they will go far outside southern Morrowind or the Leyawiin area.

And in the middle we'll have the remnants of the old Empire, who may work with their northern relatives, but I'm not sure how much they will accomplish on their own. When I read the Infernal City I was under the impression that Cyrodiil too is full of warring within its own borders, even though we have an Emperor trying to change that. But the empire seems to be far from its golden days, nonetheless.

Of course, we could see Khajiit expansion too, but I don't find that to be as likely, not Bosmer either. If those two fight, I believe they will face eachother. Or the Altmers who are out for new lands. But thats just what I believe, and its not unlikely that I've mixed up old and new events.

Them sneaky lizard men be up ta' no good, I says. They probably have something hidden up their sleeves...

I say the Dark Elves, they have kept the Nords and Empire at Bay from Vvardenfell for years. The empire itself only has partial control and some forts in the south. They are the best race in the gameworld I have ever seen and can do almost anything. Also love their tribal culture.

You seem to have a great misconception about the Dark Elves. You should play Morrowind to find out more about them.

My vote would be for the Redguard. I think a lot of people ignore them, and choose Races like the High Elves or the Nords. But the High Elves are too insular to want to rule an empire...they are happy on their island. The Nords, while both fighters and explorers, seem to lack the long term stability needed. Their borders might expand, but how far is the question.

The Redguards just seem to have that mix of calm exterior but with a warrior spirit that allows for large scale state building. Maybe I'm looking to closely at earth history, but it just reminds me of the rise of Muslim power in the middle ages, after the fall of Rome.

the high elves

why?

because they have a defend-able island.
they have more magi
they are smarter than everyone else
they are rich
they are just better than everyone else in general.

It's so hard to consider anyone but imperials in control....except maybe High Elves so I picked them.

zombies didn't you read the book?

Khajiiti, using the Uncle Sweetsharian Method of controlling an Empire: Poison the hell out of everybody with drugs.

Probably Argonians or Nords as they both seem to be doing well for themselves at the moment (After all, Argonians pretty much did a massive '(swear word) you' to the and the Nords are not really having much problems at all apart from ). Failing that, Khajiit and their power of persuasion-in-a-bottle called Skooma.



Are you a High Elf in disguise? After all, that sounds like something they would say.

Hopefully, they won't get too much power. After all, if the Imperials were bad, just wait until they get into power (as in, all races that are not High Elf probably become slaves and would be treat like (as Kefka would put it) 'lower than lower than dirt').

I do not think that anyone will rule the empire for a while. I think the next games plot will base around the player trying to stop a civil war that would once and for all destroy the empire.
It will be your caracter that will lead the empire in the end, whether during this game or next I do not know.

In the novel there are three self-proclaimed Empires, an Altmer, Imperial and Argonian one from West to East. I think having several contesting Empires intead of one continent-wide on sounds more fun to me.

There are two things that I think we most need to take into consideration when in determining what single race (if any) stands the greatest chance of forming a new, dominant power in Tamriel:

1) The events of the next TES novel, as well as the plot to the next TES game, the latter possibly being less so. Obviously, this'll be pure conjecture, but I think some things we can reasonably discern.

2) History. What races have managed to build/regain power in various points throughout the history of Tamriel, and what made them able to do so? Is there any common thread amongst the races that have dominated the continent?

A couple of examples that come to mind:

1) Tiber Septim, who was not an Imperial, but his actions put that race in power for centuries, accomplished what he did through craftiness and the usage of one of the scariest things to ever walk the land of Tamriel. I would argue that without the latter, the Empire that once was would never have been.

2) The Dwemer might be a force to be reckoned with today were they not have mysteriously disappeared. I'd argue there'd be no Dunmer if they hadn't gone bye-bye.

And there's numerous others, but I'll let you people delve into them. Collectively, I'm sure you all know more lore than I do by myself.

They most likely lost most of their population since the Red Year, and the mer do not breed so quickly. Also, they're now refugees in Solstheim, surviving on the kindness of the nords there. To note, those nords on Solstheim are not part of Skyrim, even though they do import mead from there.

My choice, a contest between The Aldmeri (altmer) Domain, Cyrodiil (colovians and nibenese), and Skyrim (nords).
Reasons:
Since the last novel, the altmer have made bold moves by land grabbing Valenwood, and are taking pot shots at Cyrodiil. They seem have clear goals to recreate the Aldmeri Domain, by calling the newly held areas as "The Aldmeri Domain." This expansion is likely to be popular with the mer population, but taking over the domains held by humans and beastmen are going to be difficult. Still, if they take over completely, expect an unclimbable caste system, with purebred and perfect altmer at the top, powerful bosmer families in the upper and middle parts, and everyone else on the bottom working as slaves or practically slaves, with macro-scale eugenics.

Skryim has also been making some land grabs too. Since the fall of the empire, the nords have taken territory from High Rock. They are a warrior race, with a few cities of great economical prosperity and some love of arts. An influx of some of the dunmer may help Skyrim even more, but this is only speculation that some of the dunmer even went to Skryim and were not killed on site. However, a problem with the nords and Skyrim is that it really is not much of a unified area, politically, taking on a form akin to the city states of ancient Greece.

Cyrodiil has historically been the empire, so they have history on their side. An emperor has risen, so they are seemingly preventing the hell and anarchy that was the middle of the 2nd era. It has yet to been seen what will become of Cyrodiil, but I have been getting the hint that when Cyrodiil becomes more stabilized, it will try to regain its former glory, and Titus Mede looks to have proven that he is a good strategist and has ambition, as he was able start off as a bandit, become a warlord, and take over White Gold Tower and (mostly) unify Cyrodiil.

Elswyr I do not see as being somewhat possible, as it's pretty much anarchy there since the Mane was assassinated (huge [censored] deal, mind you).

Black Marsh only seemed content to drive out the dunmer, and the imperial presence from before. The only land grab they did was contested Dres-Black marsh territory in southern Morrowind. If the argonians had the ambition, they would have taken all of Morrowind, as they did at least go as far north to crater that was Vivec City.

Valenwood got taken over by the altmer, and is now part of the Aldmeri Domain.

As for Daggerfall and High Rock, if Skyrim's encroachment into High Rock is any indication, both areas are weak, and likely back to many small city states, ala TES II.


To end, the Aldmeri Domain, the empire of Cyrodiil, and the city states of Skyrim are, most plausibly, the big 3 that'll come in the future, as opposed to one group dominating the others. Black Marsh is likely going to stay extremely isolationist and stay put. Daggerfall and High Rock are likely to be contested territory between the three powers and themselves. Elswyr is likely to be integrated into Cyrodiil and used as a defensive position to surround Valenwood, the Aldmeri Domain will invade through Valenwood and the sea to the south, or is left alone as it is too chaotic and not worth the expenditure to take it over.

The fall of an empire usually doesn't cause another one to just rise up and take its place. Have you ever seen a map of Europe in the Dark Ages? I expect that'll be the fate of High Rock and Skyrim. It seems the Aldmeri Dominion is being recreated, though, so they'll definately be influential in the coming years. And how many times have the Cyrodiils created an Empire? I certainly wouldn't count them out. And then there is the explosion of rather uncharacteristic Argonian expansionism, which will be interesting as well.

So, as people have already stated, Tamriel will probably be divided into spheres of influence between 2 or maybe 3 large states.

Because they just lost an empire their time of glory is at an end besides my argonians have enslaved most of them.

For the one simple reason that they are not in the game I don't read the books and am not cought up on the lore.

That would svck cant we overthrow the empire? I want to stick it to the man!

Now that's what I'm talking about.

What would you say of the odds of a major war between them? If/when it ever comes down to them just not getting along, or one/two/all three getting more ambitious than they currently are?

Really exciting to think about this stuff with a new game on the way, however far out it may be time-wise. I imagine the plot of it will deal with this in some way, what do you think?



Maybe if I ever manage to put together that mod I planned out some years ago where you can build a faction and kick the Empire out of Morrowind.

Sounds nice can I bring a army of my Agonians Mixed in with Hircine's nords and take over the dark elves when you are done? A nord/argonian force would rock the foundations of Tamriel in bloodshed and caous.

The morowind if the get the nevarine again though they have a chance. (how is it spelled trying to wiki it to get the lore)

Thanks, I did put quite some thought on it.


Odds of a major war? Well, the Aldmeri Dominion, I believe, is sending insurgents to take pot shots on Cyrodiil, as the novel states. What I can take from this, is that a war will eventually occur between the Colovians and Nibenese against the Aldmeri Domain. If the Cyrodiils get pushed too hard against a wall, they may call upon Skyrim for aid, but this aid will likely come at a price. What would most likely end the war would be the expulsion of the altmer from Valenwood, or the Aldmeri Domain takes over Cyrodii. If the altmer loses, Summerset will most likely remain unmolested, as it practically is impenetrable, unless the Numidium somehow pops back up. If Cyrodiil looses, and the altmer are too weak and tired, Skyrim may launch an invasion to drive out the mer, or continue to sit on their mountain and wait till they are assaulted.


There are a lot of events that could occur between the second book and the next game, and I can't wait!

That much was definitely obvious.



Hmm... I'm trying to think of something the powers in Skyrim could agree on trying to extort from Cyrodiil in exchange for assistance. If going against the Aldmeri Dominion could be as dangerous as I'm estimating, and assuming the Nords of Skyrim are tenuously banded at best, I imagine that could put even greater strain on Cyrodiil.

Unless of course those Nords decide that it's been too long since they've gotten a chance to chop up some elves, and just go for it. That sounds pretty Nordic to me.



The latter sounds really exciting to me, despite how horrible Altmer society may be for my favorite races, the Orcs and Argonians. Would give me one hell of a motive to wreak some havoc in the new capital of Tamriel if I got/get the chance. :flamethrower:



Interesting... What makes that thought occur to you exactly?



The former sounds more Nordic to me. And more fun.



I just hope the book doesn't spell too much out for us that we end up figuring out the plot to TES V before it's announced. I want to be surprised. Maybe I should just not read it.

since the NUmidius is still seiging Alinor, and the Altmer send people back in time to fight it, perhaps a dragon break could vring it into the present?