Why are three factions at war in The Elder Scrolls Online? Because MMORPG's often use large-scale conflict to add a sense of importance to their repetitive quests. Oh no, but that's too simple. No, it's the sort of issue only a 'loremaster' can explain, and ZeniMax has deployed its lead loremaster Lawrence Schick to explain the troubles in a video developer diary.

You see, the Aldmeri Dominion, Daggerfall Covenant, and Ebonheart Pact alliances control lands around the edges of the continent Tamriel, but no one controls Cyrodil in the middle, the setting of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Cyrodil's quite a nice place, so the factions would like to seize it.

Throw in lots of people with fantasy names and cults and necromancers and away we go!

Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios, The Elder Scrolls online hits PC and Mac later this year.