The setting of The Elder Scrolls 6 is all but confirmed in the minds of many fans. With the location of any installment to the franchise being so important for its experience, it is clear to see why the next title's setting has caused debate.
Many believe that the setting of The Elder Scrolls 6 will be the province of Hammerfell. This has led to a scouring of past and present TES content to search for potential clues or nods that may confirm this. With this in mind, one memorable element of Skyrim may have been a way for Bethesda to make fans familiar with some of the likely lore and experiences of The Elder Scrolls 6.
The Elder Scrolls 6 and Hammerfell
The overarching theory behind The Elder Scrolls 6's Hammerfell rumors stem from the title's announcement video. In the video, the kind of landscape featured matches quite well to the province, with the massive size of Hammerfell matching the likely scale of TES 6.
Hammerfell has not been explored in detail for some time within the franchise, making it an even better candidate for a TES 6 portrayal. Hammerfell is typified by its bustling cities and its proud Redguard inhabitants. While the Redguard are most associated with Hammerfell, the province was originally the ancestral home of the Dwemer. There is a significant amount of mystery surrounding Hammerfell in this way, which is ripe for exploration within its own dedicated game.
To compound the likelihood of TES 6 being set in Hammerfell, the province shares a border with Skyrim. This would crucially allow TES 6 to make reference to the massively popular Skyrim while maintaining its own identity. With this in mind, some fans have been combing through Skyrim to see any possible pre-existing references to Hammerfell, and one aspect in particular fits the bill.
Skyrim's Volendrung and The Elder Scrolls 6
One of the most exciting elements of The Elder Scrolls gameplay sees players complete dangerous quests to receive highly sought-after artifacts. These artifacts usually come in the form of ancient weapons, which offer some of the best combat in the series.
Keen players of Skyrim will be familiar with the weapon Volendrung, which can be attained by completing the quest "The Cursed Tribe." A two-handed hammer, Volendrung is a seriously powerful weapon that owes its origins to the aforementioned Dwemer. The Dwemer are renowned for their highly advanced technology, with their craftsmanship being evident in Volednrung's appearance and might.
Volendrung is one of the most important Dwemer artifacts, being of extreme cultural importance. With the Dwemer originally living in Morrowind, it is said that a chieftain threw Volendrung with the purpose of settling his clan wherever the hammer landed. It landed in Hammerfell, giving the province its name and leading to mass Dwemer migration. The exact spot of its landing even gave birth to the Hammerfell city of Volenfell, further typifying the weapon's importance.
The lore behind Skyrim's Volendrung and its associated quest gives a telling picture of the Dwemer's roots. This could ultimately be seen as an early nod by Bethesda to get fans familiar with the next installment's provincial setting, years before its release. With how important Volendrung is to Hammerfell, it is likely that the weapon will be explored in detail within The Elder Scrolls 6, creating another tangible link between the upcoming title and Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development.