01-27-2006, 04:17 PM
Here's an essay written by Sheikizza Icemane, who used to be part of the team in the old days. I don't think she intended it to be an in-game book when she wrote it, since she used a real-world analogy (which I struck). I think it serves a good purpose in presenting Dunmer beliefs in an easy-to-read fashion and would be a good addition to the mod. 
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[This essay appears to be the work of a budding Imperial scholar, studying religious beliefs in Morrowind]
'Good' and 'Bad' are relative terms and thus rather useless overall, in my opinion. Even among the many cultures of Tamriel, there is no agreement on which Daedra (or Aedra for that matter) are 'good' and which are 'bad'. It just depends on your culture, sub-culture and background.
Before the Tribunal came along and tried to 'discourage' the natural Daedra worship of the Chimeri/Dunmeri peoples, the Dark Elven ancestors had considered most Daedra to be 'good'. Different from us, and with motivations we did not always understand, but good.
The Tribunal Temple tried to do away with the ancient Daedra worship, but failed utterly as such attempts at religious suppression usually do. Many daedra worshippers merely went underground and others became quieter in their faith. I would hazard to guess we may see a great resurgence of Daedric religious institutions in Morrowind again now that the Tribunal is gone. But that is aside from the point.
Many Mer, other than the Dunmer, do not consider the Daedra to be worthy of worship, considering themselves to be the blood decendents of the Aedra. However, many non-Dunmeri peoples still revere certain Daedra like Azura. Many non-dunmeri merely have a 'respect' for these daedra, rather than worshipping them as such.
Which are 'good' and which 'bad' depends on your background and your goals. Obviously many would see Mephala as a 'bad' daedra as she encourages plots, intrigues, and ritual assassinations. However, the Dunmer and the Morag Tong (and those who employ them like the Empire) see her a 'good' Daedra because she encourages ritual assassinations for obtaining 'justice'...not merely for mayhem. Likewise, many a mage of any culture has sought the great book of knowledge held by Hermaeus Mora, the Daedra of knowledge. Is he a good or bad daedra? Depends on your personal view.
In truth, I feel that all the daedra are neither good nor bad. But they are utterly different from us. These are the original beings that existed long before we, Nirn, or the Mundus had been created, and we cannot fathom their motivations. From what I have seen of them, and the Aedra, they are mixed lot with actions of every sort. Some seem quite noble and others seem rather demonic. However, I feel this is merely my limited mer mind ascribing attributes to them that they would laugh at.
I feel that in the end, we are free to think of them what we wish, as they could care less. Their actions and designs have meaning, but to them alone and I fear we in Nirn will only discover what their true purposes have been when that day comes that the gates of Oblivion are opened and they come for us...
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'Good' and 'Bad' are relative terms and thus rather useless overall, in my opinion. Even among the many cultures of Tamriel, there is no agreement on which Daedra (or Aedra for that matter) are 'good' and which 'bad'...it just depends on your culture, sub-culture and background.
Before the Tribunal came along and tried to 'discourage' the natural Daedra worship of the Chimeri/Dunmeri peoples, the Dark Elven ancestors had considered most Daedra to be 'good'...different from us, alien and with motivations we did not always understand, but good...much in the same way as the ancient Israelites considered Yahweh to be a 'good' deity despite the fact that they often did not understand what he was doing and why, and despite his punishments when they didn't.
The Tribunal Temple tried to do away with the ancient Daedra worship, but failed utterly as such attempts at religious suppression usually do. Many daedra worshippers merely went underground and others became quieter in their faith. I would hazard to guess we may see a great resurgence of Daedric religious institutions in Morrowind again now that the Tribunal is gone...but that is aside from the point.
Many Mer, other than the Dunmer, do not consider the Daedra to be worthy of worship, considering themselves to be the blood decendents of the Aedra. However, many non-Dunmeri peoples still revere certain Daedra like Azura. Many non-dunmeri merely have a 'respect' for these daedra, rather than worshipping them as such.
Which are 'good' and which 'bad' depends on your background and your goals. Obviously many would see Mephala as a 'bad' daedra as she encourages plots, intrigues, and ritual assassinations...however, the Dunmer and the Morag Tong (and those who employ them like the Empire) see her a 'good' Daedra because she encourages ritual assassinations for obtaining 'justice'...not merely for mayhem. Likewise, many a mage of any culture has sought the great book of knowledge held by Hermaeus Mora, the Daedra of knowledge. Is he a good or bad daedra? Depends on your personal view...
In truth, I feel that all the daedra are neither good nor bad...but they are utterly different from us. These are the original beings that existed long before we, Nirn, or the Mundus had been created, and we cannot fathom their motivations. From what I have seen of them, and the Aedra, they are mixed lot with actions of every sort. Some seem quite noble and others seem rather demonic. However, I feel this is merely my limited mer mind ascribing attributes to them that they would laugh at.
I feel that in the end, we are free to think of them what we wish, as they could care less. Their actions and designs have meaning, but to them alone and I fear we in Nirn will only discover what their true purposes have been when that day comes that the gates of Oblivion are opened and they come for us...
royalblue[/hr]
[This essay appears to be the work of a budding Imperial scholar, studying religious beliefs in Morrowind]
'Good' and 'Bad' are relative terms and thus rather useless overall, in my opinion. Even among the many cultures of Tamriel, there is no agreement on which Daedra (or Aedra for that matter) are 'good' and which are 'bad'. It just depends on your culture, sub-culture and background.
Before the Tribunal came along and tried to 'discourage' the natural Daedra worship of the Chimeri/Dunmeri peoples, the Dark Elven ancestors had considered most Daedra to be 'good'. Different from us, and with motivations we did not always understand, but good.
The Tribunal Temple tried to do away with the ancient Daedra worship, but failed utterly as such attempts at religious suppression usually do. Many daedra worshippers merely went underground and others became quieter in their faith. I would hazard to guess we may see a great resurgence of Daedric religious institutions in Morrowind again now that the Tribunal is gone. But that is aside from the point.
Many Mer, other than the Dunmer, do not consider the Daedra to be worthy of worship, considering themselves to be the blood decendents of the Aedra. However, many non-Dunmeri peoples still revere certain Daedra like Azura. Many non-dunmeri merely have a 'respect' for these daedra, rather than worshipping them as such.
Which are 'good' and which 'bad' depends on your background and your goals. Obviously many would see Mephala as a 'bad' daedra as she encourages plots, intrigues, and ritual assassinations. However, the Dunmer and the Morag Tong (and those who employ them like the Empire) see her a 'good' Daedra because she encourages ritual assassinations for obtaining 'justice'...not merely for mayhem. Likewise, many a mage of any culture has sought the great book of knowledge held by Hermaeus Mora, the Daedra of knowledge. Is he a good or bad daedra? Depends on your personal view.
In truth, I feel that all the daedra are neither good nor bad. But they are utterly different from us. These are the original beings that existed long before we, Nirn, or the Mundus had been created, and we cannot fathom their motivations. From what I have seen of them, and the Aedra, they are mixed lot with actions of every sort. Some seem quite noble and others seem rather demonic. However, I feel this is merely my limited mer mind ascribing attributes to them that they would laugh at.
I feel that in the end, we are free to think of them what we wish, as they could care less. Their actions and designs have meaning, but to them alone and I fear we in Nirn will only discover what their true purposes have been when that day comes that the gates of Oblivion are opened and they come for us...
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Below is the original, unaltered text.
'Good' and 'Bad' are relative terms and thus rather useless overall, in my opinion. Even among the many cultures of Tamriel, there is no agreement on which Daedra (or Aedra for that matter) are 'good' and which 'bad'...it just depends on your culture, sub-culture and background.
Before the Tribunal came along and tried to 'discourage' the natural Daedra worship of the Chimeri/Dunmeri peoples, the Dark Elven ancestors had considered most Daedra to be 'good'...different from us, alien and with motivations we did not always understand, but good...much in the same way as the ancient Israelites considered Yahweh to be a 'good' deity despite the fact that they often did not understand what he was doing and why, and despite his punishments when they didn't.
The Tribunal Temple tried to do away with the ancient Daedra worship, but failed utterly as such attempts at religious suppression usually do. Many daedra worshippers merely went underground and others became quieter in their faith. I would hazard to guess we may see a great resurgence of Daedric religious institutions in Morrowind again now that the Tribunal is gone...but that is aside from the point.
Many Mer, other than the Dunmer, do not consider the Daedra to be worthy of worship, considering themselves to be the blood decendents of the Aedra. However, many non-Dunmeri peoples still revere certain Daedra like Azura. Many non-dunmeri merely have a 'respect' for these daedra, rather than worshipping them as such.
Which are 'good' and which 'bad' depends on your background and your goals. Obviously many would see Mephala as a 'bad' daedra as she encourages plots, intrigues, and ritual assassinations...however, the Dunmer and the Morag Tong (and those who employ them like the Empire) see her a 'good' Daedra because she encourages ritual assassinations for obtaining 'justice'...not merely for mayhem. Likewise, many a mage of any culture has sought the great book of knowledge held by Hermaeus Mora, the Daedra of knowledge. Is he a good or bad daedra? Depends on your personal view...
In truth, I feel that all the daedra are neither good nor bad...but they are utterly different from us. These are the original beings that existed long before we, Nirn, or the Mundus had been created, and we cannot fathom their motivations. From what I have seen of them, and the Aedra, they are mixed lot with actions of every sort. Some seem quite noble and others seem rather demonic. However, I feel this is merely my limited mer mind ascribing attributes to them that they would laugh at.
I feel that in the end, we are free to think of them what we wish, as they could care less. Their actions and designs have meaning, but to them alone and I fear we in Nirn will only discover what their true purposes have been when that day comes that the gates of Oblivion are opened and they come for us...
