Lore:Lorkhan

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The Heart of Lorkhan

Lorkhan,theMissing God,is theCreator-Trickster-Testerdeity present in everyTamrielicmythic tradition.[1]He is known as theSpirit of Nirn,the god of all mortals.[2]His most popular name is theElvenvariant Lorkhan, orDoom Drum,[1]which sometimes appears asLKHAN[3]orLHKAN.[4]Names for versions or aspects of Lorkhan includeLorkhaj(the Moon Beast) inElsweyr,Lorkh,theSpirit of Man,theMortal Spirit,or theSower of Fleshto theReachmen[5],SepinHammerfell,SheorinHigh Rock,ShorinSkyrim,andShezarrinCyrodiil.[1][6][7][8]He convinced or contrived the Original Spirits (et'Ada) to bring about the creation of theMundus,upsetting the status quo—much like his (figurative) fatherPadomayis usually credited for introducing instability, and hence possibility for creation, into the undivided universe (or the Beginning Place).[1][7][9]

After the world materialized, myths hold that Lorkhan was killed, mutilated, or at least separated from his divine center, theHeart of Lorkhan(known as Sep's "hunger" to theRedguardsand Shor's Heart to theNords), in an event sometimes called the shattering of Lorkhan.[1][7][10]This separation, which purportedly took place in Tamriel,[11]is typically called a punishment, but stories often suggest Lorkhan submitted to it voluntarily.[1][12]Whatever remained of Lorkhan afterward was exiled to wander through creation.[1][9][13]As the impetus for creating the Mundus, Lorkhan is at the center of the great ideological schism between theelvenandhumanperspectives on the event, which is known as the Sundering to the elves, and thus opinions of him vary dramatically in Tamriel.[1]

Worship and History[edit]

The corpse of Lorkhan?

The Theory of the Lunar Lorkhan states that the twin moonsMasserandSecundaare Lorkhan's "Flesh-Divinity" —his literal corpse. It says that, like theAedra,he was a planet (or plane) that participated in creation, but his planet split and his divine spark fell toNirn"to impregnate it with the measure of its existence and a reasonable amount of selfishness". The moons thus represent the "Cloven Duality", or dichotomy of opposites, that is central to the Tamrielic dialogue on Lorkhan.[14]Both modern and ancient Khajiiti religion places the two moons as separate entities that existed prior to Lorkhan's punishment at Convention,[6]and only believe that the third moon, theDark Moon,is his corpse.[15][16][17]However TheWar of Manifest Metaphorsrenders all these narratives on the Dawn, absurd.[18]This is due to the Dawn's inability to support what can be understood as "a narrative".[14]

Everyone eventually assigns a motivation to Lorkhan and picks a favorite story to believe, but the truth is as elusive as Lorkhan himself.[14]He is associated with trickery regardless.[7][19]In legends, he is almost always an enemy of the ancientElvesand, therefore, a hero of early Mankind.[7]SomeNordicmyths state he vowed theDwemerwould "die by [his] hand" shortly before their disappearance at the climax of theWar of the First Councilaround1E 700.One even claims that he was briefly reunited with his Heart and mortally woundedNerevarbefore being defeated again.[8]

To theAltmer,Lorkhan (who they view as more a limit than a nature) is the most unholy of all higher powers, as they believe he forever broke their connection to the spirit plane.[1][7][19][2]Some stories sayTrinimacdefeated Lorkhan in battle and tore out his Heart, while others claim it was Auriel who slew Lorkhan atop the Adamantine Tower after the latter was judged.[1][9]Their wish is to return to the spirit realm, but Lorkhan is the demon that hinders their way; to them Nirn is a prison, an illusion to escape.[2]

In contrast,Dunmericulture, especially underTribunalrule, has always had a close relationship with the missing god. In Dunmer legend, it is said that Boethiah's 'creation' of theChimerwas acted out with Lorkhan in mind, stating that the Chimer were to pledge themselves to the 'Frame-Maker'.[20]Lorkhan's Heart would become the source of the Tribunal's divinity, with Lorkhan and his motivations becoming a pondered topic in Vivec's own 36 Lessons. Thescarab,the symbol for Lorkhan shared by the Dunmer,[20]has been incorporated into the symbol ofHouse Redoran.[21]While they similarly think that Nirn is a cruel place full of mental anguish, the Dunmer believe that Lorkhan created the world as the testing ground for transcendence; to them the spirit realm was already a prison, andtrue escapeis now finally possible.[2][UOL 1][7][22]

Mankind has a similarly divisive relationship with Lorkhan. Nords revere him as the heroicShor,the trickster god who wielded his clever magic to bring about the current world, even though he was forced to sacrifice his own life in the process.[23][24]He is known as the Fox in their totemic pantheon.[25]His widow is the warrior goddess Kyne, the purported creator of mankind and chief of the Nordic Pantheon.[7]While Imperials have adopted a similarly favorable view of their variation of Shor, also known inNibenayasShezarr[26],theBretonsof High Rock view Shor, who they call Sheor, with utter contempt. They see Sheor as the Bad Man and claim him to be responsible for all the world's strife. They associate him with many of their woes, particularly crop failure.[7]

Redguard legends also paint Lorkhan to be adversarial. Their version,Sep,was driven mad by the Hunger ofSatakal,and convinced the other gods to create a 'shortcut' to the Walkabout, resulting in the creation of the mortal world. Though punished for his actions by Tall Papa, Sep continues to exist as a shadow of his former self, attempting to prevent mortal souls from reaching theFar Shoresafter death.[1]

TheKhajiitandReachmenboth creditNamirawith having some influence in his actions in creating Nirn. Ancient Khajiit texts that predate theRiddle'Thar Epiphanyspeak of Lorkhaj surviving the event known as the Convention where his heart was torn out, allowing him to flee to Azurah with the hole in his chest. Azurah saw Namiira was dwelling within his wound, keeping him alive and corrupting him by imitating his heart. Azurah cleansed Lorkhaj of the corruption and flung hisDark Heartinto the Void, and Lorkhaj perished within Azurah's embrace.[27]From the Dark Heart came the twisted shade of Lorkhaj known as the Moon Beast, first of thedro-m'Athra.And so Lorkhaj represents the duality of Khajiiti souls and their susceptibility towards the spiritual corruption of the Bent Dance.[28][29]

The Dark Heart

The Reachfolk creation story speaks of Lorkh having an epiphany when he visited the darkness; that what is perceived as nothingness is ripe for possibility.[30]And so, Lorkh approached Namira and convinced her to grant him a place in the infinite void to create a realm for wayward spirits, but it was not without a cost. Lorkh sacrificed himself to create a harsh realm, one that is unforgiving and intended to teach through suffering.[5]What happened after is shrouded in the allegory, though following Nirn's creation, darkness was emitted from Lorkh's heart as a result of hissundering.[31]And so to the Reachmen, Lorkh serves as an example to fight against the darkness in their hearts.[32]

Legacy[edit]

One legend holds that atConvention,Akatoshslew Lorkhan at the apex of theAdamantine Tower.When the Doom Drum's Heart proved indestructible, Auri-El attached it to an arrow and launched it across the world.[33]As it passed over theHeartlandsofCyrodiil,Lorkhan's crystallized blood fell to the ground, which theAyleidsfound and used to fashion theChim-el Adabal.[34]The Heart fell to the ground in modern-dayMorrowind,forming a volcano,[1]Red Mountain.The Dwemer eventually found and tried to exploit it, leading to the disappearance of their race from the face of Nirn.[35]

According toOrcandChimercreation myths,Boethiahtook exception to the lies being spread by the Elven gods about Lorkhan, most especially those espoused by Trinimac. He defeated Trinimac and took on his form to spread "the truth of Lorkhan's test", the Tri-Angled Truth, and persuaded the followers of Boethiah and Trinimac to abandon Altmeri society.[36][37]Boethiah andMephalashowed them the rules ofPsijic Endeavor,a process championed bySaint VelothandVivecby which mortals may equal or surpass the gods that created them (the stated purpose of the Mundus),[1][4][38]which may be the "truth of Lorkhan's test" referred to in legend.[7][37]He is still associated with the Psijic Endeavor in Morrowind.[7]

Lorkhan has obscure relationships with other deities. He andAkatoshare the only deities who seem to be present in every tradition. Some legends say thatKynarethwas the first to agree to his idea for a mortal realm.Marais sometimes considered his wife or concubine, as is Kynareth (orKyne).Sheogorathis said to have been created when Lorkhan's divine spark was removed from the world. While Lorkhan is the god of all mortals,Arkayis known as the Mortals' God.[7]Lorkhan is sometimes associated withSithis,[3]"theVoid",who is worshipped by members of theDark Brotherhood.It is thought that Lorkhan may still act in Mundus through the being called theShezarrine.[39]

Cults devoted to Lorkhan (or his aspects) have long existed in Tamriel. One cult may have predicted the rise ofTiber Septim.[40]These cults proliferated in the lateThird Era,and they are associated with spreading the understanding of theDragon Breakphenomenon (though their work is looked down upon in some scholarly circles).[41][42][43]Mankar Camoranclaimed that Lorkhan is aDaedrawhose Daedric plane is "Dawn's Beauty... misnamed Tamriel by deluded mortals".[44]

Ebonyis an extremely hard, durable, black glass-like substance. It is said to be the crystallized blood of a god or gods,[45][46]Lorkhan in particular.[47]SkyshardsandSky Prismsare a rare type ofmeteoric glass.Sometimes called "Shards ofAetherius",skyshards are shards of Aetherial magicka that carry the essence of Nirn. They are sometimes linked to Lorkhan.[48]It is believed among theNordsthatNirncruxis another form of the blood ofShor.[49]Orc followers of Trinimac use ebony as a material for their armors and weapons in token of Lorkhan's blood when Trinimac tore out his heart. They believe thatZylvara,the great eagle bore the Golden Champion to his reckoning with theman-demonQuarvish.[47]

Gallery[edit]

  • Chim-el Adabal

  • An Ebony Ingot

  • A Skyshard

  • A bowl of Nirncrux

  • The Scarab, a symbol associated with Lorkhan

See Also[edit]

Aspects[edit]

Books[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • When asked about Lorkhan and his avatars, developer Michael Kirkbride presented the following list. These are all various names or titles associated with Tiber Septim, Zurin Arctus, and Wulfharth.[UOL 2]
1. Wulfharth L
2. Hjalti O
3. Ysmir R
4. Talos K
5. Arctus H
6. Septim A
N

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghijklmThe Monomyth
  2. ^abcdSpirit of Nirn, God of Mortals
  3. ^abSithis
  4. ^abThe 36 Lessons of Vivec—Vivec
  5. ^abGreat Spirits of the Reach: Volume 5—Vashu gra-Morga,Chief Daedrotheologist at theUniversity of Gwylim
  6. ^abWords of Clan Mother Ahnissi—Clan Mother Ahnissi
  7. ^abcdefghijklVarieties of Faith...—Brother Mikhael Karkuxorof the Imperial College
  8. ^abFive Songs of King Wulfharth
  9. ^abcBefore the Ages of Man—Aicantar ofShimerene
  10. ^Songs of the Return, Vol 7
  11. ^Mysterious Akavir
  12. ^Plan to Defeat Dagoth Ur—Vivec
  13. ^Aedra and Daedra
  14. ^abcThe Lunar Lorkhan—Fal Droon
  15. ^Moon Bishop Hunal Answers Your Questions—Moon Bishop Hunal
  16. ^The Moon Cats and their Dance—Clan Mother Ahnissi
  17. ^Shazah's dialogue inESO
  18. ^Den of Lorkhajloading screen text inESO
  19. ^abThe Arcturian Heresy—The Underking,YsmirKingmaker
  20. ^ab36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 10—Vivec
  21. ^The Crest ofHouse Redoran
  22. ^36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 33—Vivec
  23. ^The Road to Sovngarde
  24. ^Divines and the Nords—High Priest Ingurt
  25. ^Ebony Fox TotemAntiquity codex entries inESO:Greymoor
  26. ^Shezarr and the Divines—Faustillus Junius
  27. ^The Favored Daughter of Fadomai—Amun-dro,the Silent Priest
  28. ^The Sky Spirits—Amun-dro,the Silent Priest
  29. ^The Dark Spirits—Amun-dro,the Silent Priest
  30. ^The Dark Descent's loading screen inESO
  31. ^Nchuand-Zel's loading screen inESO
  32. ^Ardanir's dialogue inESO
  33. ^Tower of Adamant—Hrerm House-builder,Bards College,Solitude
  34. ^Aurbic Enigma 4: The Elden Tree—Beredalmo the Signifier
  35. ^The Battle of Red Mountain—Vivec
  36. ^The Changed Ones
  37. ^abThe Anticipations— Anonymous
  38. ^Where Were You... Dragon Broke— Various
  39. ^The Song of Pelinal
  40. ^Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Morrowind—Imperial Geographical Society,2E 864
  41. ^The Dragon Break Re-Examined—Fal Droon
  42. ^Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Throat of the World: Skyrim—Imperial Geographical Society,3E 432
  43. ^The Seed—Marobar Sul
  44. ^Events ofOblivion
  45. ^Morrowinddialogue
  46. ^Hrorvild Blackrock, Nord weaponsmith—Hrorvild Blackrock
  47. ^abCrafting Motif 22: Trinimac Style— theVenerable Uugus,Priest of Trinimac
  48. ^Soul Shriven in Coldharbourquest inESO
  49. ^Rena Hammerhands' dialogue inESO

Note:The following references are considered to beunofficial sources.They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^Vehk's Teachings— Vivec
  2. ^Michael Kirkbride's Posts
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