The possibilities for Elder Scrolls 6 are numerous and uncertain, but one of them is that elves will unseat humans and become the dominant race in Tamriel once again. It's very much a "what-if" at the moment, but it's certainly a possibility, and one that would show a fascinating reversal of the geo-politics of the world of Elder Scrolls. It's impossible to say for certain, but elves, Argonians, and Khajiit could topple man from his throne in the next game, and bring the history of the series full circle.
In the First Era of Tamriel's history, the continent was ruled by the Ayleids, or Wild Elves. Through a combination of Daedra worship, human uprisings, and good old-fashioned politics, they fell out of power, and the control of Tamriel eventually found itself in the hands of the Cyrodilic Empire. Elder Scrolls' lore involves the shift in power from elves to humans, but it hasn't been explored as much as it could have been. The Empire's influence has waned since the end of TES: Oblivion, and in Skyrim, it's revealed that after a long and bloody war, they were forced into the White-Gold Concordat, which further tipped the balance towards elvenkind.
If Elder Scrolls 6 chooses to continue with the momentum it generated with Skyrim's portrayal of the Thalmor, then players could very well explore a country dominated by mer instead of men. There's also the fact that in Skyrim, elves and other non-human races were persecuted and heavily discriminated against, so the next game could turn the tables and do the same to humans. If it chooses to go back to the past, then the Ayleids and Nedes could become the focal point of this dynamic. Why Elder Scrolls' Ayleid elves disappeared is still a mystery, so ES6 can show players an underexplored piece of Tamrielic history at the same time.
Elder Scrolls 6 Story - Will Skyrim's Thalmor Conquer Tamriel?
The Thalmor is a part of the Aldmeri Dominion, a union of the Wood Elves' Valenwood, the High Elves' Summerset Isles, and some portions of the Khajiits' Elsweyr. They're described as "elven supremacists" who believe that elves are superior to the other races of Tamriel, and seek to topple the Cyrodiil Empire and eradicate the worship of the Nordic hero-god, Talos. Skyrim saw them as secondary antagonists who heavily influence the region and its politics, and they're widely hated by fans of the series. Elder Scrolls 6 has the opportunity to make them the primary villains of the game, building on the groundwork that the series built in Skyrim.
If developers choose to capitalize on the Thalmor and their quest to conquer Tamriel, then TES6 can stop ignoring the world politics of the series at long last. Players could find themselves in a Cyrodiil or other region under their grip. What that would look like is impossible to predict, but given the Thalmor's well-earned reputation, it would likely be very good for elves and very bad for everyone else. The game could center itself around the persecution of humankind by elves, or perhaps the persecution of every other race by the Altmer. If so, then a rebellion focused on regaining freedom and driving the Thalmor out of whichever country the game is set in could be the main plot.
Bethesda has previously stated that Elder Scrolls 6 is supposed to last players for 10 years, which means that it will be just as big as, if not bigger than, Skyrim. TES6 could solve the series' main character problem by making the player an ordinary soldier instead of a fated hero, providing a conflict bigger in scale than the Skyrim Civil War. An uphill battle against an enemy with superior resources and manpower could be just the thing that the game needs to make it the biggest yet.
Elder Scrolls 6 Could Reverse Skyrim's Power Dynamics
In Skyrim, players see the native Nords discriminating against just about everyone who isn't a Nord, and especially so for non-human races like elves, Khajiit, and Argonians. Khajiit aren't even allowed within most cities, and if they pay attention in Windhelm, players will find a city marred by bigotry against the Dunmer, or Dark Elves. Even for other kinds of humans, the Nords have little tolerance or empathy. This may stem from the enslavement of Skyrim's Nedic people in the first era, but considering the fact that the game takes place in the fourth, it would seem that there's some deeper meaning to the Nords' hatred, and the Thalmor are likely suspects. Skyrim's diverse society faces racism in a way that few other Elder Scrolls games have, and it could be further considered in The Elder Scrolls 6.
If elves do become the rulers of Tamriel in Elder Scrolls 6, then players could see this kind of persecution completely reversed. Humans could become second-class citizens, or even worse, if the Thalmor take over the continent. Just like the Dunmer are segregated to one portion of Windhelm, and Khajiit find themselves drifters unwelcome almost everywhere, the game has the opportunity to show players a world where humans are under the thumb of elves. Depending on the setting, and the severity to which developers are willing to push these themes if elves do take power, it's even possible that the races of men will find themselves hunted down and driven from their native countries.
Will The Aylieds Show Up In Elder Scrolls 6?
Of course, it's also possible that elves will rule Tamriel in Elder Scrolls 6 even without the Thalmor, and Elder Scrolls' biggest lore mystery could be how. If the game chooses to go back to the past, then it could be set in the first era, during the rule of the Ayleids. If so, then a logical setting would be towards the end of their rule, when the Nedes rose up and toppled the Ayleid Empire. Players could become a key part of ending the rule of elves and ushering in the second era, which could also be a great main plot. Depending on how far back the game goes, it could also be a good way to give it its advertised 10-year life span, and showcase a portion of Elder Scrolls' history that's been vastly underserved and shrouded in mystery.
An Elder Scrolls game set during the Ayleids' rule in the first era could be even worse for humans than a Thalmor takeover. Before the Empire, Elder Scrolls' Tamriel was horrific, to say the least. The human Nedes were slaves under the control of the elves, who were Daedra worshippers, and apparently extremely brutal. Humans were used for hard labor, along with the practices of "flesh-sculpting" and "gut-gardening", both of which churn the stomach. It's uncertain what the fate of other races would be, but it's safe to say that it wouldn't be pretty. The Ayleids likely subjected humans, and perhaps even other elves, to atrocities that the Thalmor may recoil at the mere thought of. Elder Scrolls 6 has many possibilities if it chooses to explore a Tamriel ruled by elves, but this may be the most gruesome one.