Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-121.216.87.214-20130131113203/@comment-5737364-20130208011504

It's not impossible. In fact, it could be likely.

You have three races, the Khajiit, Altmer, and Bosmer. They are not exactly the best of bedfellows to begin with.

It's not just Empire vs Dominion, there are a lot more factors in play here.

-Dominion-

Elsewyr only joined because the moons disappeared for two years in 4E 98, also known as the Void Nights, which caused chaos because their entire civilization depended on the interpreting the waxing and waning of the moons. The Altmer brought these moons back using previously unknown Dawn Magicks, and gained the loyalty of Elsweyr. Despite this change they are still the subject of abuse and racism across Tamriel, and do not get much power in the new government. Possibilty for revolt? I think so. I hope so. They deserve more than this.

Valenwood is also not wholly devoted to the cause to the Thalmor, either. In 4E 29 Bosmeri that sided with the Thalmor overthrew the Imperial government in Valenwood. The Imperial Legion, aided by the Empire's Bosmer allies, fought back against the coup by the Thalmor sympathizers, and then the armies of the Dominion, and was unsuccesful, and Imperial and Bosmeri alike were driven out.

Sumurset Isles, or Alinor, is also divided. There is the "Beautiful", which was "originally a salon for artists with the reasonable philosophy that Summerset must let go of its past in order to move forward, the Beautiful became a revolutionary gang dedicated to the destruction of the greatest monuments of Altmer civilization.", and then the Psijic Order, which believes that the ways of the past is better than the corrupted ways of today. Surprisingly, the Sumurset Isles could be seen as the most divided of the three countries making up the Dominion.

-The Empire-

The empire is failing. No doubt about that. Skyrim is seceding. Morrowind is all but destroyed from the Red Mountain Crisis and the attacks made by Argonia. Hammerfell has been abandoned to fight the Thalmor alone. Argonia seceded long ago, during the Oblivon Crisis.

I am not sure about High Rock's role in all of this, as I have not heard of anything important coming from them. If anyone does know, please reply with corrections.

I might also note that the Empire is not legitimate, and is being ruled by the son of a Colovian Warlord, Mede II. The Imperial Capital was taken over during the Stormcrown Interregnum, and then the surrounding areas were conquered. And with the destruction of the Amulet of Kings during the Oblivion Crisis, the Mede Dynasty cannot be considered a true fourth empire.

-Independants-

Hammerfell fought the Thalmor forces to a standstill, and eventually repelled their forces in 4E 180. The political infighting was ended during the war, and though the current times are tough, with all of southern Hammerfell decimated, the future looks bright. Well, at least not abysmal. I should note that Hammerfell is the only nation to actually win against the Dominion, and the fact that they did it alone is extrememly impressing. One could also note that this might mean the Dominion itself is beginning to run out of power if it can't destroy an single sovereign nation.

Argonia is taking over Morrowind, and only now, after many years from the Red Mountain Crisis, the Dunmer moving back to their homeland.

Skyrim may or may not have seceded, we will not know until TES:VI. If they did, that is an large blow to the Empire.

This is not including the Dragonborn, and whatever role he/she may play, the Nerevarine (Who may be still alive, being an almost invincible, potentially god-killing being, wielding objects and relics of power untold.), the other continents of Nirn, or the intervention of the gods, Aedra, or Daedra. So it's really anyone's game yet.

I admit I am no loremaster, and I would welcome any corrections that you may offer, as long as they are properly sourced.