rylasasin Posted November 30, 2013 Posted November 30, 2013 (I don't know if this belongs here. I posted it in general since it covers ALL tes games/lore and not just Skyrim/Oblivion/Morrowind) This is a thread for people who know their lore, and a thread for people who want to have a go at some storytelling. Okay so here's the deal: you have to start with one single point anywhere TES history (refer to The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Page's "History" section for a good starting point), and change it. Some good examples: "No Dwemer Disappearance", "No Night of Tears", "No Tiber Septim" "No Oblivion Crisis" "The Red Year never happened" "No Stormcloak Rebellion" "No Aldmeri Dominion" etc. You only get one starting point/premiss though. From there anything is possible. You must then explain what happens as a result of this, in a linear fashion. You must explain in detail the events that this change in TES history would cause, starting from your chosen point to the present time of 4E 200 (beyond, if you want to). Don't just tell us what the current day would be like, tell us what happens after this change and then progress to the present day. Don't fall short unless there is really nothing more of interest to tell by the time 4E 200 comes around. Remember, the idea here is to tell a story based on a single change in TES History. Make it good. Here is an example of an "Alternate History" if you want it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chgvPDtv_mU Have fun.
cornbreadtm Posted November 30, 2013 Posted November 30, 2013 First Era: Akatosh doesn't grant the gift of the dragonblood to mortals. Without a dragonborn, Nords practice the voice in greater number there power threated the Dwemer and the chimer do to there ability to cripple Dwemer steam constructs from great distance. Causing the Dwemer and chimer to officially unity to wipe them out. Half of Skyrim is subjugated when the snow elves or falmer are entered into the Chimer/Dwemer alliance. The Dwemer didn't agree with the inclusion of the Falmer but the Chimer introduce them into there society as true house Indoril as a show of trust. Skyrim along with a large portion of todays Hammerfell and high rock are held by the Chimer/Dwemer alliance. The Dwemer lay claim to the remaining Nords do to the Chimer having gotten the Falmer. The Chimer agree there for ending the war in Skyrim. Ra gada arrive in tamriel and are welcomed by the Dwemer. A council of Dwemer and Chimer is called and it is decided that they will give them a portion of Hammerfell as home as long as they deal with the wild forsworn that dot both high rock and hammerfell. The Ra Gada agree. Akaviri take Cyrodiil. Starting the Second Era. Second Era: The Dwemer, Chimer and Falmer; now calling themselves the tribunal prepare for war against Akaviri. Numidium finished and released against the Akaviri invaders. Fueled by the Heart of Lorkan. 3/4ths of Akaviri's forces are destroy but Numidium is destroyed as well. The Heart of Lorkan falls into Akaviri hands. The Dwemer explain the formerly hidden power of the Heart to the rest of the Tribunal. They rally their efforts to reclaim the Heart. The Akaviri invaders disappear while the Tribunal was attacking them. The Heart of Lorkan was recovered without resistance. A Nord called Hjalti Early-Beard begins a rebellion against the Dwemer in Blackreach; the current home of the Nords. The Nord rebellion is ended when they reach land and are greeted the son they have never seen before blinding them to the Falmer blades that fell on there chests. The Tribunal attempt to subjugate Cyrodiil having saved it from the Akaviri. Ayleid refuse declaring the Tribunal invaders and soon after declares War. The Aldmer Dominion is created and joins the Ayleid in fighting the Tribunal. The war is ended when Moamer attack the Summerset ilse and Dragons are reported in Skyrim. Both sides pull out their forces to confront the new threats. The Dragons Mirmulnir, Viinturuth, and Nahagliiv under the command of Sahloknir begin attacking Falmer settlements across Skyrim. Viinturuth speaking the native tongue tells a temple of Falmer to surrender they refuse, and kill him but not after he razes the temple. The Dwemer refuse to help preferring the remain under ground. The Chimer lend there magics to the Falmer and wipe out the 3 remaining dragons and bury them according to Nordic tradition do to legends of dragons rising from the dead. The Moamer are pushed out of the Summerset ilses. As Ayleid forces left the Summerset Ilses they met the Bosmer of Vallenwood and signed a peace treaty with them. The Ayleid's allies and the Tribunal seemed prepared to go back to war but it never came. This cold war ended the second era. Third Era: The Third era wascalled the era of peace. Dwemer, Ayleid, Chimer, Falmer, Aldmer and Bosmer began trading with one another peacefully. The mages guild is constructed in Cyrodiil. Ra Gada, Khajiit, and Argonians were often seen roaming and selling rare wares on elven streets. 400 years of relative peace where Heroes and legends were born. The Consolation of Mer is born which officiates the peace between the elven races. Nords remained slaves to the Dwemer, Imperials slaves of the Ayleid and Bretons went to anyone with a bag of Durmacs. Mehrunes Dagon enters nirn and subjugates it. Starting the Forth Era. Forth Era: Deadric princes all fight over dominance of nirn on its soil. The Summerset Ilse sinks in to the sea from the power of Mehrunes Dagon who was facing Boethiah on the Ilse when the Aldmer Dominion rebelled and where wiped out for there effort. The crystal towers peak is all that remains. Cyrodiilic Ayleid Empire officially surrenders to the Draedra. The white gold tower being the location of some kind of odd civil war created by Sheogorath against his own people and deadra. No other daedra seem to be willing to confront Sheogorath. Azura gives Chimer of her temple a vision of great power. And the knowlege of how to stop the Deadra but on the condition that they do it in her name. The Tribunal Tap into Lorkan's heart; the greatest wizard of the Chimer, best swords man of the Falmer, and a King of the Dwemer are all given the power of a God. They call themselves Azura's Sight. Malacath's physical Body is destroyed by the Azura's Sight. Meridia is banished back to oblivion by Molag Bal. Large groups of Slaves in Skyrim become infected with vampirism. Dwemer use steam centurions to hold them off but to no avail. Dwemer begin to retreat from underground but are barred by the Falmer who don't wish for their vampirism to spread. Clavicus Vile spreads an altered version of Molag Bal's vampirism to the bretons of High rock to compete with the lycanthropes of hammerfell that were created by Hiricine. Vaermina offers the Dwemer a cure for vampirism if they could construct here a mantella that could absorb and hold dreams. They agree in desperation and begin construction. The Void Nights begin of what's know as Oblivion's darkness do to the moons being missing from the sky. It never ends. Alduin enters Nirn and the deadra leave back to each of their own plans of oblivion. The people of nirn rejoice and name this the 5th era "for the Deadra have finally retreated!" 200 years of suffer have ended. Fifth Era: Alduin Devours souls unabetted. Azura's Sight challenges Alduin on the throat of the world. Their immortal souls end his hunger for 20 years. Alduin returns.
rylasasin Posted December 6, 2013 Author Posted December 6, 2013 Okay I guess I'll just start us out then. *EHHEM* What if: Ulfric Died at Markarth?! (aka "No Stormcloak Rebellion") AKA "Maven Creates Capitalism" 4E 176: The Empire and the son of the deposed Jarl promise Ulfric Stormcloak free worship of Talos in exchange for retaking The Reach. Ulfric forms a Nord militia and crushes the Reachmen at Markarth with the aid of the thu'um. However, during the battle one lucky forsworn manages to stab Ulfric from behind. Ulfric manages to kill the assassin in return with his voice, but the damage is already done. Ulfric Stormcloak falls to the ground, bleeding out and dying while the battle rages around him - The nords still manage to win, albeit with far greater casualties. Only a few from Ulfric's original Militia survives. His body is taken back to a mournful and bitter Windhelm. Meanwhile the nords are allowed their free worship, but they keep it a secret. The Thalmor never find out until some time later. - With no one to take power in Windhelm, Galmar Stone-Fist takes power. 4E 178: Bitter about Markarth, White-Gold concordat, a few Nords from Ulfric' original cause attempt to rally the nordic people into a rebellion, among these being Windhelm's Jarl, Galmar Stone-Fist. However, it's quickly found that Galmar is simply not cut out to lead a rebellion, leading to leadership infighting. Because of this, the "Stone-Fist Rebellion" fractures into sectarian infighting within only a month of its formation, and the empire crushes these "micro-rebellions" with minimal effort within only a few months. Galmar goes missing, and Free-Winter takes power. - Siddgeir is given power in Falkreath, due to his uncle's suspected (but never proven) involvement in this ill-fated "Stone-Fist rebellion". Skald is likewise replaced for the same reason. Leila however never got along with them and is left alone. Same story with Winterhold's Jarl, but for the reason that they consider Winterhold to be too isolated and too much of a backwater for anyone to really care about anyway. 4E: 181: After being missing for 3 years, Galmar turns up again, in Solitude. Desperate and angry, he attempts a suicide assassination on High King Torygg. Despite slaughtering his way through several of his bodyguards, Galmar winds up dead before he even reaches High King Torygg, spelling the end of the "Stone-Fist Rebellion" once and for all. -Maven Black Briar continues to gain power in Riften, right under the Jarl's nose. However, with no war to make a quick buck on, she instead concentrates on maximizing her business's efficiency. One idea she implements the "production line", allowing relatively unskilled workers to produce large quantities of a product. -With Torygg still alive, the Festival of the Burning of King Olaf proceeds as normal, much to the chagrin of Balgruuf and Whiterun in general. Things are pretty quiet from then on out for the next decade... untill... 4E: 198: A Nord philosopher (who died in the civil war in the "normal timeline") completes his work: "On the Wealth of Tamriel". A book very very similar to "The Wealth of Nations" in our world, that calls for a revolution. But of a different kind... Of course, he is arrested and executed for sedition, and all the books are destroyed. However, one book manages to survive, and land in the hands of a very influential individual... 4E 200: Maven Black-Briar gets ahold of the book. At first she dismisses the book as mere idealistic nonsense (the idea of "the people" electing a leader? Pure nonsense) and nothing more than a curious collector's item, but then begins to see a profitable opportunity from this. She uses her influence in Riften (as well as taking advantage of Leila's utter incompetence) to create a "Democratic" Capitalist Revolution, using both the still-lingering Talos embitterment and the resentment of the Dark Elves and Argonians as fuel. As well as the general embitterment of the people over the general incompetence of their leaders. She creates a riot in Riften, which successfully overthrows Leila Lawgiver as Jarl. Leila is banished (but not killed) for her incompetence, and an emergency election puts Maven firmly in charge of Riften with a majority (though some say it was a rigged, sham election. Though that seems to come mostly from her sole opponent in the election: Mjoll the Lioness. Strangely Maven keeps Mjoll alive and leaves her alone. Possibly because no one believes her.) As her first act however, she has the Thieves Guild, which she no longer has any use for, publicly executed. This is done both to cover up her involvement with the guild, and to win favor with the people. The Dark Brotherhood however she keeps around, and they become the primary "spec ops" agents for this new rebellion. Secondly, she expands this "production line" idea into other areas as well (such as weapon and armor development), even hiring dwarven scholars to plan machines capable of automating some processes. The latter has limited success, but along with the more successful former it's enough to start a small industrial revolution. At least in Riften. She then uses the Dark Elves and Argonians (who are pissed at Free-Winter for promising them change and not delivering on it) to stir up trouble in Windhelm, while at the same exact time using the ban on Talos to stir up even more. Both factions eventually oust imperial-backed Free Winter and have him thrown in jail. An emergency election has a Dark Elf elected as Governor of Windhelm, with an argonian as vice. Under Maven's advice, they unban Talos worship in Windhelm, to ease the embittered nords. Similar acts of unrest and sabotage explode across Skyrim, but only a few actually result in the overthrow of the Jarls. Namely in Winterhold (where she enlists the aid of the College) and Falkreath. The Pale remains under Imperial Control however. On top of that, Maven enlists the forsworn to cause havoc for Markarth, under the promise of power if they help her (as well as getting a leg-up on the Silver Bloods, her primary rivals.) They cause great disruptions within the Rift, much like in the normal timeline. However, under Maven's instruction they aren't as bloodthirsty as they are in the normal timeline, as they tend to leave unaffiliated civilians alone. With 4 holds under her banner, Maven Black Brair christens her little rebellion as the "Skyrim Republic". At first, Maven Black Brair plans to use this "Skyrim Republic" revolution as a mere opportunistic ruse for profit. To make a lot of money and grab power before running off to Morrowind and leaving Skyrim with the tab. However, she changes her mind when she sees that she might actually win this. After all, who wouldn't want to be the next great historic figure in history? 4E 201: Using her agents in the Dark Brotherhood, and under the guidance of Mephala, Maven has Balgruuf killed via fratricide. This finally gets the Empire's attention, and they instill Balgruuf's brother as Jarl. However, just like Galmar before him, he is a warrior and not a Jarl. He has Heimskr handed over to the Thalmor, and diverts most of the city guard to fight the "Skyrim Republic." Actions that only serve to piss off the local populice, just like Maven intended. Also, Maven expands her ideals outside of Skyrim: supporting the An-Xileel empire and petitioning for their support (much like how the fledging american revolution petitioned the French for support). The An-Xileel empire accepts and even sends troops. Who in turn start gaining this "Republic" idea in their heads.... Before long the Civil War is in full swing just as it would have been if Ulfric had been leading it. However, this is no longer a simple war about dead gods or High Kings. But rather a war about Ideologies: The idea of the Feudalistic Empire vs the Capitalistic Republic. Tullius is assigned to put down this rebellion, but he does not have as much success as he normally does thanks to the much larger scope of this rebellion. Instead he only manages to catch Maven's double in the ambush rather than Maven herself. Still, the player is caught in the middle of it, Alduin burns down helgen etc etc. So what happens next after this point? Well, who knows. I might tell, I might not. Depends on how many people are actually interested on this idea.
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