Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-31254830-20180210045821/@comment-76.78.134.200-20180319195113

I'm not sure where to cite this, but as I understand it, Talos used the Numidium more as a message of power than a weapon. The proud Altmer likely did not simply roll over for him, but it probably didn't take much destruction of Alinor to prove that Talos had divine wrath under his control, which prompted Summerset becoming part of the Empire. This is why Talos is argued by the Thalmor (and a lot of high elves at that) to not be a god, and just a man that enlisted god-like power. Lorkhan's heart is what powered the Numidium, and the Altmer consider Lorkhan to be a trickster god and their enemy, for not only making them mortal and no longer the Aldmer, but also powering the weapon that would conquer their land.