Well, it seems like initially it was a title for a sort of "savior" figure, and that likely would be a Shezarrine (since it apparently predates the Dragonborn as a concept), but at various times there were people (like several Nord kings) who weren't Sezarrines or Dragorborn and were called by that title. As for Hjalti, he was definitely Dragonborn, there is plenty of proof, though that part about assassination attempt may be or not be metaphorical rather than literal.

How you see those interesting things, strongly depends on whether you take every word of Michael Kirkbride as absolute and indisputable truth (I prefer taaking them with a lot of salt). Sometimes he even contradicts himself. Like here:

 an old MK post about Lorkhan and his avatars:

1.Wulfharth L
2. Hjalti O
3. Ysmir R
4. Talos K
5. Arctus H
6. Septim A
N

He apparently forgot about all the other Shezarrines who were before Wulfharth, so he could include Hjalti in the list of Lorkhan's supposed avatars not one but three times, and Arctus, whose connection to Lorkhan isn't mentioned anywhere but in his posts. 

None of the in-game sources implies at Hjalti's Shezarrineness. Also, there are some purely technical details people prefer to overlook. Like the fact that each of the two Shezarrines we actually can read about (Pelinal and Wulfharth) clearly knew what they were, their own words imply it, while none of the known Dragonborn don't say anything like that.

And yes, it's a funny thing that Tiber Septim himself seemed to be a worshipper of this "One" (of himself? he worshipped himself? even Vivec didn't go that far in his self-adoration).

There's another thing that I can't really use as an argument because there's no actual proof, but I'm inclined to believe that there cannot be more than one Shezarrine at the same time.

Who knows, maybe his mom back in Alcaire didn't love him enough, lol. I actually don't have anything against Hjalti himself, he is just like any other politician. But his warmongering cult is destructive. 

Also I wonder why any of Talos fans haven't said anything yet. Somehow, I find myself unable to share any of their romantic fascination with him. If anything, the idea of a man who can be a traitorous mass-murderer and one the biggest arseholes in Tamriel being praised for his deeds and worshipped as a god never fails to make me feel a bit sick.

Well, that´s the Ysmir thing covered. It would be great to her your thoughts on the worship of Talos too, guys. How do you think it figures in day to day life in Empire? Because if we can say that Skyrim has the most prominent worship and yet we see no actual worship at all I am kinda lost.

All I can think about now is a Talosian with his wife, like: "I shall part your legs like Talos parted the walls of Sancre Tor and you shall scream victory!" You know... :D

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/KarverTheLorc]Shadow Arm[/url] said:[/b]

Well, that´s the Ysmir thing covered. It would be great to her your thoughts on the worship of Talos too, guys. How do you think it figures in day to day life in Empire? Because if we can say that Skyrim has the most prominent worship and yet we see no actual worship at all I am kinda lost.

[/blockquote]

Judging by what we can see in Skyrim, the only thing the priests of Talos ever do is talking about Talos. Which sort of makes sense if we view it as a hero-cult like any other. To the Nords, all sorts of heroic tales mean a great deal, being the main part of their culture. So the priests talk, inspire people to follow in Talos' steps.

In the Empire they probably served a similar purpose, the only difference being the place Talos had in the people's worldview - not as much an example to follow as a symbol representing the Empire itself, the Imperial identity and patriotism and the glory of Man. by Auri-El, I can't believe I managed to say this, lol 

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/KarverTheLorc]Shadow Arm[/url] said:[/b]

All I can think about now is a Talosian with his wife, like: "I shall part your legs like Talos parted the walls of Sancre Tor and you shall scream victory!" You know... :D

[/blockquote]

Unless the wife is a raging Talos-worshipper herself, such a line might break the mood quite awkwardly, lol)))

Also, don't forget all those fellows running at you screaming "Victory or Sovngarde!!!!" on top of their lungs, if that isn't a demonstration of their faith, I don't know what is. They are being strong for war, anytime and anywhere, no?)))

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/AxiusRevan]A-Pocky-Hah![/url] said:[/b] So I did some digging and found that there was a Talos Cult that was active back in Morrowind. Apparently they conspired to assassinate Emperor Uriel Septim VII... who is a descendant of Tiber Septim. Yeah... let that sink in for a while...[/blockquote]

Hmm, sounds somewhat familiar. "All hail King Ulfric! Death to the Empire..." Yes, to Tiber Septim's Empire.

You know what? I'm not surprised. Like, at all. Lol.

Like, I have been trying to compare the religion to the Christianity - which on its own is a very flawed approach, pretty much a fool´s errand, but it still could provide at least something, maybe a direction.

So, from my limited understanding, faith is something to inspire, provide both earthly and spiritual guidance, comfort and all that. And all this is passed down through the stories and allegories written down in the bible, right? God did this, Jesus that, the saints that and so on. So, if I try to compare that to Talos we could get maybe the stories of him when he was a man. Before he became Emperor and after he became Emperor. And when you think about it, that is exactly what is on the repeat from everyone. But that can´t be everything, because I somehow lack the biblical involvement after Tiber became a god. Like, where are his miracles and such? Or is it maybe like the Jesus and God parallel? Tiber = Jesus, Talos = God? If so it´s nearly something like Quentin Tarantino´s Djesus Uncrossed :D

Yes, I repeat, trying to compare TES to a real world religion is a fool´s errand, because in TES the gods do hold some kind presence. And that´s the thing. Where is Talos´presense? Just look at the other gods and you always find something. You get the Arkay the Man and Arkay the God story, you get Arkay´s funeral rites, you get Akatosh and Alessia, Akatosh and Martin, Dibella and her brush from Lythandas´ Journal, Dibella and Sybil, you get Stendarr and Gauntlets of the Crusader, or Stendarr and St. Pelin, or the bollocks from Harmonious Masters that Stendarr is the source of healing magic. But it still stands, there is at least something for every god, some story or a miracle and such, but Talos? Beside Wulf and his lucky coin from Morrowind there is basicaly nothing.

As a god Talos is not very inspiring or even comforting. Unless he´s like Kingdom of Heaven most used line "God wills it."

I like this. It's not that much of a fool's errand, the similarity is here, even if you take any religion other than Christianity as an example.

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/KarverTheLorc]Shadow Arm[/url] said:[/b]

faith is something to inspire, provide both earthly and spiritual guidance, comfort and all that

[/blockquote]

This is actually right. And I'd add, faith also inspires a person to try and become better, make effort to help others, to contribute to the world around them. It can use various attributes and means to do so, from stories to actual miracles and a god's real presence in the world like in TES. As much as the world may be different, the main purpose of the faith remains, it is there to inspire and lead the society in a certain direction.

Now where might the worship of Talos lead the society?

What kind of values does it plant in the people's hearts?

If anything, the deeds of Talos himself, of which people would hear the stories, would teach them something like this: Do what is good for yourself. Create your own laws and make others obey them. Do whatever you want, just make others believe that you are doing it for them beforehand. Want your neighbor's wife/house/kingdom? Assassinate him and it will be yours, just don't forget to show how sad you are about his untimely death. Don't stand idly by, when bad things happen, go and do something that would make those bad things look like a joke. Ultimately do what you want, just care to make it look pretty.

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/JusticiarThorien]Justiciar Thorien[/url] said:[/b]

If anything, the deeds of Talos himself, of which people would hear the stories, would teach them something like this: Do what is good for yourself. Create your own laws and make others obey them. Do whatever you want, just make others believe that you are doing it for them beforehand. Want your neighbor's wife/house/kingdom? Assassinate him and it will be yours, just don't forget to show how sad you are about his untimely death. Don't stand idly by, when bad things happen, go and do something that would make those bad things look like a joke. Ultimately do what you want, just care to make it look pretty.

[/blockquote]

I am sorry, but that is very cynic and still smells too much of Justiciarism, Thorien. Do better than this. Not that I disagree with this assessment of Tiber´s deeds, but he was too shrewd for history and religion to relay such a message about him. So please, at least pretend you left your Thalmor night robe back at the embassy for the sake of this scholarship discussion. :)

So maybe it would be better to focus on the Empire´s unity? Talos representing the unity and... equality? Coequality of all the races, striving for a better united future? Something in the religion highlighting the importance of Empire´s laws maybe too? God of just rulership and social civility. "Honor thy ruler" maybe? Heh, maybe the church even does collectionn on Emperor´s health or something.

Ideas for the "just rulership and social civility"? How exactly do you incorporate that into a working and namely popular religion?