Will The Result of Skyrim's Civil War be Canonized in The Elder Scrolls VI?

[Shagger]

There's little doubt that that the Civil War in Skyrim had the exact impact that Bethesda wanted. Divide opinions. The discussions and debate between games on this story have been going on since the game's launch and it still remains a hot topic with Skyrim to this day.

 

For those who don't know, the Civil War is a co-main story element of Skyrim alongside the return of the Dragons. Some 20 years previously, the Cyrodiilic Empire that rules Skyrim signed a peace treaty with the Altmeri Dominion, the power of the High Elf homeland of the Summerset Isles, putting an end to a 30 year war between the two superpowers. One of the conditions of this treaty called The White Gold Concordat (that in reality was more like conditions of the Empire's surrender) was for the forbidding of worship of the man-god Talos, also known as Tiber Septim. Talos united a vast region to form the First Empire and ascended to Godhood upon his death and became the 9nth Divine. Because Talos was a man, the High Elves of the Altmeri Dominion see his worship as sacrilegious and a blasphemy, so demanded Talos worship be outlawed. If there is one thing the Stormcloaks and the Empire agree on, it's that the Altmeri Dominion and especially their governing body The Thalmor, are utter bastards, and they are right. But anyway, this would have been a very hard pill to swallow for all citizens of the Empire and it's provinces, but none more so than the Nords of Skyrim. Talos was a Nord and one of their most revered heroes even before he ascended to the throne of the first empire. This motivated the Jarl of Windhelm, Ulfric Stormclock, to defy the empire and seek to liberate Skyrim to become an independent nation. He killed Skyrim's High King Torygg to lay claim to the throne and in defiance of the Empire. He then leads a Rebellion that fights the forces of the empire with Skyrim to drive them out and secure the support of the other holds to become Skyrim's new High king and declare independence.

 

That summery might make The Stormcloak's quest sound noble, and it is in a lot of ways, but it's not nearly that simple. Whilst the Stormcloaks may be inspired buy Nord pride, they are all to often vessels for Nord prejudice. Anyone who is not a Nord, especially Elves, are subject to squalor, hate and poverty under Ulfric's current rule in his city and hold and in other areas who support his cause throughout Skyrim. The Empire's is at least trying to create a lasting peace even paying that high price, whereas the Stormcloaks, even if they win, would make Skyrim an enemy of both the Empire and Altieri Dominion, so a victory can only result in more conflict in the end. It's a future of uncertainty and danger that would likely also leave Skyrim a poorer nation with less trade with the Empire and it's provinces. To say Skyrim's people would be safer and more prosperous by remain in the empire is hard to deny. Many of Skryim's Nords are also simply proud to be considered members of the empire and are just as passionate about defending it as the Stormcloaks.

 

So yeah. With neither side being perfect, you can see why this is so open to debate. It is, of course, up to the Dragonborn (the protagonist) to break the stalemate between the two and ultimately decide the outcome of the war. This would have a long reaching effect to all provinces of Tramrail, not just Skyrim.

 

If The Elder Scrolls VI continues the pattern, it will be set after The Elder Scrolls V. This would mean the end of the war almost certainly have to be canonized for The Elder Scrolls VI. This presents a unique challenge for Bethesda as it's the player that has to divide the wars outcome in The Elder Scrolls V. Obviously The Elder Scrolls VI won't be set in Skyrim nor Cyrodiil as those regions have been the setting in the previous two games, but it will still be almost impossible to structure and and set up the next game without a the end of this war established in the universe, so what will they do?

 

Let's here your thoughts, Will they pick a side? If they do, who should they pick? Or will they just set the game somehare that would be largely unaffected buy the civil war so they only need vaguely refence it at most. Who did you (or would you) support in the Skyrim civil war and why? Thoughts below.

 

Me personally, I see myself more in support of the empire. I understand and even admire the Stormcloaks passion to stand up against The White Gold Concordat, but I just don't see it being worth the lives it'll cost both during and inevitably after the civil war. Life under the empire in Skyrim is not perfect, but it's at least secure. With Skyrim and the Empire united, there's also a greater chance that they might take the fight back to the Altmeri Dominion one day and turn The White Gold Concordat into nothing more than a slither of fancy toilet roll.

 

 

Edited May 24, 2021 by Shagger

[killamch89]

For all we know that war may still be going on in Elder Scrolls VI because the Imperials ruled by the Thalmor has a very strong military force so they can keep up that war for centuries. Then again, just like with any large faction, there are elves who oppose the Thalmor and the other races such as Redguards do too so they probably would help out the Nords in Skyrim. It's hard to say though what will be the outcome as the Dragonborn could have gotten involved as well and stopped the war between both sides permanently. 

On another note, this war will be loss for everyone. If the Imperials win, then Skyrim will be under an oppressive regime that bans the worship of certain gods such as Talos. On the other hand, if the Stormcloaks win, they'd instill a very racist regime where Nords are the only ones who receive the greatest benefit under their leadership. We already know that the Thalmor is using this war to weaken both sides so that they can crush the Stormcloaks without much opposition and the Imperials are too weak to go against them.