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Monthly Lore discussion: Heart stones; Fragments of Lorkhan?

Tags: #Magic  #Lorkhan  #Metaphysics  #Monthly Lore Discussion  #The Red Mountain  #Heart stones 
  • Member
    August 1, 2017

     

    Welcome back to the second Monthly Lore Discussion, this time it’s the August 2017 edition.

    When I asked your opinion on the subject that you wanted to go with for this month you decided you wanted to discuss the Red mountain and I can’t say I blame you.

    Before we start I would like to quickly point out that because of the vote you guys missed a great opportunity to discuss Sheogorath and the limits of the human mind. Alas, Back to business:

     

     

    While I’m going out on a limb and assume you all wanted to discuss the Chimer, the Dwemer, the Tribunal and whatever new stuff the ESO Morrowind expansion brought to the table, I’m happy to announce that I’m going to utterly disappoint you guys!

    Not really though as today’s subject may very well end up being tied to all of the above, today we will be talking about the Heart stones we were introduced to in the Dragonborn DLC.

    It recently came to my attention that we actually know barely anything concrete about these odd rocks, except for their potent necromantic properties, their ability to function as some sort of catalyzer in the enchanting of staffs and the fact that they came from the red mountain itself. It got me wondering what these things actually were.

    Today I would like to discuss just that. What are the Heart stones and does their name have anything to do with the Heart buried in the depths of the mountain?

    As for last month, I would most certainly appreciate it if you guys were to quickly drop in to vote at the poll for next month’s discussion: http://tamrielvault.com/grouppolls/12269/18/the-monthly-lore-discussion-of-september

  • August 1, 2017
    Seriously, how am I supposed to reply to so many Lore discussions? Gah. I'll just compose myself and vommit something here too then xD Just kidding. Give me sec, me and Lis had a chat about that some time ago. And then I had a chat with Phil how common is the knowledge about existance of Lorkhan's heart. Feel free to ponder about that bit for now. :)
  • Member
    August 1, 2017

    The Lorc of Flowers said: Seriously, how am I supposed to reply to so many Lore discussions? Gah. I'll just compose myself and vommit something here too then xD Just kidding. Give me sec, me and Lis had a chat about that some time ago. And then I had a chat with Phil how common is the knowledge about existance of Lorkhan's heart. Feel free to ponder about that bit for now. :)

    As I was preparing this subject I actually noticed that as well. From what I know only Nerevar, some Dwemer, Dagoth Ur and the Tribunal should be aware of the Heart right? Yet it appears all over the place in all kinds of literature on any of the above-mentioned groups. It's a bit odd, especially when you come across high ranking temple members who don't have a clue what "The Heart" is (see the start of the ESO Morrowind main quest).

  • August 1, 2017

    Alright, so before I start I´ll say my own question out loud. How common is the knowledge about Heart of Lorkhan and its location in Red Mountain? What exactly common people know about it? Cause they didn´t name the rocks "Heart Stones" without a reason, right? Ponder about that, about the in-world perspective.

    Now, for the Heart Stones. What are they? Well, if we take the knowledge of what we have learned in Morrowind...what happened there? Dagoth Ur was using the Heart´s power to become a god while also creating a god, second Numidium. Heart was there for millenia, Dagoth Ur using it was there for centuries. All that magic would be seeping into Red Mountain itself, the whole time. And when Heart was destroyed, Dagoth killed, second Numidium melted in the lava...it all remained there, the residual power.

    So what are Heart Stones? Residual power of - possibly - three gods. Lorkhan who can´t really die because his heart is the Heart of the world. Sharmat who died, but believed he didn´t die so he didn´t die. And Akulakhan who was never born, but if he would be he would be powered by Heart.

    Now, do you remember how Numidium became powered? By Mantella, which was sort of Heart´s replacement. So what are Heart Stones then? :)

  • August 1, 2017

    Teineeva said:

    The Lorc of Flowers said: Seriously, how am I supposed to reply to so many Lore discussions? Gah. I'll just compose myself and vommit something here too then xD Just kidding. Give me sec, me and Lis had a chat about that some time ago. And then I had a chat with Phil how common is the knowledge about existance of Lorkhan's heart. Feel free to ponder about that bit for now. :)

    As I was preparing this subject I actually noticed that as well. From what I know only Nerevar, some Dwemer, Dagoth Ur and the Tribunal should be aware of the Heart right? Yet it appears all over the place in all kinds of literature on any of the above-mentioned groups. It's a bit odd, especially when you come across high ranking temple members who don't have a clue what "The Heart" is (see the start of the ESO Morrowind main quest).

    That´s what I thought at first too. That only few chosen, those closest would know about Heart. BUT let´s not forget that Heart figures in quite a lot of creation myths. So what does that tells us? Well, here´s this, recently added by ESO:

    Everyone knows the legend. The Heart of Lorkhan, which so famously told Auriel, "This Heart is the heart of the world, for one was made to satisfy the other." Indestructible, hidden away, cast down into the sea. Only to end up beneath the Red Mountain, waiting for the right opportunist to collect it for their own. And today I have come to collect my prize.

    Yes, it may only be my speculation that the Heart resides in Nchuleftingth, but my instinct has driven me to success before. I've researched many volumes pertaining to the myth, and all indicate that it lies beneath Red Mountain. This is where I will make my greatest find.

    The fact that I believe in this Aedric artifact should speak nothing of my faith to the Divines. Only a fool ignores myth. After all, every story holds some kernal of truth to it. Legends are simply facts that have been expanded upon, morphed into the ridiculous. And I believe that the Heart, though clearly an object of great power, is merely that. A magical object I mean to obtain.

    I was surprised to find Neramo here, of all the halfwits I could come across in Vvardenfell. He and his motley crew were easy enough to capture or run off, and I've found the control rod he's left behind quite useful. Naturally I have many modifications for the tool already in mind, but currently it's worked well in getting the Dwarven constructs under my control.

    I'm not sure what the Heart of Lorkhan can achieve. Perhaps it will be a powerful potion ingredient, more potent than any Daedra heart. Or perhaps it can grant magical attributes, such as boundless strength or resilience in battle. Perhaps it is a great soul gem, capable of powering something grander than Tamriel has ever seen. No matter its use, all I know is that it shall earn me enough gold to retire. I am far too sensible to ever attempt to use an item of great power. Too often, such greed leads to despair. Heart of Lorkhan, My Final Prize

    So this tells us that people know about Heart of Lorkhan, but they believe it´s just a myth. Or some gem with mystical power, just like...let´s say Lord´s Mail or Stendarr´s Hammer. Very few really believe it is actually a beating heart of Lorkhan himself, or what it is capable of. At least this is the conclusion I came to with this bit. Me and Phil talked about that and I have no doubt he´ll weight in with other sources, like Red Mountain or some Vivec´s personal stuff. I can´t really remember those right now.

  • Member
    August 1, 2017

    I will weigh in at some point, I think I have thoughts. Just hit 23 hours of up, can't remember my name :D

  • August 1, 2017
    I feel like I should take advantage of that and give you one...oh well :D
  • Member
    August 1, 2017

    Better not, wouldn't want to make Harrow jealous :p

  • August 1, 2017
    But I want You! Will you be my Gardener of Swords? :)
  • Member
    August 1, 2017

    Hahaha! I thought you were the one with green thumbs? I am not a good gardener. More of a farmer, as I enjoy ploughing.