Lore:Dagoth Ur

Dagoth Ur, also known as Voryn Dagoth  and the Sharmat''',   was the immortal Lord High Councilor of House Dagoth, who dwelt beneath Red Mountain with his kin, the Ash Vampires, and legions of Corprus monsters. 
 ==History==
Early Life
left|thumb|Banner of House Dagoth
 Kogoruhn, home fortress of House Dagoth|thumb|right
Voryn Dagoth was the Chimer Lord High Councilor of House Dagoth  one of the seven Great Houses of Resdayn which ruled the land alongside their allies the Dwemer. He resided in Kogoruhn (Unbroken Home in Dunmeris) the clanstead of the House.  The rulers of the First Council were Nerevar the Hortator of the Chimer, and Dumac Dwarf-Orc the King of the Dwemer.   Voryn was a trusted friend of both rulers,  particularly Nerevar who he was of the same generation as,  and shared a brotherly bond with.  He also served Nerevar loyally as his general.  He was a mighty sorcerer and enchanter. 
The War of the First Council
 
Loyal Dagoth Ur
Voryn Dagoth played a heavy role in the divide of and eventual war among the First Council, although accounts greatly differ on what side he was on. Certain stories, namely that of both the Ashlanders and Vivec himself tell a similar tale that differ in key aspects. 

 ===The Coming of the Nerevarine===
left|thumb|Dagoth Ur's fortress within Red Mountain
All this was to change with the advent of the Nerevarine circa  .   This outlander to Morrowind was the reincarnation of Nerevar prophesied by Azura who would return to rectify the dishonorable acts of his councilors.  Knowing better than to dismiss the Goddess of Dusk and Dawn, both Vivec and Dagoth Ur prepared for the Nerevarine's arrival as best they could, though they did not know when, where, or by whom the prophecy would be fulfilled. The Nerevarine met with Vivec, who offered him advice concerning how to defeat Dagoth Ur, even though he knew that the Nerevarine's success, and the destruction of the Heart of Lorkhan, would mean the loss of his power as a demigod.   Dagoth Ur offered him power, and the chance to use Akulakhan to drive the   out of Morrowind. 

The deception, treachery, and confrontation that Dagoth Ur encouraged among his followers left him unable to understand the Nerevarine; he could not deduce beforehand whether the Nerevarine sought to fight him or join him, even when the Nerevarine finally confronted him in the bowels of Red Mountain.   The Nerevarine ultimately severed Dagoth Ur's connection to the Heart of Lorkhan, thereby destroying Akulakhan. Dagoth Ur became mortal once more, losing his divinity. Although he was nonetheless a mighty sorcerer, the Nerevarine bested him in combat and brought a final end to the ancient evil. 

 

Influence in the Fourth Era
thumb|right|Erden Relvel, priest of Dagoth Ur
Following the Red Year of  , widespread worship of the Tribunal ended as the New Temple guided the Dunmer people back to their worship of the three Reclamations.  Cults of Tribunal worshippers continued to exist well into the Fourth Era, although these individuals were persecuted by the New Temple as heretics.  One such cult of Almalexia worshippers constructed a hidden temple in a cave on Solstheim known as Ashfall's Tear, just north of Raven Rock. This group dedicated themselves to preserving the relics of the Tribunal Temple, including the  . Prior to the temple's construction, the mask had been passed to   by her predecessor, who warned her never to open the chest it was stored in.  The Matriarch duly locked the chest in the temple armory, behind a portcullis which could only be raised in the presence of the masks of the three Tribunes. 

However, some of Dagoth Ur's influence remained within the mask. A few of the temple priests were corrupted by the Sharmat's voice, which pounded in their heads like a stone heart.  Circa  , the Diviner   eventually managed to reach the mask when Dagoth Ur used his power to raise the portcullis, allowing Erden to escape with the artifact without alerting the Matriarch. From listening to his master's words, Erden became a priest of Dagoth Ur and learned how to spawn Corprus. He used this knowledge to create Ash Zombies, transforming his fellow Temple priest Arthamis and others into unthinking minions of Dagoth Ur. He then sent these creatures to attack the temple at Ashfall's Tear. Ultimately, he hoped to spread his master's "cure" across the entire world. 

Knowing that the cult would eventually discover that the mask had been taken, Erden left a note in its place, summoning whoever possessed the three masks of the Tribunal to face him in combat. He believed that he needed to face the Tribunal's champion similar to how Dagoth Ur faced the Nerevarine.  Wearing the Mask of Dagoth Ur and the Robe of the Lich, Erden awaited the arrival of this fated champion at the graveyard near Tel Mithryn, surrounded by his Ash Zombie minions. He also learned how to control the Ash Spawn, strange beings animated by Heart Stones. The Last Dragonborn subsequently answered Erden's summons and defeated him, claiming the mask and robes. 
 

Artifacts
Several artifacts are associated with Dagoth Ur and his Sixth House. Although information on these items is mostly scarce, it is believed that many of them were personally enchanted by Dagoth Ur and provided his Ash Vampire brothers and himself great increase in power.  

Mask of Dagoth Ur|thumb|right|150px
Mask of Dagoth Ur
Easily the most significant relic associated with the god, the Mask of Dagoth Ur is a golden mask that Dagoth Ur wore in both the flesh and in the dreams of the people of Morrowind that he often invaded. It is unknown if he ever possessed the mask as a mortal but he was known to be equipped with it at least ever since he awoke from his divine slumber in Red Mountain. Dagoth Ur sported the mask in his final moments when the Nerevarine confronted him in his citadel and the Heart Chamber. After he was slain by the Nerevarine his body disappeared and only the mask was left behind. Circa   the Mask of Dagoth Ur was retrieved by an individual named Erden Relvel and the accounts of himself and cultists suggest that the mask still contained some degree of Dagoth Ur's power along with his will to destroy the Tribunal and any who would serve them.
 
Amulet of Heartfire|thumb|right|150px
Amulet of Heartfire
An amulet that has the ability to make the wearer far more elusive. Was in the possession of Dagoth Ur's Ash Vampire brother, Dagoth Odros.
 
Amulet of Heartheal|thumb|right|150px
Amulet of Heartheal
An amulet that has the ability to give the wearer flight, protection, and increase their natural strength. Was in the possession of Dagoth Ur's Ash Vampire brother, Dagoth Vemyn.
 
Amulet of Heartrime|thumb|right|150px
Amulet of Heartrime
An amulet that has the ability to give the wearer greater magical prowess and make them harder to strike. Was in the possession of Dagoth Ur’s Ash Vampire brother, Dagoth Endus.
 
Amulet of Heartthrum|thumb|right|150px
Amulet of Heartthrum
An amulet that has the ability to give the wearer both greater magical output and defense. Was in the possession of Dagoth Ur’s Ash Vampire brother, Dagoth Tureynel.
 
Belt of Heartfire|thumb|right|150px 
Belt of Heartfire
A belt that has the ability to give the wearer greater vitality and resistance to poison and fire. Was in the possession of Dagoth Ur’s Ash Vampire brother, Dagoth Uthol.
 
Blood Ring|thumb|right|150px
Blood Ring
A ring that has the ability to give the wearer more health and great resistances. Was in the possession of Dagoth Ur’s Ash Vampire brother, Dagoth Gilvoth.
 
Soul Ring|thumb|right|150px
Soul Ring
A ring that has the ability to give the wearer increased health and magic as well as resistances. Was in the possession of Dagoth Ur’s Ash Vampire brother, Dagoth Araynys.
Heart Ring|thumb|right|150px
Heart Ring
A ring that provides incredible defense and resistances. Was in the possession of Dagoth Ur himself.
 

Gallery
 

Notes
"Dagoth-Ur" is another name for Red Mountain, and is usually distinguishable from the deity "Dagoth Ur" due to the hyphen, but the use of the distinction is somewhat inconsistent. As with the cities of Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil, distinguishing between the place and the person depends on the context.

See Also
For game-specific information, see the Morrowind and   articles.

References