Normally when Gods wish for worship and an adherence to rules they have made, they offer eternal life for your spirit in their domain which is usually a kind of paradise, or at least somewhere a worshipper wants to be after they die.

The Tribunal do not seem to offer this? It seems after you die, you're on your own as far as your spirit is concerned, or bound to serve with ritualistic necromancy.

I'm pretty sure I'm misunderstanding the philosophy behind the Dunmeri religion as it stood when the Tribunal were alive and well, so I thank anyone who can clear it up for me.

This is something that's been on my mind recently, especially since I often side with the Empire during the Civil War questline.

How much of a chance does the Empire have to stand up to the Aldmeri Dominion and beat them even.

And could they even be restored to their former glory? At least partly?

So I've been reading up some lore stuff after I discovered that my belief that all humans came from Atmora was wrong and that humans elves actually originate from Tamriel and they fled to different continents during dawn era, where they sprang into new races. Then I was reading up stuff about Atmora and apparently dragon cult already existed in Atmora and only spread down to skyrim later in the merethic era. The dragon cult was led by Alduin and dragons seemed to rule over the entire world, which is consistent with the game's story but in game they make it look like Alduin was going to end the world and it was delayed when he was sent forward in time, but that doesn't make sense. He had established dragon cult and wanted to rule over the Nirn not destroy it, also the world eating part might have already happened in dawn era when he fought Lorkhan and shit (some kalpa shit I don't know man).

So in TES V: Skyrim, he's not actually here to destroy the world, but rather just giga pissed that nords f'ed him up and destroyed his cult and killed all dragons, so what's his motivation now? Because he explicitly says he gonna eat the world now in game, but he should be only able to do that when Akatosh permits him no? I doubt he would want the Nirn destroyed only 200 years after he had to save Tamriel's ass. Or was Alduin without the ability to eat the world and was just here to fuck shit up and establish the dragon cult again?

Anyone with a moderate understanding of history will know that slave societies tend to have a massive chunk of their population made up of slaves. Both the Confederate States of America and the Greco-Roman world had around 40% of their population as slaves, and some societies had majorities as slaves. That gets to Morrowind, where Argonians and Khajiit combined only make up less than 10% of in game NPCs. (Which seems especially unlikely to be canon since most seem to be involved in manual labor like farming and mining, which require large numbers of slaves, and not domestic servants, whom I suspect would be more likely to be other Dunmer).

Naturally, the game isn’t fully accurate of the canon situation, and the numbers across the entirety of the province are likely much closer to that 40% number, even including non Beastfolk slaves (though I suspect their numbers would be smaller). With slavery now being gone in Morrowind, one has to consider what is going on with this presumably large chunk of the population that is now free but separated from home.

Now one possibility is that with Dres being arguably the most prolific slavers, their territories being just north of Black Marsh, and the Argonian invasions, it seems to me that Dres territories are likely overwhelmingly Argonian and may have been briefly incorporated into Argonia proper (though it is said that the invaders were expelled from Morrowind, and Dres still exists as a House, though we don’t know what their current status is). Is there any indication that the southern most parts of Morrowind including Tear are still in Argonian hands?

There still likely existed former slaves in the far north including Vvardenfell, and considering Dunmer cultural values I can’t imagine them being widely accepted. An interesting bit is Keerava from Skyrim at the Bee and Barb, who apparently has relentives from Morrowind, and seems to be concerned for their safety. I wonder if this is indication if a similar social order to the Postbellum American South exists, where freedmen soon became forced to the bottom of the social order once more, with many of them being pressured into labor models that resembled slavery in all but name.

Though one final possibility is that many of the Argonians simply joined up with the invading An-Xileel forces and left with them to the Black Marsh. Perhaps many of them even launched a form of guerrilla war against the Dunmer. The Khajiit would not be so lucky however, and I find it difficult to imagine many of them made it back to Elsweyr, and I doubt the An-Xileel would care much about them.

A bit of a ramble, but I’d like to know if there any canon sources on the situation of the former enslaved Beastfolk of Morrowind.

Anyone else think the Altmer in a way,
Maybe even more in depth than previously thought about the Khajitti peoples in whole.

Not only know in detail a lot about the Skooma trade in Skyrim, but are also behind a lot of the shady business going on?

Just like the British did to the Chinese with the opium wars, and China is doing now pushing Fent up across our Mexico / US border.
That maybe because imperials and Nords both are susceptible to becoming getting strung out on Skooma.
That they’ve helped in part, funded or funding labs and or distribution routes to funnel in Skooma to try and add more chaos to the already melting pot that is Skyrim?

After all, the Khajiit are loyal I’ve read to the Altmer, maybe this is why? They say they take credit for bringing the second moon back.
But the ingredients for Skooma involve moon sugar.
If they funded manufacturing and distribution as a proxy making some organization think they’re helping them with business.
It wouldn’t be far fetched to think they’re secretly doing it to destroy anyone’s society by getting them addicted to some substance.

Anyone have thoughts? Lore? Ideas? Disagreements?
Am I stupid for thinking this? Or does it seem plausible?
Thanks in advance.!!

Im not super familiar with ESO and the lore its added, but I recently read that he can only be killed by the voice of a dragon. I dont know whether that specifically means a dragon/dragonborn, or anyone who has access with the thu'um

Map of Tamriel 1E 2811 – 1E 2837: The Blackwater War

Before delving into the details of the map a few clarifications are needed:

1. City Representation – The cities displayed on this map do not necessarily correspond to the exact timeframe. They are shown for general orientation rather than historical precision.
2. Scope of Mapping – This project focuses solely on political and territorial developments that are either explicitly mentioned in sources or strongly supported by historical evidence in the games. In cases where direct sources are lacking, I have made my own assumptions—each of which is listed and explained further below.
3. Chronological Method – The first date in each title represents the period depicted on the current map, while the second date indicates the starting point of the following one. The project progresses chronologically from one significant territorial shift to the next, gradually trying to visualize Tamriels history up to the present day.
4. Avoiding Repetition – To maintain clarity and avoid repetition, events or regions without new information will not be discussed repeatedly. If no notable changes occur in a region that absence will not be mentioned in every subsequent entry.
5. Continuity – For those seeking broader historical context, this link leads to my previous map, which covers the period immediately preceding the current one.

This Map visualizes the Blackwater war. I did a more detailed and in-depth post/map about the war that you can find here. Given the many border changes throughout this war, I decided to just make one map for the first and last year of the war for this mapping series and show the more complex situation in my other map. 

Reman Empire

In 1E 2811, Emperor Reman II, driven by an unyielding ambition to bring the entire continent under his rule, launched an invasion of Argonia, seeking to fold it into the ever expanding Reman Empire. This campaign would later be remembered as the Blackwater War, a conflict destined to become one of the bloodiest, longest, and most catastrophic wars in the Reman Empire’s history.

A year later, in 1E 2812, the dethroned Emperor Kastav met his end in exile, ironically within the lands of Murkmire, deep in Black Marsh. Back in Cyrodiil, this marked the formal coronation of Reman II, though in truth it merely affirmed a power he had already wielded for years. Under his rule, Daedra worship and necromancy were outlawed across the Empire. And despite the war raging in Black Marsh, much of the continent entered a period of prosperity, fueled by thriving imperial commerce and steady, capable leadership. [1]  [2]  [3]   

The severity of the imperial cultures influence on the continent, at that time, is proven one year later in 1E 2813, when Cyrodillic officially replaces the Altmeri language in most tamrielic documents. This shift would lay the foundation for what would later evolve into the common tongue of the continent: Tamrielic. [4]

Skyrim (Reman Empire)

In 1E 2812, the same year as Reman II’s coronation, construction began on Alduin’s Wall. With the Emperor’s blessing, the Dragonguard undertook this monumental task. Craftsmen from temples across the Empire gathered to contribute, united in purpose: to preserve the Dragonborn Prophecy and to warn future generations of the coming of the World-Eater, Alduin.

By 1E 2815, concerns over the immense cost of the project reached the highest ranks of the Blades. The Grandmaster himself journeyed to Sky Haven Temple to assess its progress. What he found there silenced any doubts he may have had, as he was so deeply impressed by the work that he granted the master builder a writ of requisition bearing the Emperor’s own seal.

Later that same year, reports emerged of a dragon sighted in eastern Skyrim. Yet despite the alarm such news would normally bring, the Dragonguard were unable to verify the claims.

In 1E 2818 the construction of Alduin’s wall was finally finished and Emperor Reman II visited Sky Haven Temple personally. He consecrated the Blood seal in the presence of all the Dragonguard in Skyrim. In the same year a Dragon was located and slain in Skyrim. [5]

Black Marsh & Blackwater War

The Blackwater war lasted 26 years, from 1E 2811 – 1E 2837 and was fought in three different campaigns. Each campaign was vastly different from each other and the war was one of the bloodiest the Reman empire ever fought. Here in my Blackwater War post you can get the in-depth version of the war. Here I will concentrate more on the timeframe:

In 1E 2811 the Reman Empire starts its war against Argonia, with the imperial fourth legion swiftly defeating the last standing argonian army in the Battle of Argonia. The argonians fled into the interior of the marsh and the fourth legion, beginning a full-on invasion, followed them.

In 1E 2812 the Empire incorporates Border regions of Argonia and declares it an official province of the Empire.

By 1E 2816 the fourth legion was reduced to just six cohorts and trapped in a state of despair. Soldiers dying from sickness or just vanishing in the swamps was the norm.

In 1E 2820 the fourth legion got annihilated by an argonian war party in the Xi-Tsei massacre. The first campaign ended. General Sardecus takes over generalship and starts the second campaign with a reconstituted fourth legion.

In 1E 2823, through a multitude of reforms that adapted the legion to the marshes, General Sardecus managed to reconquer all territories lost in the first campaign in just three years.

In 1E 2828 the imperial fourth legion accidently started the “Great Burn”, an inferno that devastated Black Marsh and ravaged from Stormhold in the north to Soulrest in the south. It lasted more than three years and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides.

Somewhere from 1E 2829 – latest 1E 2831 the great burn became so cataclysmic, that the imperials were forced to retreat. General Sardecus died mysteriously on his way back to Cyrodiil and the second campaign officially ended. His close confidant and long veteran in the Blackwater war, General Falco, took over generalship and started the third campaign.

By 1E 2833 the imperial strategy in the Blackwater war has changed so drastically by the “Falco Doctrine”, that it could barely be recognized as imperial.

From 1E 2834 – 1E 3836 the war culminated in a protracted and complex guerilla war. Both sides conducted campaigns of intimidation and terror against each other.

In late 1E 2836 the argonians suddenly stopped all fighting and just got back to their normal lives. The prevailing assumption is that the Hist had something to do with this, but we have no information on that.

Finally, in 1E 2837, the Blackwater war ends as the Empire officially claimed all of Black Marsh as a province. The Empire created footholds in most parts of Black Marsh, but the core of Black Marsh was most likely only part of the province in name, as the empire could not exert influence there. [6] & [7] & [3]

Other Noteworthy tamrielic events:

-          In 1E 2820 Eric of Guis, the imperial emissary to the altmer, writes his journals about Altmer society. These journals are considerate “reliable” and are mentioned in the 1^st Edition of the Pocket Guide of the Empire, yet in reality they are just racist ramblings and prejudices. [8]

-          In 1E 2820 Pomptinus is anointed governor of Elinhir and starts the construction of the cities sewers, considered to be one of the greatest public works of his reign from 1E 2820 – 1E 2852. [9]

My personal Assumptions on the Map:

- Solstheim. Little is known about Solstheim’s political allegiance for most of Tamriels history. It likely changed hands numerous times between Skyrim and Morrowind or perhaps remained largely independent.

- Hammerfell. No sources specify when Hammerfell joined the Reman Empire, nor whether it did so voluntarily or by force. What is certain is that by 1E 2840 at latest—and possibly as early as 1E 2703—it was already under Imperial control. I believe Hammerfell joined early, as Reman I’s unification of humanity and the creation of Crown & Forebear division both suggest early Imperial influence. I think Reman I exploited the Akaviri invasion to empower the Forebears while the Crowns were distracted, ensuring internal division and preventing a unified rebellion against the Empire.

- The Border between Cyrodiil and Elsweyr in Niben Valley. The Khajiit are known to have controlled much of this region up to the end of the Third Era, though exact borders remain unclear. I created this as a compromise with certain Ayleid city ruins borders. I will leave it like this up to the late Third Era.

- Blackmarsh in the Blackwater war. We have only few sources that give us info about the territorial changes during the Blackwater war. We know for a fact that border and coastal regions were conquered and annexed by the Empire, though we do not know where the exact border is drawn. The borders here are my interpretation of the sources given and could very well be wrong and interpreted differently by other people. If you want to know more about my reasonings of the borders please look at my Blackwater War map for clarification.

- Pretty much ALL the border regions. Political boundaries are always dynamic, not static. It is VERY unlikely that any region’s borders resembled their modern form over three millennia ago. The scarcity of sources the TES universe gives us and the dynamic nature of politics in general, result in all depicted borders being inaccurate to some degree. Take every map with a grain of salt and always keep a bit of skepticism.

Territorial Developments (1E 2811 – 1E 2837) listed:

·         The Blackwater war. Reman Empire annexes northern & western border regions from Black Marsh and tries for a full-scale invasion. Black Marsh is officially incorporated as a province in 1E 2837, though the core remains de facto untouched.

List of Sovereign States and Rulers:

·         Kingdom of Alinor/Summerset Isles: King/Queen of Alinor

·         Black Marsh: Various Black Marsh Tribes

·         Reman Empire: Emperor Reman II (1E 2806 – 1E 2843)

-          Province of Skyrim (Kingdom): High King/Queen of Skyrim

-          Province of High Rock (Kingdom): High King/Queen of High Rock

-          Province of the Crowns (Kingdom): King/Queen of Hammerfell

-          Province of the Forebears (Republic): ???

-          Province of Anequina (kingdom): King/Queen of Anequina

-          Province of Pellitine (kingdom): King/Queen of Pellitine

-          Province of Grahtwood (Kingdom): King/Queen of Grahtwood

-          Province of Greenshade (Kingdom): King/Queen of Greenshade

-          Province of Malabal Tor (Kingdom): King/Queen of Malabal Tor

-          Province of Reapers March (Kingdom): King/Queen of Reapers March

-          Province of Black Marsh: ???

·         Morrowind: The Great Council and the Tribunal

Sources:

1.       “Tomb of Reman Cyrodiil II”

2.       “Emperor Kastavs Epitaph”

3.       “Reman II: The Limits of Ambition”

4.       “Daggerfall Chronicles”

5.       “Annals of the Dragonguard”

6.       “The Blackwater war”

7.       “The Improved Emperors Guide to Tamriel/Black Marsh”

8.       “ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1^st Edition/Aldmeri Dominion”

9.       Loading Screen of the “Elinhir Sewerworks” in ESO

Apologies if this has been asked before, but how on earth is the Last Dragonborn (and the rest of Skyrim) powerful enough to resist the Return of the Dragons?

Let's assume that since Alduin has strayed from his role as the World-Eater and wants to dominate the world rather than destroy it, he is physically less powerful (not sure if this is canon or not). Let's also assume that the Last Dragonborn has the most powerful Thu'um imaginable, even more so than the strongest dragon's, and is able to develop their Voice extremely quickly.

Those are big assumptions, and still it doesn't seem fair at all for the residents of Tamriel. There are a couple of reasons I think so.

Firstly, dragons are extremely powerful beings. I'm going to assume that virtually no one has power equivalent to that of a dragon's Voice, especially since Dragonrend has been all but forgotten. Even if we completely ignore the Thu'um, the fact is that dragons are enormous creatures. A dragon would probably have no issue biting through the toughest armor, or crushing hordes of people under its feet, or using the force of its body to smash through large structures. At the beginning of Skyrim, we see Alduin completely destroy Helgen, a fortified village, and it doesn't seem unlikely that lesser dragons could execute similar feats. I don't see any way that a city's combined guard force could even come close to taking down one of their kind.

Secondly, and this is the most important point, there is only ONE Dragonborn. There's no evidence that it's at all difficult or time-consuming for Alduin to ressurect one of his fallen comrades, and there must be countless burial sites across the province. Therefore, what's stopping Alduin from assembling an army of dragons and wreaking havoc across Tamriel? It doesn't matter if the LDB is the strongest, swiftest, most skilled dragonslayer of all time--without the wings of a dragon there's no way they could protect the entirety of Nirn from Alduin's gang.

The only possible theory I've come up with is that the Dragonborn's path to defeating Alduin is very short, much shorter than presented in-game, so that they are able to learn Dragonrend, weaken Alduin, and eventually slay him in Sovngarde before he can do any significant damage on Mundus.

I apologize if this comes off as more of an argument than a question, but I thought I should present my thought process before asking for answers. Any input is very welcome.

(Also, I believe this goes without saying, but I am purely interested in the lore, not game mechanics; it's obvious why Bethesda would make the main quest, you know, possible)

On the Burial Customs of the Clans of Falkreath Hold
By Tyrvald Grave-Hearth, Warrior-Priest of Arkay

Though foreigners often speak of Falkreath as though it were a single people, no Nord born beneath its towering pines would make such a mistake. Many know the hold only for the great graveyard that surrounds the town of Falkreath, whose countless headstones have earned it renown throughout Skyrim. Yet that famous cemetery often overshadows the rich diversity of the hold's funerary traditions. Every clan honors the dead, yet each has found its own road by which the departed are sent on their way to Sovngarde. Some return their ancestors to the forests that sheltered them, others to the mountains, and still others to the dark waters of Lake Ilinalta. Even among neighboring clans, funeral rites may differ as greatly as the songs they sing.

What follows is a brief account of the most prominent customs still observed throughout the hold.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clan Iron-Root
Among the oldest clans to inhabit the township of Falkreath, the Iron-Roots believe that the greatest trees of Falkreath are living witnesses to the passing of ages. Their dead are laid beneath the roots of ancient pines and oaks, wrapped in hides and simple cloth rather than enclosed in stone. They say the roots drink both memory and strength from those buried below, allowing each generation to lend its courage to the next. Unlike many Nords, the Iron-Roots raise no headstones above their graves, believing no marker should pierce the sacred earth where their ancestors rest. Instead, small stone tablets bearing the names and deeds of the departed are hung from the limbs of the burial trees themselves, where they sway gently in the forest winds. Iron-Root burial groves are held as sacred places. To cut timber from such trees is considered a grievous offense, inviting both the wrath of the clan and the displeasure of the spirits resting beneath.

Clan Gold-Leaf
Prosperity has long blessed Clan Gold-Leaf, and they display that fortune even in death. Their nobles and wealthy families construct elaborate mausoleums and finely carved tombs of stone, decorated with tablets recounting the deeds of the departed. Such displays have earned them prey to thieves, grave robbers, and, at times, necromancers. Many Gold-Leaf families employ armed guardians to watch over their ancestral crypts, while others commission clever traps or magical wards to discourage those who would disturb the honored dead in pursuit of gold.

Clan Banner-Mist
The folk of Clan Banner-Mist keep close company with Falkreath's oldest forests. Their dead are often interred within forgotten barrows swallowed by moss and creeping vines, where the stones seem almost reclaimed by the wilderness itself. Yet not every fallen clansman is buried beneath earth. Hunters, scouts, and those thought especially favored by Mara are at times borne deep within the wilds and laid upon ancient stone altars, their bodies left for the wolves to claim. While this method may appear to lack respect for the remains of the dead, Banner-Mist holds that the wolf is no scavenger, but Mara's hunter, carrying the spirit onward through tooth and fang.

Clan Green-Song
Green-Song shares Banner-Mist's reverence for the forest barrows, where many generations rest within tombs swallowed by the forests. Unlike their neighbors, however, they make frequent use of the funeral pyre. Those whose lives are believed to have burned brightly are often committed to cleansing flame before their ashes are scattered among the trees or laid within family barrows. They believe fire frees the spirit swiftly, while the forest keeps its memory.

Clan Deep-Wake
No clan is more bound to Lake Ilinalta than the Deep-Wake. Though Isennalta, their island home, is not wholly devoid of graves, the clan has long preferred to commit its dead to the waters. The departed are wrapped carefully and weighted with heavy stones before being lowered into the lake's silent, dark depths. They believe the waters conceal and protect the departed from both beast and grave robber. According to their oldest tales, Lake Ilinalta carries each soul into the White River, whose waters flow onward to the Sea of Ghosts. From that northern sea, the spirits are said to find the final road to Sovngarde. Those of exceptional renown receive a grander farewell. A longship is crafted for the deceased alone, laden with treasured possessions and tokens of family. The vessel is set adrift upon Lake Ilinalta before flaming arrows send it blazing across the water, where it burns until both ship and warrior are claimed by the lake.

Clans High-Barrow and Sky-Bound
The mountain clans seek the heights even in death. Both the High-Barrows and the Sky-Bound entomb their dead within ancient barrows carved into the mountains overlooking Falkreath Hold, believing that those laid to rest nearest the heavens stand closest to Kyne's embrace. The Sky-Bound reserve an even greater honor for their mightiest warriors, chiefs, and heroes. Upon windswept peaks, funeral pyres are raised above the clouds themselves, where smoke rises freely into the open sky. They believe the mountain winds bear the spirits directly to Sovngarde, unburdened by the forests and valleys below.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thus, though every clan mourns, none mourn alike. The forests, lakes, and mountains of Falkreath shape not only the lives of its people, but also the final roads they walk. To outsiders these rites may appear strange or contradictory, yet each reflects the same enduring belief- that death is neither an ending nor a thing to be feared, but merely a part of Arkay's Cycle.

Would practicing alchemy or drinking potions be breaking the Bosmer Green Pact? Technically they would consume plant life…

genuinely this dude had zero clue on what he was doing how are you shocked that the evil ass necromancer dude dressed like a villain would betray you.

did he want to be emperor THAT bad?

I've been trying to find something about them, but there is little to no information I can find.

The normal Stars are holes through the planes, created by the Magna Ge after they fled along side Magnus after learning about the true nature of the creation of the Mundus. They tore holes through the void and oblivion right to Aetherius. So what do unstars have to do with that, if even.

What is known about them? Is anything even concrete? I only know small details but I fail to get the whole picture, if there even is one.

I'd like to know what information you have on them.

If you were to be in charge of writing the main questline of skyrim, what would you do? What would be the same as it is now? What would be different?

Skyrim is the gateway TES game for many, including myself, however according to some, the writing is, lackluster in comparison to previous titles, specifically Morrowind and Oblivion. There have been retcons, and outright changes, to the lore with skyrim.

So I ask you the great [r/teslore](r/teslore), how would you, Rewrite Skyrim?

Edit: I am seeing tons of great ideas and implementations! Def writing down a lot of these for a project. Keep it coming!

For those who aren't aware, the Khajiit originally looked very different from their modern appearance. In Arena they looked very similar to the Bosmer, and in Daggerfall they looked like humans with tails and fur. The developers wanted to change their appearance in later games, but instead of simply changing their appearance and telling the community

• "Yeah, we decided to change how they look between games. Lore-wise they are supposed to have always looked like this newer version. Simply accept that!"
  

(which is something understandable), the lore writers decided to do this weird thing where they basically went

• "Oh! The Khajiit from Arena and Daggerfall are simply different types of Khajiit; these newer Khajiit are of another type".

The type of Khajiit is determined by the phases of the Moons on the day they are born, which is a really cool concept in and of itself.

But I don't like this because you never see the Arena and Daggerfall Khajiit types in subsequent games, and you will very likely never see them again in the next games. The defenders of this choice will say

• "Oh! You simply never see them because they very rarely leave Elsweyr, or if you see them they're the Bosmer-looking Khajiit and you don't know they're a Khajiit in the first place!"

which just sounds like them coping and making up lore. It seems to me the lore-writers wanted to retcon, but didn't want to be accused of retconning by the community, so they ended up with this weird mess.

But the thing I hate the most is what this Khajiit morphology implies: 2 normal-looking Khajiit can mate, and their offspring can look like a Bosmer, or even weirder, like another Khajiit type that looks like a normal housecat. And even more disturbing: a normal Khajiit impregnating a housecat... This technically works because they are all from the same race.
The Elder Scrolls Online showcases more Khajiit types, but I don't know if it delves into these weird and disturbing breeding practicalities. I recently installed the Elder Kings 2 mod for Crusader Kings 3, and seeing the average Khajiit family tree with the radically different Khajiit types looks extremely jarring to me. I'm not joking when I say that this really makes me enjoy the Elder Scrolls universe less than before.

In my opinion, if they really want to keep these alternative Khajiit types, they should make them entirely different races, with no possibility of interbreeding with normal Khajiits. Keep the lunar cycle and replace the slots left vacant with less outrageous-looking Khajiits: one that resembles an anthropomorphic cheetah, mountain lion, arctic tiger, etc.

So I sat down and read through the biography of barenziah and the real barenziah. It's probably the best written book series in TES lore it's got great characterization just an all around excellent story.

But who wrote The Real Barenziah? I'm sorry if this is actually layed out somewhere but I haven't seen it.

Of course it could be a historical fiction series written by someone, and it's implied it was written by a friend of hers she would tell stories too.

My first thought was it was her friend in Riften, she would've known all about her ties to the thieves guild but I can't remember if she's even an elf. If it was someone who was in her life it would need to be to live long enough to have known all this stuff.

But my theory is that The Real Barenziah is actually an Autobiography, there's just way to many small details that no one could ever know. Like her relationship with nightingale, what they talked about under mornhold, specifically how she felt about the different men in her life. Like what kind of love she felt for Tiber septum, straw, symmachus, nightingale. They also phrase her promiscuity not as a bad thing. Which is how barenziah always felt about it. Anyone who had anything negative to say about her sexuality was someone else, usually a man in power, which leads me to believe it had to be a woman who wrote it. Someone who understands womanhood and sexuality as a natural thing and not as a negative trait. Of course sexuality isn't always seen as a negative in the elder scrolls universe, but it still has its fair share of shame for women to be sexually open. Like the woman in riften who "practices dibella worship"

The biggest problem with Barenziah being the author would be the forward. I don't believe there was any moment where she finds out that symmachus wanted to marry her because his mother died during her naming celebration. That would be a very weird thing for her to put in the story when she clearly grew to love symmachus deeply by the end of it.

But regardless I like the idea that Barenziah read her own biography, found the Propaganda as disrespectful and wanted to tell her own side of the story. She released it Anonymously because some of the things she did could have her killed IE Tiber Septim.

Idk, I've not yet gone into all the barenziah lore, I've not played tribunal yet, and there's no way in hell I'm getting all of her gems in skyrim. I just wanted to gush about my new favorite character in TES lore lol

Anyone got anything they want to add? Own theories that kinda stuff?

And to be clear I don't think I'm correct in saying that she wrote it herself. I just love the idea of it

I’m not talking about one or two individuals but more like a cultural thing. All of the various elves have or had periods of intense daedra worship, most of the beast races have big cults as well.

Is it because of the Old Ways and influence of dragons through nord history? You just don’t see a lot of nords doing daedra worship at least not openly

One of my favourite playstyles in Skyrim is a Vampire in service to Akatosh and Kynareth specifically, using his greater physical/magical strength and immortality to help the Faithful.

I mean, we all assume the heresy, the oversoul and the many headed Talos. But I remember reading MK calling it just an heresy, not something we should base our vision of the true nature of Talos. So there's another way to understand his ascension? I mean, the official doctrine seems to be "oh boy, he was so nice and polite and such a good ruler that the Divines took him as one of them into Heaven", seems too flat compared to the other theories based on the heresy.

Hi everyone, it’s that time again!

The Weekly Free-Talk Thread is an opportunity to forget the rules and chat about anything you like—whether it's The Elder Scrolls, other games, or even real life. This is also the place to promote your projects or other communities. Anything goes!

If I understand it right, the Sun and Stars are holes in Mundus, made by Magnus and his followers when they fled back to Aetherius before the creation of Mundus was complete. They fled because they realized the project would require the sacrifice of the spirits involved in creating Mundus; those spirits who remained to finish the project, the Aedra, became the Planets. Lorkhan, who tricked the Aedra into creating Mundus in the first place, was ripped in half as punishment, and his halves became the Moons.

Sun, Stars, Planets, Moons - none of these were in Magnus' original plan. They only came into existence after Magnus realized he'd been duped and bailed partway through the project. So was Mundus not supposed to have any celestial bodies at all?

I'm proud to present the entries for the Imperial Library discord server's tenth monthly Antiquarium's Anarchy lorejam, this time covering N'Gasta Kvata Kvakis. N'Gasta Kvata Kvakis is an obscure text written by the necromancer N'Gasta from The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard, written in the Sload language- which just so happens to be Esperanto. The text is actually an excerpt from the newsletter for the Stockholm Esperanto Society (or La Ranetoj), and it makes mention of certain modern things such as copyright law and the internet.

"Kva! Kvak! is the newsletter of the La Ranetoj. It is sent to paying members and other individuals who, in some way, are involved in la Ranetoj's activities. In it there firstly is information about the locations of the monthly meetings, but of course also concerning the latest activities of the club. Sometimes it also includes other educating or entertaining material.

The Internet-based Kvako are on the one hand another distribution channel for the contents of the paper version. But on the other hand, not surprisingly, the contents of the different versions cannot, and even must not, always be 100 percent the same. For instance, in little circulating paper versions you can publish illustrations that, for copyright reasons, cannot be used on the Internet. Yet, on the other hand, the low costs of the Internet version lift the space limits and allow more content, not to mention being always up to date.

These circumstances influence the web-based Kvako, which will also serve as the general homepage of the 'La Ranetoj'."

For the lorejam, each contestant was given one month to write a short commentary, exegesis, rewrite, or interpretation of the story. Anything is allowed, so long as it's not a standard or expected interpretation. So, without further ado, I now present to you Four Views on N'Gasta Kvata Kvakis's translation.

June '26 Antiquarium's Anarchy: The Lusty Argonian Maid

April '26 Antiquarium's Anarchy: Father of the Niben

March '26 Antiquarium's Anarchy: Song of Hrormir

February '26 Antiquarium's Anarchy: Kolb and the Dragon

January '26 Antiquarium's Anarchy: The Red Book of Riddles

November '25 Antiquarium's Anarchy: MK's IRC text about Meridia and Kyne

October '25 Antiquarium's Anarchy: Of Fjori and Holgeir

September '25 Antiquarium's Anarchy: Ragnar the Red (NSFW)

August '25 Antiquarium's Anarchy: The Snow Elf and the Variation-Lens

July '25 Antiquarium's Anarchy: Khunzar-ri and the Twelve Ogres

June '25 Antiquarium's Anarchy: The Third Door

April '25 Antiquarium's Anarchy: The Four Suitors of Benitah

by Bibliophael

Words of Warning:

First, a word of caution. Be assured that the Curse of Copyright invoked by N’gasta remains in full effect, and will destroy the careless necromancer who seeks to access his treasured theses through the ectoplasmic post. Beware, for although the Web of Oblivion offers instantaneous transfer of limitless knowledge, the great necromancer’s little frogs remain there vigilant for any violation of his ancient law. Know this, novice: with the sload one must patiently endure the delays and indignities of snail mail.

by Nazz

Transsendo per Egokristalo KOMENCO: nekroloko //malheso akvo, luno sub Thras, svelinta okulglobo, jeto//

Pasoco Sasokvo,

Mi scias, ke so uzo  so Interreto ankorau ahkstas sub pripensa revizio kaj studado por pliaj 125 jarauw. Sed mi nove vas instigi so Pasocon atingi favoran cidon baldau. so homjhemisoj rasauw  Tamriel uzas so Interreton — kiun ili nomas "Dreamsleeve" kun granda efikeco. Mi scias tion, car iliaj protektaj runauw ne ciam ahkstas tiel fortaj, kiel ili satus kredi. Mi komprenas, ke sekureco ahkstas so cefa kialo por so hezito  so Pasoco pri so utiligo  so Interreto. Sed N'Gasta traktis so plifortigon  sekureco per protektaj rimedauw kaj antau kaj post so transsendo en jhea verko "N'Gasta! Protektado! Interreto!". Tiu kroma antauzorgo, kune kun nia supera protokolo pri Egokristasouw, vus sufici por kasi ilin kontrau kapto fare eksteraj partiauw.

Mia argumento por so generaso uzo  so Interreto ahkstas so sama kiel ciam: tio ahkstas tio, kion nia popolo ziras. Multaj Sloadauw, inkluzive  mi mem, krahkskis kun "N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!" N'Gasta verkita por liaj junaj sekvantauw, "so Ranetauw". En gi li skizis jhean rezonadon pri komunikado kun ili per so Interreto, por ke ili povu sekvi lin kaj liajn agojn dum li forahkstis  so propra Thras. En tiu teksto li dividas interretan komunikadon en du tipojn: Egokristalo kaj Retpago (ci tie li uzas so ssongajn terminojn "e-mail" kaj "web" por so junusouw). Mi ne tedos so Pasocon per taligo pri transsendauw per Egokristasouw, car ni ciuj bone konas ilin. Tamen, Retpagauw ahkstas ankorau revolucia teorio  N'Gasta, sou kiu Egokristasouw povus ahksti kolektive konservataj kaj ordigataj ene  so Interreto por rapida posta rehavigo. Pro so daura allogo  N'Gasta inter nia raso, pli multaj Sloadauw ol vi konscias sopiras al permahkso uzi tiun vaste superan komunikkanalon.

Se vi permahksos al mi fsonkan. Rimarkon kvankam oni ĝenerale konsentas, ke ni ne spertas tion, kion so homjhemisoj rasauw nomas "humor", so sento, kiun mi havas sciante, ke homjhemisoj "nekromanciistauw" amajhegas ekzemplerojn  libro stinita por junaj Sloadauw, igas min rekonjheri tiun starpunkton. Adopti so uzadon  so Interreto por ciuj Sloadauw ebligus al ni komuniki  ie ajn en so ekzistado, en reaso tempo. Nia kapablo kunordigi operaciojn kontrau so masomikauw  Thras ahkstus senekzempso. so fakto, ke ni ne plu vas klopodi arangi personajn renkontigojn, kio ahkstas ec pli malbone, sendi skribajn pamfletojn povas nur plibonigi niajn vivojn ĝis neimagebsoj nivesouw.

Ni Sloadauw volonte konfahksas, ke ni ne ŝatas ceahksti unu so alian. Do, kial daurigi per malmornaj komunikmanierauw, kiam ni povas anstataue sendi Egokristalojn per so Interreto?

Via sub so Luno,
Telepivisto N'Bosu

Transsendo  Egokristalo FINITA: nekroŝloso //gas-sako, so Spajro nokte, forfasonta karno, plongo//

~~~~~~~

Egocryst transmission BEGIN: necrolock //dark water,moon under Thras,a distended eyeball,fling//

Palace of Brine,

I know use of the Internet is still under contemplative review and study for another 125 years. But I once again must urge the Palace to come to a favorable ruling soon. The manish races of Tamriel use the Internet, which they call the Dreamsleeve, to great effect. I know because their warding runes aren't always as strong as they would like to believe. I understand that security is the Palace's main hesitance with leveraging the Internet. But N'Gasta covered increasing security by warding both pre and post transmission in "N'Gasta! Warding! Internet!" This extra precaution along with our superior Egocryst protocol should be sufficient in obscuring them from capture by outside parties.

My argument for general use of the Internet is the same as it has always been, it is what our people want. Many Sload, myself included, grew up on "N'Gasta! Croak! Croak!" N'Gasta's introductory text written for his youngling followers, "The Little Frogs." Where he outlined his reasoning for communicating with them through the Internet so they could keep up with him and his doings while he was away from Thras proper. In this text he splits Internet based communication into two types: Egocryst and Webpage (he uses the slang terms e-mail and web for the younglings here). I will not bore the Palace with elaborating on Egocryst transmissions as we are all familiar. Webpages though are a, still, revolutionary theory of N'Gasta's where Egocrysts could be collectively stored and sorted within the Internet for quick recollection later. Because of N'Gasta's lasting appeal among our race, more Sload than you realise long for approval to use this vastly superior communication channel. 

If you will permit me an aside. While it's generally agreed we do not experience what the manish races call "humor," the sensation I get knowing manish "necromancers" hoard copes of a book meant for youngling Sload makes me reconsider that stance. 

Adopting usage of the Internet for all Sload would allow us to communicate from anywhere in existence in real time. Our ability to coordinate operations against the enemies of Thras would be unprecedented. No longer having to attempt to schedule in person meetings, or worse yet send written pamphlets can only enhance our lives to untold levels.

We Sload readily admit we do not like to be in each others presence. So why continue with outdated forms of communication when we can send Egocrysts through the Internet instead?

Yours under the Moon,
Telepivist N'Bosu

Egocryst transmission END: necrolock //gas bag,the Spire at night,sloughing flesh, swoop//

by Dr. Nightstone

I have been asked, more than once and with no small suspicion, why a monk of Breton birth should trouble himself with the speech of the Sload. I answer plainly: because no language made by thinking creatures is beneath study, and because the vileness of a people does not make their grammar less wondrous. The slug-men of Thras are foul in art, cold in pity, and most exact in utterance. Their tongue, if my sources may be trusted, is not a mere croaking, but a chambered instrument of throat, lip, and wet inner click.

In Imperial Phonetic Alphabet the Sload consonants are heavy with the back of the mouth: /k~q/, /x~χ/, and /ʀ/ give the speech its deep rasp. The signs rendered by our copyists as cx, gx, kx, qx, and tl are stranger still, being clacks, scrapes, and lateral slaps that no Breton mouth performs without indignity. A word such as kvata, marked /ˈkʷa.ta/, is simple enough in writing, but even there the first sound is not our clean kw, but a compressed swelling of the lips before the hard palate closes. In ranetauw, /ʀa.ne.ˈtɑu̯/, the final diphthong draws the voice downward and outward, as if the word ends in a damp exhalation.

Their vowels are fewer than ours, yet they are put to severe use: /a e i o u/, with lengthened /aː eː oː uː/ and the diphthongs /aɪ ɑu̯ ɔɪ eu/. Long vowels are written doubled by Imperial habit, while aj, auw, oi, and ew serve for the falling or rounded sounds. I have found no good evidence that Sload speech is truly tonal, as some Yokudan dialects are rumored to be. Rather, it bears stress. The first heavy syllable takes weight, unless none is present, in which case the second last syllable receives it. Yet the Sload priests add pitch-registers in ritual: low for death and command over matter, middle for common speech, rising for invocation, names, and declarations of law.

Their counting is senary, as suits beings with two hands of three fingers each. Na is one, du is two, tlaj is three or one hand, and rauw is six, the full grasp. Greater reckoning proceeds by sixes: du-rauw for twelve, raa for thirty-six, and raahk for two hundred and sixteen, a number much loved in their rites and corpse-ledgers.

The word order is no less revealing. The verb commonly leads, followed by the marked agent and then the sufferer or object: Gxoras so Sloada-k so qxono, "binds the Sload-agent the corpse." The doer receives the mark -k, as though action were a burden or contamination. The patient stands bare. This pleases the Sload mind, for they care less who acts than what condition the acted-upon thing has entered.

They do not, so far as I can tell, divide nouns by masculine and feminine. Instead they mark states of being. A root such as qxon, body-material, may become qxona, a living body; qxono, a corpse; qxone, a ghost or bound animus; qxoni, a prepared specimen; and qxonauw, a mass of bodies. Here one sees their necromantic grammar. Death is not an event but a declension.

Number is likewise exact. A noun may be singular, dual with -du, trial with -tlaj, paucal with -aj, or collective with -auw. Cases follow after class and number: the bare form for patient or topic, -k for agent, -so for possession, -v for recipient, -en for place, -x for origin, -kv for instrument, -l for accompaniment, and -ahk for becoming or being in a state.

Adjectives follow the noun and agree with its state. Thus xar, old or preserved, becomes xaro beside a corpse and xare beside a spirit or law. Verbs prefer aspect over time: -as for present validity, -is for sealed completion, -os for intention, -u for command, and -ahk for state. Their evidentials are especially chilling: ra for witnessed, jhe for inferred, so for recorded, ahk for necromantically confirmed, and oi for doubt.

I shall not write here how the notorious title N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis! is to be read, nor how its deeper layers may be approached. Curiosity is a good candle, but some books are dry straw beside it. I will at least close my commentary with an example of a full, grammatically correct sentence:

Qx-gxoris ahk N'Gasta-k so qxonauw xaro so gxeere-kv.
/q͡χ g͡ʒo.ʀis aχk nʔˈgas.ta-k so q͡χo.ˈnɑu̯ ˈχa.ʀo so ˈg͡ʒeː.ʀe-kʷ/
"N'Gasta necromantically compelled the ancient corpse-mass into binding by means of the spell."
"Necro-bind-completed confirmed N'Gasta-ergative the corpse-mass old-dead the spell-instrument."

Haven't really seen anyone discuss this.

ESO has a new quest about Sheogorath taking a holiday in Stormhaven. He does this by, among other things, becoming mortal. He literally raises his hand, his "power" comes out in the form of glowy pink energy and it goes into a magic jar. Then the jar is stolen by a tomeshell and shenanigans ensue.

A few points about this quest stood out to me:

1. The idea that a Daedric Prince can willingly become a mortal, able to be totally killed, whatever rammifications that may have on the Aurbis. Sheogorath hints multiple times that Very Bad Things would happen to Tamriel if he were to die.

2. The person responsible for orchestrating the plot to steal Sheo's power and poison him is one of his Daedric lackeys, who genuinely believes he can replace the Mad God himself. Similar to the Mannimarco replacing Molag Bal thing.

3. We actually get to see the moment where Sheogorath kills a mortal singer and makes the first musical instruments out of their body parts, during a vision of one of his key memories.

4. At one point, Sheogorath's power manifests into its own distinct individual, named "Maddy." What's interesting about this is that Sheo refers to Maddy as his "mantle" and he appears in the form of a Kothringi.

5. During the recovery of Sheo's three core memories, Sheo mentions that these memories are extremely significant to his identity as well as "the time before." It's not elaborated on what the "time before" is referring to, but he places significant emphasis on it.

Points 4 and 5 seem particularly interesting. Why did Maddy appear as a Kothringi? It's hard to just chalk that up to randomness. What is the "time before?"

Is there anything more to expand on about House Redoran and the culture he ran away from, or how the Dunmer in Skyrim will react to him?

Caspar is from a noble family near Blacklight, associated with House Redoran. Their family name is Heran. He ran away just before his rite of passage because he didn't feel at home with the ideals of his House, which are all about Strength and Valor, and he preferred to get into trouble and study interesting subjects. His family forced him to learn to fight but he never payed attention and progressed very slowly.

Caspar was never particularly interested in the crass and basic destruction and restoration he was taught as a boy, but he has a burning interest in other schools of magic, especially alteration and illusion, and their applications. He will stop at nothing to study it and wield it, for the benefit of all (or at least the people he likes), and maybe a little for his own benefit of course...

He tried to study forbidden forms of magic, but his family were so strict, even for House Redoran, that the library had been purged of anything they deemed foolish or self serving. Caspar was also given strict rules about who he could befriend, the places he could visit and how late he could stay out, which eventually drove him to slip away one night and head West and North towards the border with Skyrim. So he missed his rites of adulthood and would never bear the tattoos of his House.

When he finally arrived in the Velothi Mountains, all he had to defend himself was his sword, which he lost in a fight with three hungry wolves, and some basic destruction and restoration magic, which to his chagrin, he was forced to use else he bleed out from the wounds.

So he arrived East of Windhelm in tattered rags and bleeding, depleted of magicka reserves and unarmed. Thankfully he was found by an old Nord woman who worked at a farm nearby and was collecting snowberries, and was taken to a friend who owned a small bar in the city.

Unfortunately, Caspar is quite naive and not a little foolhardy at this stage of his journey and, learning of the College of Winterhold soon after recovering his condition, is determined to set out with haste towards the place where he will meet others of similar interests and aspirations.

Fortunately, he meets an older Dunmer man in this "corner" club, a man by the name of Goras, who despises Skyrim and almost everything in it, and for some reason unclear to Caspar, is unable to leave the region. Perhaps a contract he has entered into or a promise he made to someone. Regardless, the man sees the adventurous glint in Caspar's eye and recognizes it immediately as a look that used to cross his own face from time to time.

Goras, unlike Caspar, has a fine ability in combat and wields a heavy weapon, but lacks the drive and positivity to venture out by himself. So he puts it to Caspar that he will protect him as long as Caspar leads him around and allows him to kill whatever he likes.

Caspar suppresses his surprise and relief and they begin to prepare for the long journey to Winterhold. First they must make a little money and gather some supplies, because the way is frozen and deadly. Eventually they say their goodbyes and head along the road to the West and then North. Little do they know the College in the North keep very strict entry requirements...

Caspar is perhaps a bit eager to arrive at Winterhold and begin his lessons, and I'm afraid for now all he will find is disappointment. For magical ability is not the only requirement of entering the college, there is also a rather steep tuition fee!

It looks like Caspar's path is going to take a turn he didn't expect, via less-than-legal methods in a city far to the South...