Board Thread:Skyrim/@comment-107.215.5.68-20140325035046/@comment-81.234.241.10-20140329193516

Lore-wise, some of those factions don't make much sense even in the Second Era (ESO). It's very obviously the developers' way of shoe-horning in a "3 factions" gameplay for the Cyrodiil campaigns. The Aldmeri Dominion in the Fourth Era (TES V) doesn't include the Khajit, and the clearly supremacist and unpleasant Thalmor in TES V make no attempts at even pretending the Bosmer are their equals.

It would be a very strange stretch to have the Dunmer and Argonians join up in a revived Ebonheart Pact after the Argonian invasion that left several of Morrowind's cities in ruins. Nords and Dunmer did some bonding during the fugitive situation after the Red Year, and when Solstheim was given to Morrowind, but Argonians? Probably not.

The Daggerfall Covenant is less implausible as a Fourth Era alliance. However, I would expect a more complex and difficult diplomatic situation when the Aldmeri Dominion decides to go for world domination. There are some clear hints in Skyrim that the Dominion is an imminent threat to both Skyrim and the Empire, and that the peace is only temporary. I wouldn't be surprised if TES VI will be about the Thalmor forging war against the rest of Tamriel to reclaim their continent from the human invaders. High Elves who have lifespans of several centuries would still hold a grudge for events that are long forgotten by short-lived humans.

But TES VI may also be about something completely different.