06-10-2008, 06:37 PM
Today I was looking at the list of peoples in Black Marsh other than the Argonians. I noticed that as well as the Lilmothlit and the human tribes, there was also once (and perhaps still is) a tribe of elves called the CANTIMERIC VELOTHI.
I looked back through the forums and apparently at one point it was decided that if there are any left they should be more-or-less absorbed into House Dres.
Now, we could do that, but it would be boring, at least compared to what we could do with them instead if you look at Dunmer history and where they most likely come from. Two things stood out to me about this tribe:
1. The name. Why are they called Velothi? He was the name of the Dunmer prophet, no?
The Imperial Library says (quoting from a Morrowind Book I believe):
The Late Middle Merethic Era is the period of the High Velothi Culture. The Chimer, ancestors of the modern Dunmer, or Dark Elves, were dynamic, ambitious, long-lived Elven clans devoted to fundamentalist ancestor worship. The Chimer clans followed the Prophet Veloth out of the ancestral Elven homelands in the southwest to settle in the lands now known as Morrowind. Despising the secular culture and profane practices of the Dwemer, the Chimer also coveted the lands and resources of the Dwemer, and for centuries provoked them with minor raids and territorial disputes. The Dwemer (Dwarves), free-thinking, reclusive Elven clans devoted to the secrets of science, engineering, and alchemy, established underground cities and communities in the mountain range (later the Velothi Mountains) separating modern Skyrim and Morrowind.
The Late Merethic Era marks the precipitous decline of Velothi culture. Some Velothi settled in villages near declining and abandoned ancient Velothi towers. During this period, Velothi high culture disappeared on Vvardenfell Island. The earliest Dwemer Freehold colonies date from this period. Degenerate Velothi devolved into tribal cultures which, in time, evolved into the modern Great Houses of Morrowind, or persisted as the barbarian Ashlander tribes. The only surviving traces of this tribal culture are scattered Velothi towers and Ashlander nomads on Vvardenfell Island. The original First Era High Elven wizard towers along the coasts of Tamriel were also abandoned about this time.
So, instead of regular Dark Elves aligned with the Dres, these could be Old-School Dark Elves, keeping the Ancient Velothi traditions alive. As their civilisation declined in Morrowind and became the Great Houses and Ashlanders, some survived out in Black Marsh. Which brings us to my second question:
2. If Morrowind was the Velothi Promised Land, what are they doing in Black Marsh?
Remember, the Dunmer used to worship the Daedra (or at least the "good" ones) right up until the Tribunal murdered Nerevar and made themselves immortal (at least till he came back and killed them at any rate). During this time the people who followed the old Velothi ways were persecuted and forced to give up their faith and abandon their shrines (that's why they're all in ruins in Morrowind when you go there).
Now let's get back to the tribe's name: Velothi. From Morrowind's Lives of the Saints:
If you would learn daring, follow Saint Veloth the Pilgrim, Patron of Outcasts and Spiritual Seekers. Saint Veloth, prophet and mystic, led the Dunmer out of the decadent home country of the Summerset Isles and into the promised land of Morrowind. Saint Veloth also taught the difference between the Good and Bad Daedra, and won the aid of the Good Daedra for his people while teaching how to carefully negotiate with the Bad Daedra.
Is it hard to imagine a that group of hardcore fundamentalist Dunmer, disgusted by the Tribunal pretending to be living gods, might have taken the example of the founder of their religion, who led an exodus out of his decadent homeland, and decided to do the same? They could have left Morrowind and settled in Black Marsh, their own Promised Land.
So instead of some regular Argonian-enslaving Dunmer, we can have a unique and interesting new culture who are fully justified in lore, who can be done with pre-existing models from Silgrad Tower Morrowind if they'll let us and who've been living in Black Marsh for centuries. They would be culturally similar to the Ashlanders from Morrowind, who also rejected the Tribunal, but not as nomadic. They'd worship their ancestors in temples rather than out in the wilderness, and probably meditate a lot and talk a lot of mystical mumbo-jumbo if this is anything to go by:
From the Imperial Library:
The Psijic Endeavor
What is the Psijic Endeavor?
The basis for the teachings of the Prophet Veloth, founder of present day Morrowind and father of Dunmeri culture. Veloth describes the Psijic Endeavor as a process of glorious apotheosis, where time itself is bent inward and outward into 'a shape that is always new'. Those who can attain this state, called chim, experience an ineffable sense of the godhead, and escape the strictures of the world-egg.
It should be noted that, while Veloth is given credit for establishing the anti-laws that govern the Endeavor, this process has its antecedents in the teachings of the Black Hands Mephala, Boethiah, Azura, Trinimac, and, of course, Lorkhan, through that lord's association with PSJJJJ.
What is "chim"?
From the Ehlnofex: an ancient sigil connoting 'royalty', 'starlight', and 'high splendor'. As with most characters of that dangerous language, the sigil CHIM constantly distorts itself. Those scholars that can perceive its shape regard it as a Crowned Tower that threatens to break apart at the slightest break in concentration.
Representations of the chim, and by extension the Psijic Endeavor, are always protean values, such as the anumidi models renowned by the Dwemer, the Scarab of contemporary astrolothurges, and the Striking ("exact egg-cracking") of old Argonia. All of these representations possess an innate and constant aspect of transformation.
What is the purpose of the Psijic Endeavor?
To transcend mortal boundaries set in place by immortal rulers. At its simplest, the state of chim provides an escape from all known laws of the divine worlds and the corruptions of the black sea of Oblivion. It is a return to the first brush of Anu-Padomay, where stasis and change created possibility. Moreso, it the essence needed to hold that 'dawning' together without disaster. One that knows CHIM observes the Tower without fear. Moreso: he resides within.
And what do the Velothi think about the three main Daedra they worship:
Boethiah
(Prince of Plots) Heralded by the Prophet Veloth, Boethiah is the original god-ancestor of the Dark Elves. Through his illuminations, the eventual 'Chimer', or Changed Folk, renounced all ties to the Aldmer and founded a new nation based on Daedric principles. All manner of Dark Elven cultural 'advances' are attributed to Boethiah, from philosophy to magic to 'responsible' architecture. Ancient Velothi allegories are uniformly heroic successes of Boethiah over enemies of every type, foundation stories of Chimeri struggle. Boethiah is also known as the Anticipation of Almalexia.
Lord Boethiah to the exodus: "Divide ye like your enemies, in Houses, and lay your laws in set sequence from the center, again like the enemy Corners of the House of Troubles, and see yourself thence as timber, or mud-slats, or sheets of resin. Then do not divide, for yet is the stride of Sithis quicker than the rush of enemies, and He will sunder the whole for the sake of a shingle."
Mephala
(Androgyne) Mephala is the Spinner, or the Spider God. In Morrowind, he/she was the ancestor that taught the Chimer the skills they would need to evade their enemies or to kill them with secret murder. Enemies were numerous in those days since the Chimer were a small faction. He/she, along with Boethiah, organized the clan systems that eventually became the basis for the Great Houses. He/she founded the Morag Tong. Also called the Anticipation of Vivec.
Azura
(Goddess of Dusk and Dawn) Azura was the god-ancestor that taught the Chimer the mysteries needed to be different than the Altmer. Some of her more conventional teachings are sometimes attributed to Boethiah. In the stories, Azura is often more a communal cosmic force for the race as a whole than an ancestor or a god. Also known as the Anticipation of Sotha Sil. In Elsweyr, Azura is nearly a wholly separate entity, yet she is still tied into the origins of Khajiiti out of Altmeri stock.
What do you think? Is it workable as an idea?
I looked back through the forums and apparently at one point it was decided that if there are any left they should be more-or-less absorbed into House Dres.
Now, we could do that, but it would be boring, at least compared to what we could do with them instead if you look at Dunmer history and where they most likely come from. Two things stood out to me about this tribe:
1. The name. Why are they called Velothi? He was the name of the Dunmer prophet, no?
The Imperial Library says (quoting from a Morrowind Book I believe):
The Late Middle Merethic Era is the period of the High Velothi Culture. The Chimer, ancestors of the modern Dunmer, or Dark Elves, were dynamic, ambitious, long-lived Elven clans devoted to fundamentalist ancestor worship. The Chimer clans followed the Prophet Veloth out of the ancestral Elven homelands in the southwest to settle in the lands now known as Morrowind. Despising the secular culture and profane practices of the Dwemer, the Chimer also coveted the lands and resources of the Dwemer, and for centuries provoked them with minor raids and territorial disputes. The Dwemer (Dwarves), free-thinking, reclusive Elven clans devoted to the secrets of science, engineering, and alchemy, established underground cities and communities in the mountain range (later the Velothi Mountains) separating modern Skyrim and Morrowind.
The Late Merethic Era marks the precipitous decline of Velothi culture. Some Velothi settled in villages near declining and abandoned ancient Velothi towers. During this period, Velothi high culture disappeared on Vvardenfell Island. The earliest Dwemer Freehold colonies date from this period. Degenerate Velothi devolved into tribal cultures which, in time, evolved into the modern Great Houses of Morrowind, or persisted as the barbarian Ashlander tribes. The only surviving traces of this tribal culture are scattered Velothi towers and Ashlander nomads on Vvardenfell Island. The original First Era High Elven wizard towers along the coasts of Tamriel were also abandoned about this time.
So, instead of regular Dark Elves aligned with the Dres, these could be Old-School Dark Elves, keeping the Ancient Velothi traditions alive. As their civilisation declined in Morrowind and became the Great Houses and Ashlanders, some survived out in Black Marsh. Which brings us to my second question:
2. If Morrowind was the Velothi Promised Land, what are they doing in Black Marsh?
Remember, the Dunmer used to worship the Daedra (or at least the "good" ones) right up until the Tribunal murdered Nerevar and made themselves immortal (at least till he came back and killed them at any rate). During this time the people who followed the old Velothi ways were persecuted and forced to give up their faith and abandon their shrines (that's why they're all in ruins in Morrowind when you go there).
Now let's get back to the tribe's name: Velothi. From Morrowind's Lives of the Saints:
If you would learn daring, follow Saint Veloth the Pilgrim, Patron of Outcasts and Spiritual Seekers. Saint Veloth, prophet and mystic, led the Dunmer out of the decadent home country of the Summerset Isles and into the promised land of Morrowind. Saint Veloth also taught the difference between the Good and Bad Daedra, and won the aid of the Good Daedra for his people while teaching how to carefully negotiate with the Bad Daedra.
Is it hard to imagine a that group of hardcore fundamentalist Dunmer, disgusted by the Tribunal pretending to be living gods, might have taken the example of the founder of their religion, who led an exodus out of his decadent homeland, and decided to do the same? They could have left Morrowind and settled in Black Marsh, their own Promised Land.
So instead of some regular Argonian-enslaving Dunmer, we can have a unique and interesting new culture who are fully justified in lore, who can be done with pre-existing models from Silgrad Tower Morrowind if they'll let us and who've been living in Black Marsh for centuries. They would be culturally similar to the Ashlanders from Morrowind, who also rejected the Tribunal, but not as nomadic. They'd worship their ancestors in temples rather than out in the wilderness, and probably meditate a lot and talk a lot of mystical mumbo-jumbo if this is anything to go by:
From the Imperial Library:
The Psijic Endeavor
What is the Psijic Endeavor?
The basis for the teachings of the Prophet Veloth, founder of present day Morrowind and father of Dunmeri culture. Veloth describes the Psijic Endeavor as a process of glorious apotheosis, where time itself is bent inward and outward into 'a shape that is always new'. Those who can attain this state, called chim, experience an ineffable sense of the godhead, and escape the strictures of the world-egg.
It should be noted that, while Veloth is given credit for establishing the anti-laws that govern the Endeavor, this process has its antecedents in the teachings of the Black Hands Mephala, Boethiah, Azura, Trinimac, and, of course, Lorkhan, through that lord's association with PSJJJJ.
What is "chim"?
From the Ehlnofex: an ancient sigil connoting 'royalty', 'starlight', and 'high splendor'. As with most characters of that dangerous language, the sigil CHIM constantly distorts itself. Those scholars that can perceive its shape regard it as a Crowned Tower that threatens to break apart at the slightest break in concentration.
Representations of the chim, and by extension the Psijic Endeavor, are always protean values, such as the anumidi models renowned by the Dwemer, the Scarab of contemporary astrolothurges, and the Striking ("exact egg-cracking") of old Argonia. All of these representations possess an innate and constant aspect of transformation.
What is the purpose of the Psijic Endeavor?
To transcend mortal boundaries set in place by immortal rulers. At its simplest, the state of chim provides an escape from all known laws of the divine worlds and the corruptions of the black sea of Oblivion. It is a return to the first brush of Anu-Padomay, where stasis and change created possibility. Moreso, it the essence needed to hold that 'dawning' together without disaster. One that knows CHIM observes the Tower without fear. Moreso: he resides within.
And what do the Velothi think about the three main Daedra they worship:
Boethiah
(Prince of Plots) Heralded by the Prophet Veloth, Boethiah is the original god-ancestor of the Dark Elves. Through his illuminations, the eventual 'Chimer', or Changed Folk, renounced all ties to the Aldmer and founded a new nation based on Daedric principles. All manner of Dark Elven cultural 'advances' are attributed to Boethiah, from philosophy to magic to 'responsible' architecture. Ancient Velothi allegories are uniformly heroic successes of Boethiah over enemies of every type, foundation stories of Chimeri struggle. Boethiah is also known as the Anticipation of Almalexia.
Lord Boethiah to the exodus: "Divide ye like your enemies, in Houses, and lay your laws in set sequence from the center, again like the enemy Corners of the House of Troubles, and see yourself thence as timber, or mud-slats, or sheets of resin. Then do not divide, for yet is the stride of Sithis quicker than the rush of enemies, and He will sunder the whole for the sake of a shingle."
Mephala
(Androgyne) Mephala is the Spinner, or the Spider God. In Morrowind, he/she was the ancestor that taught the Chimer the skills they would need to evade their enemies or to kill them with secret murder. Enemies were numerous in those days since the Chimer were a small faction. He/she, along with Boethiah, organized the clan systems that eventually became the basis for the Great Houses. He/she founded the Morag Tong. Also called the Anticipation of Vivec.
Azura
(Goddess of Dusk and Dawn) Azura was the god-ancestor that taught the Chimer the mysteries needed to be different than the Altmer. Some of her more conventional teachings are sometimes attributed to Boethiah. In the stories, Azura is often more a communal cosmic force for the race as a whole than an ancestor or a god. Also known as the Anticipation of Sotha Sil. In Elsweyr, Azura is nearly a wholly separate entity, yet she is still tied into the origins of Khajiiti out of Altmeri stock.
What do you think? Is it workable as an idea?