Elder Scrolls Lore » Discussions


Examining Jurgen Windcaller

  • Mr. likes this
  • Member
    October 26, 2014

    Is that still based on the amulet quest? I'm not comfortable saying "we know" based solely on that, in part because there are no draugr even involved. The Wiki at least states that Skeletons in Oblivion are reanimated by necromancy, though that could just be a blanket statement. Again, having not played the earlier entries, I wouldn't know.

  • Member
    October 26, 2014
    I've got 3 questions about this: 1) Isn't Arkay a Demi-God? (If this isn't the case, feel free to ignore the next 2 questions) 2) Before Arkay was born, wouldn't everyone who dies come back? 3) And if this is the case, why is this not more evident, secure graveyards, guards near the dead etc.
  • Member
    October 26, 2014

    1.) (From the UESP) 

    There are two legends about Arkay's origin. The book Ark'ay the God of Birth and Death has it that Arkay was once a regular shopkeeper with a passion for knowledge. He found a book written in a strange language and spent years upon years attempting to decipher it, slowly ignoring everything and everyone else around him. Eventually Arkay realized the book explained life and death itself, but by this time was at death's door with an incurable plague. Praying to Mara as a last resort, Arkay asked for more time to interpret the book. Mara gave him a choice: die now or become a god for eternity, charged with keeping the balance of death and life in the universe.[5][6][7] The alternative is contained in The Monomyth, which suggests that Arkay was one of the very first spirits to "crystallize" after the start of time.[8]

    Comparing Arkay to Tu'whacca, Yokudan God of Souls, shows this story is allegorical, framing the sequence of events by which an anonymous Aedra found new purpose in the constructs of the mortal plane and took up the mantle of life and death.

    2.) If he was just a bookworm shopkeeper, yes. If he was a a active agent in the world since the start, maybe not. Before being called Arkay or Tuwhacca, people would probably find ways to invoke "His" essence in fighting necromancy/ proper burials. 

    3.) I don't know lol.

    Side note: I've always wondered what happened to Krosis' place and why he never woke up to fix it or accost other passersby. 

  • Tom
    Member
    October 26, 2014

    From Skyrim, because I'm more familiar.

    Hamvir's Rest, graveyard north of Shriekwind Bastion, this location, Kjenstag Ruins, I think there's more but that's all I can think of right now.

  • Member
    October 26, 2014
    I like the bookworm story more, so I'll probably stick with that story, unless someone gives me a reason not to. You said Arkay constantly fights against the undead, forcing them back to peaceful death. He must be very bad at his job, because Tamriel, and evidently especially Skyrim, are filled with the restless dead. Maybe he only has power in those who die recently, or after he came to his role as keeping life and death.
  • Member
    October 26, 2014

    Geirmund's Epitaph implies that dead can act as guardians even in the afterlife. 

    The explanation for draugr in Jurgen's tomb is probably much simpler - there are necromancers all over the entrance part of the tomb. Who knows what foul magics did they use?

  • Tom
    Member
    October 26, 2014

    There are draugr in many tombs without necromancers in them though.

  • Member
    October 26, 2014

    It's true, but that tomb is "supposed" to not be associated with the Dragon Cult or anything dark. Thus I think it's due to necromancy that there are draugr there. 

  • Tom
    Member
    October 26, 2014

    But we have draugr in tombs not overtly associated with the Dragon Cult.

  • Member
    October 26, 2014

    No one is quite sure why the Draugr walk the halls of Skyrim's burial crypts, but some believe they once served the dragons ages ago... and have been cursed with undeath for their treachery.

    I don't like to take loading screens as being definitive. In this case it looks like a modern take on an old belief. The word curse is now used because Nords of the present view it as such. In the past, when the Cult reigned supreme, the crypts may have been seen as the path to immortality and not a curse at all.

    To be honest I've lost track of the debate. What are you guys discussing?