The Elder Scrolls 6 has officially been revealed to be titled Sentinel, and it will be set in Hammerfell, a province of Tamriel previously explored in The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall and The Elder Scrolls Online. Sentinel itself is described as a significant maritime city and kingdom, considered the founding settlement of the Redguards, with its culture and architecture drawing inspiration from North Africa and the Middle East, akin to classical Baghdad.
The city's lore is deeply intertwined with naval traditions, a theme that has been rumored to be a component in The Elder Scrolls 6. The Iliac Bay, where Sentinel is located, is dotted with numerous islands, further emphasizing its seafaring heritage. This focus on boats and the sea is central to the Redguard people's identity, much like magic is to Bretons or accounting to Imperials.
Beyond its maritime focus, the lore of Sentinel hints at the potential inclusion of colossal mechs, specifically referencing the Numidium. This ancient Dwarven construct, powered by the heart of a god, has played a pivotal role in past Elder Scrolls conflicts. Its reassembly and use could serve as a primary narrative driver, especially in the context of ongoing tensions with the Aldmeri Dominion, who view Numidium as a symbol of their historical subjugation by the Empire.
Bethesda's previous titles have featured large-scale destructive elements, from Mehrunes Dagon in Oblivion to the dragons in Skyrim. The inclusion of a rebuilt Numidium, or similar kaiju-like entities, would not be unprecedented for the studio. The concept of giant robots is further supported by the lore surrounding Numidium's original construction and its devastating use by Tiber Septim against the Aldmeri. The very act of reassembling pieces of Numidium scattered across Hammerfell and High Rock following the "Warp in the West" event presents a classic RPG motivation.
The title "Sentinel" and its associated prophecy, which speaks of "sands of time scattered by fate," could allude to the Alik'r Desert, a time-warp, or the undoing of past victories. This might refer to the consolidation of territories after Daggerfall into the current kingdoms of the Iliac Bay, or perhaps the precarious peace between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion following the White Gold Concordat, which led to Hammerfell's secession from the Empire.
The narrative could involve the player in liberating regions of Hammerfell occupied by the Aldmeri Dominion or in constructing a weapon like Numidium to end the conflict. The origins of the Elder Scrolls themselves, artifacts of divine prophecy and creation, are also rumored to be a central theme. These scrolls are cared for by Moth Priests and are said to be fragments of the universe's creation, possibly linked to Lorkhan, a god whose heart was needed to power Numidium.
The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel appears poised to connect a vast tapestry of lore, potentially culminating in the reassembly of Numidium and its use in a war against the Aldmeri Dominion. The game might explore the very origins of the Elder Scrolls and the divine entities involved in their creation, possibly leading players to locations like the Adamantine Tower where Lorkhan is said to have died.