Prologue

In the years following the Oblivion Crisis and the death of the Septims, the Empire was in chaos. In the Summerset Isles, off the coast of Tamriel, a group of Altmer extremists gained control of the government of the Isles and created the Second Aldmeri Dominion. The first Dominion had been wiped out more than 700 years ago, long before the creation of the Septim Empire. The Thalmor had claimed that they were the ones responsible for ending the oblivion Crisis, although most within the Empire were aware that it was in fact Martin Septim's ultimate sacrifice that had ended the Crisis. Non-the-less, the Thalmor used this lie to gain control of the Isles and soon Valenwood and Elsywer. The Thalmor were responsible for the assassination of Chancellor Ocato, which further threw the Empire into chaos. Warlords fought over control of the dying Empire, with no clear victor in sight.

When the infighting was done, Titus Mede stood as the new Emperor. While he was a strong military leader, Titus I prove to be a less than effective emperor. His son, Attrebus, soon ascended the throne in his place. He appointed Alaundo Oakleaf,a Bosmer from Valenwood, as Chancellor of the Elder Council, an office which had remained empty after the death of Chancellor Ocato. For the next 100 years, the Empire declined further and further while the Aldmeri Dominion grew stronger as the years went by.

In 4E 168, Titus Mede II ascended the throne of a weakened empire. Three years later, an ambassador from the Dominion demanded the surrender of the Empire to the Dominion. Titus II refused the orders of the ambassador and prepared the Empire for war. He was too late, however, as armies from the Dominion simultaneously attacked Cyrodiil and Hammerfell. For three years, the Empire struggled to keep the Empire away from the Imperial City but their forces were slowly being pushed back further and further into their own territory.

In 4E 174, the Dominion was finally within striking range of the Imperial City in the heart of Cyrodiil. Titus II and Chancellor Oakleaf discussed many plans in order to defend the city but realized that the city would fall regardless of what they did. They concocted the plan that would allow the Dominion to think that they had won while the forces under the command of the Emperor would be able to regroup with the army of Nords coming down from Skyrim.