Elder Scrolls Lore » Discussions


Aedra: Tsun

  • Member
    April 27, 2015

    My name is Einwulf Trollsbane and I'm here today to tell you about Tsun. I've 'erd it said people in the south call 'im Zenithar and that he is different in those parts than he is in Skyrim. But that don't matter, see, because it's all just stories - the snows melt and then freeze again and in the end it is all still so much water.

    Let me explain. To us Nords Tsun is dead. By dead I mean dead, killed while defending his King, Shor son of Shor. But death ain't the end for the Children of the Sky, so why would it be any different for a god? No, Tsun guards his bone-bridge before the Hall of Valour in the mists of Sovngarde, granting only those worthy of passage a place at Shor's Table.

    That's the important part, see? He is the god of trials against adversity. In death he tests the worth of those seeking admittance to the hall just as in life he tested the worth of those hunters of the great whale.

     

    You think it's a coincidence his symbol in Cyrodiil is an anvil? Let me guess: you all thought he was a blacksmith's god, a trader waving a friendly hello to passers by each morning while whistling a merry tune! Ha!

    Here, that anvil holds more meaning besides the obvious. Sure it means endurance and strength, creativity and pride just like it does for you, but it is also that upon which we throw ourselves to test our mettle. We are made sharper by Tsun's tempering. And in the north you need to be sharp.

    In the old days which are remembered and honoured in our stories, Ysgramor and his legendary Five Hundred returned after the betrayal seeking to forge a life in this hard land. They needed tools, they needed trade and they needed sustenance. Who better to show them the path to success than Tsun; and what better of all Kyne's creatures to provide those things than the mighty whale?

    You might mock, but hunting whale is no small thing. Out in the ocean, the whale's domain and at the mercy of Kyne's mood with only a plank of wood between yerself and the drink, being the best is the difference between life and death. This is why Kyne and Tsun are often associated with each other.

    Bringing such a catch home provided food and fuel for many families over the harsh winter, while the bones and ivory provided tools and trade. Fine carvings depicting the mighty gods and heroes were traded between communities as payment for deeds or goods.

    So next time you see one of the carvings in The Hall of Stories in any of Skyrim's ruins (assuming you're brave enough to enter that is) look out for the whale and the boat. That is why Tsun winnows the souls of the dead in Sovngarde, allowing only the best of the best to get in.

    So you can see that Tsun is also a god of souls. He is the final arbiter of worth and the last obstacle to the Hall of Valour. In the heat of battle (not that any of you milk-drinkers will likely ever get close to one) you may hear a Nord warrior call out to Tsun to guide his soul to the afterlife, or shout a challenge invoking Tsun to take his enemy's soul.

    Notice that? Imperials pray. Nords invoke. The gods ain't going to reach down and soothe you like a mother with a child, but they may help if they see you helping yourself. That is what they truly are, see. They are role models whose footprints we can follow to be the best we can possibly be.

    Now go. All this talking is thirsty work and I have talked far too much already.

    N.B:

    What are your thoughts on Tsun? Do you believe Einwulf Trollsbane's assertion that Zenithar is Tsun? Leave your comments and thoughts below.

    Also, special thanks to the Workshop guys who commented and encouraged.

  • Member
    May 5, 2015

    Great stuff, glad to see this posted up here! 

    These connections are so interesting, don't you think?  I'm not sure if I'd say that Zenithar *is* Tsun, but that's nitpicking - you've shown that a strong correspondence between the two figures is an interesting and worthy thing to ponder. 

  • Member
    May 5, 2015

    I love that it's never directly stated there is a connection between Zenithar and Tsun, only Imperial Scholars theorising the Nine Ancient Nord Totems relate to the Nine Divines. This is probably why I chose an in-universe style to make it work - full deniability!

  • Member
    June 15, 2015

    I see more similarities to Arkay, honestly. But I do enjoy you analysis.

     

  • Tom
    Member
    June 15, 2015

    Orkey is the Nordic equivalent of Arkay.

  • March 28, 2016

    Damn the nords and their religion Malacath has lead the strongest and most vicious race in all of tamriel the orsimer.

  • Member
    April 2, 2016

    My thoughts on tsun is the fact that he is annoyingly tall. When I play as an altmer, I like to look down on people, but he had to and go ruin it by being a head taller than me.

  • Member
    April 2, 2016

    Well, he isn´t exactly mortal

  • Member
    April 2, 2016

    That would make it all the better if he was short. Then we Altmer could look down on a god