Without an Emperor sitting on the Ruby Throne, the Empire fell into disrepair. The constellation of the Serpent grew so large that it dominated the night sky. The Daedra spawned all over Tamriel in greater numbers than ever before. The border between the plane of Oblivion and Nirn was broken, and Molag Bal began his attempt to bring Tamriel into his realm of Coldharbour, in an event known as the Planemeld. As Dark Anchors opened up across Tamriel, the White-Gold Tower fell into the hands of Molag Bal and the Worm Cult, with Clivia Tharn missing and the Elder Council disbanding. His consort Clivia Tharn succeeded him as Empress regent, though was unknowingly manipulated by Mannimarco, whom became the true power controlling the Imperial City. In 2E 579, an arcane explosion in the Imperial City known as the Soulburst set off a mystical aftershock that swept across Nirn, resulting in Emperor Varen Aquilarios' disappearance. The province of Cyrodiil remains disputed, and is a constant battleground between the three alliances. The Ebonheart Pact, situated in the provinces of Skyrim, Morrowind, and Black Marsh.The Daggerfall Covenant, situated in the provinces of Hammerfell, High Rock, and Orsinium.The Aldmeri Dominion, situated in the provinces of the Summerset Isles, Valenwood, and Elsweyr.The Alliances are the three major factions of the Alliance War, also called the Three Banners War. For the joinable factions in Elder Scrolls Online, see Factions (Online). The Ouroboros depicting the alliance mascots in a chain of devouring one another. Statements requiring sources may have a or a message after them. Consult in-game books and reliable online databases for fact-gathering. Please appropriately reference any information in the article, as well as any new additions. This article contains contentious statements that require additional sources for verification, or it contains a list of sources without any in-line citations.

The elder scrolls online factions