Summary
TheElder Scrollsseries set the standard for open world RPG games, but it wasn’t designed around choices making influences on the narrative. However, there are some choices that players have to make that decide the fate of factions or even the world and history of Tamriel.
Each installment offers a large number of quests and characters to speak with, and sometimes, these branch intopaths where impactful decisions must be made. When these moments present themselves to the player, they provide a sense of agency over the narrative that can leave a lasting mark on one’s experience.
This choice is a commitment to a lifestyle, and it’s only offered in theKnights of the Nineexpansion forThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. To even begin becoming part of the Nine Divines faction, one must make a pilgrimage to the nine shrines that are scattered across the map. Then, they gain access to chapels in each of the main cities, where plenty of useful items, magic, and quests appear.
However, any armor gained through the Nine Divines will be confiscated if players gain any Infamy points. Being a part of the Nine Divines means full commitment to their values. That said, players can still choose to absolve themselves of their sins by making the pilgrimage again.
“A Daedra’s Best Friend” is an emotionally impactful quest in which the Dragonborn must assistBarbas, a lost talking houndwho wants to return to his master. It’s later revealed that he is the hound of Clavicus Vile, one of the seventeen Daedric Princes representing power, trickery, wishes, serenity, and bargains. Barbas warns the Dragonborn not to make any deals with Clavicus Vile.
When the Dragonborn finds the shrine of Clavicus Vile, the prince tasks them with retrieving the Rueful Axe. Upon returning with said weapon, however, Vile demands that the player make a sinister choice. They can either keep and use the axe to kill Barbas, or they can leave the axe with Clavicus Vile, sparing Barbas. This choice may seem small when compared to the other major events that unfold in Tamriel, but it certainly leaves a lasting impression.
InMorrowind, players can join as many guilds as they want, but when they get deeper into questlines, they’ll discover that some of the guilds are at odds with each other. The Fighters Guild is an Imperial guild that values discipline and strength. It’s drawn to a military contractor culture, which is the direct antithesis of the Thieves Guild. The Thieves Guild is a criminal organization that is somewhat tolerated by local authorities for its role as a crime regulator.
The quest “Remove the Heads of the Thieves Guild” is offered by Sjoring Hard-Heart when players achieve the rank of Guardian within the Fighters Guild, and choosing to complete it will make it impossible to join the Thieves Guild. This quest results in the slaughter of the Thieves Guild leaders and eventually the Master Thief, practicallyerasing the Thieves Guild from existence.
6Werewolves Or Vampires
Become A Vampire Lord Or Join The Hunters
In theDawnguardexpansion, a prophecy predicted by an Elder Scroll is unraveled in the form of a war between vampires and the Dawnguard,a faction made up of vampire hunters. With theDawnguardexpansion, it is possible to become a Vampire Lord as many times as one wants. The werewolf form, however, can only be reverted twice, so choosing between one or the other is still quite a hard decision.
Should players side with Lord Harkon of the Volkihar Clan, they will actuate the prophecy and become a Vampire Lord. If they pick the Dawnguard, they can utilize Lycanthropy and assist the faction in stopping the vampires.
5Paarthurnax’s Impending Doom
Help The Blades Or Spare Paarthurnax
Dragons reigned over Skyrim long ago, and they returned during the events ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. An ancient order of warriors known as the Blades rose from the dark in response to this. The Blades were once a great network of elites dedicated to defending the Imperials, and they were also responsible for many critical events in Tamriel. However, inSkyrim, there are only a few left, with Delphine, a character who has dedicated herself to slaying all dragons, serving as the leader.
A meditative dragon residing on the Throat of the World named Paarthurnax leads the Greybeards and peacefully awaits for the appearance of the Dragonborn. Delphine of the Blades knows that Paarthurnax was once a great threat to the world, and despite the dragon’s now peaceful nature, she still insists thatthe Dragonborn must kill him, forcing players to make a very impactful choice.
4For Neravar
Joining The Tribunal Temple Or Toppling It
The Tribunal inMorrowindis an organization that worships three living gods known as Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil, and there are Tribunal Temples scattered all around Vvardenfell. If players choose to formally join the Tribunal and climb its rank by completing quests, they will align themselves with the three living gods and implicitly support their legitimacy.
However, while ascending the ranks, players will find that the Tribunal murdered a legendary hero known as Nerevar and stole his divine power. Players can choose to undermine their authority and kill Vivec in response to this, which would strip him of his status as a living god. Taking him out of the world will give players the classic message: “With this character’s death, the thread of prophecy is severed… restore the weave of fate, or persist in the doomed world you have created.”
3To Kill An Empire
Become The Emperor’s Assassin Or Betray The Dark Brotherhood
The Dark Brotherhood inSkyrimeventually offers players “To Kill an Empire,” a brutal quest that involves the assassination of the Emperor. At this point, players have a choice tofully commit to the Dark Brotherhoodor accept the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest from Commander Maro in Dragon Bridge.
Killing all of the Dark Brotherhood will prevent the Emperor from dying, thus saving the Empire, but players will miss out on a number of rewards in the Dark Brotherhood questline as a result. Should players succeed in killing the Emperor, their bounty will be high, and they’ll find Imperials already raiding Sanctuary, where the Dark Brotherhood storyline takes a twisted turn.
2The Civil War
Choosing The Stormcloaks Or The Imperial Legion
One of the most pivotal questlines inSkyrimis the Civil War questline, which follows the ongoing struggle between the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks.Each faction offers a series of queststhat ultimately accumulate in a battle for the other side’s major city.
With the treat of Alduin on the rise, the Greybeards hold a peace council in the “Season Unending” quest, where the Dragonborn meets with the Imperials and the Stormcloaks to negotiate a truce, during which a series of choices must be made by the player that affect the influence of each faction. However, after Alduin is destroyed, the civil war resumes, and the Dragonborn can assist their chosen side in victory.
The events ofDaggerfallremain relatively medieval, featuring a series of interconnected, messy relationships between major powers and guilds. At the root of all the struggles is a massive green gem that serves as a huge source of magic power, and it’s used by Tiber for his conquests. This green gem is the Mantella, which was used to power the colossal golem, Brass God Numidium.
Throughout the story ofDaggerfall, it’s revealed that all the major powers in the Iliac Bay are racing to get ahold of the Mantella. To further complicate things, the player is eventually given the “Journey to Aetherius” quest, which tasks them with collecting the Mantella. When returned to the quest giver, Nulfaga, the winning animation scene sees the Numidium destroyed, and the immense power dissipates. However, players can choose to give the Mantella to five other people, resulting in the game ending in dramatically different ways.
