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Legendary Figures: Thukhozod the Eternal

Tags: #Karver  #Necromancy  #Orsimer  #Legends 
  • January 19, 2017

    Few legends among the Orsimer inspire more respect and fear than the legend of the great Thukhozod. This great and powerful necromancer has been around for generations, apparently ageless and undying. Of course, for every story where an Orc has seen or interacted with the great Thukhozod, there are five more who claim to have explored his lair and seen no sign of the mysterious figure. - Thukhozod's Bracer

    As you can see there is a powerful Orc necromancer holed up in the Wrothgarian Mountains, Thukhozod the Eternal. An Orc who have achieved immortality, an Orc who has been around for generations, becoming a story to scare little runts of the Wrothgar clans. But is he real? Yes, he's real alright. But what is the truth about his immortality? And more importantly, who is Thukhozod?

    They say that Thukhozod was a necromancer who participated in Three Clans War which seems like some kind of skirmish between three Orcish Strongholds of Wrothgar. We only know only one clan participating in this War and that is Shatul Clan, because that clan was victorious with the help of Thukhozod. Because we don't know the names of the clans we can only speculate what happened to them, if they became forgotten and turned to dust or if they still exist. But Thukhozod...

    Oh what a legend we have wrought! Who would ever dare to challenge the powerful and immortal Thukhozod, master of the necromantic arts? Thukhozod is, was, and forever shall be. He appeared hundreds of years ago and established a hidden sanctum where he could perform his rituals and experiments in relative peace. He frightens the locals, he communes with chiefs and warlords, and he consults with the spirits of the dead. - The Legend of Thukhozod

    Speaking of the sanctum, it is worth mentioning that it is an Ayleid ruin. How powerful was this necromancer to claim Ayleid ruin? But the thing is that Thukhozod claimed he was immortal, but… After Three Clans War he unexpectedly died. So how is that he is still remembered and seen in his sanctum? It's Thukhozod's son's doing.

    Thukhozod´s Sanctum

    This complex was clearly built by Ayleids, the ancient Wild Elves of Cyrodiil. After St. Alessia´s slave revolt, some Ayleid clans fled to northwest Tamriel, but whatever group excavated these halls disapeared long ago.  

    When Thukhozod died unexpectedly, his son and apprentice Glazoz decided to keep the event a secret. He dealt with his father's body and took on his identity. In that way, Thukhozod continued and his march toward immortality was on. - The Legend of Thukhozod

    Not one, but many. Immortal indeed. The legacy being passed from one Orc to another, blood to blood. But what is interesting is on how the mantle is passed on and what exactly it entrails.

    I grow old and I know my time is short. When you become Thukhozod, these Ayleid ruins will respond to you and the creatures here will serve you. Those things alone will give you a life of power greater than you could ever imagine, but it's the name that's the greatest treasure. When people hear the name "Thukhozod" they quiver in terror. No one will ever cause you any trouble again.

    All that's required to inherit your birthright is to mix your blood with mine. I have soaked this very letter with my blood, so you must simply add a drop of your own and the transformation will take place. I hope you enjoy your inheritance as much as I've enjoyed mine. - Letter from Thukhozod

    With the blood of the present Thukhozod mixing with the blood of the future Thukhozod, the Ayleid ruins will obey their new master's command. Again I have to ask how powerful was the first Thukhozod to gain such a control over ruins that belonged to a race gifted with magickal power much greater than Orcs ever had?

    Now we get into Second Era, where Thukhozod summons his son to pass on the mantle. But there is also someone else who wishes to become the apprentice of the most feared necromancer of the Wrothgarian Mountains.

    I have reached the fabled ruins known as Thukhozod's Sanctum. Soon, my dream of becoming as great and immortal a necromancer as Thukhozod will come to pass. The Great One will see my talent and recognize my desire. He will know that I am a kindred spirit yearning to learn the secrets of the dead.

    As required by the ancient traditions, I sent a zombie of my own creation into the ruins to present myself and offer my petition for apprenticeship. That was yesterday, and still no word from the ruins. Have I somehow offended the Great One? Was my creation inferior in some way?

    Enough waiting! No one ignores Gorlar the Dark, not even the powerful Thukhozod! I'm going to break protocol and enter the ruins without an invitation. Then the Great One will have to confront me. We'll see who ignores whom when I'm face to face with the legend. - Gorlar's Journal, Part One

    This Gorlar encounters old and feeble Thukhozod, killing him and eventually taking over the control of the sanctum. When Tukhozod's son arrives he is killed by Gorlar and Gorlar himself ends up dead by the hand of the Vestige.

    But it makes me wonder… Are there any other relatives of Thukhozod's out there? Can the sanctum summon him, to claim his rightful place? Is Thukhozod still immortal, still present during Fourth Era?





  • Member
    January 19, 2017

    Nice one, Mr the Lorc! So what we have here is a very direct form of mantling. Unlike some of the examples of mantling we're fmiliar with which are about renacting events or fulfilling symbolic memes, this here seems to be much less metaphysical. However, is it any less meaningful for that? Those same things are still present. If the eyes of the universe remembers Thukhozod as he was and sees Thukhozod as he is now, did the first Thukhozod ever really die? Does that, by extension, mean the current Thukhozod has all the memories of all the other previous incaranations just like our uncle Sheo?

    All that's required to inherit your birthright is to mix your blood with mine. I have soaked this very letter with my blood, so you must simply add a drop of your own and the transformation will take place. I hope you enjoy your inheritance as much as I've enjoyed mine.

    If we think on what we have learned from Skyrim and Oblivion about the interchangeability of blood and soul could an argument be made that the transformation was total, soul to soul fusion?

    On the subject of blood, you raise a good point:

    With the blood of the present Thukhozod mixing with the blood of the future Thukhozod, the Ayleid ruins will obey their new master's command. Again I have to ask how powerful was the first Thukhozod to gain such a control over ruins that belonged to a race gifted with magickal power much greater than Orcs ever had?

    Did he learn secret Ayleid Dawn Magicks? Or is this another Morkul Clan thing, like the legendary Skalg and his journal? That quest, Morkal's Descent, let us choose to let the clan use their ancient blood magic or deny their heritage. Is this something similar, a branch of the same tree?

    But it makes me wonder… Are there any other relatives of Thukhozod's out there? Can the sanctum summon him, to claim his rightful place? Is Thukhozod still immortal, still present during Fourth Era?

    What a fantastic opportunity for RP and CB. Great addition at the end there. ESO Orsinium adds many things such as how their smiths incorporate the remains of their ancestors into their weapons to lend them power (tusks, for instance. Smack someone with your grandad's tusk). Factor in blood magic and necromancy and there are many places to run with this.

  • January 19, 2017
    Great article, Karves. You were showing me this source a few weeks ago. You've done cool things with the info. Makes rolling a Necromancer Orc that much more cool.
  • January 20, 2017

    Phil said:

    Nice one, Mr the Lorc! So what we have here is a very direct form of mantling. Unlike some of the examples of mantling we're fmiliar with which are about renacting events or fulfilling symbolic memes, this here seems to be much less metaphysical. However, is it any less meaningful for that? Those same things are still present. If the eyes of the universe remembers Thukhozod as he was and sees Thukhozod as he is now, did the first Thukhozod ever really die? Does that, by extension, mean the current Thukhozod has all the memories of all the other previous incaranations just like our uncle Sheo?

    I think you hit the nail on its head here, mate. This is basicaly one of the best examples of mantling, and when you think about it it actually works the same way as other mantling we know. Sheo alright? You are send on series of quests and shit, walking in Sheogorath´s steps for so long until you become him. But what about Thukhozod? You have to reach the Sanctum, you have to mix your blood with Thukhozod´s, as many others did before you. So there is some kind of "ritual" which is very tied to mantiling. 

    With the blood and all that I think that Thukhozod is Thukhozod while not being Thukhozod. If you catch my meaning :D

  • January 20, 2017

    Phil said:

    On the subject of blood, you raise a good point:

    With the blood of the present Thukhozod mixing with the blood of the future Thukhozod, the Ayleid ruins will obey their new master's command. Again I have to ask how powerful was the first Thukhozod to gain such a control over ruins that belonged to a race gifted with magickal power much greater than Orcs ever had?

    Did he learn secret Ayleid Dawn Magicks? Or is this another Morkul Clan thing, like the legendary Skalg and his journal? That quest, Morkal's Descent, let us choose to let the clan use their ancient blood magic or deny their heritage. Is this something similar, a branch of the same tree?

    That´s actually what I was wondering about too. The blood is a re-ocurring theme among Orcs and any other primitive magic used to accomplish amazing thing. Morkul Hammer is one of those things. I´m not entirely sold on the Dawn Magicks, the blood is more probable. I mean...the whole racial magic thing is basicaly like a server you can login to with the right password, but you can hack it with the right knowledge and components. You know what I mean. You have this Thu´um of Nords, only for Nords, but you can learn even if you are different race. If we apply this to Dawn Magicks, which Welkynd Stones are tied to, you can use the Stones without knowing Dawn Magicks. So if you can find a way how to use the stone then you can find a way how to control whole ruins, all that without Dawn Magicks. It´s just finding your way around.

     

  • Member
    January 20, 2017

    A very interesting character this Thukhozod to be sure. I love the idea of a title being transfered from one person to the other in order to create an enduring legend. That last conjecture you made even opens up a very interesting way to roleplay orc necromancers. Nice work Karve!

  • Member
    January 20, 2017

    Phil said:

    All that's required to inherit your birthright is to mix your blood with mine. I have soaked this very letter with my blood, so you must simply add a drop of your own and the transformation will take place. I hope you enjoy your inheritance as much as I've enjoyed mine.

    If we think on what we have learned from Skyrim and Oblivion about the interchangeability of blood and soul could an argument be made that the transformation was total, soul to soul fusion?

    On the subject of blood, you raise a good point:

    With the blood of the present Thukhozod mixing with the blood of the future Thukhozod, the Ayleid ruins will obey their new master's command. Again I have to ask how powerful was the first Thukhozod to gain such a control over ruins that belonged to a race gifted with magickal power much greater than Orcs ever had?

    Did he learn secret Ayleid Dawn Magicks? Or is this another Morkul Clan thing, like the legendary Skalg and his journal? That quest, Morkal's Descent, let us choose to let the clan use their ancient blood magic or deny their heritage. Is this something similar, a branch of the same tree?

    You raise an interesting point concerning the Morkul forge Phil. I haven't played through the quest myself but a quick read of the UESp page for that particular quest tells me this:

    a bloodforge – a terrible device that fused living captives into weapons and armor

    So this forge fuses a captive into whatever is being forged. Am I the only one to be reminded by another more well known forging procedure? To me this sounds a lot like Daedric smithing where one has to infuse ebony with the blood from a deadra heart in order to bind said daedra's soul to the forged item. Both procedures sound very much like a form of enchanting, where, correct me if I'm wrong, the enchanter binds the soul of the creature or person trapped in the soul gem to the enchanted item. If blood and soul could indeed be interchangeable as you say could this mean orc blood magic can function as some "primal" form of enchanting, bypassing the need for soulgems by transferring the soul via blood?

    As to how this could relate to Thukhozod, would it be totally outside the bounds of reality that the original Thukhozod "enchanted" whatever controls the undead in the ruin and bound it to his soul? And then through the transfer of blood binding it to his descendants?

  • January 20, 2017
    Hmm, interesting angle on Morkul Forge. I would say more but you gave me a prompt to do something on the Forge, so I might save it for that. I'm just going to say that Enchanting as we know is pretty much nonexistent among Orcs. Now add Morkul Forge into that formula...as well as Thukhozod's Sanctum.
  • Member
    January 20, 2017
    An article about mantling that doesn't get me mind-fucked? Joy! Also, yay more Orc mages! So does this mean Ayleid ruins have a connection with blood? Did Thuk (I'm just calling him Thuk if that's okay with you guys.) somehow found a cheatcode that allowed him to control the sanctum?
  • January 20, 2017
    That's a good question. To me it seems that blood is somekind of universal key or something. Remember ol' Septimus? He needed Dwemer blood to open the cube and what he used instead of that? Blood of other Mer races. So...maybe Thukhozod used Ayleid blood, or all Mer blood or maybe he had some Ayleid blood. Maybe maybe.