Elder Scrolls Lore » Discussions


Artifacts of Tamriel: Auri-El's Shield

  • Member
    June 30, 2014

                Auri-El's Shield is another of the holy artifacts made and wielded by the Mer god, Auri-El, or Auriel (for more information on the god, visit here). Created during the early years of Mundus and Nirn, it has had many different enchantments throughout the centuries of its existence, resistance to fire and magic, blow absorption, magic reflection, and health enhancement. Folktales tell of it deserting its wielder in their time of greatest need, but this tale has never been proven true or false.

                Traditionally, its resting place was within the Chantry of Auri-El within the Forgotten Vale, in the possession of the Snow Elf Auri-El worshippers there. However, the shield has popped up in multiple other locations, and was seen in possession of The Eternal Champion,  The Nerevarine, and The Last Dragonborn. In addition, it was also seen during the Warp in the West.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                In the games, the shield has had fire and magic resistance enchantments, magic reflection, health enchantments, and, most notably, blow absorption. The blow absorption enchantment from Skyrim allows the shield to absorb the blows from enemies, and when the user hit his foe with it, unleashes the energy as a shockwave that can stagger or even throw them back!

    Sources of more information:

    UESP article on Auri-El's Shield

    UESP article on Auri-El

    Imperial Library article on Auri-El's Shield

    Thank you for reading another Artifacts of Tamriel article! Please leave a comment of what artifact you would like to see next!

  • Member
    September 9, 2014

    Do you think these artefacts are proof the Aedra - ancestors - worshipped by the Altmer are simply that, mortal ancestors and not the gods - et'ada?

  • Member
    September 9, 2014
    I know I am probably going to mess this up so bear with me, if the Aedra are simply mortal ancestors and not gods would that mean the whole premise of what the Altmer believe about the Gods and themselves is in fact false? I had read or watched a series on YouTube about how the Altmer believed they were descendants of the Gods but I can really be mixing it all up.
  • Member
    September 10, 2014

    I think that Auri-El's physicality on Tamriel was in the form of an avatar, a mortal being, and when he "ascended" (died) he tried to tall the Altmer how to return to how they were, spirits floating in Arubis. However, I assume they got it all wrong somewhere, as all mortals do, and they are now probably stuck in Mundus! 

    I usually try not to mess with thoughts like this about the Aldmeri monomyth, and Meri beliefs in general, because my dislike for the Altmer tends to bleed through. 

  • Member
    September 10, 2014

    Premier...  Funny you wrote "I usually try not to mess with thoughts like this about the Aldmeri monomyth, and Meri beliefs in general, because my dislike for the Altmer tends to bleed through." Because I too felt that way at first, but the more I read the more conflicting I felt on them...  I still have not played as an Altmer (I intend too) I have played as a Bosmer (one of my personal favs) but always incorporate them into the Stormcloak quest line, or as a rouge never choosing a side not even doing the main quests.  Anyway, I am running on and on...  I loved these articles nice and short and loads of info 

  • Tom
    Member
    September 10, 2014

    They're descended from Ehlnofey, which are et'Ada. Being a God doesn't mean you're have to be "immortal". Same way Lorkhan can't die, yet is the Dead God.

  • Member
    September 21, 2014

    I actually found an interesting way to look at the Auri-El question you posed. In Mongolian History, when Genghis Khan died, no sources say that he died, but that he "ascended to heaven" or something along those lines, because they could not bear saying that he had died. So, if you apply that to Altmer history, there is a distinct possibility that Auri-El actually just died, and the Altmeri chroniclers of the time just could not bear saying that their demigod leader was actually dead!

  • Member
    September 21, 2014

    That would actually be a really, really cool twist.

  • Member
    September 21, 2014

    Agreed! Nice one Premier, that's a great interpretation and one I had never considered before.

    Interpretation 1 - 0 Lore