Elder Scrolls Lore » Discussions


Research: Summerset

Tags: #Altmer  #ESO  #Research 
  • June 28, 2018
    Mastery of gentle-smashing killed me. :D
  • June 28, 2018

    Paws said: Man. This whole thing is getting too real. The Elder Scrolls are actually games, you know? I mean the actual scrolls are each game worlds. "When the next Elder Scroll is written, you will be its author." Which is to say, it's by your actions in this game that determines the direction of the next game. But this whole thing with alternate realities and timelines almost perfectly describes ESO. I can meet up with guildies and it appears as though we are in the same reality. But our timelines are seperate, and the things we each experience when not together are their own contained worlds. TES is messing with us and showing the metagame lore far more visibly in Summerset, I think.

    Ah, doesn't it all only support my theory)) Makes me lament the fact that I can't play ESO even more though.

    Paws said:

    I'm going to need to break your reply down into several posts, Thuri, mostly because it's complicated and I need to wrap my own mind around it in order to mesh your view with what is in my own noggin. :D That way I can better provide insight into the things I feel work better than others.

    Starting with the dragon of time being bound...

    The spike of Ada-Mantia, and its Zero Stone, dictated the structure of reality in its Aurbic vicinity, defining for the Earth Bones their story or nature within the unfolding of the Dragon’s (timebound) Tale. Aurbic Enigma 

    So we have this idea in which the moment Direnni Tower is erected sort of becomes the moment that Lorkhan's plan succeeds. No longer is the serpent Aetheric and non-linear, Time is now an arrow that will only ever flow in one direction.

    So indeed, a direction.

    Paws said:

    The Mer, in their myths, wish to go back to that state of spirit.

    Turning a non-linear time into linear, a spirit into a mortal being, it's all limitations. Basically rendering themselves bound and blind. Naturally the Mer wouldn't want that.

    Paws said:

    So I think with that in mind and also knowing that White Gold exists in every point in time, we could say that when the dragon breaks the moment is accessible to be viewed and watched until that stream makes its way back into the main river: Just hop into the Crystal Tower and use it as a door to anywhere, even the White Gold in another point in time.

    Precisely))

    Paws said:

    The fact we get to fight a person from an alternate timeline is strong evidence to support a "many worlds" theory in TES. That said, Warp in the West is basically the biggest evidence to refute the idea that a timeline seperate from the one we know can long persist. In that event, all possible endings were tied together and all timelines created were fused...

    ...Unless of course that's exactly what we witness in Summerset when we fight and kill those alternate Psijic Ladies. Maybe had we to have not done so, those timelines would have continued? I honestly don't know, but it does support your idea that each soul contains a perspective universe. Hers ended (and all those within it) when we kill her, perhaps.

    Actually... You may be bang on the money.

    Unless where is another timeline somewhere, where those ladies won.

     

  • June 28, 2018

    Karver the Lorc said: Mastery of gentle-smashing killed me. :D

    It's the true Gentleorc art)))

  • Member
    June 28, 2018

    Justiciar Thorien said:

    Ah, indeed I forgot to mention Dragon breaks))) The thing is, when a change occurs it doesn't necessarily create a Dragon Break. I mean there is no Dragon Break if one day Heimskr catches a flu and doesn't go to preach about Talos on the street, right?))) Changes aren't always huge and evident to all. But even such a little change is a new Coda. Codas are all possible variations, right?

    A Dragon Break is a basically few timelines temporarily merging. It's not one river splitting into two before rejoining, it only seems that way if you look from inside. If you look at it in the context of the coordinate space, it's the other way around, two merging into one and later separating again. I mean, there can be a timeline where was a Dragon Break and certain contradicting events, let's say, A, B, C, and D occured at the same time. In another timeline there was a Dragon Break, but only A and B occured but not C and D. In a third timeline there was no Dragon Break. Yes, the Time Dragon reconciles, fuses the new and the old, but never forgets! Otherwise we wouldn't know that there was any Dragon Break at all.

    Right, so this is the next thing. Dragon Breaks and Codas in the context of the idea that each soul is a universe unto itself. Again, mainly just jotting down thoughts while I reconcile your view with my own and modifying the things which don't quite fit as I see it :D Definitely not a criticism or the theory.

    Because it's getting complicated, am i right in remembering that you're saying a similar thing to the Suicide Physicist occurs and that each (major) change brings about a new timeline and universe?

    The only thing preventing from accepting that in the context of TES is that these things have, traditionally, only happened at major events and normally involve messing with Towers, Stones, and the Hearts of them. Having said that, pretty much all the interesting things happen when the Dragon gets screwed up :D

    A Coda is a new reality, sure:

    A world that, if it draws a person, that person can contribute to it in what way they know how and if the community accepts it, it becomes a part of the tapestry of the could-have-been Tamriel. So far, that has been exhibited by people such as James Craven and Jenna Burjoski with their Wy-Naught series, On Boethiah’s Summoning Day and This Many Goblins Left in the Cave, by people whose real names I don’t actually know, which have become accepted as part of lore discussions. Now, however, Kirkbride plans to put it into genuine practice. Source.

    That's C0DA, at least. There's also the idea that a coda uses different methods to tell the same story, much like Westside Story is telling the same story as Romeo and Juliete. It's great freedom for guys like us to have fun and truly make the universe our own :)

    That said, how far do we go with it? In lore, things like the the events of Summerset are accompanied by evidence of a Dragon Break (such as Time Rifts appearing). That's why that happened, someone gone done messed with Time using the Staff of Towers. Had that event not happened, I would have said in the past that only a Dragon Break could cause these events.

    Hell, a lot of people dismiss ESO because of that, conveniently forgetting the fact that the entire game of TES V had a big, gaping time-hole as a centrepiece to the plot making anyything that happens then as to be on par with ESO in terms of a Dragon Break. Go figure.

    Do we accept that each of these realities are part of the overall story? Does TES itself accept these things, even? Heimskr sneezes, I then write what happens next and it turns out poor Heimskr falls off his soap box and breaks his neck. You write what happens next but all that occurs is Heimskr blowing his nose, and suddenly two stories are created, two realities. The poor Dragon of Time then works really hard to reconcile these events into one plot.

    ... I would say up until now I would have dismissed it. I would accept an individual's freedom to write and create, but would hold it seperate from TES to a certain degree. Now, with Summerset's revelations, I'm not entirely sure anymore, especially now it seems more physics-based. In that respect, our own reality seems to be so similar to TES' that it freaks me out and delights me in equal measure.

    If the events of Summerset support the idea of alternate realities, then it must be tacit acceptance of the idea of coda as it applies to TES.

     

  • June 28, 2018

    Paws said:

    Right, so this is the next thing. Dragon Breaks and Codas in the context of the idea that each soul is a universe unto itself. Again, mainly just jotting down thoughts while I reconcile your view with my own and modifying the things which don't quite fit as I see it :D Definitely not a criticism or the theory.

    I would only love some good criticism. It creates the perfection after all)

    Paws said:

    Because it's getting complicated, am i right in remembering that you're saying a similar thing to the Suicide Physicist occurs and that each (major) change brings about a new timeline and universe?

    The only thing preventing from accepting that in the context of TES is that these things have, traditionally, only happened at major events and normally involve messing with Towers, Stones, and the Hearts of them. Having said that, pretty much all the interesting things happen when the Dragon gets screwed up :D

    The thing is, all things, major or minor, are brought forth by a sequence of causes and then followed by a sequence of effects. We don't always see where starts a chain of events that would lead to the event that we see as major. We only see a major event but not all of its causes. Maybe the Dragon break actually happened because one day a fishermer threw an apple stump into the sea)))) And in some other universe that mer wasn't born and thus there was no Dragon Break)

    Paws said:

    Do we accept that each of these realities are part of the overall story? Does TES itself accept these things, even? Heimskr sneezes, I then write what happens next and it turns out poor Heimskr falls off his soap box and breaks his neck. You write what happens next but all that occurs is Heimskr blowing his nose, and suddenly two stories are created, two realities. The poor Dragon of Time then works really hard to reconcile these events into one plot.

    ... I would say up until now I would have dismissed it. I would accept an individual's freedom to write and create, but would hold it seperate from TES to a certain degree. Now, with Summerset's revelations, I'm not entirely sure anymore, especially now it seems more physics-based. In that respect, our own reality seems to be so similar to TES' that it freaks me out and delights me in equal measure.

    If the events of Summerset support the idea of alternate realities, then it must be tacit acceptance of the idea of coda as it applies to TES.

    Ah, but isn't this all really beautiful?)))

     

  • Member
    October 26, 2018

    Here's a list of Altmeris Vocabulary found in Summerset. It was compiled by a (Khajiit) Tumblr user named Ma'zurah. (Note: Some of the words maybe have been earlier listed.)

     

    Regarding Altmeris: The Altmer would probably say that their language is named Aldmeris, considering their obsession with all things Aldmeri, but we need some way of differentiating it from the language spoken by actual ancient Aldmer, so I’m using Altmeris for now. 

    Profanity and Pejoratives:

    (I.E. swears and insults. I know why you’re here.)

    Slek - Profanity. Both an interjection and a pejorative, likely high intensity. Probably equivalent to “shit” or possibly “fuck.”
    Examples: “Slek, my head hasn’t hurt this bad since…” “May that slek thank her ancestors that she won’t have to face me in battle.”

    Glan'nt - Profanity. Pejorative, likely moderate to high intensity. Probably equivalent to “bastard” or “asshole” or “motherfucker.”
    Examples: “I promise to duel that filthy glan'nt at the determined place and time.” “These glan'nts think they can double cross me?”

    De'nt - Profanity. Pejorative, likely mild to moderate intensity. Probably equivalent to “jerk” or “asshole.”
    Examples: “I know some of us here in Summerset have been true de'nts about this open border situation.” “Are you going to look or are you going to buy? I have no time for de'nts in my shop.” “Those Maormer de'nts have certainly done their part.”

    Ephem - Someone who isn’t Altmer. Probably pejorative, likely mild intensity. Possibly short for “ephemeral”, as a reference to someone with a short lifespan.
    Examples: “Get away, ephem. Away from me. Away from our island!” “These ephems have taken all the rooms.” “If our crafts are left to the work of ephems, our reputation will grow tarnished.” “If the ephems didn’t want entrance processing to take so long, they could fill out the forms in advance.” 

    Nebarra - Pejorative, likely moderate intensity. Literal translation: “unwelcome.” Impolite word for outlander. (The Altmer equivalent of the Dunmer “n'wah”.)
    Examples: “You know what that word means? The one the High Elves call us? ‘Nebarra.’ It means ‘unwelcome.'” “And now a damn nebarra is standing close enough for me to smell it! Well, nebarra? Speak up!” “Nebarra? Well, I suppose that’s our word for the newcomers. I guess you could say it’s impolite, but old habits can be hard to break.” “With all the nebarra in Alinor, it’s no wonder the hunting has gotten worse.”

     

    Forms of Address:

    Barra - A greeting. Literal translation: “welcome.”

    Cerum - Gender neutral honorific probably equivalent to “sir” or “ma'am.”

    Ceruval - Gender neutral honorific probably equivalent to “sir” or “ma'am.” I suspect it is more respectful than cerum, but that’s just inference based on usage.

     

    Altmeri Cultural and Philosophical Concepts:

    Alaxon - State of perfection.
    Example: “An Altmer concept practiced widely here in Summerset. Alaxon is the state of perfection that every High Elf strives for. The Path to Alaxon represents the approach we take to achieve that state.”

    Oegnithir - “The bad change.”
    Example: “Membership in the Psijic Order will bring you both prestige and power. But such honors often lead to oegnithir—the bad change. What you do in the Order’s name, you do for others. Never yourself.”

    Aprax (Singular, “an aprax elf”; plural, “apraxics”) - Someone who has been outcast from society and banished for crimes. Members of society are forbidden from talking to apraxics. Similar, but not the same as ousters.
    Examples: “I’m what the clods in the kinhouses call an apraxic—an Elf criminal. There are other High Elf misfits called ousters, but the fortunes of an apraxic are a little more severe.” “He’s not an aprax or an ouster, but he tries to act the part.” “If those surfacers know you’re talking to an aprax, they might toss you out too.” “Apraxic Mer are people who, for whatever reason, were expelled from the greater Elven community. Most aprax labor for years to reenter society. Others choose to remain in exile.” “Rumor has it that a famous aprax called the Mother of Rats lives in the city, but I’ve never met her. Even if I did, we’re forbidden from speaking with her.”

    Apraxis - The state of being outcast from society and banished for crimes; exile. See The Price of Praxis for more info.
    Example: “Finally, she whispered the damning phrase, ‘Apraxis’ and let the sphere slip through her fingers.”

    Calian, or praxic talisman - A symbol of a person’s membership in Altmeri society. Possibly used as proof of ancestry. Physical descriptions of a praxic talisman from The Price of Praxis:

    “At that time, the sphere was pristine—fashioned from milky aethequartz and sun-blown glass.”

    “All the pride of my noble race found voice in its creamy luster.”

    It is shattered if its owner becomes an aprax, and must be restored to allow return to Altmeri society.

    “For thirty years, I labored over the shattered remains of my blessed calian. I spent the last of my gold gathering stone-cutting tools, pearl-powder fixatives, and sacred oils. I ate little and slept not at all. My beard grew long and my muscles withered. With each success came three new failures. And all the while, my fellow Altmer spurned and cursed me. Finally, one bright morning in Second Seed, I set the last delicate shard of glass in its place—returning the calian to its pristine origins.” — The Price of Praxis.

    Calan - Possibly means the living members of a person’s clan, but that’s just conjecture based on context.
    Example: “My entire calan—mother, father, grandseers, and rumes—shuffled in their pews.” (Don’t ask me what “rumes” means, that’s the only time we ever see it used.)

    Aednavorith - Genealogy.
    Example: “The monks of the Serene Harmony Monastery stand as the most renowned “Aednavorith” scholars in all of Summerset. The study of genealogy and ancestry remains a subject of endless interest to all High Elves.“ 

    Hulkynd - Literal translation: "Broken child.” Altmer who were cast out of society as children because of some perceived imperfection or deformity. 
    Examples:

    Tableau: “High Elves strive for perfection in all things, and their bloodline most of all. Hulkynds are children abandoned by their families for some perceived imperfection, generally a physical deformity. They’re more than just orphans. They’re outcasts.”
    Player: “Outcasts? In what way?”
    Tableau: “In Summerset, family stands above all. They guide your life, almost immeasurably. To be without family is to be unseen, unrecognized as a member of our society. There’s not much of a life a hulkynd can make for themselves because of that.”

    Manacar: “I have no family to shame, no name which to soil. I may as well be a shadow, for all the worth I am given. Society would rather ignore me than admit I exist. Of course, this anonymity allows me unprecedented freedom. A blessing within my curse.”
    Player: “Your curse? The fact that you’re a hulkynd?”
    Manacar: “Yes. I was rejected when I was but a babe. One look upon my face should tell you why.”

    Valtarion: “Hulkynds have no sense of honor. It comes with being raised without a family, you know. That’s why no one trusts them.”
    Player: “What does having a family have to do with who you can trust?”
    Valtarion: “A family sets expectations. Here in Summerset, all we do is for our family’s honor. There’s no hope for someone who doesn’t have even that to guide them.”

    Lilawen: “A mer without family cannot truly be considered a mer, after all. Why, he’s more than an outsider within Summerset. He’s truly nothing. A broken child can never hope to become anything more.”

     

    Other Vocabulary:

    Kynd - Child. 
    Example: “Anyone is capable of anything. A snot-nosed kynd would murder his most beloved dog with a shovel if you gave him a good enough reason." 

    Canvaroth - Scout.
    Example: "I often serve as the Ritemaster’s canvaroth… a scout, as it were.”

    Halsoriel - sewer.
    Example: “It seems he escaped into the vaulted halsoriel.”

    Graxifalas - Extremely disgraceful.
    Example: “It is graxifalas—disgraceful on a scale you outsiders can’t even imagine.”

    Kamlehal - “Shrieking terror.”
    Example:

    Erudil: “I borrowed it from the Librarium Kamlehal to impress Glardir.”
    Player: “Librarium Kamlehal? What’s that?”
    Erudil: “The… uhm… Library of Shrieking Terror.”

    Eluvein - Another name for the hilas owl, used to describe people who are cold-hearted or aloof.
    Example: “Eluveins lay their eggs, then abandon them.” 

    Adma'na - Poor listener.
    Example: “I’m what they call an adma'na—poor listener.”

     

    Criminological Technical Jargon:

    Admanen - Literal translation: “the listening eye.” One of three members of an examiner’s quorum whose role it is to inspect and advise, collect evidence, interview suspects, balance competing theories, and in general provide a fresh perspective to an investigation.
    Example: “You would take on the duties of the admanen, the listening eye.”

    Revelator-naganwe - Literal translation: “death seer.” One of three members of an examiner’s quorum whose role it is to use magic to solve crimes.
    Example: “I am a revelator-naganwe—a death seer. I use magic to solve murders.”

    Thalmilan - One of three members of an examiner’s quorum whose role it is to parse clues and render a verdict.
    Example: “Jurisreeves always travel in groups of three. A quorum comprises three distinct roles—a revelator-naganwe for magical inquiry, an admanen to inspect and advise, and a thalmilan to parse the clues and render a verdict.”

    Riasen - A critical witness to a crime.
    Example: “The Sapiarchs classified him as a riasen—a critical witness.

     

    Etymological Roots of Place Names:

    Russafeld - "Russafeld means 'scarlet shrine’ in some dialects of Aldmeris, which may explain where the Red Temple gets its curious name. But the most commonly held opinion states that it’s a shortening or corruption of 'Dread Temple.’” — Loading screen for Russafeld

    Tor-Hame-Khard - “In Aldmeric, the name means Warlord’s Mountain Lair, as these vast halls were originally built in the early First Era for the legendary Prime Battlereeve Fiirfarya. One morning the estate’s entire populace was found slaughtered, and thereafter the site was abandoned.” — Loading screen for Tor-Hame-Khard

    Ald Mora - Literal translation: “Old Forest.”

  • October 26, 2018

    (Don’t ask me what “rumes” means, that’s the only time we ever see it used.)

    "Rume" means "friend". Though I suspect that it is used for not just any friend but one who is also a member of one's family, like a distant cousin or something.