The ongoing story of the Elder Scrolls franchise will be continued with the upcoming release of The Elder Scrolls 6, which could serve as a continuation of the events introduced in Skyrim. This would open the door for iconic characters from Skyrim to make a return in the next game of the series. There are many strong contenders for who should make an appearance in TES6.

It isn't uncommon for certain characters to make multiple appearances throughout the Elder Scrolls games. Daedric Princes such as Skyrim's Sheogorath often serve as returning characters and can be found across multiple games in the series. Other characters are referenced even if they don't make direct appearances, such as Oblivion's Martin Septim.

Related: Skyrim: Dark Brotherhood or Thieves Guild, Which Is Best?

While the events of each Elder Scrolls game don't always directly lead into the story of subsequent entries, each one plays a role in the continual lore of the franchise. Events from Morrowind and Oblivion are recounted in books featured in Skyrim, for example, and players can encounter dialogue referencing events from previous entries in the series.

Skyrim Characters To Add To TES6: Ulfric Or Tullius

Skyrim Characters That Should Return In Elder Scrolls 6 Ulfric Tullius

The civil war questline in Skyrim is one of the main focal points of the game, and the state of the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion seem to be setting up the events of The Elder Scrolls 6. In Skyrim, players are able to choose to side with either the Stormcloaks or the Imperials, and can lead their chosen side to victory by completing either questline. TES6 will likely address Skyrim's civil war, and could potentially even provide players with answers regarding the canonical series of events. Because of this, either Ulfric Stormcloak or General Tullius could make an appearance in the Elder Scrolls 6 depending on the outcome of the conflict.

Skyrim Characters To Add To TES6: Paarthurnax

Skyrim Characters That Should Return In Elder Scrolls 6 Paarthurnax

As one of the more prominent NPCs in the main questline of Skyrim, Paarthurnax is a fan-favorite character due to his interactions with the Dragonborn and his contrast to other dragons featured in the game. Although the Blades prompt the player to kill Paarthurnax at the end of the game, most players spare him and several popular Skyrim mods even exist just to definitively turn down this request. Interactions with dragons in the Elder Scrolls series are rare - with the exception of fighting them - and this makes Paarthurnax a unique and interesting NPC that many fans would be eager to see return in The Elder Scrolls 6.

Skyrim Characters To Add To TES6: The Dragonborn

Skyrim Characters That Should Return In Elder Scrolls 6 Dragonborn

Player characters within the Elder Scrolls series are usually blank slate protagonists, meaning that players can customize them however they see fit. The name, race, and even gender of the hero are all left up to fans to decide. However, player characters from previous games still have a role within the universe of the franchise. The Hero of Kvatch from Oblivion is strongly implied to be the new Sheogorath introduced in Skyrim following the events of the Shivering Isles DLC. The Nerevarine, Morrowind's hero character, has a strong presence in the overarching lore of the series. While they might not make a direct visual appearance, there's a possibility that the Dragonborn could be referenced in TES6 or even have a hand in the game's events.

As more information is released regarding The Elder Scrolls 6, players can expect to learn more about where and when the game will be set. These factors could hint toward returning characters from Skyrim that players can expect to encounter.

Next: Skyrim: Unique Character Builds To Refresh The Game