On the rising stakes of Elder Scrolls
Recently I was researching about Dagoth-Ur in the **Imperial Library**, when I began contemplating on the ending of each Elder Scrolls game and how it was paving way to the next. I know better than to ever say that they are pre-planned or any game dev or writer knows what will happen in the next. But we do build this continuing and vibrant universe through consequences of choices and events past (although retconned or your Heroes fate deemed inconsequential :which I also adore) and that is what subconsciously drives us towards a lot of headcannon, but also the next grand epic of a game. And since the universe of Elder Scrolls is built on Metaphysical concepts taken to their literal and creative extremes, we can see how this results in the stakes of each succeeding game to be more expansive and dire in its consequence.
* **Arena :** ***The fate of the Imperial Empire*** rests in the hands of the The Eternal Champion, who must free the Emperor from his prison in Oblivion and defeat his captor and imposter Emperor, the traitorous battlemage. * **Daggerfall :** ***The fate of the kingdoms of Illiac Bay ( consequently, the Empire again) and of the spiritual planes of Oblivion indirectly*** rests in the hands of the Agent of the Emperor, who must tread the treacherous political landscapes of Illiac bay to bring the spirit of the King of Daggerfall to rest and uncover even deeper conspiracies which might put the whole of Tamriel at risk. Lest a sleeping beast be woken again. Additionally, a certain shadowy figure vies for godhood and to carve his place amongst the planes of Oblivion. * **Morrowind :** ***The fate of the island of Vvardenfell (consequently, the whole province of Morrowind) and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies of doom and divinity*** rests on the shoulders of the reincarnation of a legendary hero, the Nerevarine, who must uncover the mysterious and deadly events plaguing the inhabitants of Vvardenfell and unite them again and defeat a Demigod bent on corrupting mortality itself. Additionally, they must bring the reigns and machinations of a few living-gods to an end too. All of which is connected to the heart of a slain God who made mortality itself possible. * **Oblivion :** ***The fate of the entire continent of Tamriel and every living being in it*** rests on the shoulders of the Champion of Cyrodiil, who must fulfill the last request of an assasinated Emperor, and defend against an invasion from Oblivion and stand between the future of Tamriel and the Daedric Prince of Destruction himself. But not just that, they must go further and help to close shut the jaws of Oblivion itself and ensure that mortals are never again subjugated by the Daedras. * **Skyrim :** ***The fate of Nirn and the existence of life itself*** rests in the hands of an individual with the body of a mortal, but the blood and soul of a dragon, the Dragonborn, who must uncover his innate powers and slay the resurrected dragons of old (so that he can absorb their souls and knowledge) and defeat the apocalyptic World-eating dragon Alduin himself, and in doing so allow the current age of existence to continue.
The Metaphysical stake of each conflict here: grows in both its literal application and its reaching effect on that which it operates on. We have moved in a steady but sure pace from the mundane fates of Empires and their subjects, onto the political machinations resulting in reality-breaking events, into the cultural undoings of a country built around seized-divinity, towards the actions of a cult resulting in a breaking of covenants with the Gods themselves thus, leading finally into the Mythic power-hunger of a God that threatens to end the current life-cycle of existence itself.
We all have our specualtions on what the next one will be, but for now I just wanted to recap the expansion of this gem of a world.
(**NOTE :** Apologies if anyone finds the post too long or spoiler-filled, and for me not coming up with any original insights, I know I am not the first or only one to point any of these things. I just wanted to present my humble appreciation of the world of Elder Scrolls through these opinions).