Viros
2013-12-08, 12:21 AM
Consider this a discussion/introduction thread for the metaphysics and lore of The Elder Scrolls universe. The thread isn't for any particular game in the series--in fact, some of the best lore doesn't appear in any of them--but feel free to talk about those too.
I'll start it off by asking if anyone around here has also taken an interest in the deeper, more abstract lore in TES, and ask them to share their personal theories on CHIM. Apparently there's a vast body of discussion going on in subreddits, forums, etc. about the philosophical and metaphysical underpinnings of the world the games take place in. I've been poking around on these threads for a few months now, and I'm wondering if GiTP has a resident TES scholar who can share his/her wisdom.
Some Useful Resources:
The 36 Lessons of Vivec (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_36_Lessons_of_Vivec), an in-game series with interesting implications
An Analysis of the 36 Lessons of Vivec (http://www.imperial-library.info/content/thirty-six-lessons-obscurity-and-deception)
The Nu-Mantia Intercepts (http://www.imperial-library.info/content/nu-mantia-intercept), a collection of works by Michael Kirkbride
Analysis of the Nu-Mantia Intercepts (http://www.imperial-library.info/content/facts-and-opinions-nu-hatta-intercept)
Additional Analysis of the Nu-Mantia Intercepts (http://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/comments/mv6hg/the_numantia_intercept_an_overarching_theory/)
The Annotated Anuad (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Annotated_Anuad), a description of the creation myth of the TES world
The Imperial Library (http://www.imperial-library.info/), compendium of TES in-game and out-of-game lore and analysis
UESP (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Main_Page), a TES wiki that avoids conjecture and content of questionable canon
/r/teslore (http://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/), a subreddit dedicated to this subject
Lore Page on Dragon Breaks (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Dragon_Break), one of my favorite unique traits of TES lore
If you find a link that you think might be relevant, just post it and I'll add it to the list.
For those of you who are new to the whole business, remember this: Canonicity in the TES universe is a sliding scale, rather than a boolean property. The books that appear in-game are all written by in-universe characters, so they often display bias and falsehood. The works written outside of the game are given by informed authorities like Michael Kirkbride, but don't have the Bethesda seal of approval. As such, please try to avoid discussions over whether a source is considered canon. They just go in circles.
I'll start it off by asking if anyone around here has also taken an interest in the deeper, more abstract lore in TES, and ask them to share their personal theories on CHIM. Apparently there's a vast body of discussion going on in subreddits, forums, etc. about the philosophical and metaphysical underpinnings of the world the games take place in. I've been poking around on these threads for a few months now, and I'm wondering if GiTP has a resident TES scholar who can share his/her wisdom.
Some Useful Resources:
The 36 Lessons of Vivec (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_36_Lessons_of_Vivec), an in-game series with interesting implications
An Analysis of the 36 Lessons of Vivec (http://www.imperial-library.info/content/thirty-six-lessons-obscurity-and-deception)
The Nu-Mantia Intercepts (http://www.imperial-library.info/content/nu-mantia-intercept), a collection of works by Michael Kirkbride
Analysis of the Nu-Mantia Intercepts (http://www.imperial-library.info/content/facts-and-opinions-nu-hatta-intercept)
Additional Analysis of the Nu-Mantia Intercepts (http://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/comments/mv6hg/the_numantia_intercept_an_overarching_theory/)
The Annotated Anuad (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Annotated_Anuad), a description of the creation myth of the TES world
The Imperial Library (http://www.imperial-library.info/), compendium of TES in-game and out-of-game lore and analysis
UESP (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Main_Page), a TES wiki that avoids conjecture and content of questionable canon
/r/teslore (http://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/), a subreddit dedicated to this subject
Lore Page on Dragon Breaks (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Dragon_Break), one of my favorite unique traits of TES lore
If you find a link that you think might be relevant, just post it and I'll add it to the list.
For those of you who are new to the whole business, remember this: Canonicity in the TES universe is a sliding scale, rather than a boolean property. The books that appear in-game are all written by in-universe characters, so they often display bias and falsehood. The works written outside of the game are given by informed authorities like Michael Kirkbride, but don't have the Bethesda seal of approval. As such, please try to avoid discussions over whether a source is considered canon. They just go in circles.