I hate to be a whiner, but what the hell happened to all of the good story writers?

Bethesda has never exacty had them. They've had fantasic lore writers, but story (as in player centered narrative) is not their strong suit. I thought it might've changed a bit, but it hasn't.

You mean Kirkbride? He's not on Bethesda's payroll anymore. He wrote a few books for Oblivion, and apparently he still has something to say regarding the lore, but that's all since Morrowind.

He's the guy who almost single-handedly laid down the entire lore, btw.

Oh well. At least the Lore from Daggerfall/Morrowind remains a great foundation, despite those 'tarded retcons.

Actually, the Dragonborn MQ storyline is the best of Skyrim so far. It has a much more convoluted plot.

Well according to HM, Miraak intended to use enslaving Solstheim as an excuse to lure Dovahkiin into travelling to Apocrypha to try and stop him (Miraak). Miraak also appeared to be super strong so Dovahkiin would train hard and become the peak of Dragonborn as Miraak was, all to make Dovahkiin's soul equal to his. Only with the full strength of another Dragonborn's soul could Miraak escape from Apocrypha. HM assists you in becoming the peak of Dragonborn so you can both flush the traitor, and according to him, Miraak had thoughts of this betrayal all this long.

Miraak on the other hand, believes that HM betrayed him by bringing his replacement, Dovahkiin (you), to Apocrypha. So according to Miraak, he never considered betraying HM until he saw that HM was assisting you in his downfall.

Personally, I believe Miraak's side of the story or the truth could be a mixture of both.

Interesting. So it's all a tragic misunderstanding? What about the temple building?

Although I haven't played, I'm going to assume Miraak is cool. So that's two cool characters HM has dispensed of (Septimus is awesome). When do you come next? He has no longterm plans for his "champions", it seems.

Besides that, it mostly annoys me that it sounds like you're another observer/cameraman who gets pulled into other people's crap, instead of you being a real agent of the story. Bethesda is too environment-centric with their storytelling sometimes (rather than player centric). If they were a friend DM conducting an RPG story like this, I might throw my drink in their face.

edit: I'll try to hold off from sounding like I really know anything. It's more like I'm criticizing their formula, not the actual content here, if that makes sense.

Yeah, a storyline like this should have been a lot more personal. Good or not, this sounds like it's only an extended daedric quest. Miraak could have been a Ulysses-like character, a man who criticises the choices you have made (stuff like Imperials vs Stormcloaks, Blades vs Paarth), who calls you out on your bs and stuff like that.

And yet he doesn't. I was so, so looking forward to a fleshed out baddie. Apart from stealing my dragon souls, he doesn't seem evil / isn't evil enough to bother me. Heck, I'd rather join in on his antics and traipse through Tamriel together!

pff since I am a mora really devoted fan (mora is in 2nd place bal is in 1st) I don't mind all the stuff mora is doing if he gives me more power I am a happy camper and if I can go between worlds as I please thats even better.

Well, at least he has a motive. He isn't doing it for the evulz. And it's justified that you have no other option but to kill him, since by the sound of it he firmly believes that you are here to take his place as HM's [censored]. Still feels like a major "[censored] you" from Beth. I've heard the dungeons the MQ leads you through are at least good, and there's a lot of good lore and nice side quests. What about the follower you get? Better or worse than Serana? The characters in general?

i think miraak is telling the truth. after all HM did try to make you his champion back in skyrim during the lexicon quest. it would then make sense for miraak to send his cultists to kill you

miraak's dialogue during the final battle also seems to suggest that he is telling the truth

According to HM, those cultists sent to 'assassinate' Dovahkiin was Miraak's attempt to say to his fellow Dragonborn, "Come at me, bro".

However, before the final battle, Miraak tells Dovahkiin that he will escape Apocrypha so his fate will finally be his own, which makes you suspect that HM had planned Miraak's fate all along. If that's true then HM is perhaps the most evil Daedric Prince. HM's betrayal wouldn't be surprising given what he did to Septimus. Most Daedric Princes leave their champions be so long as they're faithful, however, HM does as he pleases. I really wonder what he really has planned for Dovahkiin in the future.

Its because mora acts like this is the reason why I like him so much. From what I have seen from mora he throws shines (books of power etc) to those who stand by themselves and gain power for themselves without any outside help and from the looks of it if he finds you weak or you become less capable (example he finds a better person) he will throw you to the curb HARD.

Man he seems more mean than molag bal going by the events from his skyrim quest and dragonborn.

(You better watch out bal mora looks like he is about to grab my number 1 spot of favourite deadra.)

Technically you aren't hearing it, your reading it.