The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Plot Summary

Although it is set after the previous Elder Scrolls games chronologically, the game is not a direct sequel to The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind or any other game.[13] Oblivion begins with the arrival of Emperor Uriel Septim VII (voiced by Patrick Stewart), accompanied by a trio of Blades bodyguards, at the Imperial City prison, seeking to flee from a group of assassins—later revealed to be members of the Mythic Dawn—through a secret underground exit in the city sewers. By chance, the exit is located in the cell occupied by the protagonist. The Emperor and his Blades leave via secret exit. The protagonist will then follow the party into the catacombs. At the end of the catacombs, the group is ambushed, and quickly overwhelmed by assassins, which results in the protagonist taking on the task of guarding the Emperor while the surviving bodyguards engage the enemy. While awaiting the result, Uriel entrusts the protagonist with the Amulet of Kings, a special amulet that can only be worn by those of the Septim bloodline. He orders the player to take it to a man known as Jauffre. Immediately afterwards, an assassin ambushes and kills the emperor before he is, in turn, defeated. The sole surviving guard, Baurus, questions the protagonist, and explains that Jauffre is the Grandmaster of the Blades, and can be found at Weynon Priory. The character then has to face sewers and some minor opponents before proceeding to the open world of Cyrodiil.

As the game progresses, it is revealed that the prolonged lack of an Emperor has broken an old covenant, allowing multiple gates to Oblivion to open, and a Daedric invasion of Tamriel is to begin as a result. The only way to close down the gates permanently is to find someone of the Septim bloodline to retake the throne and re-light the Dragonfires in the Imperial City. Fortunately, it is also revealed that there is indeed still an heir to the Septim throne: an illegitimate son named Martin (voiced by Sean Bean), who resides in the city of Kvatch. However, upon arriving at Kvatch, the protagonist is greeted by a fleeing refugee, who explains that the Daedra have attacked, destroying the city and killing many of its inhabitants. The leader of the surviving town guardsmen, Savlian Matius, says he saw Martin escape into the chapel along with a few others, but cannot get into the city, as the Oblivion Gate is in front of the main city gate. The protagonist has to venture into the Planes of Oblivion and close down the gate. After having closed the gate and assisting Savlian Matius in a counter-attack, the protagonist arrives at the Kvatch chapel and persuades Martin to join him/her to travel back to Weynon Priory.
 
The Oblivion Gate outside of Kvatch

Upon arriving, the player finds that Weynon Priory is being raided by the Mythic Dawn and the Amulet of Kings has been stolen. Recovering from the attack, Jauffre orders the protagonist to escort himself and Martin to Cloud Ruler Temple, the stronghold of the Blades in the Jerall Mountains, north of the city of Bruma. At Cloud Ruler Temple, Martin is recognized as the Emperor and is given command of the Blades, and the protagonist is sent off in search of the Amulet. After gathering information with Baurus, (the same Blade that was part of the Emperor's bodyguard) killing Mankar's son Raven, and pinpointing its location, the protagonist is tasked with infiltrating at the Shrine of Mehrunes Mythic Dawn, believing the Amulet to be held there. The Mythic Dawn's leader Mankar Camoran (voiced by Terence Stamp) escapes to his Paradise through a portal taking the Amulet of Kings with him. After fighting several cultists including Mankar's daughter Ruma, the player is able to escape the shrine and report back to Jauffre about the missing amulet. Martin deduces that the only way to recover the amulet is to follow Camoran, and create a portal to the paradise as well. A "collect-the-pieces" plot begins, as the player must recover three key items that are necessary to recreate the portal. Martin states that the three things are "The blood of a divine" (Tiber Septim's armor, found at the fort "Sancre Tor", guarded by necromancers and Four undead Blades warriors), the blood of a Daedra (any daedric artifact acquired from the Daedra Shrines throughout the world), and a Great Welkynd Stone (found at the Ayleid ruin "Miscarcand" on the road between the city of Skingrad and Kvatch, and guarded by a Lich). After collecting a Daedric artifact, you are needed to assist the Bruma guard in closing an Oblivion Gate, and have the option of reinforcing Bruma with guardsmen from the major cities. With their troops tied up with the gates on each of their doorsteps, the counts and countesses of each city will only send aid if the corresponding Oblivion Gate is closed first.

Having acquired all three items, Martin reveals a final item that needs to be used in order to create the portal, a Great Sigil Stone used in a Great Gate to the Planes of Oblivion, similar to the one that devastated Kvatch. Martin and Jauffre hatch a plan that involves allowing Bruma to be attacked by the Daedra so that a Great Gate (similar to the one that devastated Kvatch) can be opened. The protagonist then must venture into the gate and obtain the Great Sigil Stone. Arriving on the battlefield before Bruma, Martin gives a moving speech before charging into battle against the Daedra. Many men are lost, but a Great Gate is finally opened. The protagonist enters and recovers the stone.

Upon returning to Cloud Ruler Temple, a portal is created and the protagonist ventures through, arriving at Camoran's paradise. After fighting through Camoran's men and daedra, the protagonist confronts him in his throne room, and, along with his son Raven and daughter Ruma, slays him in battle. Upon his death, the protagonist takes the Amulet from Camoran's neck, and sees Paradise evaporate around him. The protagonist returns the Amulet to Martin, and the Blades travel to the Imperial City intending to re-light the Dragonfires and end the Daedric invasion. However, shortly upon meeting with Chancellor Ocato, the Daedra begin a desperate assault of their own and overrun the Imperial City. The protagonist, Martin, Ocato and several soldiers fight their way to the Temple of the One, in the Imperial City Temple District, to find that a 200-foot tall being is wreaking havoc in the city, revealed to be the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon himself. The protagonist and Martin fight their way into the Temple, where out of desperation, (seeing as lighting the Dragonfires are useless now) Martin shatters the Amulet of Kings to merge himself with the spirit of Akatosh, the Dragon-God of Time, becoming his Avatar. After an epic fight, he defeats Dagon in one final confrontation, then the Avatar turns to stone. The Amulet of Kings is destroyed, Martin disappears, the gates of Oblivion are shut forever, and the throne of the Empire again lies empty. A final monologue by Martin, describes this in an optimistic light, claiming that the future of Tamriel is now in the protagonist's hands, although no major privileges are bestowed apart from recognition. After the battle, Lord Chancellor Ocato of the Elder Council proclaims the protagonist Champion of Cyrodiil, and the player is given a set of Imperial Dragon Armor.