Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-7629073-20130402085627/@comment-6143109-20130415153959

Skyrim sort of ties all the previous games together. Alduin's wall shows how the events of the past games were prophesised by the Akaviri, each ultimately being an omen of the end times, when Alduin would return to devour the world.

It is postulated that Alduin is Akatosh, although Alduin himself says he is the "First born of Akatosh".

We could speculate that the heroes of each game are different incarnations of the same being, born purely to fullfil the next part of the prophesy. Or we can take it that each hero is an individual, chosen by the nine for the same purpose.

The fact that all of the heroes begin as unnamed prisoners doesn't really add credibility to either argument. On the one hand, it is a consistent, recurring theme in the games which hints at a link of some kind... on the other hand, it is nothing more than a tradition of the Elder Scrolls games.

Being a prisoner at the beginning, in effect creates a blank canvas for the player... You have an undefined criminal past and you are cut loose. This is what gives you the freedom of choice... do you become good, or evil. In effect it is a rebirth. To give a detailed back story would undermine the idea of free choice. For example, if the character's back story was that of a sefless hero, who was nothing but good. It would be a major jolt for him/her to suddenly decide to become a member of the Dark Brotherhood.