Why is the Empire what it is right now? (Major spoilers)

ShinChuck

So, I'm not entirely understanding the lore. The Empire has always been somewhat the good guys as far as I remember between Daggerfall and Skyrim (I'm guessing Arena as well, once Tharn was deposed).

From what I'm reading, ESO takes place during a lull in the Empire's power. The Second Empire is gone, a couple hundred years in the past, and Talos is still 200 years from becoming Emperor. But the Empire isn't weak

Is this Molag Bal connection stuff new with ESO, at least with how explicit it is? It's almost a little jarring for the Imperials to suddenly be full-on big-bads working for one of the worst daedra out there, but I guess it makes some sense if the Tharn family is in charge at the moment. Is that about what's happening?

Blackhorne

If you want to understand what's happened to the Empire and why, just pay attention to the main quest story, especially what the Prophet tells you about the Five Companions.

theroyalestpythonnub18_ESO

Varen started his rebellion to kill the former emperor Leovic, because he legalized Daedra worship in the empire. Even after the soulburst, most Imperials aren't worshipping Daedra, or at least those outside of the Imperial city.

As far as we know, control of the empire now lies with Mannimarco due to his influence over the Elder Council, and the Empress regent Clivia Tharn. Abnur also states that Mannimarco has been executing dissenters as enemies of the state, which gives Imperial citizens little choice in the matter.

Redwyrm

Thats the times before all other TES games. Empire you know not even 'born' yet. Talos/Tiber Septim not even born yet.

Snowstrider

I am glad theres no empire,Got bored of that. Hope next TES game doesnt have an empire,Or at least not the empire as we know it.

Now the Aldmeri dominion rules tamriel....

Jimm_ay

uppity high elves...

yodased

There have been worse empires....

ShedsHisTail

theroyalestpythonnub18_ESO wrote: »

Varen started his rebellion to kill the former emperor Leovic, because he legalized Daedra worship in the empire. Even after the soulburst, most Imperials aren't worshipping Daedra, or at least those outside of the Imperial city.

As far as we know, control of the empire now lies with Mannimarco due to his influence over the Elder Council, and the Empress regent Clivia Tharn. Abnur also states that Mannimarco has been executing dissenters as enemies of the state, which gives Imperial citizens little choice in the matter.

This.
The Empire is essentially in tatters. It's still formally there, but few seem to care or abide by its laws; the controlling power is basically a pawn to the real power behind the throne. Hence the formation of the three major factions, each of which believe that they should control the Imperial City.

It actually draws a lot of parallels to the Three Kingdoms era of China. Empire drastically weakened by rebellion, figurehead Emperor installed, three kingdoms fighting for control of the Empire each under the guise of wanting to re-establish peace and unify the Empire.

Sihnfahl

ShedsHisTail wrote: »

It's still formally there

And is relying on agents to foment unrest in the provinces because the Imperial Army has their hands more or less full trying to control the daedra problem in Cyrodiil proper.

but few seem to care or abide by its laws

Well, with the Imperials tied up, they can't project law enforcement powers as well as they used to, which means the locals have to step in. And they have their own laws and policies...

Kind of like what's happened in various countries when the central government loses control and the outlying areas that weren't loyal to that central government took power...

Falmer

You also have to remember that the Empire before this time period was nothing more than Cyrodiil itself. The colovians and other factions that lived there. It wasn't the great empire that you are used to hearing about in past games.

It isn't until Talos conquers and unites the other 'countries' that the whole of Tamriel is considered the 'Empire'. That all happens after this game takes place.

ShinChuck

Gotcha, thanks a ton for the responses! I knew it wasn't the empire we knew, but the storyline between the Second Empire and Talos, until ESO, as far as I can tell had been pretty vague, so I wasn't sure if this Molag Bal stuff was a new revelation or what.

Makes some sense now. Previous emperor had daedra ties, Varen tried to stop them, Mannimarco stepped in to make a pact with Molag Bal, and Mannimarco holds sway over the council and the Empress Regent.

Snowstrider wrote: »

I am glad theres no empire,Got bored of that. Hope next TES game doesnt have an empire,Or at least not the empire as we know it.

Now the Aldmeri dominion rules tamriel....

I always kind of liked that the Empire in Elder Scrolls wasn't "generic faceless bad guy" like empires tend to be in games. I thought it was a neat change.

ShedsHisTail wrote: »

It actually draws a lot of parallels to the Three Kingdoms era of China. Empire drastically weakened by rebellion, figurehead Emperor installed, three kingdoms fighting for control of the Empire each under the guise of wanting to re-establish peace and unify the Empire.

How did I not this? Awesome point! So who's Wu, Wei and Shu? EP, AD, and DC?