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Research: Summerset

Tags: #Altmer  #ESO  #Research 
  • May 31, 2018

    Research: Summerset

    So with the new expansion for ESO out and the land of Altmer being open I think it’s the appropriate time to look at the gems and jewels of their Lore and boy, just from the first hour of playing there have been several interesting bits about the society and culture. I will be trying to conduct this research without spoilers and all that, with few pics of the flora and fauna and also the cultural stuff. So let’s get started.

    Also, sorry this might not to be to the standarts of the articles here, but as of now my goal is to put the interesting bits out here so that we have a discussion about them and maybe after I’m done with the research I could re-write this as an article.

     

    Shimmerene 

    So the first location is the city of Shimmerene. The landscape around the city is pretty much the same as Auridon, so not that special and worth mentioning in my opinion. The city itself stands on a cliff above the sea. Shimmerene is made of a white stone with plenty of pointy towers pretty much everywhere, with plenty of narrow alleys and small gardens. The pictures here will speak the volumes instead of me I think.

    Shimmerene also has a Monastery of Serene Harmony dominating its top. The monastery itself is full of monks who seem to be busy reading books mostly, with the most dominant thing in the monastery being a huge ass statue of Auriel of course.



    Fauna

    Now let's take a look at the wildlife, few interesting species in there.

     

    Fellrunner

    Springbok

     

    Alinor Ringtail

    Nixad (them fugly pixies...)

    Indrik (a damn teleporting deer! Not kidding!)

    Salamander (not my best shot -  I mean the picture, the arrow wasn't mine, I swear)

    Bright Moon Lunar Moth (might be a bit difficult to see)

     

    Vocabulary and titles

    Aprax - a term for Altmer who were expelled from the greater Elven community

    Ceruval - Honestly, haven't figured this one yet, but it is used by a mother pleading for help. The exact sentence is: "Please, ceruval, help me find my missing boy." I am inclined to believe that ceruval could mean something along the lines of the Dunmeri sera/serjo

    Nebarra - Direct translation is: "unwelcome" as in a person that is not welcome.

    Graxifalas - Explained as: "Disgraceful on a scale you outsiders can't even imagine."

    Halsoriel - Sewers

    De'nt - "Maormer de'nts." Clearly some kind of insult. Would be bold to compare it to s'wit?

    Adma'na - poor listener.

    Hulkynd - Children abandoned by their families for their imperfection - mostly physical

    Ephem -  "Of course an ephem such as yourself wouldn't understand." Most likely something along the lines of outsider.

    Calian - Praxic talisman. Something to prove you are not an apraxic Mer?

    Cerum -  It was used in the sentence: "You should take time to explore the tower, cerum." It was said very politely, so cerum could be friend?

    Glan'nt - Used in a sentence: "These glan'nts think they can double cross me? I'll show them true suffering!" So, beside the obvious moustache-twitching glan'nt could possible be a fool.

    Admanen - Direct translation is listening eye and it is sort of a title for a third neutral party - in this case it was used for the main character to act as a third and neutral investigator in a case where two jurisreeves couldn't agree.

    Revelator-naganwe - Death seer

    Calan - "and my entire calan—mother, father, grandseers, and rumes—shuffled in their pews," Could it be family? The grandseers and rumes kind of complicate that. It is mentioned in a ritual when one gets a calian, so... Calan. Procession? Witnesses?

    Athel Vialen - "after reciting the Athel Vialen, she placed the sphere in my hands and smiled." Ceremonial oath?

     

    Titles: 

    Canonreeve - Diplomats and bureaucrats who administer to county seats. From what I gathered it is mostly similar to a mayor.

    Kinlady/Kinlord - A ruler of a city and a member of the Royal Court. 

    Aldarch - Still haven't really figured that one out. So far the Aldarch is occupied with evaluating the incomers to Summerset of their suitability for residency in Shimmerene and he is also followed by a bunch of monks, so Aldarch could very well be some kind of religious/monastic title like Abbot or something similar.

    Jurisreeves and revelators - The sentence where this is dropped is not really filled with explanation, but my guess is that jurisreeves could be inspectors or high inspectors and revelators some kind of constables? Not sure, because bailiffs are mentioned too, so not sure how that works together.

    Justiciar of Remand - Oversees all matters related to bonds and incarcerations in Shimmerene

    Bereaureeve - mentioned in a book, the guy being a High Magistrate at the same time, so maybe a leader of a branch or some kind of administrative part of the bureau? 

    Justiciar - a rank in Divine Prosecution, above bailiff but below chief justiciar or magistrate

    Ascendant - "But in the end, I resolved to present myself to the Ascendants—to face my justice." Possible that Ascendants are judges?

    Divine Prosecution

    Divine Prosecution. Just the sound of that, right? They are Summerset's premier lawkeepers, enforcing secular and religious law, making sure that all social and cultural rules are adhered to. Sounds like Thalmor police, eh? In Shimerene they are commanded by Chief Justiciar, but so far haven't encountered any of the grunts - or maybe all guards are members of Divine Prosecution, but I'm of the mind that we're mostly talking about Justiciars, jurisreeves and revelators here. Maybe. But let's look at this book introduced:

    There is a mention of Divine Prosecution's Hindalatas wing - a division charged with solving adoctrinal crimes.

     

    Alaxon

    And this actually brings me to the term Alaxon and Path to Alaxon. Okay, so what is it? So from the book above you can see that the guy making the jewels was forced to shatter his alaxon sphere because he fucked up one too many times. And previously, there has been an Altmer collecting shells on the beach for her pigments (dyes I suppose?), saying that they have to be perfect, also having few words about the Alaxon.

    What's the Path to Alaxon: An Altmer concept practiced widely here in Summerset. Alaxon is the state of perfection that every Altmer strives for. The Path to Alaxon represents the approach we take to achieve that state.

    Not that you'd understand the concept but the Path to Alaxon requires dedication and complete concentration. I must find the perfect shells for or my pigments will be substandard. And do you know what will that do to my art? 

    Now when one thinks about it's quite messed up. I mean, their whole culture revolves around perfection and they have this concept that basicaly urges them to do everything perfectly and even punishes them if they do not. Now maybe this revolves only around craftsmanship and arts, but I think that it could be well possible that Alaxon also includes everything else. Might be just me, but when I look at this I can't think of anything else than "perfection and purity". So could this Alaxon also include the things like looks, manners, maybe even lineage? Food for thought. 

    Also, there was one book about jewellers of Summerset and I will conclude this edition with that:

     

     

  • Member
    May 31, 2018

    Good, good. I've stockpiled some shots of a few of the new terms and cultural viewpoints in preparation for something just like this, but I'm thinking this project might work best to leave it be and let you add to it organically as you soak up the setting.

    The Divine Prosecution is fascinating considering all the roles they play in society, they're almost like Altmeri versions of Buoyant Armigers and Ordinators rolled into one incredibly interesting package. Dectectives, Spec-Ops, Judge, Jury, and Executioners... So much fun as a faction and with amazing potential for RP and other projects. Also quite scary in exactly the same way Ordinators are when we think of how much control they have on the status quo.

    Might be just me, but when I look at this I can't think of anything else than "perfection and purity". So could this Alaxon also include the things like looks, manners, maybe even lineage? Food for thought.

    I definitely get left with the impression that family and lineage is tied up intrinsically with the Path to Alaxon. It's like... damn, spoiler potential is like a minefield, but the idea of someone being a fishermer and striving to be the best fishermer because his/her ancestors were fishermer is something expected in society. It's when that mer wants to play rugby instead that there's an issue :D

    Anyway, I'm very glad to see Summerset geting some detalied and thorough examination.

  • June 1, 2018

    Paws said:

    Good, good. I've stockpiled some shots of a few of the new terms and cultural viewpoints in preparation for something just like this, but I'm thinking this project might work best to leave it be and let you add to it organically as you soak up the setting.

    If you've got a stockpile of shots, Phil, then bombs away. Since I'm not in a position to do this research extensively it would help me a ton to ease the load. I don't really have to research organically, I'm perfectly fine even with out of order research.

    Paws said:

    The Divine Prosecution is fascinating considering all the roles they play in society, they're almost like Altmeri versions of Buoyant Armigers and Ordinators rolled into one incredibly interesting package. Dectectives, Spec-Ops, Judge, Jury, and Executioners... So much fun as a faction and with amazing potential for RP and other projects. Also quite scary in exactly the same way Ordinators are when we think of how much control they have on the status quo.

    They are like Thalmor from 4E in a way, but what interests is the religious part. So far I haven't encountered much religious stuff so I do hope it changes in the future and shows more religion around the Divine Prosecution. Wanna see some Auriel fanatics and such. 

     

  • Member
    June 1, 2018

    Cool, thanks Karves! So to preface I'll need to give a spoiler warning for anyone reading. As with a lot of lore, the best bits are in dialogue with npcs, so the images below come from a side quest. Hopefully they don't give too much away other than the point of the subject as it relates to lore research

    Ok, so the whole Path to Alaxon deal and how that ties in with family I think can be seen in a quest to find a hulkynd. To kill two birds with one stone, then...

    I've taken shots of the hulkynd in question, but I don't think they're necessary and would spoil a bit too much. This mer above, Valtarion, describes the steps needed to cook the rare (and somewhat taboo) delicacy that is an indrik heart and how that in itself is an art form requiring a perfect touch. This whole quest nicely showcases a few aspects of Altmeri society, imo. And we see a new word, ephem.

    But what leaves me questioning is why so few have a family name, a surname? In a culture in which family is so important with kinhouses, kinlords/kinladies etc,  finding out who is related to who isn't as easy at it is in the similar Dunmeri culture of the Great Houses - something especially weird when we have a quick glance at marriage:

  • June 1, 2018

    Okay. Hulkynd - children abanoned by their families for imperfection. Got it. Makes me wonder. Does being a hulkynd automatically make you an aprax? :)

    Ephem. "Of course an ephem such as yourself wouldn´t understand." Hmm. Ephem = outsider maybe? It is quite common word used in all provinces for the characters, so it does make sense to me. Similar word to n´wah?

    And yeah, the last part about matchmakers and all that. Hah. Altmer *shakes his head*

    As for the Surnames...well, you know what? I wouldn´t bother trying to wrap your head around that. I mean, just look at Orcs. Their surnames tell what clan are they from, or who their father/mother is, but how many Orcs there are in Orsinium DLC that have a surname, especially the Orcs from the clans? I do think that the devs just don´t give everyone a surname, even though it should be important with plenty of races.

  • Member
    June 1, 2018

    Karver the Lorc said:

    Okay. Hulkynd - children abanoned by their families for imperfection. Got it. Makes me wonder. Does being a hulkynd automatically make you an aprax? :)

    Ephem. "Of course an ephem such as yourself wouldn´t understand." Hmm. Ephem = outsider maybe? It is quite common word used in all provinces for the characters, so it does make sense to me. Similar word to n´wah?

    And yeah, the last part about matchmakers and all that. Hah. Altmer *shakes his head*

    As for the Surnames...well, you know what? I wouldn´t bother trying to wrap your head around that. I mean, just look at Orcs. Their surnames tell what clan are they from, or who their father/mother is, but how many Orcs there are in Orsinium DLC that have a surname, especially the Orcs from the clans? I do think that the devs just don´t give everyone a surname, even though it should be important with plenty of races.

    I guess hulkynd would be disqualified from the path by default...? I mean, damn. That's harsh as hell to fail before you begin. I think it was Ghandi who said, "the true measure of a society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members." Altmer! You have been found wanting! The whole civilisation has failed, I hearby declare the lot of them to be apraxis :D

    I think that's right about ephem. We'll see between us if we can spot the translation if it came up anywhere.

    It's funny that the Orcs would better preserve an elven custom than the elves who consider themselves to be the best elves. I just can't figure it, and should probably just accept that it's a thing: Altmer (unless you're Vanus) don't have surnames despite family being so important.

    Anyway, there was one more pic in regards to perfection I wanted to share, this one about the natural world and one npc's view on Altmeri botany:

  • June 1, 2018

    Heh. I quite like the guy´s opinion to be honest. I mean, that´s the thing with Altmer innit? When it comes to flowers or lesser races they have to be guided because they don´t know better and the Altmer know the best. Just look at their society. Down to the last blade of grass, down to the last child, everything has to be manicured to meet certain standards and regulations. Improvisation and intuition is almost non-existent in Altmeri society, everything has its rules and order and method, from how you learn magic, cut grass or how you should behave in society, or how you should do jewels. Yes, I agree with the Glade Goblin above. It is sort of a tyranny.

  • Member
    June 1, 2018

    I do too! However, this quest was an early stand-out one because it was so mundane but hit upon lots of interesting points, and in a round about way allows us a glimpse into why some high elves oppose the open borders. The culture clash and interference from newcomers is exemplified nicely in this little story. The tree troll is entitled to his opinion, and it's a really good opinion. Yet the other side of the story is just as compelling - someone who has dedicated their entire life to perfecting the art and science of horticulture has their whole ethos attacked by an eco-warrior. Very down to earth stuff.

    Improvisation and intuition is almost non-existent in Altmeri society, everything has its rules and order and method...

    To briefly touch upon that, a couple of shots from Alinor's Divine Prosecution Daily Quest-givers that also fall into that ever-present Path to Alaxon theme:

    And something completely unrelated apart from being a Daily Delve quest, but of value in that it is a possible explanaition as to where Dibella is in the Altmeri pantheon:

  • June 1, 2018
    I’ll give this a sound look when I’m on my laptop and takes some notes. Trying to think how I’m gonna apply the concepts to Straag. Some of it is shit I definitely have in there, I just have their terminology. Like same exact ideas, but no terms for them.
  • Member
    June 2, 2018

    Slightly more random loreshots today, first up more ranks within the Divine Prosecution followed by a couple of new words:

    Farowel is a lot nicer to my Altmer than she was to my Khajiit.

    See? She laughs!

    This pig-child is over 350 years old. Long life comes with the Psijic Robes, she says. Each Holloween for the last three centuries she has dressed up as a Gamorrean Guard.