Board Thread:Online Discussion/@comment-81.103.152.214-20140212171232/@comment-3524435-20140214221017

Well the Tribunal are going to have to play a part in the game. They wouldn't have released concept art for Almalexia otherwise. The great houses will likely be involved in the story somehow, but we currently have few details. I think I read that House Telvanni refused to be a part of the Ebonheart Pact. As for joining a house, I doubt it. If it's possible, I suspect it will be like joining House Telvanni in the Dragonborn DLC. In other words we'll be told that we're a part of a great house, but there won't be a questline like in Morrowind.