The status of the Dwemer is possibly the greatest mystery in the Elder Scrolls franchise. Many have pondered both in-game and in real life on how such a highly advanced civilization could disappear so suddenly and without a trace. Featuring them in The Elder Scrolls 6 could be the way to go for a unique story.
The mystery of their disappearance has perplexed fans for over two decades, with the concept featuring most prominently within The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. Since then, clues have been incredibly sparse, as there has not been a mainline release of an Elder Scrolls game for over a decade. With The Elder Scrolls 6 on the horizon, it could be time for them to return to the spotlight.
Who Were The Dwemer?
The Dwemer from The Elder Scrolls were a highly advanced to a strange degree. Even thousands of years later, in-game scholars have little to know idea how Dwemer automatons still function with such degree of accuracy and precision. This is likely due to their tonal architecture ability, which allowed them to manipulate reality through sound. Their ability to deny reality would ultimately go to their heads, making them believe that not only were they above worshipping gods, but that they could far surpass the gods with their minds alone. This would ultimately lead to their disappearance at the Battle of Red Mountain, never to be seen again.
Fans haven't learned much more than the tales presented in The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. While it is largely unknown what happened to them, many believe that the Dwemer could still be out there somewhere. For example, The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind establishes that Dwemer ghosts still exist, along with Yagrum Bagarn, the last living Dwemer. This would mean that they were not retroactively erased, and could possibly still exist in some form. This is supported by the fact that Falion, a mage found in The Elders Scrolls 5: Skyrim, claims to have traveled through various realms and met with the Dwemer. This would mean that Falion is either incredibly old, or that the Dwemer are still out there.
How The Dwemer Could Return to Elder Scrolls
As Skyrim has shown, there are still many ways that the Dwemer can be included within a location without focusing only on their disappearance. For example, Skyrim focused on fleshing out Dwemer history within the specific region, such as their interactions with the Snow Elves and their ability to forge a rare, divine material called aetherium. If The Elder Scrolls 6 takes place in a region like Hammerfell, there could be a previously untapped plethora of Elder Scrolls secrets for Bethesda to expand on. After all, the region was once home to the Dwemer, who called it Volenfell.
However, bringing them back or divulging information about their disappearance might not be the best course of action. It is possible that the disappearance of the Dwemer will go on unsolved. The Elder Scrolls franchise is known for being more interpretive than explanatory. Bethesda's aim is to create a freeform universe where the players decides much about the world. Bringing the Dwemer back or explaining their disappearance outright would be antithetical to The Elder Scrolls' form of storytelling.
While fans may have plenty of questions about the Dwemer, answers will not come any time soon. Elder Scrolls 6 is still quite a ways away and very few things are known about it. Whether or not the Dwemer are further explored is up to Bethesda, but The Elder Scrolls 6 could really use some more spotlight on their unique history and culture.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development.