You've experienced the Elder Scrolls Series in your own way, but want to learn more about
its story. Well, to get to the heart of the story- you have to go back to the beginning...
Deceiver. Devourer. Queen. Goddess. Boethiah is the Daedric Prince of deceit,
treachery, insurrection and rebellion against lawful authority. Considered one of the most
violent of the Princes, she demands blood, combat and very often outright murder to appease
her appetites and gain her favor. Her followers believe any mortal hasn't proven themselves
worthy of her attention until they've taken a life. This sinister reputation has marked
her as one of the "evil" Daedra, save for the Dunmer, who revere her. Indeed, much
like her supposed rival, the intensely malevolent Molag Bal, Boethiah delights in the agony
and deaths of those on the mortal plane. Those who follow her do so expressly aware that
they are no more than playthings for the amusement of the Daedric Prince and that at any time
Boethiah may demand their blood, or that of another at their hands.
Gender means nothing to the Princes, "male" and "female" are mortal concepts. Boethiah
has been portrayed as both genders at her various shrines. In Cyrodiil and Morrowind,
shrines dedicated to Boethiah portray her as a strong caped warrior wielding a giant
battleaxe. In Skyrim, her shrine resembles a rather sinister looking woman brandishing
a blade. Her followers come from many corners of Tamriel to worship at these shrines, but
as mentioned before, the Dark Elves are counted among her most devout cultists.
Scholars agree that Boethiah, in conjunction with Azura and Mephala, is responsible for
the emergence of the Dunmer as a distinct race. The ancestors of these Dark Elves were
known the Chimer, who themselves were descended from the ancient High Elven Aldmer. As the
preamble to the Dark Elves, the Chimer had been chosen to abandon the laws and customs
of the Summerset Isles at the behest of Boethiah. We can be certain this insurrection and rebellion
of the Chimer pleased the Daedric mistress. The exodus of the Chimer is shrouded in mystery.
Some historians say Boethiah had battled and defeated the Aldmer god Trinimac and in the
end, devoured him. Then, speaking with Trinimac's own voice, she convinced these upstarts to
leave their home and follow the prophet Veloth, finally settling in Resdayn, which would come
to be known as Morrowind. Whether this legend of ages past is true, Boethiah is acknowledged
by the world at large to be responsible for most aspects of Dunmer philosophy, magic and
architecture. Despite Boethiah's contempt for the lives
of mortals, she came to be considered one of the "good" Daedra, along with Mephala
and Azura. Later, when the Dark Elves submitted themselves to the rule and authority of the
Tribunal, these Princes were all but cast aside; their shrines falling into disrepair.
Following the later fall of the Tribunal, Boethiah was again elevated to primary worship
in the land of Morrowind. The realm of Boethiah in Oblivion is known
alternately as Atrribution's Share or Snake Mount. It has been depicted as a place of
labyrinths, maze gardens and twisted towers. It is where Boethiah's contest, The Tournament
of Ten Bloods has been carried out for millenia. A one on one battle to the death, The Tournament
of Ten Bloods is an arena-style contest fought between the ten major races of Tamriel. Bretons,
Imperials, Nords, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs, Argonians, Khajiit. One representative
from each race battles to the death to win the favor of Boethiah and the prize is one
of her sought after artifacts such as Goldbrand, which has been awarded to a Hero of Cyrodil
in the Third Era and was offered to a Hero in Morrowind at an earlier time in exchange
for the erection of a new shrine in Vvardenfell. Goldbrand takes the form of a golden katana,
which is said to have been created by dragons, and empowered by Boethiah. It is rumored that
Goldbrand played a key part in the Battle of the Red Ring against the Aldmeri Dominion.
In this battle, the Empire launched an assault to retaken the Imperial City, which had fallen
to the Thalmor. Reports from the battle indicate that Goldbrand was wielded by Emperor Titus
Mede II, and with it, he and his Imperials drove the Elven menace from their city...
Only rumor though; unverified by the Imperial Government, who probably doesn't want their
citizens thinking their Emperor is a secret Daedra worshipper.
There is another legend of an artifact of Boethiah known as Fearstruck that took the
form of a shield which belonged to the hero Lyrisius who is known for having fought against
Akaviri slavers. Sadly, for artifact collectors everywhere, the shield was thought to be destroyed
by the breath of a wyrm Lyrisius encountered in his journeys. Aside from the legend of
Lyrisius, no account of this artifact exists. The most notable of Boethiah's artifacts
is without doubt the Ebony Mail. It may well be among the most powerful artifacts in existence
according to some experts. At one time, the Eternal Champion possessed the mail, having
retrieved it from the Black Marsh after Boethiah lost favor with Helath Stormbinder, the previous
owner of the powerful magical armor. Anecdotes indicate the Ebony Mail's enchantments
have changed over time. When Tholer Saryoni, Archcanon of the Temple of the Tribunal, sent
a hero on a pilgrimage to Mount Assarnibibi, the hero was rewarded with the Ebony Mail.
At the time, the artifact featured a constant shielding as well as a resistance to both
fire and magicka. Yet when the artifact reappeared during the time of the Last Dragonborn, the
Ebony Mail carried different enchantments that nullified most magic based attacks, muffled
noise, and exuded a poison that injured anyone within a certain radius of the wearer.
The reasons behind the variations in the armor's enchantments over time have never been explained.
Boethiah and her devotees function according to a simple edict. It is actions and the will
to make them that are deserving of merit. Words, be they sermons, titles, platitudes
or pleas are hollow and worthy only of contempt. Indeed, pleas for mercy often incite the Daedric
goddess of sedition to even greater acts of cruelty. She cares not at all for her worshippers
other than to enjoy their suffering and destruction as evidenced by her actions. Her Tournament,
intended for her amusement, always reveals the strongest warriors of the period, setting
them apart with her favor and her artifacts, until her interest wanes again. Ultimately
she turns upon her champions, in anticipation of another, stronger mortal to serve her own
nefarious ends. The limits of Boethiah's cruelty has known
no boundaries. She continues to be a source of anguish and suffering amongst the lands
of mortals. Many would assume Boethiah's deeds have no greater purpose outside of her
own amusement, and while there is some truth to this, she has clearly taken steps to reshape
Nirn in here own image. Her actions not only helped give birth to the Dark Elves, but the
Orcs owe their plight to Boethiah's hand as well. It was from the remains of Trinimac
that another Prince would come into existence; a Daedric Prince who would be seen as an outcast
among his own kind. The Orcs revere him as the god of the spurned and the ostracized.
Keeper of the Sworn Oath, and Bloody Curse. But that- is a story for another day...