Dissecting TES Theories | The Elder Scrolls Podcast #88

WELCOME to the Elder Scrolls Podcast with FudgeMuppet. Today we discuss more of your fan theories.
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[@michaelyeatts4995]

Here’s a small theory: Orsimer don’t have shorter maximum lifespans than other mer. It’s just exceptionally rare for orcs to live hundreds of years due to their brutal lifestyles, temperaments, and culture leading to violent, early deaths. The strongest evidence for this theory is Urag gro-Shub, the librarian of the Arcanaeum. Some dialogue from Urag indicates that he’s hundreds of years old. For example, if the PC says to Urag, “You take your work very seriously,” he’ll respond by saying this: "Of course I do. If I didn't, most of these books would've been burned to ashes or dissolved to nothing before the Third Era.” If Urag’s telling the truth that he’s been working as Winterhold’s librarian since before the Third Era, and his age isn’t a product of vague life-extending magic, then that might indicate orcs can have natural lifespans of centuries under the right conditions, like other elves. Source for quotes: elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Urag_gro-Shub

[@FreshwaterSquid77]

Makes sense. Don't forget your random encounter with the "Old Orc" who is "Waiting for a good death." Orcs just don't have anymore use for their lives past a certain age...

[@davidnotonstinnett]

Counterpoint: anyone who has access to magika automatically has access to the knowledge of extending life.

[@the36lessons11]

Orcs true to the Code of Malacath do not want to grow old, they view it as cowardly and shameful as well as a burden on the tribe. They want to die still able-bodied in battle and honor. "City Orcs" like the librarian at Winterhold obviously have a different view on the matter, as an example, and put forward their focus on things Stronghold Orcs would find absurd like the preservation of world knowledge and history.

[@slywolfe]

I like this theory a lot and I think there's some truth to it, but it would also mean that they age very slowly as well, which is harder to really get a read on

[@The_Sharktocrab]

I think its pretty clear that magic makes its users live longer in relation to their skill with it, even in skyrim the Archmage says something like "what you learn here will last you a lifetime, several if you're talented"

[@Galimeer5]

Theory: Drew is Rajhin and doesn't want some random cat to get credit for such a wicked prank

[@evanthompson7494]

Theory: Blackreach extends far beyond Skyrim into Morrowind and Hammerfell and all the lands the Dwemer lived. That's why the Dwemer were able to spread over such a wide area without influencing Tamrielic history. They constructed their cities in Blackreach and built them up to the surface. This would include the Dwemer ruins in the Wrothgar Mountains and might explain why Gortwog gro-Nagorm King of Orsinium in the 3rd Era held the title Warlord of the Subterranean Realms (hmm another Orc-Dwemer connection?)

[@albancattiaux2838]

Theory: M'aiq the Liar is actually the embodiement of Michael (Mike) Kirkbride, the teller of stories...

[@badluck5647]

He is the avatar of meta jokes.

[@autumnapple3664]

Theory: The Heart of Lorkhan is a massive black soul gem. Lorkhan's soul or a portion if it was trapped inside his heart when it was cast down to Red Mountain. This is how it can give godly power to those using it, such as the Tribunal. This is also how it could be used to power the Numidium. We've seen soul gems or souls used to power similar golem-like or mechanical beings and creations before. When Kagrenac struck the heart with the tools he created, the entire dwemer race was soul trapped. If Malyn Varen was able to exist within the corrupted black star, it is plausible that the dwemer could be existing in a similar manner within the heart. Even though it's believed that the Nerevarine destroyed the heart, it's very possible that they simply banished it elsewhere or into Oblivion. Septimus Signus believed the heart was inside the lockbox, which it wasn't, but if we assume that Hermaeus Mora fed him this idea, does this mean he knows of the heart's location or of its continued existence? Then there's Arniel Gane's experiment, where he uses a soul gem in place of the heart, hinting further at the idea of it being some kind of soul gem.

[@aran.m977]

I like this theory

[@zachthomas8597]

I like this, especially because, as you point out, it's already pretty heavily implied that soul gems can serve similar purposes to the heart. (Like with Arniel Gane, or the Dwemer Constructs in Skyrim.)

[@davidnotonstinnett]

But we see what happens to living creatures when they get soul trapped. You don’t get trapped inside the soul gem, you get sent to a plane of oblivion accessed via the crystal. Varen seemed to be angling at becoming some type of Daedra by creating his own pocket realm, and it is possible the Dwemer were going for something similar, but I don’t think soul trapped would be the right word.

[@autumnapple3664]

@@davidnotonstinnett I agree with this 100%. My idea was that they are in a pocket realm of Oblivion too. Varen's statement in his grimoire supports this: "My achievement over the Daedric Lord Azura, a re-envisioning, a remastering of the ultimate soul gem. It shall become the vessel of my immortality. Final proof that mortals can live as indefinitely as the denizens of Oblivion."

[@Galimeer5]

I like this idea far more than the suggestion that the dwemer zero-summed. I wouldn't go as far as saying the Heart is a black soul gem, though. Black souls are specifically described as the souls of sentient mortal beings. I think, if the Heart has properties of a soul gem, it should be its own classification.

[@badluck5647]

The Tribunal's greatest enemy is not Dagoth Ur, but Sheogorath of the House of Troubles. Sheogorath tests the Dunmer by probing them for mental weakness and by tempting them into treachery. The Tribunal has failed both tests. Mental weakness have taken a toll as Almalexia is delusional, Sotha Sil is depressed, and Vivic suffers from numerous personality disorders and mental illnesses. The three were also tempted into treachery by a lust for power. This resulted in the murder of their husband, their friend, and their king. After losing her power, Almalexia in her madness goes further by murdering Sotha Sil and sending fabricants to attack the Dunmer people. Vivic himself does the greatest betrayal in dunmer history by allowing Baar Dau, the celestial rock sent by Sheogorath, to fall into Morrowind and trigger the devastation of the Red Year.

[@henryjones411]

And when they are all gone, Baar Dau, the asteroid that Sheogorath threw at Vivec, finally came crashing down and caused Red Mountain to erupt. I'd say the idea holds water.

[@maximef5139]

What does Vivec suffer from?

[@TSmith-yy3cc]

@@maximef5139 Addiction to bath salts is likely if you look at his behaviour... His half/half thing is like posting a "two wolves" meme on Facebook on a more literal scale, unsafe/risky intimate practices with abusive partners, biting bits off of others, delusions of grandeur... It all lines up.

[@badluck5647]

@@maximef5139 I'm not an expert on psychology, so I can't give a diagnosis. However, I can say he has issues with narcissism, guilt, and his identity. His brief romantic relationship with Molag Bal may also be a sign of daddy issues.

[@dukecesareborgiaofvalencia]

My Oblivion protagonist who happens to be a dunmer would disagree 🤓

[@SeanSnow64]

Heres a theory: the Elder Scrolls themselves are instruments of Magnus that he used (as the architect) with Lorkhan in the creation of Nirn. And thier true function was to be the ever rewriting blueprints of time itself. And the staff of Magnus was his multitool that he used to shape the very fabric of reality of the world according to those blueprints.

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

That... would make sense.

[@tykjpelk]

Akatosh helps the dragonborn fight Alduin because all the aedra and daedra get shuffled around at the start of each kalpa and it's his turn to be Malacath.

[@DaneInTheUS]

Have you guys tried reaching out to Bethesda to do some lore interviews with the developers? Surely they have to know who you are, and I can't help but feel that they would appreciate a sit-down-and-talk as much as you guys probably would?

[@kyleellis1825]

I doubt Bethesda want to give concrete answers. These guys dive really deep into the lore and most of this stuff probably hasn't been discussed with a concrete answer yet by the devs. You don't want to answer things until you have a plan to use it in a game.

[@callumtorrance9180]

What about the idea that sybile stentor is from the Cyrodill vampirum order? Maybe she has been sent to Skyrim to oversee imperial business. She could be using the blessing from clavicus vile to remain completely hidden in plain sight, even in Skyrim. The question is, what is her motive to be in Skyrim. It is probable that she is there to try and put an end to the war. Seen as the cyrodil vampirum order are said to have control over alot of the power in cyrodil. And if the thalmor were to have more control over cyrodil and skyrim that could mean the Cyrodill vampirum order have less influence. Sybiles role could be in skyrim to try and secure imperial victory and thus to spread the influence of the order. This is a stretch but maybe she even ordered the death of the emperor so that a new emperor could be put in place who would be willing to fight against the thalmor once more. Allowing for the vampirum order to have more control over cyrodil again. (ps, see replies for a couple more good points supporting sybile as a member of the order)

[@badluck5647]

The order's survival relies in power in politics, so I wouldn't be surprised if they have advisors in all of the Empire's provinces (at least the human ones). Allies in the Skyrim capital could come in handy. In addition, the order does seem to want destroy rival vampire clans, and Sybiles has tasked the Dragonborn to kill rival vampires in Skyrim.

[@callumtorrance9180]

@@badluck5647 yes very good point! We know the order think of other clans as inferior too

[@EJDubbz]

@@callumtorrance9180 this has always been my head canon too. The way she talks about how disgusting the thin blooded vampires are fits so well.

[@callumtorrance9180]

@@shadowbanned1999 really? I actually never knew this. Whats the replacements name? Are they a vampire? I axtually forget. I need to play skyrim again😁

[@callumtorrance9180]

@@shadowbanned1999 yeah when i check again ill tell you

[@jaycrownshaw3902]

My Theory: When Talos truly ascended after the events of Daggerfall, he mantled Lorkhan entirely and replaced him. This is why the Nerevarine is able to destroy the Heart of Lorkhan when previously, the Aedra could not and why the Mundus continues to fully exist without too many problems. The heart is no longer needed, as it was linked to a god that was eaten and mantled. This is also why the Thalmor are intent on destroying Talos worship. Talos and Lorkhan are now essentially one in the same and handly encompasses everything the Altmer hate about the Mundus.

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

I don't think Daggerfall was what caused him to become the Ninth Divine, but otherwise that's an excellent theory.

[@jaycrownshaw3902]

@@MidoriOfTheShuinsen it was the final piece. Its part of the Dragonbreak and the Warp in the West. Before that, Tiber Septim was more diefied along the lines of Reman from my understanding

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

@@jaycrownshaw3902 ah.

[@morrigan5422]

Still listening along, so apologies if someone has this same theory already. But all this chatter about Dwemer and Malacath has me thinking lately about whether the Dwemer might be the disillusioned followers of Trinimac who didn't follow him into pariahdom, but instead maintained their elven form whilst rejecting all aspects of both aedra and daedra worship. They saw Boethiah's proof of Trinimac's lies, but they also saw the pettiness of aedra and daedra fighting just as much as mortals about the nature of things. They saw the lie of divinity and instead turned themselves to secularism, seeing the aedra and daedra as simply powerful beings, seeing the forces of reality as tools to be harnessed (starting with tonal architecture and ending with the Heart of Lorkhan), and eventually even (depending on your interpretation of Kagrenac's goals) attempting to achieve that same ascended state. It seems, to me, like a possible explanation for all of the incidental connections between the Dwemer, the Orcs, and Malacath.

[@EJDubbz]

I like this theory (that Dwemer split same time as Chimer and Orsimer), though I've been told it didn't fit timeline. Person who said that never backed it up though. So I say stick with it.

[@morrigan5422]

@Incapacitating Strike That's fair, and I don't consider this to be an iron-clad theory or even necessarily my personal headcanon. But I also don't think that the idea of Dwemeri settlements in Resdayn neccessitates an enormous disparity in the timing here - in a cross-continental migration, the Dwemer wouldn't have to be there long to be able to claim prior settlement, especially since their setllements would probably have been below-ground, so there's no reason we need to picture the later great citadels and fortresses to picture them living there. I know that's essentially a cope, so I'll reiterate that I'm not actually trying to assert that this is the most obvious or clearly implied theory of the origins of the Dwemer.

[@morrigan5422]

Random additional thought, five days later. The fact that both orsimer and dwemer have strong crafting/smithing cultures sort of strengthens this link.

[@badluck5647]

Theory: Information from Akavir is taken too literally. > Tsaesci aren't any more "snake people" than the sea elves who use snake magic. They are a race of men who assimilated, "ate", all other human races on Akavir. > The Kamal aren't literally frozen solid and attack when they "thaw out". They only attack the island nation of Tang Mo during warmer months when there isn't ice in their cold water ports. > Tosh Raka of the Ka Po' Tun isn't literally a dragon, but instead he has become Dragonborn.

[@My0ldFr13nd]

Also, Akavir being "the future" just means it's in a diffrent timezone, since sun rises and sets earlier on the eastern side of the globe.

[@angela_merkeI]

Interesting. Akavir might like the descriptions of faraway lands in the past. The further away from your location some people are, the weirder the depictions of them get. Something that would seemingly support the hypothesis of Tsaesci being human would be that all Akaviri ghost in TES 4 are human.

[@RealUlrichLeland]

The evidence is definitely in favour of this theory with stuff like the tsaeci in pale pass in ESO being humanoids, but I would be disappointed if it was true tbh. In such a fantastical world we rarely get to see much of the more outlandish races like the sload, argonians and the dreughs

[@badluck5647]

@@RealUlrichLeland I personally prefer if Akavir continued the eternal rivalry between men and mer, but through a different cultural lense. The Tsaesci would be men, the Ka Po' Tun would be Khajiit, Tang Mo would be a unique beast race, and the Kamal would be a militaristic off-shoot of the snow elves (a theory for another day). This would allow people with similar origins develop culturally differently, and then challenged some of myths we hear in Tamriel.

[@RealUlrichLeland]

@@badluck5647 I guess that would make it a bit more interesting, but I'd prefer if akavir was used to explore the beast race / men divide more. Beast races have always been underserved and abused in tamriel, but seeing a continent where men lived under the boot of beast races would be a great mirror of tamriel to me.

[@joshgillam5130]

The letters from a friend are from the courier himself. He's an agent of Akatosh and is tasked with keeping an eye on you. That's also how he knows where you are at all times.

[@RosellenBlake]

Drew laughing about the emperor assassinating himself 😂

[@naturalist10000]

I mean there was the Elder Scrolls Detective Video done by Camelworks about it which I think holds plenty of water

[@sharoncropp6101]

Paarthurnax tells the dragon Born at the throat of the world it is a wise person who knows when there is no other choice. He is a very old and wise dragon. He had no other choice, perhaps his choice was either serve me or die now.

[@adamhicks24]

@@naturalist10000 nah fam

[@kell9577]

Morrowind is the mushroom trip of Dagoth Ur and the Nerevarine is the hero that is needed for ego death. He is absolutely correct that he is the dreamer, but he is clinging to his ego and can't experience the reason he is tripping to begin with. You, the player character, is freeing him from his ego (by destroying the heart of Lorkhan - the ego) and letting him go free and expand. That is also why he is going insane. Since he has been clinging to his promises that he made with Nerevar (his earthly thoughts), he can't let go, and it's resulting in a bad trip for him. But you, the earthly thought, by coming in and destroying his ego, you are finally freeing him.

[@RorschachRaccoon]

I was hoping my theory would have been covered but in a way I'm glad that it wasn't since I've thought of more to add on to the initial premise. The original theory was that the last Dragonborn achieves Dracochrysalis and goes on to mantle Alduin at the end of days. I thought this idea seemed fitting based off the sole premise of acting as balancing force (Ro Fus) to ensure the Kalpa's survival until the time in which you must serve as final push (Dah) that ushers it into the next cycle. It seems common place that the protagonists of at least the recent elder scrolls games go on to attain some form of immortality and this theory may even be hinted at by the canon itself. We know that the last Dragonborn develops their mastery of the Thu'um to the point that it's power surpasses that of any other Dragon, to the point that Odahviing pledges allegiance to you. Given time, more and dragons may come to bow to your power, time the Dovahkiin may have an abundance of thanks to Vampirism. Though the developers have not canonized whether the player sides with the Dawnguard or the Volkihar, we can assume from the promotional material for the DLC that the last Dragonborn was at least intended to contract Vampirism. While this could be chalked up to marketing the power of the Vampire Lord, its worth noting that the choice is given to you twice and the game actively punishes you for not accepting it the second time, something that was not implemented with any other in game choice. Lastly, it seems inevitable that the last Dragonborn will end up lured back into the realm of Apocrypha in search of knowledge after the events of Dragonborn. Seeking to escape the fate of Miraak, it's possible the Dragonborn would seek out times containing ancient esoteric times detail various methods of ascension. Such books would likely exist in Apocrypha and while I believe Hermaeus Mora would try everything in his power to prevent the Dragonborn from attaining them, I ultimately don't think even he would be able to stop them. In time, I believe the knowledge to transcend using Dracochrysalis and Mantling could be learned and then later achieved by a Dragonborn, who is likely already immortal and boasts the most powerful Voice of any Thu'um user. From there it would be inevitable that the Dovahkiin would assume the position of World-Eater, as their very existence would come to parallel Alduin's as they seek to escape the clutches of Hermaeus Mora. This coupled with the fact there are those who would come to worship and revere you as such, those being mortal and Dovah alike.

[@RealUlrichLeland]

I've always thought that the series needs to be brave and keep the Dovahkiin as an important character in tes6, unlike the nerevarine that dissapears off to akavir or the hero of kvatch that just merges characters with sheogorath. It would be quite cool to see him as a full on God in tes 6, ideally a morally ambiguous one

[@jijijijijiji44]

@@RealUlrichLeland A new Nord God would piss off the Thalmor even more. Love it

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

@@jijijijijiji44 funny, considering I played an Argonian, which would piss off both Nords and Altmer.

[@jijijijijiji44]

@@MidoriOfTheShuinsen Argonians are property

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

@@jijijijijiji44 hippity hoppity, I'm not your fucking property.

[@naturalist10000]

OK THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM & WITH EVEN MORE DETAILS: Jyggalag was/is an Anuic being. The word "Daedra" simply translates to "Not our Ancestors" in Aldmeris and refers to Et'ada who did not aid in the creation of Mundus. The princes Meridia and Malacath were formerly Aedra and absolutely had some influence making the mortal realm (Meridia being a former Magna-Ge, and Malacath was once Trinimac whom attempted to halt the dissent of Veloth and the Chimer from Summerset.), and were stripped of their Aedra status due to Daedric involvement (Malacath's is well known at this point, but Meridia's is still up for speculation). Jyggalag however; due to the fact his sphere was logical order and deduction, both of which seemingly embody the principles of the Primordial Stasis that was/is Anu was probably Anuic from the start. As to why he refused to aid in the creation of Mundus, perhaps he simply believed that the idea of forsaking portions of your very being to create a realm was antithetical to beings that were Anuic by nature; thus he refused to aid his "siblings", but still allowed them to do as he wished either out of respect for them as fellow spawn of Anu, or to see how this plan of Lorkhan's would unfold. With the creation Mundus unfolding, Jyggalag decides that the best way to enforce the ideals of Anu, is to bring order to the Padomayic entities that would become the Daedric realms of Oblivion while simultaneously recording and calculating the actions of all beings in his grand library. Which while also fitting in with the sphere of order & deduction could've been a means of pre planning a conquest of Mundus to bring it back in to the ineffable light of Anu. Unfortunately, the other Daedric Princes, fearful of the rapid expansion of Jyggalag's influence; did the most seemingly illogical thing possible (At least in the eyes of the Prince of Order) and banded together to curse him into Sheogorrath and institute the Greymarch. Dooming Jyggalag to be trapped a in vicious cycle for the rest of eternity. Delving into further speculation, If Jyggalag was indeed an Et'ada of Anuic origin, it would make him a sort-of equal and opposite to Lorkhan. Lorkhan: A being of Padomayic origin (spawned from Sithis whom in-turn spawned from Padomay), whom worked with (or coerced depending on your interpretation) beings of the opposing force to create a new realm; only to end up being betrayed by the other beings and severely punished (i.e. having his heart ripped from his chest and shot into the sea, where Red Mountain formed). Jyggalag: A being of Anuic origin, who in an attempted to create an idyllic realm of order by forcibly conquering the realms of the Daedra (all of whom at this time would've mostly Padomayic in origin); only to end cursed into an endless cycle of Madness and Conquest of a single realm for all of eternity (AKA the Greymarch) Wow!!! This is officially my longest comment ever on KZbin. Love you Drew, Michael, and Scott & I hope you talk about this.

[@freddytucker9931]

Great speculation; I for one still think it's backwards. The daedra Re the ones who assisted in the creation of the realm hence their presence; Just like you said the other Et Ada watched as the beings of Nirn slowly devolved into humans, lizards elves, cats etc.

[@ltloxa1159]

There are plenty of detail here, and I don't neccesarily agree with all of them. But Anuic Jygg is definitly something I believe in.

[@jakesmith5713]

My only counter right now is isn't Auriel the soul of a soul of anu and Lorkhan the soul of sithis which is the soul of padomay Auriel would be the one opposite to lorkhan or was this theory more about Jyggylag being the anuic being in oblivion like how lorkhan is a padomayic being in Aetherius

[@ltloxa1159]

@@jakesmith5713 Et'Ada are probably all either anuic or padomaic, however not enough sources exist, so they might also be combinations. Either way, Jygg seems to be far more to the Anuic side in one way. Seeing as his identity-consept is directly connected to that of Auriel. On the other hand, his consept is "more of a limit in nature" thus making him padomaic.

[@brianschwarm8267]

That molag bal theory was spot on psychologically.

[@Agentlefox]

Theory: Vaermina is born out of Auriel's fear of change. Its said by some that Auriel is the aspect of Anuiel that came about due to the suffering and ever-shifting chaos of the Aetherial Void and the pleas of the spirits to Anuiel for a way to come to know themselves outside the unidentifiable madness. My thought is that Ariel and time cannot exist without solidifying and identifying that primordial fear of uncontrolled change. If fear is an integral part of Auriel, it gives extra context to the Altmer prejudice and built in xenophobia away from just "oh no we're not gods anymore." It also deepens the potential validity of the idea that the Aka oversoul is mad.

[@Agentlefox]

I heard my name right towards the end in the most recent TES theories video and I'm not gonna lie, I had to wind it back because I was at work and a was a fair bit more excited than I expected to be, even with the relatively brief mention before the lightning round.

[@badluck5647]

Talos the god isn't Tiber Septim who obtained divinity. Talos is just another name of Lorkhan who used his Shezarrine (Tiber) to sneak his way back into man's pantheon. The trickster god then uses his power to help anyone who asks for blessings from Talos.

[@TheMeestor]

Think he does it in an attempt to reclaim what he believes is his birth right, or is he merely trying to experience the world he’s always dreamed of and see if I turned out the way he’d hoped?

[@badluck5647]

@@TheMeestor Both

[@aarondally5758]

By nature of worship leading to a God's power though, wouldn't Lorkhan inadvertently create an actual separate entity known as Talos? It seems to me as though in the Elder Scrolls, people cannot accidentally worship a god while trying to worship another, they merely give power to their intended recipient, whether they originally existed or not.

[@kuunt6065]

​@@aarondally5758 but if Talos was just lorkhan anyway, it doesn't matter. it's like if you told a bunch of people your name was Paul, and these people sent you birthday presents on your fake Paul birthday, you still get the gifts even if they misunderstand who you are. however, if you told people you were a specific celebrity, they would get the gifts. Talos/Tiber septim was a shezzarine (allegedly) so he was just a fabrication of lorkhan

[@badluck5647]

Does anyone else think it is a little too "convenient" that only Ysgramor and his sons survived the Night of Tears? Why is it that only the leader of the city and his children survived instead of a lucky farmer, clever thief, resourceful mage, or literally anyone else? I'm not saying it's a false flag, but there is something Ysgramor isn't telling like a great deception or a great shame. As the only surviving witness and mankind's first historian, Ysgramor could have rewritten history where he is a brave warrior instead of a coward or a trickster.

[@joshkardos1673]

No

[@badluck5647]

@Wirrling I don't understand your reasoning. Their overreaction hardly means the Nord campaign was premeditated. Genocides in history usually have minimal justification. At least the racist Nords had something to point to justify their worst instincts.

[@ElectricOstrich]

It might just be a case of romanticizing the story, like the 300 spartans. Maybe there were more than Ysgramor and his sons but the stories give them a triumphant image.

[@badluck5647]

@@ElectricOstrich Ysgramor was the orginal historian, so he definitely wrote the story in way to glorify himself.

[@StoicDivinity]

*cough* Kristallnacht *cough*

[@markuswelander8551]

Last time I was this early, you were still dreaming.

[@PunkZombie1300]

Hey, you. You're finally awake.

[@aonghasmacaghobhainn2322]

Falkreath is named after the white river. I believe "Kreath" comes from the same route as "Karth" which in my mind means "River". The Men-of-Kreath who resided in the south of Skyrim, lived along the rivers as that is where the most fertile land is, the largest of which was the "snow-river" named so because it flowed from the inhospitable north. As time went on the MoK eventually encountered the Elves living in said north and who controlled the mouth of the Snow-river. Again time goes by and languages mix leading to the adoption of "Fal" as the word for "Snow" in the MoK tounge so now the river that runs from the north is known as the "Fal-Kreath"

[@jacksmith4530]

Why not do a maiq the liar episode? Possibly rapid fire responses to all his dialogues Also I totally side with drew on rajin

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

I have a theory that Ma'iq is, in fact, an aspect of the Dreamer. It would explain why he appears in every era, his face changed yet his personality exactly the same, and also how he knows of meta knowledge (the idea of multiplayer in Skyrim, a reference to how the old Skyrim forums would greet new users with a 'fishie stick', or how calipers stopped being added as an item after Oblivion.) Although, I'd like to know about something in the book "Where Were You When the Dragon Broke?", specifically how the entry by a Khajiit mentions that Khajiit know how to cause a Dragon Break, presumably without using Tiber Septim's giant murderbot.

[@mikekent1213]

Theory: Maiq the Liar is a god/daedra with no worshippers, because all he can tell potential worshippers is a lie, so they can't honestly worship him (Stuck in a paradox/contradiction), so wandering around endlessly and slight changes of form are all the power he can muster or There is a VERY specific moon and star alignment that occurs incredibly rarely, and only for a moment, and if a kahjiit is born in this fleeting moment, they are the new Maiq. There's probably a really cool and interesting story about how Maiqs soul got bound in a cycle of reptition, but its been lost to the ages since no one believes him. Maybe he can't even relay the story without lying about it due to a daedric curse. Maybe the first Maiq f*ed around with the wrong daedra and found out.

[@FrankieCini779]

Just wanna see the theory ‘Maiq ain’t a liar’😩

[@natelax1367]

He always seems so genuine. I’ve always thought that he believes what he says even if it’s not true. Does that make you a liar if you don’t know it isn’t true? You’re not telling the truth but not trying to lie. Idk

[@lazilycatharticone4191]

"They call me Maiq the Capper, the Cap is Colovian fur"

[@ilari90]

This was maybe the most wholesome of episodes in a while, really much appreciated, nice theories there and good discussion.

[@AlexisVaunt]

Theory: Vaermina is the strongest Daedric prince in regards to everything mortal. The reason Molag Bal turns to her to return vampires to life underscores an important point. She is the god of dreams, and this includes the Dreamsleeve. She has complete control over every deceased mortal soul and is free to do with them as she wills. The other Daedric princes control innumerable lesser Daedra, but Vaermina's influence lies in the mortal plane. She is the End, and is the closest any being can come to mantling the Godhead.

[@apomtaylor8054]

Ah yes Vaermina who couldn't stop a bunch of orcs from smoking her temple

[@walidovofsiddharthatan6130]

I posted it previously under the Boethiah podcast, and I think it’s a fairly simple “theory,” more so simplification n understanding but ere is - In Relation to the Poo Story: The gates of Oblivion can supposedly be seen through her teeth, so perhaps instead of eating Trinamac and shitting Malacath, she could’ve banished him to Oblivion, through her mouth-gate, and her stomach, where “Trinamac suffered” could be her plane. So Trinny became Mally after being hurled into Oblivion and back out again. Chaotic creatia, yada yada. (Also Scott should do a playthrough of the SHotN mod for Morrowind, shit rocks)

[@aran.m977]

You were the one whos theory I read! To this day I believe your theory and I hope they see it

[@BonesofSmite]

I hope you guys do some more fan theories, here is mine if you do some more “The reason the Nords no longer follow the old gods is because they are similar to the Native Americans here in the United States. Over time, large parts of their culture was lost due to pressure from white settlers. Over time, those who remembered the old traditions died off, unable to continue the oral traditions. In this way, the Nords slowly lost their old culture and traditions, as it was largely oral. By the time of Skyrim, the Nords we see have little of their old culture, merely the reverence for the history of the Companions, swears in Shor’s name, and Soverngarde. All lost culture was due to Imperial pressure, war against elves, leading to hatred of magic as elves are inherently magical, and simply time over thousands of years.”

[@jaytincher1105]

Each of you have inspired me so much when I play Skyrim I listen to your pod cast and play throughs and character builds cause of Scott play through with AE it inspired me to start over and put more into my character and his actions but trying to wrap your brain around a orcs is not easy

[@dairydregone7146]

You know, the Thalmor's ultimate plan is to "deactivate the world towers" to end Nirn and they seem to think all of the "world towers" are on Tamriel. I got to say that's unlikely because if these "world towers" are what holds up the world or something, then there got to be some on Akaviri or Atmora. I don't think the Gods would forget to put the "world towers" on those lands.

[@aerialmacaroon6312]

I imagine two situations; One: they are that stupid Two: they seem to think because the other areas have trouble the potential towers are disabled

[@thalmoragent9344]

The Throat of the World was a Tower of Atmora back in the Dawn, but when the continent split between Tamriel and the Elderwood, Snow Throat was caught into Tamriel. Yokuda is sunk, and so Akavir is the only place that may have Towers

[@defeatstatistics7413]

It wasn't the Gods who put the Towers there (aside from Adamantine, and accidentally Red Mountain when Auriel shot Lorkhan's heart into the sea). White-Gold was built by mortals. Crystal-Like-Law was built by mortals.

[@XPetabreadX]

Theory: I find it interesting how Parthonaxx was told by Kyne too teach the Greybeards. I wonder what she said to make this murdering, man-eater of a dragon teach the men the way of the voice. Did Parthonaxx not want the Kapla to be set anew by the World Eater? Or has he truly become Kyne's champion and is doing this all in her name? He had to have some reason to betray his kin.

[@Agentlefox]

I mean, Kyne has connections to Auriel too, and with her seemingly having access to some aspects of the dragon blood, I wouldn't be surprised if she was essentially Mommy dearest to the dragons as well as the Nords. Originally, the relationship between Nord and dragon was a positive one. By some accounts, its the dragon priests that allowed things to corrode, and with Dragons being mythic spirits, the human traitors could have corrupted them with them with enough power involved in their worship. This was an era where the staff of towers wouldn't have even been all that miraculous, so mythopeic shifting(like the separation of Akatosh from Auriel) could have been much more readily achieved, purposeful or not. I think the honor apparent in Dovah culture helps to support that picture. It just stopped being applied the same way as dragon priests were given more control over myth and leadership, and as men became further separated from their mythic nature and power. The priests held themselves and the dovah above all others, and reinforced that belief amongst the people they were supposedto represent, so they began to reflect that attitude. This of course wouldn't be possible without Alduins spark of dominion present in all dragons, but that spark can clearly be used for good. So I think Paarthanax, realizing all of this, could readily see how they should do better as the first sons of Kyne and Aka, and yet, they grew fat and lazy, letting their priests consolidate power while feeding their ego and the worst parts of their father within them. Ever present, yet absent all the same, how could they claim dominion over anything, let alone a people fighting for freedom in the face of certain defeat and death, something the dovah couldn't understand; forget overcoming. These meek ephemeral creatures held a sort of power and grit the dragons couldn't dream of, and how could Paarthanax not see that they were the proper ruling kings to inherit all the dovah had made.

[@XPetabreadX]

@@Agentlefox I agree, also Parthanaxx has shown too much intellegence and is far too wizened to not see the shortcomings of his race. He even says, "But, I bow before your certainty. In a way I envy you. The curse of much knowledge is often indecision". So he knows that picking this side has its consequences and maybe Kyne made him feel ok with that decision. His choice saved Nirn and i cant imagine how he felt telling the Dragonborn about Dragonrend, knowing he was killing his eldest brother.

[@MrMokele03]

Does he really need a reason to betray his kin? The game makes it quite clear that dragons were constantly infighting and challenging each other for dominance and willing to use unconventional tactics. Paarthunax could've just seen the Nords rebelling and taught them the voice to weaken Alduin in preparation for a coup. Him creating the way of the voice could be a response to how effective the Nords were with it.

[@XPetabreadX]

@@MrMokele03 I didnt think that, that dragons dont have the same ideals of kinship like say the Dunmer or the Altmer. Parthanaxx also has quotes after you kill Alduin that shows that yeah even though he won he isnt happy about it. He knew Alduin had his natural flaws and sympathized. "Yes. Alduin... zeymah. The elder brother. Gifted, grasping and troublesome as is so often the case with firstborn." "Dahmaan - remember, Alduin also follows his destiny, as he sees it." "Happy? No, I am not happy. Zeymahi lost ont du'ul Bormahu. Alduin was once the crown of our father Akatosh's creation. "But I cannot celebrate his fall. Zu'u tiiraaz ahst ok mah. He was my brother once. This world will never be the same."

[@Agentlefox]

@@XPetabreadX So I also wanted to come back to this again. There is another thing that happened around the same time that could have been a deciding factor to push Paarthurnax to finally decide that Alduin had gone too far down a dark path. Humans, particularly dragon priests and some of their attendants, already had the use of the Thu'um. It was among the power shared with them for their service to the dov. More than that though, is the rise of Miirak, and the fight between him and Vahlok the Jailor. Though the timeframe is far from specific, Miirak's dialogue seems to indicate that at the time of his Apocryphal extradition, Alduin was still very much an active issue that the nordic peasantry were seeking assistance to help with, which I think means Paarthurnax still sat idly by at that point. Despite Miirak's clear and present danger to the dragons and Alduin himself, Alduin did nothing. He was content to sit on power for power's sake and allow the priests to take care of it, and given the hands off approach to their delegation of leadership to those priests, whose to say they even told the dovah. Miirak's corruption made him a myth to some degree for what appeared to be decades, so by the time Solstheim was split from the mainland because of the sheer intensity of their many hours of shouting, Paarthurnax and his compatriots should have seen what was happening. And they would have closer to the beginning of their rule. Once a fight of that proportion happened, there was no putting the genie back in the bottle. Vahlok was a hero to peasant and dragon alike, and the shouting done in the name of the people to protect them from the whisperings of Miirak and the Woodland Man would only inspire the unbroken Children of the Sky further. If men could use the Thu'um the way that both Vahlok and Miraak did, they were just as empowered by the blood of Akatosh and breath of Kyne as the Dovah were. For a being so attuned to directionless time, Paarthurnax is very tired by the 4th Era, and I get the sense that it's been the case for much longer. A race so connected to pride and a certain type of honor fallen so far in spite of their permanence and status as the first Ehlnofey, direct shards of divine power, and their position as the favorite children replaced by creatures made of change and entirely bound to the cycle of mortal time. I see Paarthurnax as emblematic of the old king of a nearly dead empire. He knows where they went wrong and how to avoid those problems for the next, but as fixtures meant to be permanent and whose failures are forever worn on the soles of their feet, they can never be the ones to lay the groundwork for that better future, or their footprints would bake those failures in, at least in the eyes of those being led, which is all that really matters. It's a bittersweet understanding built from a life of reflection and probably involving a lot of the shadow of the Dovah pride; shame. I think this further bore out by his and the Greybeard's secrecy, as well as his instrumentality in the creation of the Dragonrend shout, something that could easily be turned against the ashamed dov. Not to mention the more meta aspect of his comparable weakness to other dragons. His fight just doesn't match up to other legendary and named dragons, and with his pre-fight dialogue, it feels like the message is that he doesn't want to fight and knows his death would be justified to a point, especially at the voice of his creators' chosen, the Dragonborn. It's just 1) in his nature to fight back, 2) better suited to the myth of the dragonborn to have a fair fight in absorbing that power, and 3) owed to the greybeards and all other practitioners of the way of the voice to at least give a show of forgiving himself and the other Dovah.

[@Vahmung]

Theory: The Dragonborn is responsible for deactivating the Snow Throat Tower by killing Alduin and sealing the Time-Wound. I believe that Alduin's original role was to be the "stone" for the Snow-Throat. I also believe that Alduin is the child of both Akatosh and Kyne. When Kyne "Breathed the Nords" I think she was stabilizing Mundus from the Snow-Throat. Akatosh assisted her to create a being that represents the aspects or marriage between their two powers. This would be the creation of Alduin. Alduin was at first honored to be upholding this task but as time passed, became bored and saw how the mortal races could enslave and hold sovereignty over others. He knew the power of worship and what affects it had on the Aedra and Daedra around him, so he began to crave it. Alduin left High Hrothgar to rule the men from Skuldafn where his Dragon Cult would worship him. Him leaving High Hrothgar would leave the temporal stability weaken there which would further set up for his entrapment as well as defeat.

[@jamesryan6720]

What a great session

[@josh439]

You guys always know how to make a bad day good and a good day even better ❤️

[@mrphiloseroctopus5069]

What if the entire Dawn Era is a Dragonbreak? This would make all of the mythologies from each culture simultaneously true and could explain the many different aspects and contradicting histories of each god.

[@RealUlrichLeland]

Maiq is living proof that if you take enough skooma and moon sugar then you absorb the power of the moons (hence lorkhan) and achieve chim. As detailed in the pocked guide to the empire "By partaking of the sugar, the khajiit believes they are consuming small portions of their gods' eternal souls" and in Skyrim maiq carries three skooma on him. He's essentially just tripping so hard that he saw the godhead and that's why he's so meta. It's a less sophisticated or powerful method than accessing the raw power of the heart of lorkhan like vivec or mantling shor like Talos, which has left him with an incoherent mind and motivations. What little is left of his character mirrors Lorkhaj as he chaotically wanders mundus through time as a stranger, offering sometimes deceptive comments to travelers or sometimes meta insights that could help them achieve chim. A point to note would be that in Skyrim Maiqs interaction with the dragonborn could be the first time two shezzarines met.

[@RealUlrichLeland]

To add to the whole theory of the towers of nirn being deactivated by the thalmor, we know the throat of the world is a tower but it's stone is a mystery, but I think the stone was parthurnax. Parthurnax has stayed on the throat of the world for millennia, and literally resides at the pinnacle of the mountain and disseminates power through his knowledge of the thuum to the greybeards. The thalmor know this, and seeing the dragonborn as a strategic asset allow him and the blades to live such that he can be trained to kill parthurnax. As the brother of Alduin nobody but the dovahkiin is capable of killing him, but ultimately the reason that quest was mandatory was because parthurnax's death was essential for tes6 where the adamantine tower is the only one left standing.

[@RealUlrichLeland]

@Incapacitating Strike Yeah that makes sense, there's no reason we need the stone to be an actual object it could always be more poetic. I've heard people talk about a magic cave being the stone for the throat of the world, but we don't see one in the game and I don't know how you could deactivate a cave.

[@Necromancer4267]

They only had to use the double because Astrid betrayed the DB. If they didn't, Astrid would know the assassination was a sham.

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

The story of Trinamac and Malacath a very ironic one, and only further displays how Boethia is consistantly turning things to Lorkhan, turning the Old Elnofey into the Wandering Elnofey, so to speak. At first, Trinamac was the hero of the Old Elnofey and fought the hardest to repell and denounce the Wandering Elnofey, because they had been changed by their time on Nirn. But, through coming to Nirn to stop the Velothi and his fight with Boethia it was Trinamac that ended up as the the one being changed, at which point it was he who was treated as as the Pariah by the other Gods of Old Elnofey. Boethia, in one act, turned a race of mortal Elves and the strongest of the Elven God away from Auriel.

[@bigllewey]

Just started putting together furniture and seen a new podcast. Thank you for making my task more bearable!

[@voidlayern9368]

38:55 In the Grimdark of the 44th Era, there is only war...

[@MadmanMainer]

Theory: The Khajiits are not only elven but also one of the oldest. Since they were "created" from elfs by Azurah, and were around before the elfs found Tamrial.

[@tovarischkrasnyjeshi]

I think it's explained somewhere that they're even specifically derived from Bosmer, which is why they share many subtle cultural links, like the salient reverence for Y'ffre, or some weirder traits like Bosmer eating mostly just meat due to the pact they made and Khajiit having cat biology are presumably mostly carnivores. I think the official Aldmeri explanation is ancient mer migrated to Valenwood making pacts with local deities and becoming Bosmer (and elsewhere becoming Falmer, Dwemer, etc), only for organized colonies (Ayleids, Altmer) to later come and take over Tamriel, with Bosmer and to a degree Khajiit agreeing with this history, which is why both Elsweyr and Valenwood have cooperated with the Aldmeri dominions over the eons, but seemed like they were present before mer civilization really spread. Though, despite the Khajiit being maybe derived from Bosmer, the borders of Valenwood and Elsweyr are pretty bloody, with the two having a very negative relationship.

[@thearisen7301]

Question, Why would Jygalag, the prince of order, refuse to contribute to the creation of Mundas?

[@Navonex]

2 Part CRAZY Theory: Hermaus Mora's realm of apocrypha is completely built with the knowledge of Jygalags Library, and wants a dragon born to help kill/banish Jygalag. Mora is described by the skall as simply being a demon that wants knowledge, No matter how mundane or amazing the knowledge is. The other Daedra Lords Fear Jygalag because of his raw power, but Mora Feared him because of the fact that another prince had better dominion over his sphere of knowledge and fate. So Mora helps them curse him and has his followers gather knowledge from his library before sheogorath burns it down. With the "Lord of Order" banished, Mora can claim to be the Deadra Lord of Knowledge and Fate, but with stolen knowledge . But now Jygalag is separate from sheogorath, making him a potential threat again, so he needed a powerful champion aka the dragonborn to help kill/banish The prince of order to protect his stolen title. The dragon borne defeated the son of akotosh and changed the fate of the world, its possible Mora saw a confrontation with Jygalag and lost that future fight. Mora wants to change this outcome.

[@davidnotonstinnett]

Jygalag isn’t a separate person from Sheogorath. They are one in the same. Two sides of the same coin.

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

@@davidnotonstinnett when the Hero of Kvatch mantled Sheogorath, it split Jyggalag into a seperate entity from Sheogorath. And it's not even a fan theory. That's literally how the Shivering Isles storyline ends.

[@lukepickett4866]

The ooze that spawned the Bosmer was just Histsap. Jefre is the anthropomorphization of the Hist. Proof: Both the Argonians and Bosmer have an unhealthy relationship with Trees. AND, the ooze and the sap are both liquids and must therefore be the same thing! Kappa

[@zimattack9994]

Spears not being in other games makes sense if you look at it this way. Spears are a formation weapon and in a world with destruction magic that just gonna get you killed

[@kuunt6065]

jokes aside, what about hunting and throwing spears

[@tovarischkrasnyjeshi]

I actually like the idea of the M'aiqs just being like that more than them being aspects of a god. Tamriel is full of sentient beings that seem to be cognitively on par with modern humans, and modern humans have a richness in culture that TES can't always reflect due to being creations of individuals. We already have people who do silly shit like that. It just feels like it adds to what we might call "humanity", which is something I always like in TES.

[@ewanmacdonald8466]

Why the emperor couldn’t have just let the double take the hit and live his life in exile is obviously the supernatural elements of the Dark Brotherhood. The Black Sacrament was done for him so until he is dead the Night Mother would still be hounding the listener to finish the job. Just my thoughts.

[@LBPBumout]

Because the Penitus Oculatus knew about that assassination, so what would he do? Just say “nah, I’m good, they can kill me.”?

[@ronaldrhodes4528]

My theory is that the veiled heritance from the aldmeri dominion storyline in ESO has corrupted the thalmor all the way into the dominion in the forth era considering that the heritance is all about high elf superiority and the thalmor seem to have the same ideals. Note also that the thalmor at the time of ESO are drastically different then the thalmor of the time of Skyrim.

[@Agentlefox]

Short Theory because I will always return to old videos: A lot of deadric princes have earned their divine portfolio through theft from the Ur-Dra. Nocturnal both from Azura and Namira as an avatar of shadows and twilight. Lorkhan from Namira as limitation came from Padomay's "Is Not" and before they took full form, those limits would have been anathema to other shifting spirits, something disgusting to be feared. Which brings me to Vaermina, who seems to have taken the aspect of fear from the great primordial darkness, even more interesting if Auriels fear of changing is what stirred the more solid formation of fear as a specific spirit in its own right. I think there are more examples too, but these are definitely the primary ones. Really, most of the theft I think is from Namira because of how broadly encompassing her darkness is. Even with that, much like Azura seemingly not too put out by the original theft of her Skeleton Key by Nocturnal, Namira's range of power is so vast that it would be hard to even know the difference between a fully powered Namira and Namira now for a mortal. Though I think that her modern focus on decay and general decrepit vibe could also point to a god taking the crumbs that they can. Maybe both even. Hell that could explain why she trifles with minor diseases. Peryite took the pestilence out of her portfolio and the rest of the erratic order of the void, so she has to take what she can get, only affecting mortals a bit more subtly. All of that combined with Namira's "embrace" of the feeble and unwelcome makes for an image of a spirit isolated from others and waning. How long can she keep the shamed when Malacath leads from scorn? How long before disease is understood and medicine progresses to point of no longer causing digust, leaving only peryites fingerprints. Why go to Namira when Nocturnal offers a salve for the pain of poverty and disability? What place does her form of cannabilism have when Hircines beasts prowl the wild and Molag Bal's undead stalk the night streets? Who among the public would know the difference? Her power is broad and unknowable, and stretches across every aspect of society, but in each, her place is merely a seed of the greater aspects, ready to be displaced at a moments notice on the grand scale. The other deadra can still function in the light, but Namira's nature is limited almost entirely by it as its opposite.

[@WintrBorn]

The best part of Sunday morning 💜

[@Playaplaya18]

I did not expect to come out of this with the moral dilemma of whether I should pity Molag Bal or not. That was a super wrapped up analysis, props to the person that posted it.

[@lindsaygordon9207]

Yeah just gonna repost this until it get's mentioned. The lore implies that some of the aedra are parental figures for some of the others. I believe that their spheres of influence intentionally crossover to back this up. For example; Akatosh who represents time is the father of Arkay, as the cycle of life to death takes time, and his mother is Mara, as love in time creates new life. Mara is also mother to Stendar, who is full of mercy, but being the apologist of man, his father is Shezzar (which is why mara is associated with both akatosh and shor) who is the forefather of man. Shezzar is also father to Zenithar (notice his sons carry his namesake) as people are required for crafting and mercantile, just like material components, provided by Kynareth. Kynareth is associated with Zenithar in his Knights of the Nine quest, which implies that people cannot create anything let alone trade it, if Kynareth doesn't first supply them with materials such as iron and stone. Unfortunately, Dibella and Julianos don't fit into this as comfortably, with my best link being beauty comes from nature (kyne) and creative intelligence, entering julianos' sphere. On another note, they way I distinguish Y'ffre and Kyne who both represent nature, is that Kyne represents inanimate nature, like the wind, sea and stone, while Y'ffre represents living nature, such as animals and trees, which both require mating... speaking of, Dibella and Y'ffre both appreciate art and music... what a coincidence.

[@Just_Call_Me_Tim]

With Rajhin, why can't the Maiq the Liar be him... in between the fantastic acts? We'd be talking about a deity; they're not constrained to the same view of time as we are.

[@secretagentt3]

3 part Theory, they all tie into each other: 1. Tosh Raka never turned into a Dragon. Mysterious Akavir is just a lot of exaggerations of the truth. Tosh Raka is actually a Dragonborn Emporer, akin to Tiber Septim. As Drew has pointed out in a video before, there isn't a lot of great evidence it is even possible for a mortal to turn into a Dragon. However, there is precedence for Dragonborn rulers on Nirn. "Trying to become Dragons" is just the Po Tun trying to access the Dragons' power. Tosh Raka "succeeds" by tapping into his Dragonborn Ability. He is not supposed to be a mirror of "Akatosh" on Akavir, he is a mirror of Tiber Septim. His name having same letters as Akatosh maybe points to him having some kind of pact with the divines....just like the Septim bloodline did on Tamriel. 2. IF Tosh Raka is (was) Dragonborn, there could be a bloodline of Dragonborn rulers on Akavir during the 4th Era. Skyrim's PC may not actually be the last Dragonborn. We don't have a lot of direct evidence from Skyrim that the PC is ACTUALLY the LAST Dragonborn. Esbern THINKS so because of HIS interpretation of the Dragonborn Prophesy. Parrthurnax doesn't explicitly say we are the Last Dragonborn ever. How do we ACTUALLY know the PC is the last? Nobody on Tamriel, including Parrthurnax, would know about Dragonborn on Akavir. 3. The Prophesy of the Dragonborn is not talking about the Last Dragonborn saving the world, it is a warning that the Last Dragonborn will End the World itself: The prophesy tells of a bunch of cataclysmic events, mostly with the towers, all of which have seemed to come to fruition (The Skyrim Civil War, the Eruptions at Red Mountain, the fall of the Crystal Tower, etc.). The last line reads "The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn." This may seem like nit-picking...but the prophesy doesn't even say that the LDB will confront Alduin in any way, or defeat him, or that Alduin actually destroys the world. The Alduin part might be just like all the lines before it...a LEAD UP to the end times. "The Wheel Turns Upon the Last Dragonborn". Nirn is the Wheel (after all, the prophesy mostly talks about the towers) and the LDB will be the one to decide its fate. Put it all together: Tosh Raka has ambitions on Tamriel. If he has passed away by now, his decendents could also be Dragonborn...there are clear precedents for this on Tamriel. At the end of Skyrim, IF Parrthurnax is alive, he talks about taking the remaining Dragons to Akavir. These Dragons may find a united Akavir, being lead by a Dragonborn Emporer. If the Emporer starts making it a pritority to hunt down Dragons (btw the Blades are the best Dragon Slayers ever...and they are originally From Akavir), his power could grow dramatically....maybe enough to lead a full assault on Tamriel. A powerful Dragonborn Emporer, using the Th'um as he leads a united Akavir across the ocean to fulfill the ambition of Akavir for many years...a cataclysmic war with Tamriel.

[@lukestewart6155]

I have a theory that the reason why Jyggalag was cursed was he was about to do the most logical/crazy thing which is looking at our world war brings chaos, peace brings order I think he was trying to make some sort of peace treaty/alliance with the divine which I think would’ve greatly tip the balance of power maybe even prevented the other princes from having any sort of influence on the world

[@ProfZoom1998]

I prefer the idea that Maiq is an aspect of the Godhead

[@polo5760]

It's my birthday today and i get a elder scrolls podcast when i wake up

[@lazilycatharticone4191]

Happy bday then

[@TheSinsOfAvarice97]

Happy birthday dude ^^

[@ryanhenderson225]

Alduin was made by Akatosh early in the merithic era because he wanted the world to end EARLY when man was weaker than the elves. The reason that Akatosh steps in for tue Oblivian Crisis and by making the last Dragonborn is because he knows that the elves and his forces will lose to Shor and Men for the next cycle. He sends these heroes to save the world because he doesn't want it to end because he will lose. Alduin was made for one purpose and needed to be stopped by the Dragonborn for that reason

[@prophetxander4219]

Theory: The Orsimer were the Lefthanded Elves. First of all, Trinimac was left-handed and so is Malacath (Source: Trinimac definitively in ESO, Malacath’s Daggerfall appearance and statue in ESO.) Left-handedness is often associated with being the “other” throughout history and it was seen as a flaw. The Lefthanded Elves were “monsters” according to Vivec, who supposedly played a part in creating them in Sermon Seventeen. “Vivec chose a king for a wife and made another race of monsters” so in other words, Vivec impaled someone in the back(side) and made a race of monsters. Guess who did stab a king in a back and create a race of monsters? Mephala. There’s even more evidence: the Orcs and orichalcum are clearly interlinked. They smith from this metal, they wear it in a distinctive feudal Japanese style (less so in Skyrim admittedly) and its bloody green. Its pretty clear the two are linked, thematically and historically. The Orichalc Tower was in Yokuda before a great tragedy befell it and the Lefthanded elves. The Orcs fled to Hammerfell only to be destroyed once again by the Yokudans. The reason why Orcs don’t have a homeland is because they’ve already lost it. It sank with their tower.

[@prophetxander4219]

Appended: According to legend, not a single lefthanded elf made it to Tamriel. So not one Lefthanded elf fled? I find it unlikely, but if so… where are they?

[@badluck5647]

The hole in the theory is the Yokudains viewed Hammerfell's local inhabitants as different from their ancient enemies in Yokuda.

[@kuunt6065]

​@@badluck5647 if the left handed elves still were altered by trinimacs corruption, that could be explained

[@pyroparagon8945]

Doesnt the flute in ESO just confirm, indisputably, that Maiq the Liar is a family tradition?

[@Niiiiith]

You keep making them I’ll keep watching them.

[@thevioletlightning0139]

So last time i said i thought Alduin was an aspect of Shor/Lorkhan, instead of Akatosh/Auriel and that's why he has access to Sovngarde; but i've thought about it a bit more, and maybe he is an aspect of Akatosh/Auriel, and because they defeated Shor/Lorkhan he had free reign to enter, but he was corrupted by Shor/Lorkhan when he started entering Sovngarde to begin his job as the World Eater by first devouring the souls of the dead Nords to prevent Shor/Lorkhan from gaining power in the next Kalpa, and then going to Mundus to devour everything there. Perhaps Shor/Lorkhan still had enough power in Sovngarde that he was able to influence him into becoming a tyrant controlling the Nords in an effort to stop this Kalpa from ending long enough for him to gather enough Nord souls to aid him in the next battle at the Dawn of the next Kalpa when this one eventually does end.

[@Undomaranel]

After your Molag Bal segment, it is clear you lot have never read Paradise Lost. I highly recommend watching OSP's retelling, it provides a few parallels and might reframe how you think of "devils". The evil need motivation for it after all, no where beyond 20th Century media has villains who are just mustache twirling freaks. Every mythos in every culture justifies their villains with a back story, an abuse, seeking power or retribution, or just their nature of feeing from pain. It's not as black and white as Disney would have you believe.

[@j.a.belanger9752]

Theory: After the last dragonborn defeats Alduin, his soul is captured or absorbed by Akatosh. With Alduin out of the way, Akatosh will go on to mantle Alduin the World-Eater. Because Akatosh is an Aedra and no one is mantling Akatosh, he keeps both aspects. Because time does not effect Akatosh the same as everyone else Akatosh mantling Alduin inspires the original Nordic pantheon interpretation of Akatosh the true World-Eater rather than the Alduin who shirked his duty in Skyrim.

[@morrigan5422]

A new headcanon that occurred to me today: The Last Dragonborn was only able to come about because of the events of TESIV. With the aspect of Akatosh's power that had been tied up in the covenant and the Amulet of Kings resolved, he had the power necessary to create not just a dragonblood individual but one with the potential to become the prophesied Dragonborn and defeat Akatosh's other most prominent aspect, Alduin. It's not that this headcanon changes anything on its own, but I also think Alduin may have returned to Akatosh as a part of the greater whole after being defeated the The Last Dragonborn (hence why Alduin doesn't get absorbed after defeat) and Akatosh has again been invested with another significant portion of his power that was tied up, just like the Amulet of Kings. Akatosh is more powerful than ever, and if we truly believe that he is attempting to forestall the kalpic cycle, he is now even more adequately placed to do that. Supplemental to this: if we consider Akatosh to be a synthesis of Alduin and Auriel, then the fact that he divested first the share of his power allocated to man and then the portion derived from the myths of man, the ultimate goal may actually be a return to the Elven form of Auriel, and the true aims of the Thalmor may be to pull a reverse Middle Dawn - separating the draconic or mortal influence from Akatosh to return the elves to supremacy through the restoration of their highest god. The involvement of the Thalmor isn't necessarily grounded in any evidence, and in fact Akatosh preparing for a return to Auriel/just a general increase in his own power may be something else - like if the Thalmor are secretly Daedra worshippers seeking the dark path to the Psijic Endeavour through the Towers, maybe Akatosh/Auriel is actually preparing himself to counter that by reacquiring all of the aspects of himself that are tied up in other affairs.

[@necrogoblicon8946]

I think people really lose sight of what the night of tears was. It was a preemptive strike in what would become a series of territorial wars, which the falmer lost. It wasn’t something made up to justify a genocide. The only justification the ancient nords needed for genocide was that the falmer were mer. Some might deny that the wars were genocidal, but whether they actually did culminate in genocide is irrelevant, honestly, as its viewed, and honestly, revered for being one in nordic culture.

[@badluck5647]

I have a feeling that you are one of those who assume the Nords are always righteous even though the story of elder scrolls is history of flawed people doing horrible thongs for selfish reasons.

[@necrogoblicon8946]

@@badluck5647 No, not really. My point was mainly that nordic culture is so racist/xenophobic that even if they didn’t conduct the genocide, they would celebrate it anyways.

[@kuunt6065]

you forget the whole reason the Nords supposedly hated eleves was due to the night of tears and subsequent centuries of war, previously they would have little reasons to hate elves really

[@Werrf1]

My problem with the Imperial Suicide theory...okay, I have two big ones right now, so my _first_ problem with the Imperial Suicide theory is the sheer amount of unnecessary death it involves. Plan A was to kill his own cousin and his favourite chef? Surely he could come up with a better reason to visit Skyrim, a reason that doesn't involve killing random innocents? Second problem, an assassination by the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim doesn't really serve the purported purpose. Supposedly the idea is to generate sympathy for whoever succeeds him, to help unite the Empire. How is an unpopular emperor being killed in a rebellion province by a mysterious assassin going to help unite the empire? The best it can do is get him out of the way. If, on the other hand, his ship was attacked and sunk by Altmer pirates, with dark hints that the Thalmor were involved, he's no longer just a dead emperor; he's a martyr, murdered by the enemies of the Empire. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Titus is ruthless enough to sacrifice his cousin and his chef (and his double) if necessary, but it _wasn't_ necessary.

[@pucknorris3473]

Worst mandatory work zoom meeting ever.

[@Feathertusk]

Hello Tribunal, I have a theory that the middle dawn dragon break not only severed Akatosh out of Auriel but created the other 8 divines in much the same way. For example on of the blue stars that can appear before the middle dawn was related to Z'en, during the middle dawn 8 stars fell and its possible Z'en became Zenothar. As for Akatosh we know that the dragons refer to their father as Akatosh, and not Auri'el. If they were the same then wouldn't the dragons use the supposed older correct name. It may be that it may be possible that et'ada were pulled from their escape and force mantled with aedra to form the imperial pantheon.

[@lukepickett4866]

If Dagoth Ur is an entity that exists because he dreams himself to be, couldn't he just be an avatar of the godhead? But more importantly, what if the disappearance of the Dwemer was just him getting tired of all their shenanigans and he just AltF4-ed them out of his lucid dream? OR, hot take here, he just relocated them to the future. Guess the proof will be in Starfield, aka 9th era Nirn, and we have a message to send a plasma rifle arm man back in time (Pelinal Whitestrake). The latter part of this is just goofiness but the missing Dwemer part could be legit... maybe.

[@pucknorris3473]

I posted this in a different video, I think Alduin was almost forced to mantle akatosh when the tongues used the Elder Scrolls to push Alduin forward through time... Time is a physical manifestation of akatosh and it was forcefully blended with the physical manifestation of Alduin... when the blending happened it created a dragon break and akatosh was retroactively made 1/2 dragon... all of history was Rewritten in that moment... party snacks taught us the thume, and then time was Rewritten, in this new history akatosh taught us the thum... I always found it confusing. But I think it makes sense. I have always been fascinated by the dragon brakes and I feel like the next Elder Scrolls game should have visiting the locations of dragon brakes be significant in some way towards character development maybe make it like a secret Quest like the dragon masks... I know where three are located in the big map for sure one is located in what's left of Red Mountain and another is located on top of the throat of the world... is the other one in Daggerfall? I think it is...

[@kyleellis1825]

Fanon is a vibe in SO many more fandoms than Elder Scrolls. Just look at Fallout and how many people think Vault Tec started the war. Look at Marvel and all the different settings with variations on Canon. Power Rangers and the Zeo crystal being a perpetual energy machine is only fanon but everyone seems to believe it.

[@christophermurphree2315]

This is kinda a basic one. All of the Elder Scrolls games are not putting the player into a character, but rather individual reading of elder scrolls. The games all presents minor inconsistencies and options for play that seems to be in a grey zone cannon wise. The reason for this is that reading an elder scrolls contorts the truth of the actual events to the reader, taking into account the desires of the “players wishes” to various extents. You could probably also draw in some elements of the dreamer/godhead into this but the gist of it is that Mundas, Aetherius, and Oblivion that we experience are never truly the locations themselves. This means I can finally have a tidy head cannon, as I am only seeing “interpretations” on the world.

[@BaalFridge]

who else listens to the podcast every sunday while doing menial tasks like scrying in ESO? I know i do. Hail the tribunal, Michaelexia, Drewvec and Scotta Sil!

[@Henrex2000]

The Alduin is from the last kalpa

[@t8kabr8km85]

LETS GOOO Fudgemuppet Podcast: uploaded week: good

[@valormyth]

Rahjin: the greatest thief in Khajit history. Of course he wouldn't play up his own exploits, and end up with the liar aspect

[@josh439]

The reason the empire started to wobble by the time of Morrowind is because Dagoth Ur was essentially gatekeeping the heart of Lorkhan from the rest of Nirn. Within a couple years, the Oblivion Crisis happens thanks to the work of a possible Ayleid and forces the Empire on a path of slow but debilitating destruction and by the time we get to the events of Skyrim, Talos worship is outlawed, Hammerfell went it’s own way and Skyrim starts to do the same; all while the Thalmor are controlling everything behind the scenes. The Heart of Lorkhan was the anchor that steadied the races of men in a world that suits elves and elvish beasts so well. The Heart itself was the tower of man, the final physical remnant of the greatest champion and god of man, and since it is gone, man has been on a horrific downfall while the other races appear to remain the same or become more powerful in this vacuum, like the Altmer. That’s why nobody before the Dwemer’s discovery of the heart messed with it. Despite the Aedra punishing Lorkhan, they never destroyed the heart, because they knew it would doom a massive part of a world that they were now bound to. And the Daedra never really wanted to mess with it either, it wouldn’t benefit any of them if more than half of the population of Tamriel fell into a state of permanent decline before they spiralled into extinction, even Dagon. To think about it in cynical terms, the population of men grows way more than elves, and that’s why all the gods benefit from the continued preservation of man. The more people there are, the more worshippers they get.

[@ryanhenderson225]

Did the good Daedra trick the Dwemer into building the Numidian?? Kind of a stretch here, but it kinda goes along with the Dwarf/Orc theory as well as the story of Trinimac and Boethiah. Y'all know more about this than me, but here it is in simple terms. Boethiah has that love for Lorkhan. Lorkhan is slain and all that happens. Fast forward and the Kymer now exist and the good Daedra are helping them run the show EXCEPT FOR the Dwemer is keeping them from complete control. How do they get rid of the Dwemer? How can they make them all just disappear? The Good Daedra (or even just Boethiah or Mephala) places the HEART of Lorkhan in reach of the Dwemer for them to "find". Things happen, and because the Dwemer find the heart, they disappear, leaving Morrowind to the Kymer/Dunmer. Some other evidence to support this is Mephala being the prince of secret murder. A) Murdering all the Dwemer in secret, B) making it so Azura's champion is slain in secret, and C) setting things up so the anticipations of the other two good Daedra are murdered while their's survives (to what end?? Heck if I know). This makes the dwarves tricked in a similar way to how Trinimac was, once again at the hands of Boethiah and their compatriots Probably made some mistakes typing all that up, but might be something there???

[@mitchlinnen2228]

See Drew perk up as soon as the word "Malacath" is mentioned

[@AD-en5dq]

at around ~20min the atmoran vs snow elf thing just because there are instances of wrong on both sides there can also be a right and wrong

[@AD-en5dq]

and pulling it into irl examples we can absolutely read white papers that tell us to the nth degree what will occur including specificities how would people know what will occur is the question...

[@AD-en5dq]

@Incapacitating Strike lord moldybutt

[@AD-en5dq]

@Incapacitating Strike Mandy

[@AD-en5dq]

@Incapacitating Strike Billy

[@dressedbear296]

Maiq the liar is actually a secret long lived guild of khajiit pranksters where they nominate a lucky cat to take the role of miaq the lair and spread confusion to the land, for fun. source- I made it up.

[@chrisvandergriff504]

Always happy to see a new one.

[@jaymack9262]

My Theory is that the Birdmen of Old Cyrodil were ancient Nedes. This is a reference to Plato calling man a Featherless Biped and Diogenes parading around a chicken plucked chicken and calling it a man. Man is descended from birds

[@lindsaygordon9207]

Every story features 12 "characters" or ideas, which are personified in the constellations. There were 12 worlds of creation because each of these characters have to exist in the original story. Lorkhan was the 13th, the snake.

[@lukaphoenix1568]

Skichael, Drew, and Mott

[@wowomah6194]

Well even the way Summerset looks in ESO is still quite "alien" in a sense, or maybe less alien but certainly almost surreal and unlike anywhere else...that is...there are GIANT coral structures arching over the coasts and giant stone mountains overlooking green vales and hills. Sure it's more believable to us but it's certainly more magical and surreal than most regions in Tamriel

[@crookedankle7138]

11:15 what about abdication?

[@timothy8428]

Wait, I thought Scott had the Vault Tek chair??

[@Delirium420x]

This might be more of an interpretation but what if Bosmer coming from the Ooze is a form of shapeless Aldmer or similar beings from Aetherius? Maybe they were more Pademaeic like the weird biblical angels compared to humanoid Archangels

[@taystock5710]

Theory: Magnus is the Trickster/Traitor God not Lorkhan. !!Warning lots of head canon very little sources!! It is my belief that each kapla has a host god. Each host god is making the Walk-About to better understand their place in the universe, much like Padomay and Anu birthing their own souls to better understand themselves. Most of the Daedric Princes were the past hosts and so they didn't participate in creation because they already understood their place in the wider universe. Azura and Noctural/Mephala and Hermaeus Mora are siblings because one was the host while the other also completed the walk-about i.e. Manimarco and Tiber Septim. Tiber Septim representing the host. When it came time for the next kalpa, Lorkhan was chosen to be its host. He chose Magnus to be the architect of the world, not knowing that Magnus would betray him. A jealous Magnus wanted to be the host and so he sabotaged Lorkhans attempt at the Walk-about. Magnus charged Trinimac with killing Lorkhan. Boethia did not neccessarily literally eat and shit out Trinimac but (with Mephala's help) showed Trinimac the error of his ways; the Triangled Truth. Magnus had tricked Trinimac into committing war crimes and when Trinimac learned the full reality of what he had done he became Malacath. Unwanted by those he had war against and abandoned by those he had called ally. He became the ostrocized god.

[@niaz8]

I think maik most likely is lorkhan or lorkhaj. lorkhan is supposed to wander the earth for all eternity. Maik also feels like a wanderer.

[@josephcontreras8359]

I love you guys and your ability to have great conversations regardless of any dissenting opinions one may have and I commend y’all for being mentally fortuitous

[@aran.m977]

Can't wait to see which theorys they discuss

[@ambrosepenman2542]

The first theory almost made me choke on my dinner lol