Story Development

[jetaman]

Tamriel's condition before the game's events:
Thalmor presented an Ultimatum to the Empire. After the Emperor Titus Mede II refused to fulfill its conditions Thalmor started invasion. The Dominion forces caught the Empire by surprise. Imperial City was under occupation for a year, before its liberation in the Battle of the Red Ring in 4T 175.
The Great War ended by Empire and Aldmeri Domion signing a treaty, called The White-Gold Concordat. The conditions of the treaty outlawed the worship of Talos in the Empire, formally disbanded the Blades, and delivered a large portion of southern Hammerfell into the control of the Aldmeri Dominion. Despite the fact the battle was won, Emperor understood that the Empire is weakened and cannot continue the war.

The Redguards of Hammerfell, however, refused to accept the terms of the White-Gold Concordat, and continued to resist the Thalmor. This forced Titus Mede to officially renounce Hammerfell as a province of the Empire in order to preserve the peace stipulated in the treaty. Viewing this as a betrayal, Hammerfell became an independent state, and managed to fight the Dominion to a standstill, culminating in the signing of the Second Treaty of Stros M'Kai five years later in 4E 180, which resulted in all Aldmeri forces withdrawing from Hammerfell. Hammerfell thus became an independent, if devastated, nation. Diplomatic relations between Hammerfell and the Empire remain strained, an outcome that Legate Justianus Quintius postulates was a long-term goal of the Thalmor.

Specifically, the ban enforced regarding the worship of Talos greatly angered the people of Skyrim. Talos originated from Skyrim and has been a beloved deity of the people of Skyrim for generations. The Stormcloak Rebellion began when Ulfric Stormcloak and his men, despite being promised otherwise during the Markarth Incident, were unable to continue worshipping Talos as they had always done, and this continues to be a major issue in the dispute.

Morrowind. In Vivec's absence, the Ministry of Truth eventually fell, destroying Vivec City and causing Red Mountain to erupt, covering the rest of Vvardenfell in ash and lava. Since this Red Year of 4E 5, Red Mountain has been spewing ash even more regularly than before, and Vvardenfell remains largely uninhabitable.
The Argonians of Black Marsh, meanwhile, were stronger than ever and soon invaded Morrowind, seizing large tracts of land that had long ago belonged to them. They also sacked many cities, including Mournhold, in southern Morrowind. Though a Redoran army halted their advance, countless Dunmer were killed or displaced, and they were forced to establish dozens of colonies elsewhere, including the island of Solstheim. Though Mournhold was rebuilt, the capital of Morrowind was moved to the Rootspire in the Redoran city of Blacklight, as the leadership House Redoran had exhibited had greatly increased their power and influence.
The Empire's ineffectual protection and seeming indifference to Morrowind's plights made them reviled by the Dunmer. After the Empire "released its grasp" on Morrowind, House Hlaalu's Imperial ties resulted in it being replaced by House Sadras on the Council of Great Houses.

In 4E 29, Valenwood's Imperial-friendly government was overthrown in a Thalmor-backed coup. Bosmer loyalists and supporting Imperial forces were subsequently defeated by better-prepared Bosmer troops aligned with the Thalmor. In the aftermath, Valenwood's new government proclaimed a union with Summerset Isle, now known as Alinor, and the third Aldmeri Dominion was formed.

During the Oblivion Crisis, Summerset Isle was beset by Daedra. The Crystal Tower was toppled by the daedra hordes. The Thalmor, once a minority voice, were given greater power and authority in order to deal with the crisis. They were successful and came to be seen as the saviors of Summerset Isle. In 4E 22, the Thalmor overthrew the ancient Altmeri monarchy, taking total control of the Summerset Isles and renaming them Alinor, after the capital city. Valenwood was forcibly brought under the Thalmor's control in 4E 29, establishing the third Aldmeri Dominion.

Black Marsh. After the Oblivion Crisis and the eruption of Red Mountain during the beginning of the Fourth Era, Black Marsh seceded from the Empire along with Elsweyr. Morrowind was substantially weakened when the Ministry of Truth became unstable and crashed into Vvardenfell, destroying much of the island. The Argonians of Black Marsh invaded, at first successfully pushing deep into the country, but then being driven off by the forces of House Redoran. In 4E 40, a floating, soul-fueled city known as Umbriel moved over the city of Lilmoth after being summoned through Black Marsh by the An-Xileel and a rogue Hist tree, destroying and killing all foreign entities and 'assimilated' Argonians.

Elsweyr. Following the Oblivion Crisis that ended the Third Era and ushered in the Fourth Era, the Third Empire's grasp of its provinces loosened as chaos enveloped Cyrodiil over the Imperial succession, and Elsweyr took the opportunity to secede. In 4E 115, not long after the Void Nights had wreaked havoc among the Khajiit, a coup backed by the Thalmor dissolved the Elsweyr Confederacy. In its place, the kingdoms of Anequina and Pellitine were reestablished and became client states of the third Aldmeri Dominion.

Events of the game's story:
4E 230. After a short period of peace Aldmeri Dominion started the Second War with the Empire. When the game starts, The Dominion practically invaded all of Empire, but a small amount of citizens put up a resistance. Talos worship is almost completely eradicated. The Emperor either died or fled. The main characters start in one of the resistance camps…

P.S. Please post all your suggestions regarding the story here - all ideas are welcome.