The villains ofThe Elder Scrollsuniverse are just as numerous as they are devious. From scheming necromancers to ancient gods, there’s no shortage of enemies of mortal existence on Nirn. However,The Elder Scrolls 6could take a different approach to villainy not seen in over two decades.
The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind’s villain, Dagoth Ur, is widely regarded to be one of the best in the franchise. His perplexing personality and peerless power made him among the most threatening villains found inThe Elder Scrollsuniverse.The Elder Scrolls 6should follow up on this idea, creating another iconic villain for the franchise.
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The History and Future of The Elder Scrolls’ Villains
Dagoth Ur, formerly known as Voryn Dagoth, was a born as a chimer in the 1st Era. After the events ofThe Battle of Red Mountain against the Dwemer, Dagoth Ur would perish alongside Indoril Nerevar, who would reincarnate as the player character ofMorrowind. Unlike Nerevar, Dagoth Ur bathed in the power of Lorkhan’s heart, becoming a godlike entity. However, due to this power, he would also be driven insane and would strive for vengeance against the Tribunal. This would end when the player character ofMorrowind, the Nerevarine, would find and kill him by destroying the enchantments on Lorkhan’s heart.
One of the primary reasons Dagoth Ur remains widely loved as a villain is because of his relationship with the player character, the Nerevarine. As the player learns more about Dagoth Ur, Indoril Nerevar, and the Tribunal, they can often feel somewhat empathetic to Dagoth Ur. He speaks of betrayal, and the Tribunal that the player helps is the same group that killed the original Nerevar, all for the sake of power. Dagoth Ur even offers the Nerevarine a place at his side, taking back what was once theirs. Due to the past and present, Dagoth Ur genuinely felt like a friend who had gone too far and had to stopped, even though the player understood his motivations. He makes an excellent example thatThe Elder Scrolls' other big badsshould follow.
This is opposed to a villain likeThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim’s Alduin, who despite carrying many deep meanings and motifs, lacks in his interactions with the player. ThroughoutMorrowind, Dagoth Ur constantly communicates to the player through unsettling dreams. When they finally meet, they can have a long and memorable conversation. On the other hand, Alduin’s appearances are as short as they are sparse, often not lasting long enough to make an impression on the player. While the substance for a great villain is there, the player does not interact with Alduin in enough meaningful ways to create real tension between him and The Last Dragonborn.
FutureElder Scrollsgames could do this by establishing a personal connection between the player character and main villain. This helps the player understand the main villain’s motivations, allowing the player form their own opinion about them. It also helps the player feel personally invested in either stopping the villain or – if the game allows it – siding with the villain. Their interactions should also leave lasting impressions that the player will remember even after they finish the game, touching on the weight of their relationship. These memorable moments are what make many ofThe Elder Scrolls’villainsfun to interact with and do battle against.
Though essentially nothing is known aboutwhat will feature inThe Elder Scrolls 6, hopefully its villains can measure up to ones of the past. The nuanced nature ofThe Elder Scrolls' universe leaves a lot of potential to be had in its villains.
The Elder Scrolls 6is currently in development.
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