User blog:Lord Dithay/The Strange Triangle

I noticed an interesting set of similarities in Skyrim that I call "The Strange Triangle". Several Elder Scrolls games have Easter eggs or other references to famous fantasy or sci-fi books, films or series. The Star Trek saga is also a common reference point, with a number of quests in Oblivion named in a way very similar to episode titles (e.g., "Where Silence Has Lease" vs. "Where Spirits Have Lease"). So let's include Star Trek into the triangle! Altmer in the Elder Scrolls are quite different from the High Elves of J. R. R. Tolkien. They are tall, thin and have pointy ears – but that is roughly where the similarities end. Rather than singing and enjoying their long lives, they scheme and plot in Tamriel, using diplomacy and secret agents to further their cause. This, together with their similar appearance, clearly resembles the Romulans of Star Trek. Hence, you may detect a link between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Romulan Empire. Moreover, the Thalmor organisation is strikingly similar to the Tal Shiar, even in its name. On the other hand, the Romulan Empire of Star Trek is based on the Ancient Roman Empire. Even the name comes from Romulus, the founder of Rome. But also their military ranks (e.g., centurion), haircut and other things are closely related. By now you probably guessed the third edge of the triangle. Yes, it is the Imperial Legion, fighting a civil war against the Stormcloaks. Although formally the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion are (uneasy) allies, many people on both sides of the civil war recognise that they are just tools serving the interests of the Thalmor. So, what remains from the Reman Empire (of Cyrodil), which is, of course, based on the Roman Empire, was fighting the Aldmeri Dominion, which is based on the Romulan Empire (and thus, based too on the Roman Empire). Therefore, the Roman Empire is the centre of my Triangle, with the three edges being the Imperials, the Thalmor and the Romulans, bringing together forces from three different realities.