Tamriel, "Dawn's Beauty" in the language of the Altmer, or Taazokaan
in the dragons' tongue, is the continent upon which all the Elder Scrolls games take place.
Home to many diverse races and even more conflicts,
Tamriel has been host to many adventures.
You've experienced Tamriel 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.
We learned previously that dark supernatural forces are alive and well on Tamriel.
The Daedric princes are in large the embodiment of change and chaos.
They seem to love stirring things up on Nirn, which is pretty ironic considering
that they didn't contribute a single thing to its creation.
It was their counterparts, the Aedra, who we owe our existence to as mortals.
It was the Aedra who gave themselves in our creation
and it was the Aedra who became the bones of our planet.
In the ancient Aldmeric tongue Aedra translates to mean, "Our Ancestors."
Unlike the Daedra, the Aedra do not have their own immortal planes within Oblivion.
Rather, the act of creation bound them permanently to the mortal plane.
So unlike the Daedra, the Aedra can in fact be killed which is why there are some that consider them
unworthy of worship. To the majority of Tamriel, however,
the Aedra are revered as gods and are given the collective name, "The Divines."
These Aedra, having given much of their divine essence in the creation of Nirn,
cannot physically walk on the planet, but they are still believed to influence it in their own way.
Worshipers of the Divines believe their destiny to be guided and protected by the Divines and
history has often proven them to be right.
First born of the Aedra, Dragon God of Time, and Chief Deity of the Nine Divines
Akatosh represents the qualities of endurance, invincibility, and everlasting legitimacy.
Akatosh is considered to be the god defender of the Empire.
As lord of the Aedra, Akatosh took pity on the plight of mortal man who were slaves
to the Daedra loving Ayleids.
Looking down on man, he drew precious blood from his own heart
and blessed Saint Alessia with the blood of dragons, or as we know it
the Amulet of Kings.
This ancient covenant sealed shut the jaws of Oblivion long enough for Saint Alessia
to free her people, ensuring the birth of an Empire.
In the province of Cyrodiil, Akatosh's main chapel is located in the city of Kvatch.
At his chapels he blesses his followers with increased magicka and speed.
Akatosh tells us:
God of righteous might and merciful forbearance,
Stendarr is the inspiration of kings and rulers.
He is the patron of the Imperial legions
and the comfort of the law abiding citizen.
In the wake of the Oblivion Crisis, followers of Stendarr formed the orginization
known as the Vigilance of Stendarr whose sole mission is to eradicate
the Daedra and their followers no matter what their form.
The Vigilantes of Stendarr wander the countryside
looking to enforce justice.
They're particularly fond of saying the words:
"May Stendarr have mercy on you, for the Vigil has none to spare."
This saying of their's is pretty ironic considering that the self-proclaimed
believers are supposed to be in service of the god of mercy.
The chapel of Stendarr is located in Cyrodilic Chorrol and according
to legend the Gauntlets of the Divine Crusader are located within.
Stendarr tells us:
God of the cycle of birth and death, Arkay is associated
with burials and funeral rites.
Arkay is thought to be the son of Akatosh, sometimes called "The Mortal's God."
Arkay is the great spirit who brings every man, elf, and beast into the world
and when he deems the time is right he ends their cycle of life and death.
Because of this Arkay is fertility and blight, joy and sorrow.
Arkay's main chapel is located in the Cyrodilic city of Cheydinhal
where he blesses pilgrims with increased fortitude.
Arkay tells us:
Goddess of love, Mara is the patron of the bountiful earth
and the source of mortal compassion and understanding.
In some writings she is thought to be the wife of Akatosh.
Chapels devoted to the mother goddess of Tamriel are called
"Benevolences" because her followers are devoted to uniting all creatures
as children of Mara.
Her believers are intolerant to only those who show intolerance
They hate only those who hate.
For a reasonable donation to a Benevolence the patron will be blessed
and supposedly be forever beloved by he or she who loves them best.
Mara tells us:
God of work and commerce, the provider of ease, and the trader god,
Zenithar is the deity of wealth, labor, commerce,
and man and mer's most powerful gift - communication.
Many followers of Zenithar have demonstrated that through
earnest work and honest profit, not through war and bloodshed,
peace and prosperity reign true.
For the honest pilgrim Zenithar will bestow a most prized weapon:
A silver tongue.
Zenithar tells us:
Among men he is the greatest hero to ever walk the mortal plane.
Talos is the god of war, heir to the seat of the sundered kings,
and Dragonborn.
Tiber Septim's great deeds here on Nirn were so legendary
that he ascended to godhood as Talos and the Eight became Nine.
The story of Tiber Septim the man is a long and profound one.
He is arguably one of the most influential mortals who ever lived
and his is a story we will surely return to time and again.
But for now, know that he was the one who brought about
the dawn of an era when he conquered all of Tamriel,
bringing even the high and haughty elves to their knees.
Unifying an entire continent, Tiber Septim crowned himself the first emperor
of Tamriel and at the ripe age of one hundred and eight
he ascended to godhood as Talos, taking the Divines from Eight to Nine.
It is important to note, however, that the matter of Talos' godhood
is still a point of great debate, both in how and whether it actually happened.
So, naturally, like any good Tamrielic debate, wars will be fought and blood will be spilled.
Talos tells us:
Deity of the heavens, the winds, the elements, and the unseen spirits of air
Kynareth is the patron to sailors and travelers.
In some legends she is the first of the Aedra to agree to Lorkhan's plan
to invent the mortal plane of Mundus and provides the space for its creation.
It is said that Kynareth took pity on the plight of man and gifted them with the Thu'um
so they could harness the language of dragons to use its power against them
to save themselves from the wrath of Alduin.
Pilgrims seeking Kynareth's blessing receive the gift of heightened stamina.
Kynareth tells us:
She has nearly a dozen different cults, some devoted to women,
some to artists, and others to erotic instruction.
Dibella is the goddess of beauty and love.
Houses of worship dedicated to her are sometimes called "Houses of Dibella,"
though like most places of worship they are also referred to as chapels and temples.
Dibella tends to attract individuals who live life in pursuit of sensual pleasure.
Worshiping Dibella is thought to be as a more personal and intimate association
than worshiping the other Divines.
Cyrodil's chapel of Dibella resides in Anvil.
Prayers heard by Dibella within the chapel fortify personality.
Dibella tells us:
God of wisdom and logic, Julianos is the father of language, mathematics, literature,
law, history, and contradiction.
He is usually associated with magic and is thus often revered by wizards.
Orders dedicated to Julianos are the keepers of the mysterious Elder Scrolls.
Julianos tells us:
As citizens of Tamriel our everyday existence is the living testaments to the Aedra.
So what is it? Daedra or Aedra?
What side do you fall on?