This just occurred to me a short time ago - something that no one has discussed, but which calls out urgently for attention.

Remember when we all started the game, and just before the beheadings began in Helgen, Alduin came swooping in to demolish the town?

Do you all remember from WHERE Alduin came?


He

Came

From

The

SOUTH.




W H Y ? ? ? ?


No, it's not just coincidence. It can't be. All the dragon mounds are in Skyrim, but Alduin came from the direction of...............CYRODIIL.

The Thalmor didn't 'send' him - they're just as freaked out about the dragons returning as everyone else is.

This needs to be explored, in depth. For instance: I wonder if it's mere coincidence that the Imperial City now has a statue of Akatosh-as-Dragon in the center of town as a result of the conclusion of the Oblivion crisis, and Alduin swooped in from that direction into Skyrim.

Also: Alduin was thrown forward in time, creating a time rift on the top of the Throat of the World (you can see the spot during the main quest.) Why would he not reappear there, since he didn't move PHYSICALLY, but TEMPORALLY? Why did he instead materialize back in Nirn somewhere in the direction of Cyrodiil?


Comments? Observations? Speculations?

I look forward to everyone's contributions to this subject.

One of the most unique speculations I have heard of in a long time. A good point though. Came over the mountains, went north towards bleak falls barrow, then around and eastward. If you watch him fly off when you leave the tut dungeon. IF, IF by some strange chance, the statue in the IC(IF it's even still standing now) would be an interesting focal point. Remember there is tons of story, lore and other bits left out, whether intentional or not, who knows. But really, it's not a bad thesis.

Good catch!

It could just be the way that the developers set Helgen up. It made sense aesthetically for him to come from that direction.

However, I do hope that it is more than that. I'm not familiar with what has happened in Cyrodiil since the Oblivion Crisis, so I'll go brush up on my lore.
However, the avatar of Akatosh ended the Oblivion Crisis. Alduin is closely associated with Akatosh. Coincidence?

I believe Paarthurnax mentioned withnessing Alduins return at "The Time-wound" ...or do i remember that wrong?

I think he just swooped around from the Throat of the World a while back and learned from the dragon you fight at the Watchtower (who wasn't resurrected by the way) that political turmoil in Skyrim was sending souls to Sovngarde. When he told Alduin that the leader of one of the forces was about to be beheaded, Alduin made sure to stop it at once. My two cents.

Parthunaax makes it clear that Alduin returned at the time-wound.

alduin coming from the south was probably becuase he was flying west from the Throat of the world, and the winds carried him south, and when he saw Helgen, he flew over to it, thus appearing from the south.

yes i always believed this was the case