Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-71.63.95.4-20160710073049/@comment-98.157.39.4-20160721160442

No, they would've all been deceased at the time. the Dragon Cult was at its highest during the First Era, and though we can't be sure of Aren's actual age, the expedition wouldn't have taken place then. (even though there are Dunmer over 4000 years old, it's not implied anywhere that Aren could possibly be one of them. even the most powerful, Neloth Telvanni, has to take potions to keep his body strong.) What's strange is that they fought their way through back then, but when the Dragonborn comes along, there's still boatloads of draugr. Imho, it implies that there were even more draugr swarming the place than when we see it in-game, considering Aren made it through the entire dungeon. Really, we're just getting the leftovers.

Plus, the Nords there aren't near present-day Nords; they're closer to their Atmoran ancestors, with increased height and strength. (for reference, Nords are descended from a race of giants from the North, in a land where everything, even time, is frozen. which is why their descendants are all stacked af.) One of their rituals would be for the Dragon Priest to be sealed inside the tomb, along with thousands of their devotees, to await the return of their master, Alduin.