Skyrim - The Real Reason Meridia Became a Daedric Prince... - Elder Scrolls Lore

[@HHLucifer666]

Meridia: "LISTEN! HEAR ME AND OBEY!" Drewmora: Must be daddy issues

[@dylanbarrett508]

Best name lol Ma'iq Tyson

[@realzachfluke1]

@@dylanbarrett508 omg that's amazing hahaha. I almost never read people's usernames by default, so thank you for pointing that out

[@galacticwarlock2271]

It's like the minute men

[@bigcazza5260]

@@dylanbarrett508 "go fight someone else, maiq is tired now"

[@inscription8099]

Probably the most sassy line ever spoken in Elder Scrolls. ❤

[@Galimeer5]

"It's not a phase, Dad! I'm a Daedric Prince!"

[@proeliumincarnatus4436]

😂

[@ConservativeSatanist666]

Lol

[@onieni9779]

And then Magnus shrugged and left to go get 5th Dimensional milk.

[@patrickpope1449]

Brooooo

[@nickbriggs8059]

Wouldn’t it be daedric princESS? Or do the DP not have a gender like we do. Well like most of us do anyways

[@badluck5647]

In the Khajiit myth, Meridia assaulted the Lunar Lattice with the bad boys of Oblivion, Molag and Dagon. She was obviously going through a phase and hanging out with a bad crowd to piss off her father. Meridia "I can change him".

[@jacobring7274]

Big mean biker father and son. It's kinda sounding to me like Meridia and Molag Bal co-created Mehrunes Dagon, so like Mehrunes Dagon is their son out of wedlock

[@thalmoragent9344]

@@jacobring7274 Well, it's said that the Magne Ge made him, which included Meridia. So I dunno, all depends.

[@thalmoragent9344]

Yeah, I can see Magnus not wanting any of his kids hanging out with Molag Bal (but she's also thwarted him as well, so she's also understood that he wasn't to be trusted).

[@badluck5647]

@@thalmoragent9344 Sounds like she grew up to be bitter at her ex

[@lloydgush]

I don't think she was trying to change them... More like a hate fuck...

[@GlitchedMuse]

Meridia's entire backstop can be narrowed down to "A girl wants to be an artist and paint the world in bright colors. But her father wants her to join in the family business. The girl rebels and is abandoned and bastardized for it. Now she hangs out with other bastard children and tries to make her dad happy by spreading light into darkness."

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

"Meridia has daddy issues." This is what peak TES Lore looks like.

[@enderman_of_d00m24]

I bet her and Serana could be great friends!

[@mmyr8ado.360]

​@@enderman_of_d00m24If Serana wasn't a vampire, maybe.

[@matthewmusco2581]

I wasn’t gonna tap on this video till I saw that and it intrigued me

[@syoudipta]

Your dissertation and oral presentation on "The Real Reason Meridia Became a Daedric Princ" has been approved by the Elder Council of the Arcane University. You are hereby awarded the title of Ph. D. in Daedrology and shall henceforth be referred to as Dr. Ewmora.

[@oghaze9318]

Heretical theory : The Magna Ge are shattered pieces of Magnus, with Meridia, Mehrunes and Molag being the largest ones that found themselves in Oblivion

[@sleepysartorialist]

Ooo interesting

[@badluck5647]

Is there any foundation for this theory? Otherwise, it is just fan fiction pretending to be a theory.

[@FaeFemboi]

Mehrunes has energy as one of his domains, but why Molag Bal? Just because it starts with M? Aren't these names simply the tamrielic translations? Maybe the original names didn't even all start with M.

[@spicytriangle4656]

​@@FaeFemboiI'm stretching to allow the theory to work but it could be symbolic of the citizens variations of violence. Merida being violence for justice or a cause. Dagon being violence for ambition, progress and/or selfishness. And finally Molag who is obviously violence unwarranted, for the sheer sadistic sake of violence itself.

[@r.a.panimefan2109]

​@@spicytriangle4656 wat about boethiah

[@kaimagnus5760]

Always said that Meridia and Hircine are my favorite Daedric Princes. The above all others seem to represent a neutral ground between Order and Chaos.

[@GlitchedMuse]

Then there's Sheogorath/Jyggalag, who are quite literally those two things personified to the extreme.

[@thalmoragent9344]

Malacath would also fit here, no? At least somewhat?

[@Super50ldier]

​@@GlitchedMuse You have a point because Lorkhan is a Padomaic Aedra and both Jyggalag and Meridia are Anuic Daedric Princes. I think that Hircine is both Anuic and Padomaic.

[@kaimagnus5760]

@@thalmoragent9344 In my opinion Malacath still heavily favors Order just as he did while he was Trinimac.

[@unslaadkrosis3489]

And Peryite

[@havanadog7987]

Meridia reminds me of the Orsimer. She’s not accepted by Daedra, Aedra, or Magne-Ge. Much like the orcs, who generally aren’t accepted by men, other elves, or beast folk. Great video as always drew. You’ve earned another like and share.

[@RestingJudge]

Would that mean Malacath could be an ally? I mean he is the patron of the outcasts after all.

[@thalmoragent9344]

@@RestingJudge Perhaps Malacath would be like an "Uncle" to her, as he was Magnus' brother. There could be some familial ties there

[@Super50ldier]

Orcs are Beastfolk.

[@ThePowerthatbeMe]

@@Super50ldier no they are elves at least Elder scrolls

[@Super50ldier]

@@ThePowerthatbeMe What?

[@FourScore460]

I think that Meridia became a dedra to avoid losing more of the strength she already lost in creating Mundas. Also I think that Meridia's sphere being the light left by Magnus and her siblings is in direct spite of her family. Imagine if a mother abandoned her child the very moment she saw their personality develop. That's what Magnus did to the world

[@thalmoragent9344]

I mean, there's also the other half. He's working on his project with his siblings, only to find out his brother, Lorkhan, has been betraying them from the start. Remember, it's also said that "some of the Et'Ada vanished completely", so I mean... Magnus didn't want to die off, nor his children.

[@gandalf_thegrey]

"Time to abandon ship" - Magnus IMHO the connection is way closer to a huge unfinished woodwork product that was abandoned than leaving baby. I don't think Magnus felt any natural urges (like parents) or even love for the world he created. It was a fun side project. Like the 12ths time you played a sneaking bowman. At some point you leave to start anew.

[@FourScore460]

@@thalmoragent9344 I get Lorkhan's trick but Magnus saw what was happened in the Mythic Era and provided no assistance to his brothers even though he had left and still had influence over lorkhan's trap. That doesn't make him the sympathy con victim anymore

[@HickoryDickory86]

Considering that Magnus was the architect and artificer of the Mundus, it isn't like he is without guilt in what happened to the et'Ada who vanished. There is no way he could not have known what would happened, considering he literally designed every bit of it. I hypothesize that Magnus is the real "trickster" and that he fled not Mundus but the other et'Ada before his crimes became evident. In so doing, Magnus willingly abandoned Lorkhan to take all the blame for what happened, despite the fact that Mundus was simply Lorkhan's idea but in reality he designed none of its machinations. That was Magnus' doing. So, what happened to the et'Ada isn't to be blamed on Lorkhan but on Magnus. But seeing as Lorkhan was the only one left to pin the crime on, the Aedra settled for abusing and villainizing him... and only because Mundus was his idea (which they thought was a good one and wanted to take part in it). So, Lorkhan becomes the bad guy and Magnus is untouchable, and his treachery is whitewashed and ultimately ignored. Maybe there was a good reason why Meridia abandoned her "father," and why Azura and Boethiah are portrayed in the Khajiiti mythos as being at odds with-or even downright hostile towards-Magnus for his cowardice.

[@leonardomarquesbellini]

​@@thalmoragent9344 Lorkhan did nothing wrong, it's not his fault the other Et'Ada couldn't move out of the wheel to see the "I".

[@texo456]

You know, Khajiti lore is brought up many times, even having its own video entirely, but it always makes me wonder; are khajit anuic or padomaic? They see lorkhaj as a trickster, but so are they, to an extent. They seek what is beyond mortality, but have a reverence and love for the beauty of the harsh lands they reside in. Khajits are the race I genuinely think about the most, cause their lore is *wild*.

[@HickoryDickory86]

Lorkhaj is a trickster, really, only in the post-Riddle'Thar Epiphany era (i.e., from 2E 311 onward), wherein much of Khajiit mythology was syncretized/adulterated with more prominent mythologies like that of the Aldmer. For true Khajiiti mythology, you have to look at the pre-Riddle'Thar Epiphany stuff. It is far more interesting, complex, and unique.

[@leonardomarquesbellini]

The basis of Khajiit philosophy is not being too serious about any particular thing. You should care, just not too much.

[@ReformedSauron]

Definitely in my top five favorite daedric princes. It's a shame she's so underrated.

[@badluck5647]

One of my top 16

[@matthewflanagan7772]

Shes underrated because of hands touching her beacon imo Everyone ended up hating that shit after a handful to two of play through a

[@KeeseGaming]

​@@badluck5647 😂🤣😂

[@Koyomix86]

My favorite underated prince is Vaermina she’s not my favorite that goes to Boethiah but I don’t see many talk about her.

[@MirrorOfEmotions]

Every Daedra is underrated except Molag Bal, Hircine, Sheogorath and maybe Mehrunes Dagon too. My favourites are Azura and Nocturnal and partly Namira and Vaermina. But mostly I simp Azura.

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

Can we take a moment to adress the fact that Lorkhan seems to be the god of throwing D? As a fact we know he had Kyne as his wife, stole Mara from Auriel, and sprung Boethia so hard that she killed a god for him. And there is good reason to speculate that he also threw that Divine D to Dibella and Meridia as well. Its no wonder why Auriel and Trenimac tried to kill him, he wasnt leaving a play left for the other Gods. I would even argue that this was also his gift to Man, as it is through our quick reproduction and virulent fertility that we Humans have outpaced and outnumbered the Elves.

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

Lorkhan, god of trickery, Men, and getting laid

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

So he's the god of slammin' that clam. That's hilarious!

[@hakairyu1]

Would not be surprised if he completed the Velothi set with Azura and Mephala too

[@VLarraechea]

Ha! Had noticed that but never took into account all the lovers he had. Lorkhan probably also took Mephala and Azura along the way. Maybe even Namira with the Dark Heart.

[@RedCommunistDragon]

If he just kept it in his pants Auriel and Trenimac probably wouldn’t have ripped out his heart.

[@veldrensavoth7119]

Meridias beacon is literally one of my favorite missions in Skyrim

[@justme0910]

I have this theory that the Aedra and at least some of the Daedric Princes are the same thing. I don't mean that they're all gods that simply played different roles in Creation, I mean they're literally the same entities, the way Barbas is an aspect of Clavicus Vile. I believe that the Daedric Princes are the parts of themselves that the Aedra gave up to create Mundus. This would explain why the Daedra are so much more present in the lives of mortals than their Aedric counterparts - the Daedra encompass their given sphere almost in its entirety, while the Aedra represent only the purest, most desirable aspects of it. For example, Mara represents a highly idealized version of love. She's the perfect wife, the perfect mother, endlessly nurturing, benevolent, and selfless. But that's rarely what love looks like in reality. Love can be vain, selfish, possessive and demanding, as demonstrated by Azura. What if they're the same? Similarly, I believe Hircine to be an aspect of Kyne/Kynareth, who is (in part) a goddess of nature, animals and the hunt. She represents harmony and balance, but we know that nature is rarely so peaceful. It's a realm of brutal competition, especially between predators and prey, and is only held in balance by bloodshed and death. No one understands this better than Hircine, Lord of the Hunt, who encourages men and mer alike to embrace their more primal, bestial nature in the name of survival. Perhaps there is a reason the Skyforge, which is heavily implied to be associated with Kynareth, also has an Underforge, which is a sanctum for followers of Hircine. And it doesn't end there. Is it truly a coincidence that in Skyrim, Sanguine's Daedric quest leads us to the temple of Dibella, and that a shrine of Dibella can be found at Morvunskar? Why is Peryite often depicted as a dragon, like Alduin/Akatosh? Are the trades Zenithar presides over really that different from Nocturnal's business transactions or perhaps even the deals of Clavicus Vile? Of course, there are exceptions. Namira, who was born of the Ancient Darkness. Hermaeus Mora, who was made from leftover fragments of Creation. Molag Bal, who may have been the mortal ruler of the Dreugh in another Kalpa. Mehrunes Dagon, who was created by his fellow gods. Malacath, who is the corrupted version of Trinimac. Meridia, who decided to embrace the entire spectrum of her sphere in all its shining, shimmering glory. Maybe, just maybe, she, too, left behind a fragment of herself in Aetherius - Arkay, the god of souls and the cycle of life and death. Or, the "split" between the Aedra and Daedra is merely an illusion created by mortals too fearful too embrace the gods in their entirety. Just an idea.

[@oghaze9318]

This was proven to an extent with Trinimac, Boethiah and Malacath (same entity from different perspectives)

[@badluck5647]

Sounds like the Skaal belief that everything is the All-Maker or the Adversary.

[@nicholasdaniel2778]

How about Boethiah? You forgot it.

[@radogen7845]

Meridia's other "half" is pretty clearly Mephala. Mephala's like the dark itself: a bottomless pit that by being nothing can be everything at all times. Meridia is like light itself: an endless beam that shines, erflects, in a way is everything, and therefore cannot be anything. I fucking love TES lore

[@radogen7845]

@@nicholasdaniel2778 Stendarr. He represents all aspects of lawful politics, of good ruling of administration, government guidance and leadership, he is the epitome of the good leader who puts his nation before himself and is thus its best leader. Boethiah on the other hand rules over unlawful politics: assassinations, conspiracies, coup d'etats, corruption and egoistic ruling over citizens, she's the epitome of the tyrannical power hungry dictators who put themselves before their nation and are thus the worst people to guide it.

[@enxman7697]

"The Hist would beg to differ" I would LOVE a video on the topic. Argonians are my favorite race, it was really interesting to read the duology of Umbra, who spoke of Hists too. GREAT video as allways!

[@emeraldwarrior588]

the argonians are so gigachad, when the oblivion gates opened, they invaded oblivion

[@enxman7697]

@@emeraldwarrior588 True!

[@pokemondie1]

In my most recent playthrough of Skyrim, I decided to be an extremely snarky High Elf. So when I completed her quest and got Dawnbreaker, I decided to tell her "thanks, but go find someone else to spread your religion", and I found it interesting how that didn't anger her at all. If you were to mock any other Daedric Prince like that, they would get pissed off and tell you to "know your place" or threaten that they could replace you with a new champion in the future

[@carolynr570]

Your videos unironically cure my depression dude please never stop

[@Night-Rider101]

Go se a specialist and treat yourself if your depression is real its not a joke

[@yuhyuhyuhyuj]

@@Night-Rider101 therapy is expensive

[@carolynr570]

@@yuhyuhyuhyuj yep

[@FourScore460]

After watching the video it's no wonder why Azura hates Meridia. If Meridia influence grows Azura's influence becomes irrelevant. Meridia is what Azura pretends to be, Azura only having influence over flow of time (future sight) means that she cannot actually touch Magnus's light, while Meridia bends and controls the very dawn and then uses that dawn to create dusk she also controls .

[@flying-magpie]

After what happened in the Summerset DLC I see Meridia the exact opposite. At least Azura doesn't beat around the bush and her and her followers state outright she can be kind AND cruel, they don't pretend she's a complete saint. Meridia though acts like that just because she was almost an Aedra she is trustworthy, but she's a Dedra for a reason. Once she see's no use for you, you get tossed to the side. Azura at least you know what you're getting into.

[@hakairyu1]

@@flying-magpie Doesn't Azura also want her worshipers to love her back and to obey her out of their own volition? Because Meridia doesn't care. Molag Bal wants the opposite, completing the triangle.

[@chadharger9323]

​@@hakairyu1 Meridia is the dominatrix, Azura is the lover, and Molag can go touch grass and pound sand.

[@FourScore460]

@@hakairyu1 Meridia does care for the love or mortals. She just doesn't like giving mortals a choice in the matter. She did what her siblings and father didnt want to, she shared a piece of atherius with Mundas and shined it in the darkest places to give structure to the creation of the world. Meridia could find it blasphemy that Junos is worshiped as the God of magic when she weilds and bends star light that he's credited for. If Junos is really the divine in charge of magic why can't he affect star light like Meridia?

[@hakairyu1]

@@FourScore460 I meant that Meridia doesn't care about the "of their own volition" part. Philosophical musings about whether it can be called love aside, she really does make Azura's dysfunctional love look healthy in comparison.

[@rustyshackelford3590]

So basically Meridia is an ex-Magna Ge turned Deadre who larps as an Aedre of Light

[@berilsevvalbekret772]

Not exactly. They are all Et'Ada Original spirits its more ideological

[@josephpercy1558]

Familiar with the real-world Gnostic myth, Meridia's story rings in parallels with the goddess Sophia (Wisdom) who fell from the Pleroma of her own will into the tenebrous Void. My astute Altmer mage would say that it is our responsibility to re-member (that is, regather) those divine sparks to eventually create a mandala-like Light Vehicle to ascend, united once more with our "other half;" for it is She! Is this not the example Auri-El set in motion?

[@Versutus_Venator]

Don't start a new playthrough, don't start a new playthrough, don't start a new playthrough... Hey you, you're finally awake. DAMN IT!

[@0mguley]

> starts off with deep discussion of comparative religion and mystery > title: bro does meridia have DADDY ISSUES??

[@dicynodon1018]

Finally some justice to Meridia, I love your take Drew, thanks for always delivering!

[@thelegate8636]

The best Skyrim character I ever played was a Meridia worshipping Imperial who had travelled to Skyrim after hearing rumors of the temple there. Avoided doing anything related to being the LDB of course, but purging the vampires in the name of Meridia with Dawnbreaker at my side was a blast. She's always been my favorite of the princes, and she's also the only one I view as being a real and sapient being rather than a mere force of nature. She can think and do where the others can't.

[@eyeofgnosis558]

Meridia: "As a reward, I shall make you immortal... so that you can be MINE and adore me FOREVER..."

[@lepidlover0557]

I always saw Meridia's "purification" as her turning mortals into extensions of herself

[@ardentaxiom]

Drew's videos are always a cut above the rest 💅 Meridia and Hermaeus Mora have been some of my favorite Daedric Princes, ever since TES-IV Oblivion. I've been playing TES since 2003, starting with Morrowind. I don't play ESO, but glad to hear that Meridia has been fleshed out a bit more. Malacath has been one of my favorites since TES-III Morrowind, his story is so compelling, the whole fall from glory by treachery and the struggle to find some semblance of it afterwards. Can't help but root for him, while holding the hope of vengeance so we can see his comeback story come full circle. In some way, Meridia and Malacath both had a fall from grace, one by choice and the other by force, both had to find their way beyond the existence they once knew. It's interesting to learn about their choices before and after their "transitions" into Daedric Princes. Namira has always been a bit difficult to understand, more a force than a being, for that reason she/they/it has been interesting too. Would love to see a video about the life of Xarxes if you ever get around to it. Thanks, Drew!

[@greenflame070]

Love this take on Meridia. I like that you point out her aspects being similar to a controlling mother. It’s clear she cares for her followers (and the Mundus to an extent) but she’s not the biggest on free will. Look at Darien Gautier in eso for that.

[@badluck5647]

I never got the impression that Meridia is maternal. Her hatred of the undead and support of her followers seems more like an OCD compulsion to make things things "perfect". If her motives came out of genuine love, then she wouldn't strip her followers of agency or free will.

[@HickoryDickory86]

The thing about Darien Gautier is that he is not a real person in himself, but was created only to ever be an aspect and vessel of Meridia's power. Darien is to Meridia what Umbra is to Clavicus Vile. He did not truly have personhood or a personal nature and so also does not truly have a will, since will is a domain of personhood. Rather, ike Umbra, he is an impersonal artifact/aspect of a another that is pretending at personhood and will. As Clavicus Vile puts it to Attrebus Mede concerning Umbra: If you chop off one of you legs and send it rolling down a hill, and it fancies itself to be fully in control and thinks, "Look at me! I'm rolling down the hill of my own volition," do you regard that thought as credible or do you see it for what it really is-foolishness?

[@badluck5647]

@@HickoryDickory86 Arguments about what is "personhood" are hotly debated. Common themes of personhood are agency, self-awareness, a notion of the past and future, and characteristics of human nature such as thinking and emotional bonds. However, I prefer “If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck!”. Darien looks and acts like a person, so therefore, he is one. He has his own agency apart from Meridia, and his emotional connections to his father and friends seem real as any relationship in the game.

[@VLarraechea]

Now this is a damned great topic. Thank you for this, Drew! Had been missing your lectures by now.

[@tomcurl8034]

It is not enough to simply make something wonderful, and then abandon it Meridia cherishes her creations and wishes to guide them even if it means others think she is selfish

[@DarkMaidenFlan]

Meridia gave me a sword that made undead into combustibles. Meridia will never be able to do wrong in my eyes 🥺 Edit: lol wait til you hear my opinion on the wonderful Vaermina 😂 yall gonna really take that one hard!

[@NotSaddamHussein]

she also armed Aurorans - and helped Ayleids get where they got. You know, the "nice" elves from Cyrod. The guys with necromancy, slavery, and farming humans for their flesh gardens and body horror Art. She was aaaaaaall fine with them and their doings.

[@thalmoragent9344]

@@NotSaddamHussein I mean, she's more Elven in origin than Human. So that would make sense. And not all the Ayleids were bad. Some aided humanity when the Rebellion came, like the Last King of the Ayleids.

[@Deatheater4444]

@@thalmoragent9344 Her favorite champion was Umaril the Unfeathered. Not one of the nice ones.

[@Super50ldier]

​@@NotSaddamHussein Yes but why would she aid The Vestige in his battle against Molag Bal? Didn't she aid the Ayleids in their fight against the Imperials?

[@dovhadark7108]

@@Super50ldier because no one like molag bal

[@plumsink]

It's a shame they made her voice (in Skyrim) so grating. It's hard to have a more balanced view of a daedra when her voice is literally scraping against your brain like fingernails on a chalkboard. ;) She does seem to have maternal feelings towards Mundis, but because Magnus is her daddy (and no momma) she doesn't really know how to love either. So she speaks "hear me and obey" out of one side of her mouth with a grating screech, and speaks of her love out of the other.

[@lepidlover0557]

I love her voice in Skyrim.

[@Kazuhira2249]

her voice really isnt that bad

[@platinumchromee3191]

​@@Kazuhira2249it's just that it is too loud compared to rest of the game

[@smuggrog9821]

Yep, even though I don't 100% agree on the Khajiit view on Meridia her "love" is definitely a very twisted kind of "love". Meridia pretty much viewed her own demi-prince son, Darien Gautier as nothing more then a tool and discarded him like he was nothing once his purpose was fulfilled, pretty much dooming him to his fate of fading out of existence. So yeah, if Merdia is at least trying to be a better parent then her old man was, I got to say that she is doing a pretty terrible job at it.

[@Blessed_V0id]

Please do more videos on the Divines. It deeply fascinates me. Thanks Drew

[@FrancisFjordCupola]

So Meridia thought, "if only I could be so grossly incandescent..." Just too bad Daedra aren't good at jolly cooperation.

[@denisrivarola2387]

Here we go, here we go... Drew you're really helping my life with anxiety here. Really, of course no pressure and that is my problem, but you really are. I'm uncertain of many things, but inspite not being a patreon, ('cause I don't have a job right now outta my depression basically) certainly I'm a fan, if not one of the biggest fans, of your lore videos ever since the beginning years ago. Like I said many times, thank you, and hopefully I'll get out of this rot and become a patreon. Cheers from the Uruguay "coffe and weed" guy lml

[@DrewmoraYT]

Seeing that you enjoy the content and so often leave a comment is all the support I could ever ask for. Making these videos helps with my anxiety too, so if it helps you and others to watch it, then that's pretty damn cool. Thanks for the kind words, Denis!

[@denisrivarola2387]

@@DrewmoraYT : D Ty so much dude, really. I'll see if I can at least join the Discord, Nerevar guide you.

[@idipped2521]

I’m not sure if it was Michael, Scott, or Drew that came up with this idea but I hope they roll with the idea of doing multiple quests for one daedra lord and getting several artifacts from them, we also should be able to worship a certain diety of our choice and join their temple, there should be temples for each deity, such as Ebonarm or even Yffre, spread throughout the map. If orsinium is included, there should even be temples to Trinimac. It would be nice to become not only a champion of for example, Meridia since she is the topic of the video, but also join her temple and get bonuses for worshipping

[@TheVioletBunny]

This video proves drew was the glue that held FudgeMuppet together. He’s here dropping videos like this the same quality / style of the old fm videos and they are posting mod shorts now lol. Dude is killing it.

[@BaalFridge]

Bro don't say it out loud just think it like the rest of us.

[@SobeCrunkMonster]

for real like Baal said, why be a little conniving c*nt about it? Those are/were his friends and Drew would think youre a dirt bag for being rude like that, and you know for a fact you wouldnt say it out loud in person. How about we talk about how imperfect your girlfriend is or we talk about how wide your mom is?

[@AnonymousAnonposter]

They actually explained what happened? A fight or what?

[@HickoryDickory86]

Regarding the Ayleids and Meridia's relationship to them in the Alessian Rebellion, I honestly cannot fault her. Aside from those city-states who revered Molag Bal and Mehrunes Dagon (those city-states being the ones who committed the grotesque and inhumane atrocities against their slaves), the Ayleids revered Merid-Nunda and Auri-el as their patron deities. And it could be argued that Merid-Nunda was the chief of their pantheon, taking into consideration their devotion to the stars and starlight magic, and that their confederation was lead by Umaril the Unfeathered, a quasi-divine champion of Merid-Nunda who ruled from the White-Gold Tower, the Ayleid "city of cities," if you will. But do take note, however, that Meridia did also have an active, world-renowned temple (Kilkreath) in Skyrim at that time, where she was openly worshipped by the ancient Nords and many others from around the world. Considering she was arguably the chief patron deity of the great majority of the Ayleids, why would Meridia not ally with them and support them against an uprising that was aimed at the atrocities committed by those who did not revere her? An uprising which, it should be noted, was fomented by a bloodthirsty lunatic who could not (would not) distinguish between the different kinds of elves, or between the elves and beast folk (i.e., Pelinal Whitestrake). He slaughtered all with reckless abandon. And regarding Meridia's supposed capriciousness, I submit this thought: If the "Akatosh" that came to Alessia to bless and aid her rebellion was indeed Auri-el and not Lorkhan/Shor, then he is proven far more capricious than even Meridia. If it was Auriel, then he wholly abandoned and obliterated his own people who, on the whole, revered him and were innocent of the atrocities of the few who did not, but which were attributed to the whole race of Ayleids regardless. Meridia, however, stood her ground with those who loved and were loyal to her, and so proved her love and loyalty to them in return. She ridicules "the constancy of mortals, their crafts and their hearts" precisely because mortals are fickle and inconstant, whereas she proved resolute and constant.

[@nicholashandley4456]

I was always fascinated by her playing through the games and your inspections and conclusions about her make a lot of sense, thank you. Though I'm glad you said "twisted maternal instinct" first cause I was about to say she's got serious "Mommie Dearest" vibes about her lol.

[@MarleyFett]

Whenever I would stumble across her beacon, I would be like," Oh no." 🙈 There's a lot more going on with her than I originally suspected. As always great stuff.🤗

[@timothy8428]

Meridia: A new hand touches the beacon. Luke: Nooo! That's impossible!

[@azreon25]

I love your videos, they make it so much easier to research elder scrolls lore for my elder scrolls dnd campaign, one of my players want to worship Meridia so this will be helpful

[@crandleberrysadie]

Yay! Another Drewmora video! Thank you for doing this story, Drew.

[@leachofsouls]

Yes yes she does. I've never fucking laughed harder about Elder scrolls lore than I have at that thumbnail

[@feje_]

Your daedrology series were always my favourite videos on fudgemuppet, glad to see you commiting to taking them to another level of awesomeness on this channel. They have all been amazing so far, but this one was my favourite one yet. Can't wait to see the next one!

[@thelaughingmanofficial]

4:01 Meridia, the Daedric Prince of RGB lighting.

[@garretthurler961]

I could listen to you read anything and probably be absolutely stunned by it. Love these videos

[@xelietjoker]

Fuck yeah, a Meridia Video

[@stickmastergib3665]

Impeccable timing that this came up just as I began another modding session. Love these videos Drew ❤

[@venepskeuten9206]

Meridia is pretty cool except for that one line. That one line I avoid at all costs. That awakens me in my sleep and does not let me rest.

[@wintersking4290]

More info on the various deities please. These videos are super fun and interesting. And the show a lot about the actual lore of the elder scrolls.

[@greenfrogbad]

If only I could be so grossly incandescent \[T]/ I read a reddit post a while ago on how Meridia is the ES equivalent of gnosticism's Sophia. It was a good read, especially considering that the altmer would view Lorkhan as the demiurge.

[@taracenaryan]

Excellent video Drew! What are your thoughts on the theory that Meridia is a black hole? That her “light” is the accretion disc around her as she greedily devours what creatia she can? Also lines up with the concept that black hole = fallen star

[@Rewwgh]

Drew has an ability to fascinate and an inspire me unlike no other creator here on KZbin. Meridia is also an interesting figure for sure, I did not know much about her prior to playing Skyrim in 2012 for the first time. But after that quest she sure left an impression on me. And she is one of the saving graces for the Elder Scrolls Online's base game main quest.

[@oldmanodin3521]

Interested to hear your take on this. Meridia very unique daedra. Thanks!!

[@JC-xz4ec]

Easily my favorite of the Daedric entities. So glad you made this one man. Your passion for this sort of project shows through and I appreciate the effort you put into each of them.

[@johanbockey]

Great video! I always loved your daedric videos on fudgemuppet and nothing has changed!

[@Gnif572]

Just gotta comment on Darien doing that little "catch-up" run to his scripted spot xD

[@bitysmith]

Loving all these longer videos Drew! Thanks for your hard work. I hope she’s explored more in TESVI too

[@DavidWBIII]

Man, how I did not know about this channel and how I love the way he reads these stories! I am hooked and it helps me get through the night at work. And I need it most nights with what i deal with and what I see and do. I love this game as well. Skyrim needs another game!

[@turbish40]

I don't know what we did to deserve a video this long. Drew, thank you so much for all these incredible videos. I just looked back through the catalog, and I've decided i need to rewatch them all again! You're my favorite KZbinr hands down! I wish you all the success you deserve.

[@learningftw8173]

The moment you pick the beacon description 👌🤣🤣🤣

[@galacticwarlock2271]

Lol. That rock you pick up. It's pre minute men, minute men.

[@mindassassin]

Meridia: i will make you the instrument of my cleansing light! Me: You had me at "daddy issues".

[@gerbenvanegmond4007]

I love lore videos from Drew the Daedrologist!

[@ajh8566]

Wonderful and interesting. I appreciate your hard work.

[@Practitioner_of_Diogenes]

Easily my favorite Daedric Prince.

[@freshhands9461]

Honestly, though I love the series deeply, the World of Elder Scrolls always struck me as pretty generic. Apart from Morrowind of course - all hail that place of wonder. And yet, the cosmology behind it all is pretty awesome and surprisingly weird. The spirit of Glorantha runs deep in Mundus and I salute you for your work!

[@ForestKitty1000]

I love ❤️ seeing these videos if only the books spoke to us but drew your narration is good to listen to keep work your best!

[@tevinramon5763]

I like how you show her thinking, planning and contemplating on how to make the sky and the rest of the world.

[@fearlessretaliator4997]

Drew of Atmora sailed from the ancient land to gift us this great tale.

[@oshii3585]

I apologize for being late, my connection to the world wide web was disturbed. But now I can see that Drewmora uploaded again. Although the celebration might be over... My heart will rage on in happiness of this occasion.

[@sophieshears7]

A new hand touches the beacon

[@QualitasMaximus]

I think Drewmora really really likes Meridia… 😂

[@jacobweaver384]

I really like your interpretation. I always got a good vibe from her---with the understanding that she's not mortal so be careful with your dealings so you don't lose your soul

[@elliotnemeth]

Meridia is definitely my favorite Prince. It's so incredibly cool to see that level of nuance in the Elder Scrolls pantheon. That said, I can't forgive her for helping Umaril defend the Ayleid empire. Not cool at all.

[@gavin_almeida]

I’m obsessed with these videos. Watched them all. It’s like Christmas when you post!

[@isthatwhatemptymeans8222]

Love the talk on races and places, but Drew shines brightest when the Daedrologist discusses Daedra.

[@MaryCherryOfficial]

i'm a simple girl, i see 'daddy issues' i click video

[@crabbuckets7506]

Glad you finished with the streets of whiterun music. My favorite by far.

[@woodys1670]

I still hear " ...welcome back to fudgemuppet" but also rly happy for u. U doing good job

[@centurion7398]

Screechy grandma that made me break my favorite mouse at 3am on a Tuesday 5 years ago. That’s my interpretation of Meridia.

[@elvenatheart982]

I am illiterate in ES lore, but I am enthralled by your voiceover and writing . Nice

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEA- Me: *Drops beacon*

[@Jonas_æ]

One Et’Ada: Ok shit, this is wild.. but I’ll go along and sacrifice myself to tie it together. 😔 Another Et’Ada: Holy fuck, this isn’t what we signed up for! Magnus is right, I’m outta here! 😱 Meridia: Hmm.. I’ll just stick around. Maybe have some temples and worshippers, make some trouble with the guys who didn’t accept the invitation initially. See what happens. 😏 Earthbones and Magna Ge: You fucking what? 😡

[@Shadeem]

Bal loves domination, Merida loves control. So much in common, until they had to decide who was the top.

[@luckyjedi429]

Keep popping out absolute bangers, man. Top tier video.

[@dragonberrymead9525]

A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE LIKE BUTTON

[@Didymus20X6]

DREW! Glad I stumbled across this. I think Scott and Michael aren't really doing a lot of lore anymore, and I was missing it.

[@tatwood93]

Meridia in Skyrim reminds me of Dark Raiden from Mortal Kombat: Deception. "My patience for mortals has worn thin"

[@LeviathanSpeaks1469]

Is it bad that I kinda ship her and Malacath? They’re both non-Daedric in origin and act more Aedric than other Daedra. Imagine if the Orcs keep worshipping Malacath but adopted Meridia as their Mother Goddess…

[@daizenmarcurio]

Oh hell naw

[@farfa2937]

Malacath is kind of a looser tho. I see her more with Vile, he could help her loosen up a bit and also he has a dog and girls love cute pets.

[@cxx23]

Love the idea of her and Malacath at least working together. Hate the idea of her and Vile.

[@LeviathanSpeaks1469]

@@cxx23 I could definitely see an alliance between Meridia and Malacath at the bare minimum. Them starting their own counter to the "Three Good Daedra" is my own wishful thinking.

[@LeviathanSpeaks1469]

@@cxx23 Malacath and Nocturnal might be a more realistic ship 😆

[@AurmazlZudeh]

Your thorough content is greatly appreciated👋

[@DivinityOfBLaze]

She was the primary god of worship for the torture elves that adored skinning humans so... not exactly the best of gods.

[@wowomah6194]

Hey Drew, any thoughts on the Bladesongs of Boethra? They're new texts added in ESO in the prologue quest for the new Chapter Gold Road. It adds so much of interest but for me a bit of a Meridia fanboy (I think she's one of the most interesting, mysterious "Princes" since she clearly is not actually Daedra). Basically, Meridia, as Merid-Nunda to the Khajiit, assaulted the Lattice and Azurah, Boethra, Mephala, and Noctra stopped her (Merrunz and Molagh helped her?). In any case, they describe Meridia as separating herself into two, one on one side of the Lattice and the other at the Varliance Gate or something who stayed and continued to fight the Sisters at which points she was then torn into loads of mirror/glass fragments and the light of all her colors was thrown to all the corners of the Aurbis or something like that. They describe her as "the Rainbow Angel" and as being so powerful that she had/has the power over Redshift, AKA, she can distort time itself in order to more or less travel around like Light itself and reshape and reform herself at will. Thus, Boethra had to create a sword it seems to keep up with her which allowed Boethra to literally cut Redshift holes in the fabric of reality. So..where did that other 1/2 of Meridia go? Was one half destroyed and we're left with Meridia, the 1/2 of her that survived? What did she want by trying to go past the Varliance Gate, which "held so many possible futures for her" or something like that? But it's weirder than that...these books were written in the context of the new Daedric Prince, Ithelia. Lots of people think she is also a Magna Ge...yet...she has TOO MUCH similarity to Meridia. Where Meridia is the lady of Infinite Energies and Life and boundless light of every color...Ithelia is the Prince of Paths, of the untraveled Road and frankly...Infinite Possibility or Infinite Paths. They both have large wings, they both wear similar cloaks, they both appear as mortal women, they both appear to be renegade or rebels to the Status Quo especially in that they DO NOT agree with most all other Daedric Princes and are thus, feared and or hated by the other Princes. Likewise, they have superiority complexes in regards to the other Princes, that they are not even in the same ballpark/arena. And of course, they're not...they're both Aedric in nature. In any case, SPOILER FOR ESO, literally the SAME Daedric Princes, Azura, Boethiah and Mephala are the ones who opposed Ithelia as well and helped Hermaeus Mora to imprison her. There just seems to be some disconnect. That is, this is just TOO similar to each other and yet...Meridia doesn't know of Ithelia cause Mora made her forget her own sister? Likewise, Ithelia doesn't remember Meridia in the Chapter? Yet...you'd think they would BOTH have quite an interest whether competitive or supportive of one another since they are so closely related. Is it possible they are actually one and the same in a sense? That is, when Meridia separated herself, Ithelia was born? That is, Merid-Nunda isn't necessarily a 1 for 1 synonym for Meridia and the term fell out of favor with the Khajiit as far as I recall. Thus, Merid-Nunda maybe separated into both Meridia and Ithelia and Ithelia was somewhat of "the other side of the coin" to Meridia? On the one hand, Meridia still generally supports mortal endeavors to protect and promote life especially AGAINST the desires of Daedric Princes like Molag Bal, Nocturnal, Clavicus Vile, Mephala and so forth. I know it's ESO and some may not consider it canon, but she saves Tamriel and potentially more not ONCE but TWICE, once from Molag Bal's Planemeld and twice against Nocturnal's attempt to control the Crystal Tower in order control Tamriel and potentially infinite realms of Oblivion or parallel realities of Nirn. One thing that's noticeable too in ESO. After the Summerset Isless Chapter, Meridia's realm is invaded by Nocturnal briefly. Her Statue bleeds black to symbolize this when you speak to her at a hidden shrine in the mountains north of Eton Nir in Summerset. There's some thought that she was briefly weakened or threatened during that time. And sure enough, by the time we get to Greymoor in 2020 with Western Skyrim including Solitude and of course, Kilkreath Temple with her GIANT shrine, we find her temple ransacked by colluding Reach witches and vampire clans. Her followers are dumbfounded, "Where is our Lady of Light?" and "Why did she seem to abandon us now?" were common themes. She was noticeably absent and her statue could not be communed with to receive any sort of message from her. Nada, nothing. Flash forward to Gold Road. We're in the West Weald towards the Gold Coast and now have access to Skingrad. Of course, this region is home to many an Ayleid ruin and many of which devoutly worshipped Meridia. But of particular note is that...the Chapter focuses on the new Daedric Prince Ithelia and her history in the region especially with Ayleids who worshipped her. And it JUST SO HAPPENS that the region hosts a Meridia shrine that was present in Oblivion as well. Except...this shrine you can interact with. As you light the bonfire in front of it, a bright light appears between the statue of Meridia's hands and STAYS lit. Now, I could be mistaken, but does that signal a return to strength? We receive no message but her shrine actually shows evidence of her presence and power. OK, so now what? Why now? Why here in the West Weald towards Garlas Malatar, once home to the very LIGHTHOUSE of Meridia in which a beacon shown so strongly that sailors for miles away could be safely led to harbor? I simply CANNOT shake the feeling with this evidence that Meridia must be tied to Ithelia in a way that is STRONGER than even both merely being Magna Ge. I feel like Ithelia is some aspect of Meridia...a part of her that was lost...or which she separated from. It seems no mistake that, while Ithelia is the gateway of all fates and appears to EMBRACE free will very strongly, Meridia is quite the control-freak and appears to disdain free will in mortals. It reminds me a lot of the Sheo/Jygalygg dynamic. Did the assault of Meridia's Coloured Rooms revive some element of Ithelia? Did it provide some sort of vacuum of power and energy for Ithelia to fill in while Meridia healed? There's just so many coincidences, similarities, and oddities that have gone unaddressed officially that it's making my head spin. The Bladesongs of Boethra, released in game in areas of the Prologue quest for Gold Road SPECIFICALLY as you go to discover more about how Boethiah, Azura and Mephala once united to defeat Ithelia? And the two, Meridia and Ithelia both had to be defeated in similar ways? That is, Boethiah had to master the redshift herself/himself in order to merely keep up with either of them? I need some threads connected!

[@idipped2521]

Interesting that her name is Meridia, meaning she is on the middle of the spectrum of light

[@gustavedelior3683]

Honestly the words i dread hearing every playthrough is "Do you get to the cloud district very often? Oh what am I saying, of course you don't." And "A new hand touches the beacon, listen. Hear me and obey..."

[@xenopsychologist4943]

meridias bacon: she cooks breakfast, too.

[@scaccu]

"Im not angry, daughter, im just disappointed."

[@amyduncancinder]

Mr. Drew, I've missed hearing your tellings but it's nice to hear you tell Meridia's story. I've always thought Meridian is misunderstood, based on the story line in all of my playthroughs. She's one of the quests I don't mind doing, although I think Dawnbreaker is underpowered for being a sword of the Aedra/Daedra (just my opinion, mind you). Thank you, Sir.