Summary
Lore is an important component ofThe Elder Scrolls, with rich world-building and history. WhileSkyrimis debatably the most popular ofThe Elder Scrollsgames, many players still considerThe Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowindto be foundational in its lore. WhileMorrowind’s sequels,Oblivion andSkyrim, went on to add their own lore to the series, they were not as formative. With such a massive time gap since Skyrim’s release,The Elder Scrolls 6needs to have the same depth and detail of lore thatMorrowindprovided.
Dunmer Lore and History
Morrowindestablished much of the Dunmer culture and history, including:
Morrowind’s intricate worldbuilding included other details, including silt striders, the Morag Tong, and Vvardenfell’s setting. In terms of greater lore inThe Elder Scrolls,Morrowindintroduced the Heart of Lorkhan, a major artifact of great importance to the Dunmer and the Nords, which also shares a connection with the disappearance of the Dwemer.
New Religion in Morrowind
Morrowindalso established Azura as a major figure among the Daedric Princes, gaining a far larger role than she’d had in previous games and creating a pattern of bringing a different Daedric Prince to the fore in eachThe Elder Scrollsgame, such as Mehrunes Dagon inOblivion, and Hermaeus Mora inSkyrim’sDragonbornexpansion. As religion plays such a large role inMorrowindthanks to the presence of the Tribunal as living gods,Morrowindplayed a large role in establishing daedra worship and the worship of the Tribunal, or ALMSIVI, which remained popular untilthe Oblivion Crisis and Vivec’s disappearance.
Lore Opportunities in The Elder Scrolls 6
Morrowind’s Setting
One of the reasonsMorrowindwas able to establish so much lore was because of its unique setting. While Cyrodiil andSkyrim have obvious references to European settings, the source of Morrowind’s towering mushrooms, egg mines, ashlands, and silt striders are less obvious.
Hammerfell as a Setting
IfThe Elder Scrolls 6does take place in Hammerfell, there’s a chance for it to have the same role in establishing new lore asMorrowind. Hammerfell is a massive nation with a diverse landscape, and its religion is just as unique as Morrowind’s Tribunal. Although there is some information about thehistory of the Redguards, their religion, and the landscapes in Hammerfell, it’s not nearly as detailed as the other provinces. Though Hammerfell is available as a playable region inThe Elder Scrolls: Online, it takes place in the Second Era, where nearly a thousand years have passed until the events of Skyrim.
Potential for Worldbuilding
Much can happen over a thousand years. Hammerfell seceded from the Empire after the signing of the White-Gold Concordat and became an independent nation.The Elder Scrolls 6will have the job of depicting how it has changed and adapted to independence in that time, as well ashow Hammerfell’s culture has changedover the thousand years since players last saw it inThe Elder Scrolls: Online.
Adapting to Hammerfell
WhetherThe Elder Scrolls 6introduces new gods asMorrowinddid with the Tribunal, new factions such asMorrowind’s Morag Tong to rival the Dark Brotherhood, or landscapes that require the people to adapt to the world to survive in harsh climates, Hammerfell offers a wealth of lore possibilities. This is an opportunity for Bethesda to reimagine Hammerfell as a setting and make it just as unique as Morrowind—if it is indeed set there.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition includes Morrowind plus all of the content from the Bloodmoon and Tribunal expansions. The original Mod Construction Set is not included in this package.An epic, open-ended single-player RPG, Morrowind allows you to create and play any kind of character imaginable. You can choose to follow the main storyline and find the source of the evil blight that plagues the land, or set off on your own to explore strange locations and develop your character based on their actions throughout the game. Featuring stunning 3D graphics, open-ended gameplay, and an incredible level of detail and interactivity, Morrowind offers a gameplay experience like no other.In Tribunal, you journey to the capital city of Morrowind, called Mournhold, to meet the other two god-kings of Morrowind, Almalexia and Sotha Sil. Your journey will lead you to the Clockwork City of Sotha Sil and massive, epic-sized dungeons, where strange and deadly creatures await you, including goblins, lich lords, and the mysterious Fabricants.Bloodmoon takes you to the frozen Island of Solstheim where you’ll experience snow, blizzards, and new creatures, including frost trolls, ice minions, and wolves… just to name a few. You’ll have a choice of stories to follow and have the opportunity to defend the colony, take control over how the colony is built up, and eliminate the werewolves. Or, you can decide to join the werewolves and become one of them, opening up a whole new style of gameplay.
