User blog comment:Zippertrain85/Dawnguard Follow up./@comment-134.71.143.182-20140324003836

I really don't get why you don't think it's possible that Harkon could have simply killed his entire kingdom, with only possibly his court to remain. (There are many ways to do this sans rebellion -- especially when magic is involved.)

No one is there to remember you if they're all dead. It would also explain the fact that they no longer really have any standing, and ended up roaming thereafter. They took the castle as their new residence, and roamed until some time before 1E 240 (when King Gellir whiped out the remaining dwarves)  when Serena was sealed (so as to not know of the Dwarven cities' demise). Indeed if anything the fact that he killed his entire kingdom actually explains his standing now and how he's changed ("royal" armor, the little court which he has, living in a castle off the coast of Solitude, dilapitated castle which was clearly let to become that way as Garen asks you if you'd like it repaired as soon as the MQ is over and it's repaired rather shortly thereafter).

The things such as that one guy's age sound more like plotholes (or likely a one-0 typo) from poor writing folllowed up by the voice actor just "going with it" instead of checking(something they have done before), as the whole DLC seems a bit rushed to begin with. Keep in mind this is Bethesda, who is still patching their game 3 years later...and then having other people come through and repatch (The unofficial skyrim patch) still even later to fix all the bugs that they leave behind.

Lastly Durnethiir, who was alive during the Merethic Era when dragons ruled the skies even, ended up spending so long in the Soul Cairn that his body "became accustomed to it." A fate that Valerica apparently hadn't contracted. This is likely an issue with mortality then, which is supported by the fact that it looks like his own flesh is rotting. He has mentioned spending eras in there, though admittedly that might be an exaggeration. Clearly though she's been in there long enough for a dragon's lifespan to expire.

I hope that IF they actually meant them to be from 2E though, that the court of Volkihar is somehow worked into ESO; it'd be a nice touch. Personally I think it fits better as being in the 2E, as it would fit the whole "corruption of the land" thing if we hear of a king who sacrificed his whole kingdom to Molag Bal.