Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-24098614-20150903224420/@comment-73.140.210.118-20150905140211

Who the true villain is in the Elder Scrolls universe is entirely up to perspective.

It could easily be argued that the Daedra are (more specifically, a handful of the Daedric Princes, as saying all Daedra have a common purpose is an extremely crass generalization), as they seek to either destroy or corrupt Mundus, and have either been or supported many characters that took antagonistic roles (Jagar Tharn, Hircine, Sotha Sil, Vivec, Almalexia, Mehrunes Dagon, Jyggalag, Umaril the Unfeathered, Lord Harkon, Miraak, and Morag Bal, and those are just some of the biggest ones).

The Thalmor could be argued to be, for reasons that have been stated in a number of ways earlier in this thread, but from the perspect of multiple elven groups, they are instead seeking to free the elves from their mortal prisons.

Lorkhan could be argued to be, as his power is at the heart of the conflict of both Daggerfall and Morrowind, and he is generally viewed as malign to the purposes of all but mankind, but without him, Nirn and Mundus would not exist.

The Dwemer could be, as their machinations also take an antagonistic role in both Daggerfall and Morrowind, and the echoes of their existence (the falmer and the animunculi) are nothing but trouble in Skyrim (to say nothing of the fact that we do not know the full effect of their disappearance, or if they will ever return with horrifying consequences).

From the unpopular, but arguably valid perspective of some daedra worshippers, the Divines are the antagonist, especially Akatosh, given that they prevent the Daedra from performing their righteous duties in molding Nirn and Mundus as a whole.

In Skyrim itself, Alduin and his dragons distinctly take the role of "main antagonistic group", as they are the enemy that the game's central quest is centered around the defeat of. But again, they could simply the manifestation of a natural cycle of destruction and rebirth.

The list goes on and on, and it all depends on one thing: perspective. Some groups or entities are more easily accused of villainy, but the fact of the matter is, we just don't know. However, what should be stressed is that NO race has been claimed to be truly EVIL. Such is simply racism.