Every legend starts somewhere and in The Elder Scrolls Online, it starts with you. Write your story into a vibrant chapter of Tamriel’s distant past that takes place nearly 1,000 years before the iconic TES V: Skyrim, and discover a world steeped in adventure and possibility.

The game is set in the Second Era, in 2E 583, during a period of time known as the Interregnum. It was a period of time known for its political instability. Daedric prince Molag Bal has taken advantage of this instability to try and pull all of Tamriel into his realm of Coldharbour. Bal is doing so by sending devices called "Dark Anchors" into Tamriel. The Fighters Guild have taken it upon themselves to remove them.

The Tharn family, current rulers of Cyrodiil through Empress Regent Clivia Tharn, has made a pact with the King of Worms, who has agreed to supplement the Imperial's forces by resurrecting their soldiers. Secretly, Mannimarco is conspiring with Molag Bal, the Daedric Prince of Corruption and Domination, to take over Mundus. Molag Bal is also harvesting the souls of mortals. The Hero is an adventurer whose soul has been taken, which allows them to constantly return to life.