I was just realizing that maybe the reason that there are no Volkihar vampires in Skyrim (although they are mentioned in the lore) is that they were driven out. By whom? Movarth Piquine. He is featured in the very book the Volkihar are mentioned in,http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Immortal_Blood. Movarth was a Fighter's Guild trainer who became a vampire hunter, mentored unknowingly by a Cyrodiil vampire. The vampires in Skyrim are literally identical to the vampires in Oblivion, so they must be the same type. This Cyrodiil vampire turned Movarth into a Cyrodiil vampire by biting him. *SKYRIM SPOILERS* In a quest in Skyrim, you are tasked to defeat Movarth Piquine and his clan of vampies in order to save Morthal. Since Movarth had so much experience in vampire hunting, he was probably able to drive the Volkihar out of Skyrim, and install the Cyrodiil vampires as the dominant vampire clan of Skyrim. Maybe the Volkihar will return in Dawnguard or another future DLC?

Or maybe is was a design oversight due to time constraints?

You know, you might be on to something.

This theory has been done to death(no pun). And not to toot my own horn, but I remember posting a thread about this before Skyrim came out speculating the Cyrodiilic vampires were in the game, maybe. And one recently.
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1336967-there-is-no-way-the-vampires-in-skyrim-are-the-volkihar-how-in-the-hell/

Interesting theory. I was kind of disappointed in the fact that Volkihar vampires were in the game.

I really couldn't care if Bethesda intended it like this or not, I'm making it canon in my playthroughs to help with my roleplaying.

Btw, effff Ashur!

Same here. Never will my vamp characters be Volkihar.

Ashur pwns! He made the show.

You do know there are Volkihar Vampires in the game, right? I find them all the time.. "Volkihar Vampires" and "Master Vampires" are like the toughest Vampires you can find.

The problem is that it contradicts lore. It's like Bethesda just added the Cyrodiilic vampires and slapped the name "Volkihar".

+1


I am beginning to wonder if they're not going to make the Snow Elf Prince into a vampire?

I like OP's explanation and it made sense...except that in the book Movarth was a master of Hand-to-hand and in Skyrim he uses magic and even weapons so i guess the design oversight seems mre appropriate