Lore:Hircine

Hircine, known as the Huntsman, Lord of the Hunt,   Master of Beasts,  and  the Master of the Chase,  is a Daedric Prince whose sphere is the Hunt, the Sport of Daedra,  the Greatest Game, and the Chase and Sacrifice of Mortals.  His realm of Oblivion is the Hunting Grounds,  an endless forest where the Prince and his Huntsmen hunt great beasts, people, and even other Daedra.  Hircine is typically portrayed with a great spear and either the head or skull of an elk,  the latter of which Khajiiti myths say belonged to Y'ffer's champion, the Graht-Elk. 

Hircine is one of the more widely worshipped Daedric Princes in Tamriel, despite never actively seeking worship or reverence.  His appeal lies in his sphere, which encompasses the thrill of the hunt,  though this can be taken to extremes.    His advocacy for sportsmanship is another lure, as the Law of Fair Hunt which he holds to prohibits cheating prey (referred to as "the Hare") out of a genuine chance at escape.   He admires the Hare that overcomes whatever is thrown against them, no matter the odds. For example, one who turns the game on its head by hunting the hunters may earn the Prince's respect.  Finally, he is straightforward in his desires; he often seeks people out, tests them, and rewards those who prove themselves worthy with a boon.  

As the progenitor of lycanthropy, Hircine is recognized as the Father of Manbeasts.   He serves as the guardian of were-creatures, which are often referred to as his "children".    The condition is called Hircine's Gift by those that view it as a blessing,  and Hircine's Curse to those that consider it an abomination.  Hircine is quite prideful of lycanthropy, and resents those that received it willingly but have come to regret it; He's known to have ingrates slain to rid them of their misery.  Regardless of whether they worshipped him or not, Hircine will typically claim the souls of skinshifters, and they will spend eternity in the Hunting Grounds.  

The Demiprince Dearola is Hircine's daughter.  There is a belief that Hircine is allied with Mehrunes Dagon,  though Lyranth the Foolkiller claims that if such an arrangement exists, it would be obscure outside their own circle.  Hircine has Daedra Lords that manage some of his sub-spheres and report to him, such as the Lord of Fishing.  He may also be associated with the Daedra Lord Hollowjack.  Ebonarm is an enemy to Hircine.  Hircine's summoning day is the 5  of Mid Year.    

Aspects
thumb|left|An emblem representing Hircine
The Reachfolk believe that there are only five aspects of Hircine, with each worthy of reverence.   There may be more than five, however, as the Glenmoril Wyrd worship an additional owl aspect.  Hircine's worshippers are known to craft their weapons and armor in a style that honors these figures.  

  (the Hunter / Aspect of Guile) 
Alrabeg is the hunter, and he bears the Spear of Bitter Mercy when he manifests.  On occasion, he wields the Spear of the Hunter.  He comes to Nirn to hunt new prey, or to bring prey native to the Hunting Grounds to the mortal plane. If he arrives without prey, then he has come to select a Hare in his next hunt.  Worshippers invoke Alrabeg's name when praying for a bountiful hunt. 

  (the Manbeast / Skinchanger / Skinshifter / King of Wolves / Wolf Aspect of Hircine / Wolf That Craved the Sky / Wolf with the Daedric Howl / Aspect of Speed) 
Storihbeg is the wolf, and wears the Wolf Skull Totem. Storihbeg introduced the gift of skinshifting to mortals to remind them that they can be predators, not prey.  When he comes to Nirn, he hunts with these skinshifters, or seeks to "adopt new children and turn them pelt-side-out"; that is to say, he turns mortals into werewolves. His howl is capable of freezing his prey's innards,  which when combined with his speed, makes it difficult for prey to flee from him.  An account from the Druadach Mountains tells of Storihbeg appearing as a wraithlike wolf composed of extreme storm and fog, and his arrival was proceeded by inclement weather. The account tells of him stealing the unwary during the night before vanishing. His terrifying Daedric howl was unforgettable; described as mournful, brazen, and unrelenting. 
thumb|right|The Great Dark Stag (ESO)
  (the Great Dark Stag / Great Stag) 
Uricanbeg is the stag. He comes to mate with hinds, and may transform a mortal woman into one for the same purpose. He may also arrive to cull the herd of the weak. His hooves drum the Blood Summons that lure prey into his herd, which are then led into the Hunting Grounds where they meet their end.  Some of his offspring have granted mortals the honor to ride them. 

  (the Quick Fox) 
Gulibeg is the fox. He shares characteristics with some cultural interpretations of Lorkhan. Like Lorkhan, Gulibeg is a trickster; at his worst, Gulibeg will deceive mortals into meeting their own demise, or will use his swift bite to weaken his prey.  He shows some parallels with Shor, the Nordic interpretation of Lorkhan,  whose totem is the fox.   Gulibeg's symbol is the Wand of Bone, which was fashioned from a shard from Lorkh's ribs, and has the ability to confound any mortal.  In one tale, a medallion associated with Gulibeg makes less conventional forms of communication understandable.  Gulibeg is said to reward those he finds clever by teaching them tricks and secrets,  which the Reachmen claim helped them survive the fall of Lorkh.  

  (the Mighty Bear / Aspect of Strength) 
Hrokkibeg is the bear. He embodies strength, and has ties to the Totem of Claw and Fang. He comes to Nirn seeking solitude, peace from labors, and renewal of the Burning Spirit Within. He may bless those that make offerings of mead with the power of the Bear-Heart. However, he will attack those who disturb his peace. Though he is slow, he makes up for it with his strength,  and tears his prey apart if he catches up to them. 
 

Worship and Culture
thumb|350px|Hircine overseeing a Great Hunt within the Hunting Grounds

Afterlife
Hircine's devoted are promised an afterlife within the Hunting Grounds, a savage land that provides to its dwellers. Here, one can indulge in spectacular hunts. Those within the realm experience an endless cycle of violence, as well as death and rebirth. Its inhabitants reside in the many hunting lodges dotting the landscape. The forests of the Hunting Grounds are teeming with powerful beasts, which allow Hircine's followers to engage in the most spectacular hunts. To the faithful, the plane is a paradise. 

Hircine is the Master of the Great Hunt,  a grandiose contest that typically pits participants of the Prince's choosing against each other for his amusement. This event is a common occurrence in the Hunting Grounds, to which mortals are sometimes invited.  Outside of his plane, they are rare, rumored to happen only once in an era.  Hircine may call upon a Great Hunt on Nirn for his own merriment,  or to punish those that defy him.    

When the Great Hunt is hosted on Nirn, Secunda turns red, becoming the Bloodmoon, and the hunt proceeds until the Bloodmoon subsides.  The Bloodmoon is said to symbolize the blood of the Hunter's Prey, and those wishing to join the Great Hunt craft rounded bone pendants that are stained with blood to represent the event.   Should one emerge victorious from the Great Hunt, they are permitted to ask Hircine for a grand boon. 
 

Altmer
thumb|right|Hircine's Altmeri faithful may face the wrath of the Divine Prosecution
The Altmer detest anything related to the Daedra. They believe Daedra are not to be bargained with, and Summerset laws decrees that summoning them warrants a death sentence.  To wield Daedric magic is to insult one's lineage.  The Altmer are very zealous in their beliefs, that it warrants the existence of the Divine Prosecution, which is tasked with enforcing religious laws, and that includes stomping out any Daedra worship. 

In the context of Hircine, thanks to the isolationist policies of the Altmer, they are vulnerable to the spread of lycanthropy. This became evident when Queen Ayrenn opened up the Summerset Isle to immigrants of other races.  Lycanthropes are a rarity on the Isle, and thus the Altmer were not familiar with how to best handle them. When the Bosmeri Thornfang Pack migrated to Summerset, they found it comparable to a safe haven, and were able to spread their "gift" with relative ease.  Summerset werewolves often collect and embellish the skulls of their most impressive kills. Indrik skulls are especially prized trophies. 

Altmer seeking to worship the Lord of the Hunt often look elsewhere to avoid persecution. One such individual was  , an Altmer noble who held grand hunts away from Summerset, where mortals and exotic creatures were brought in as quarry. She ran a kidnapping ring to populate her hunts with fellow mortals. She invited the local elites of society, including other Altmer, to participate in her games.  

Bosmer
thumb|left|Shrine to Hircine in Valenwood
Hircine is a Daedric power of some significance among the Bosmer,  though their perception of the Hunter varies. While the Hunter's name may be invoked for luck in a hunt, going further can lead to cruel or violent extremes. 

In the Dawn Era, before Y'ffre's Naming stabilized the forms of most creatures,  life was stuck in a chaotic, ever changing state called the Ooze. From this Ooze, Y'ffre gave shape to the Bosmer, but forbade them from ever changing that shape through the terms of the Green Pact. The souls of those who violate the Green Pact would be condemned to return to the Ooze.  The only shapeshifting allowed by the Wood Elves' culture is during the collective ritual known as the Wild Hunt, which is only invoked in an act of vengeance or desperation.  The Bosmer believe that Hircine wishes to return to this chaotic state. As in other cultures, his cultists see shapeshifting as a gift, and view being culturally mandated to a single form as "tyranny". 

Bosmer can transform into a creature of the Wild Hunt outside the need for the collective ritual.  Doing so this way is not condoned by Y'ffre, and is punishable for breaking the Green Pact. Hircine is known as a source for tapping into the transformation in this illicit manner. 

Hircine is said to have meddled with the nature of wolves, making them susceptible to shapeshifting. This modification is the origin for both werewolves, and the Wild Hunt Wolf, who as their name suggests, are wolves that have become unraveled because they have forgotten their Y'ffre-taught form,  much like creatures that get caught up in the Bosmer’s Wild Hunt ritual. 

Outside influences are a factor to consider in the Hunter’s popularity within Valenwood.  The formation of the First Aldmeri Dominion led to the rise of Bosmer extremists turning to Hircine, as they saw the union as potential for their subjugation under High Elven rule.  The Dominion attempted to suppress his worship, as Hircine's cultists started kidnapping unwary travelers.  Some went as far as to ask for Hircine's blessing to purge the Dominion's presence from Valenwood. 
 

Glenmoril Wyrd
The Glenmoril Wyrd covens are known for worshipping Hircine in a variety of different ways. Some, such as the witches of the Hagfeather Coven, the Rimerock Wyrd, and the Markarth Sisters, worship his more feral aspects, while the Ilessan and Viridian Wyrd worship his less feral side, and are known to provide services to cure lycanthropy.   In the Iliac Bay region, the Glenmoril Coven of the Ilessan Hills of High Rock are the only group for whom Hircine will answer a summons. 

Religious idols comprised of tree roots shaped by wyrd magic have been unearthed by scholars. They depict female humanoid-animal hybrids, such as a woman with stag horns and cloven feet, a scaled woman, and a six breasted wolf woman. One researcher initially theorized they were representations of Hircine, but later concluded they may represent totemic Divines, like those of the Atmorans. 

The Glenmoril Wyrd are known for their ability to shapeshift into different creatures; this beast-form magic is attributed to their knowledge of the mysteries of Hircine's domain. 
 

Imperial
thumb|right|Shrine to Hircine in Cyrodiil
The Bosmeri name for Hircine - Half the Conscience of Man  - is also used by the Imperials, as the title was adopted and its connotations invocated as one of the 16 Acceptable Blasphemies for what was Tiber Septim's Empire. 

Imperial views towards Hircine can be understood by their general negative views of Daedra, with a notable difference between the behavior of Colovians and the Nibenesse during the Interregnum. The more religious Colovians would typically refuse to associate themselves with them , whereas the Nibenesse were more inclined to turn to Daedra worship. 

Daedra worship in Cyrodiil is technically allowed through the Imperial Charter, which permits the Mages Guild to summon Daedra. Due to the negative views of religious institutions and the general public, Daedra worshipping is not openly practiced. Shrines are known to be built in the wilderness of Cyrodiil  - one of such examples is a shrine to Hircine found in Great Forest. 

 

Ancient texts predating the Riddle'Thar Epiphany state that Hircine was once in love with Nirni, but she instead chose Y'ffer to be her mate after he created the first flower for her. A heartbroken Hircine slew  Y'ffer's champion, the Graht-Elk, and took to wearing its head as a trophy. Y'ffer and Nirni made many children together, but Y'ffer eventually became corrupted by Namiira. He struck and killed Nirni in a frenzy. Hircine, along with Azurah and Khenarthi, slew Y'ffer and made a cairn out of his bones for their fallen sister. 

The Hungry Cat is said to be fond of mortals, who are Nirni's children. As such, he frequently walks among them. Some Khajiit believe Hircine to be the father of Nirni's first litter, who were "as changeable as the Moons".  This litter would later have their shape stabilized by Azurah, who bound their forms to the Ja-Kha'jay.  Khajiit who have strayed from the Path pray to Hircine, believing he will guide them back upon it.  However, lycanthropy is frowned upon, and seen as a "parody" of Khajiiti faith. 

Predator Mesa, which is located in Anequina, hosts a great temple to Hircine. The Mesa is said to draw out the bloodlust in every hunter, leading the tribe that built the shrine to hunt each other to death. With the temple untended, it fell into disrepair, and nature reclaimed the area. As a result, savage beasts began to roam freely within.  The area still serves hunters seeking to test their strength and cunning.  On Predator Mesa, anything with a pulse, even people, are fair game.  Those who sate their lust for blood on the Mesa can offer their game to the temple's decrepit altars, an act some believe may earn them the Hungry Cat's favor. 
 

Nedes
thumb|right|The Bloodroot Forge
The Keptu, a Nedic tribe from the Craglorn region of Hammerfell, were known to worship Hircine.  The Huntsman Prince aided them in the creation of the Bloodroot Forge, which was built for the purpose of harvesting Nirncrux. The Forge was said to rival the ingenuity of the Ayleids and the Dwemer.  The forge was later abandoned, and would be shunned by the neighboring Nords as a place of evil; one where the Nedes worshipped dark and forgotten gods.  The forge called to all who resided near its boundaries, causing those within its vicinity to experience a feral bloodlust.  

The Nedic architecture present in Craglorn features a variety of carved symbols. A symbol of a stag is prevalent, and is speculated by the famed archaeologist, Lady Clarisse Laurent, as possibly being attributed to Hircine.  The imagery is also present in the armor of the Keptu, Duraki, and Perena tribes. 
 

Nords
To the Nords, Hircine is seen as a potential obstacle to reaching Sovngarde, as contracting lycanthropy will result in the infected's soul being prevented from entering the realm.    A great wolf will forcibly drag the souls of the unwilling into the Hunting Grounds.  The Jurgald thanes and their families ruled the area around the lower Yorgrim River for centuries, and openly embraced Hircine's curse.  The area around the Yogrim River was where one of the earliest sightings of Hircine and his hounds occurred. 

One Nord tale claims that a forlorn ghostly giant haunts the Velothi Mountains. In the story, he made a bargain with Hircine to be resurrected in order to find his wife, to no avail. He hunts down any unfortunate enough to cross his path, beating them to a pulp with his frosty club, and sates his hunger on the flesh of his victims. 

The Skaal are an offshoot of Nords who view Hircine negatively. To them, he is a demon god whose coming is predicted by the Bloodmoon Prophecy, which foretells when he will visit Nirn with his hounds to collect mortal quarry for the Hunter's Game. The selected are either taken to the Hunting Grounds,  or preyed upon on Nirn.  Lycanthropes are viewed as twisted mockeries of the All-Maker's noble creatures.  They believe that Man was not meant to live a dual life as both rational being and animal. 
 

Reachmen
thumb|right|Hircine's Reachfolk Symbol|class=backdrop
Hircine is the most widely worshipped deity within the Reachfolks' pantheon, and is known by many names. Among them are the Spirit of the Hunt,   the Great Beast,  the Hunt-Father,  the Hunt-King, the Beast Father, Old Elk-Eye, the Skinshaper, the Spear with Five Points,  the Horned Lord,  the Wolf-Charmer,  the Master of the Chase,  and the Huntsman of the Princes.  The Reachmen creation story speaks of Hircine's rise to prominence after Lorkh made a deal with Namira, who ruled the realm of spirit. Lorkh convinced Namira to grant him a place in the infinite void to create a realm for wayward spirits, but it was not without a cost. Lorkh sacrificed himself to create a harsh realm, one that is unforgiving and intended to teach through suffering.  Hircine took the mantle of Lorkh's creation, becoming the sovereign of the world of flesh.  For this reason, the Reachmen refer to him as the Lord of the Arena. The Reachfolk believe that Hircine will fight alongside them at the "end of all days".  
thumb|left|The Reach, a gift from Hircinethumb|right|A Reachman with a Briarheart
The Reachfolk believe that Hircine gifted them their homeland, the Reach,  and their geographical proximity to enemies on all sides drives them to follow the Prince's principle of living in the "now". Hircine engenders a sense of urgency; the unease needed to keep the people of the Reach safe, as there may be another threat looming over the horizon. Thus, Hircine has reason to be cruel in his lessons. He also taught the Reachfolk how to hunt, fight, and survive,  all in an effort to make them swifter, stronger, and more cunning.  The briarheart ritual is reflective of this need to improve, and involves communing with Hircine to ritualistically replace the heart of a skilled Reachfolk warrior with poisoned briars.  This ritual represents Lorkh's immortal sacrifice,  which is reflected by ending ones' own life, with the end result being that the warrior is resurrected  as a living weapon with great strength and endurance. These warriors are called "Briarhearts".  These unnatural beings suffer constant pain,  a price they pay to benefit from the transformation and protect their clan.  The Bloodroot Forge was used by the   to create bloodthirsty beings known as the Blood-Forged, who share some similarities with Briarhearts. However, the Blood-Forged's creation involves a nirncrux heartstone being used in place of a briar heart,  resulting in a creature that is an amalgamation of blood, nirncrux, and iron. 

Due to their reverence for Hircine, it is not uncommon to find lycanthropes among the Reachmen.  In a similar vein to Briarhearts, lycanthropy is viewed by most Reachfolk as self-sacrifice. It is seen as more of a useful condition rather than a gift; one which is suffered so the individual can better serve their clan.  Some Reach Clans have proven zealous about the gift, as conflicts between them and the Viridian Wyrd have been reported.  

Reachmen are often referred to as the Witchmen of High Rock, a name given to them due to their use of dark "Reach-magic". It is believed that they learned much of this magic through trading with the Orsimer, their neighbors who also occupy the Wrothgarian Mountains.  Another source for their magic comes from hagravens, which involves "ecstatic ceremonial heres[ies]", such as sacrifices, to acquire dark nature magic.  Hircine is believed to be the source of where Reach-magic is drawn from,  though the magic crosses into Molag Bal's domain when the cruel magic of the Gravesingers (Reachmen necromancers) is involved.    Reach-magic has been outlawed within the Mages Guild, though that has not stopped the art from being widely studied. 
thumb|left|A White Stag
Hircine is involved in the legend of Chieftain Fiasof, a tragedy told by Reachfolk storytellers throughout generations. The story teaches Reachfolk to challenge themselves, and touts humility as an essential trait. The legend of Chieftain Fiasof tells of a hunter whose great skill meant that he never struggled in his hunts. His mastery of the chase initially brought Hircine joy. However, Fiasof became prideful, and grew content with these trivial hunts. This angered Hircine, who proposed a new game to punish the chief. Hircine cursed the chieftain's entire tribe, turning them to white deer, and instructed the chieftain to hunt them. Fiasof complied and rained a hail of arrows upon them, easily turning their white hides to red. It was when Fiasof went to dress the game that he realized what he had done. He broke his bow over his knee and asked for forgiveness, which the prince then provided.  White deer are interpreted as omens sent by Hircine,  and his association with them can be seen in other cultures. 

Hircine oversees pacts between Reach clans, approving of the deal if the union is worth committing to. The ritual calling upon Hircine to bless a pact involves tossing a briar-heart seed, the eye of a hagraven, and a handful of bright river-shale into a ritual fire. If he approves, the Huntsman may send a sign, which can vary in nature. After this, the parties are bound by blood and spirit. Should a participant dare to break a pact, they will find no peace in the wilds, as nature will turn against them. 

The Song of Gwyna tells of Hircine's daughter, Dearola, intermingling with Reachfolk. One of her descendants was Chief Rowolan of the Horn-stride clan, whose mythical prowess could be attributed to his lineage. However, there are several different versions of the song, all of which all lead to Rowolan's bloodline being killed. 
 

Other
Though the Dunmer primarily worship the Good Daedra and recognize the House of Troubles as obstacles, some daedric ruins have been erected by dissidents in worship of gods such that are not culturally relevant, such as Vaermina's shrine at Ten-Maur-Wolk,  and the statue of Hircine present at Heimlyn Keep.  The ruins of Ularradallaku is primarily dedicated to Dagon,  but a shrine to the Huntsman was also erected within the temple. 

thumb|left|Hircine's wolf aspect, the Aspect of Speed, as seen in Legends
To commemorate the shortening of the days coinciding with Old Life, dark tales and unsettling songs are told; The Wolf That Craved the Sky involves Storihbeg,  the Skinchanger.  The Reachman version of the tale states that with the coming of the New Life Festival, Storihbeg and Hrokkibeg come into conflict with each other. New Life marks the winter solstice, when the days begin to lengthen due to the return of the sun. Storihbeg the Man-Beast pursues the sun in an attempt to eat it; an effort to keep the nights longer. To prevent this, Reachmen summon Hrokkibeg the Mighty Bear to challenge Storihbeg. 

In the Nordic version of the tale, the Skinchanger has an endless hunger which once drove it to feast on the volcanoes of Morrowind and drink the Iliac Bay dry, thus creating the Alik'r Desert. The Skinchanger then picked its teeth clean using Valenwood's trees. Seeing the moons untroubled, Storihbeg threatened to consume them. The agile Wolf claimed he could jump from the highest mountain to reach the moons, to which the moons responded that everyone would know they went missing. The Skinchanger said he could assume their forms, his eyes replicating their moonlight. But the moons then pointed out that the sun would know that the moons were no longer what they appeared. Storihbeg merely replied that he would eat the sun too, as well as all the stars. After his feast, the world would be filled with nothing but darkness, and he would then engulf the world and let out a howl. Yet the moons mocked the Wolf, stating that the sun's light is too rich of a meal. To prove them wrong, the Skinchanger waited for the sun to be at its weakest, when the Old Life Festival is celebrated. However, the sun had other plans: it flared brightly (coinciding with the New Life Festival), and stopped the devourer in his tracks, sending him yelping away in pain. 

The Sixteen Accords of Madness are stories of Sheogorath's encounters and triumphs over other Daedric Princes. The sixth volume describes a wager made between the Mad God and Huntsman after Sheogorath called to Hircine on his summoning day. Intrigued by Sheogorath's bravado, Hircine accepted the Mad God's terms: three years from then, they would have a duel between their champions. Hircine imbued a Daedroth with lycanthropy, making it his most deadly hunter. Sheogorath's champion was a bird that was unaware of the situation, and inadvertently caused the monster to commit suicide as it tried to pluck it off its face. With his pride greatly wounded, Hircine burned the corpse of his creation, cursed the peaks in Skyrim where the duel happened, and returned to his realm humiliated. It is said that Hircine's wrathful aspect continues to haunt the mountains where the duel took place. 

Some Minotaurs venerate Hircine. One notable example of this is Domihaus the Bloody-Horned, who, along with other minotaurs, allied himself with the Dreadhorn Clan.  Domihaus was believed to be one of Hircine's most favored champions.  The Dreadhorn Clan engraved minotaur horns with symbols and used them as spigots to drain blood for their Prince.  Even Goblins can earn Hircine's favor, as a hunter named Gogh was seemingly gifted the Spear of Bitter Mercy. Gogh was fiercely protective of the weapon, which rejected anyone else that tried to claim it. 
 

History
Merethic Era
Earliest Interactions
thumb|right|Two of Hircine's children, a werewolf and a wereboar
Due to the lack of written accounts from the Merethic Era, there is a lacuna of information on Hircine. However, Hircine is rumored to have unleashed the curse of lycanthropy upon Nirn early in history, with the first accounts being in the early Merethic Era.  Indeed, the Father of Manbeasts bestowed his gift upon the first hunters that worshipped him, by melding their cunning "to the strength and form of beasts".  These early few that were directly blessed by the Huntsman are referred to as the first turned, and are comparable to Molag Bal's Daughters of Coldharbour. These individuals would pass down their gift, and their chosen would follow suit, leading the condition to spread throughout Tamriel. 

First Era
Hircine was honored alongside the likes of Lamae Bal as a patron of shapeshifting around the time of the Alessian Empire. This is evident by the engravings on the Shapeshifter's Chain, an artifact composed of multiple metal chains that are each enchanted to be beneficial to shapeshifters of all walks of life. 

One of the earliest known encounters with Hircine is told in the tale of a Nord known as  , who sometime in the mid-late fifth century of the First Era, unknowingly killed several lycanthropes during a hunting trip in the Yorgrim River basin. Angered by the death of his kin, Hircine thrust the Spear of Bitter Mercy into Icehammer's side, whereupon the tip broke off and remained lodged inside him. Thane returned wounded to his home of Cragwallow, but the magic of Hircine's Spear slowly turned him mad, ultimately causing him to murder an acolyte of Kyne in a fit of rage. Matron Icehammer was appalled by her husband's actions, and ordered the guards to subdue him, but he fled into an ancient Nordic burial ruin in the mountains northeast of Cragwallow, whereupon he was sealed alive within as punishment. The ruins would become known as Icehammer's Vault, and would become a source of infamy, as Thane Icehammer continued to stalk its halls as a Draugr. His state of undeath and rage were fueled by the Spear fragment that remained inside him,  until he was finally slain in   by an adventurer.  Hircine's vengeance reached further, as hardships for the Icehammer clan soon followed, which led to their name dying out by the end of the First Era. 

In response to the destruction of Gilverdale at the hands of Molag Bal, the living god Sotha Sil sought out eight of the most influential Daedric Princes. Hircine was among them, and between the 3rd and 5th of Rain's Hand in  , a deal was made which would be known as the Coldharbour Compact.  Little is known about the Compact, but it is theorized that it prevents the Princes from directly manifesting on  . 

Second Era
During the Second Era, a strain of vampirism known as Noxiphilic Sanguivoria became commonplace throughout Tamriel. Vampires of this breed were not weakened by the sunlight, and were strengthened by the moonlight, leading to the scholar Cinna Scholasticus to believe that it originated as a result of a bargain between Hircine and Molag Bal.  However, this theory is unlikely, as it was first popularized by the piece of fiction Seventeen Tastes of Infamy, and Cinna himself is infamous as a sensationalist within scholarly circles. 

Hircine and the Hound
thumb|right|Ulthorn the Hound
Hircine sought the Green Lady as a trophy for generations, for reasons that remain ambiguous. One theory as to why was that she represents the strongest of the Bosmer, who are said to be among the greatest hunters of Nirn.  After the Bosmer Gwaering was chosen as the Green Lady, she was obligated to marry the new Silvenar, Indaenir, for the good of the Bosmeri people. Her former lover Ulthorn became bitter, and Hircine took advantage of his passion, forging him into a faithful servant. Ulthorn became a husk of his former self known as the Hound, and sought to usurp the Silvenar's role so he could be bonded to the Green Lady through the handfast. This ritual represents the joining of the civilized (the Silvenar) and the wild side (the Green Lady) of the Bosmer. If Ulthorn were to sever the bond, the Bosmer would revert into their primordial nature, as the Green Lady by nature would influence them to go feral,  turning them into a bestial horde with an unquenchable thirst and hunger. 

After becoming the Hound, Ulthorn returned to his home town of Wilding Run, and wiped the local populace as he hunted them for sport.  The town was subsequently overseen by Gamekeeper Ozzai, a Harvester entrusted with utilizing the mortal trophies of Hircine's conquests, by hollowing them out into shells that will roam Nirn hunting indiscriminately. Circa  , after reports that researchers of the Mages Guild started vanishing reached the Fists of Thalmor, they investigated the site and were almost wiped out by Ozzai's creations during an ambush, prompting them to resort to entrusting an adventurer with the investigation. After discovering a shade of what was left Ulthorn's humanity, it guided them into the Hunting Grounds, where the Harvester was located and slain in her lair, eliminating a potential army from aiding Ulthorn's forces.  

That same year, Ulthorn and his hounds took the city of Silvenar hostage, forcing the city's three great spinners to enact a barrier to keep the Silvenar from the Green Lady, as well as compelling the Guardian of Silvenar to prevent his advance. The Vestige aided Indaenir in defeating the guardian and freeing the hostages, but the Green Lady was enthralled by Hircine's magic, and was utilized by the Hound to prevent Indaenir's further progression. To overcome this, the Vestige exploited her innate warrior tendencies, and challenged her to a battle, which was when Ulthorn joined in the fray. No longer a barrier to withhold him, the Silvenar was able to get in a close distance of his betrothed, allowing him to free her from Hircine's grasp. With Ulthorn's plan thwarted,  the events serve as a reminder to the Bosmer of the dangers of taking Hircine's worship to extremes. 
Trouble in Bangkorai
thumb|left|The Fallen Grotto
Long ago, a man, his wife and their seven sons and daughters made their home in Bangkorai, and gave their thanks to Hircine by erecting a shrine to him within a grotto as thanks for the plentiful game in the area. Upon summoning him, Hircine asked them to prove their devotion, and ordered the father to give up his children, to which the father refused. Hircine punished them by collapsing the grotto, transforming the family into trolls, and slaughtering them. The site is now known as the Fallen Grotto,  its shrine has since been attended to by the Glenumbra Wyrd.

Circa  , the Reachfolk clan, the Dark Witnesses, sought to reclaim their historic territory, and attacked the Glenumbra Wyrd, taking over the Grotto. With a sacred shrine of Hircine now theirs, their lieutenant, Brinarch, used the opportunity to directly commune with the Huntsman, seeking the approval for a briar heart, to which the Prince approved. Since the Wyrd fell prey, they lost Hircine's favor, which was instead granted to the invaders. Hircine refused to grant an audience to the disgraced coven, forcing them to resort to having an adventurer contact him in their stead. He responded once the heart of one of the Wyrd sisters was presented to him. Intrigued by the act of self sacrifice by the coven, Hircine offered the hunter's test as a chance to earn back the Grotto; the adventurer was to track down and defeat his Aspects of Strength, Speed, and Guile. The Prince brought a mere shade of the Hunting Grounds to the Fallen Grotto, where therein the challenge began. After slaying the aspects, the final challenge was between two hunters. The adventurer prevailed, and Brinarch's briar heart was torn out and offered to Hircine as tribute, winning the Huntsman's favor back for the coven. Brinarch's spirit was to wander the Hunting Grounds with a gaping hole where his heart once was, a reminder of his failure.  

Around this time, some individuals who were infected with lycanthropy and sought to become one of Hircine's creatures were found by those kin to Hircine's own Packmaster. These lucky few were invited into the Hunting Grounds to participate in an ancient ritual the Packmaster. They presented a tribute to Hircine and his pack, and after a successful hunt, they were inducted into Hircine's own pack of werewolves, and were given greater mastery over their form than the average lycanthrope. 

Vykosa the Ascendant
thumb|right|The Moon Hunter Pack among the Great Hunt's participants
Later that year, Hircine hosted the Great Hunt in his plane, inviting mortals from Tamriel to participate. During this time, one of the first turned, the werewolf lord Vykosa, amassed the largest werewolf pack that Tamriel had ever seen.  She plotted to use her pack to take over   and exact revenge on Hircine, for she and other werewolves felt they were tricked into playing the part of prey instead of the role of a predator.   Vykosa sent her lieutenant Balorgh along with a reconnaissance squad to infiltrate the Hunting Grounds, though he and his pack would instead opt to participate in the Hunt and seek Hircine's Boon.   Unfortunately for Balorgh, Hircine would ultimately grant his boon to the true winners of the Great Hunt, the Undaunted.  

Meanwhile, the Undaunted invaded  , a fortress of the   that had been taken over by Vykosa and her pack. The adventurers defeated the werewolf lord, cutting her reign short. 

Third Era
An Ungrateful Child
Around  , an agent of the Blades paid the Glenmoril Coven of High Rock to summon Hircine. The Huntsman told the agent of a contrite wereboar in the area, and requested he be "taught a lesson". After impressing the Prince by putting the creature out of its "obvious misery", the agent was rewarded with Hircine's Ring. 

The Hunter's Game
Skaal legend speaks of the Bloodmoon Prophecy, which foretells the coming of the Great Hunt to the island of Solstheim. According to the Prophecy, a demon god will appear on Solstheim with his Hounds and initiate the Hunter's Game. The Hunter's arrival would be preceded by three signs: Fire From the Eye of Glass, the Tide of Woe, and the Bloodmoon.  When the Nerevarine visited the isle in  , the Prophecy came to pass. 

thumb|left|The Bloodmoon, the Final Sign
While investigating a werewolf attack on the Imperial Legion and the disappearance of Captain Falx Carius from Fort Frostmoth, the Nerevarine had to earn the trust of the Skaal.  Before long, the signs appeared; a pillar of fire erupted from Lake Fjalding,  the shores became littered with dead horkers,  and finally, the Bloodmoon appeared.  During this time, a pack of werewolves attacked the Skaal Village, and the Nerevarine was infected with Sanies Lupinus—the disease which leads to lycanthropy. However, it is unclear if the Nerevarine cured the disease in time or became a werewolf. 

Ultimately, the Nerevarine was taken by Hircine to the Mortrag Glacier, where the Hunter's Game was getting underway.  The Prince had chosen four mortals—the missing Captain Carius, Skaal leader Tharsten Heart-Fang, Karstaag the frost giant, and the Nerevarine—for the "honor" of being in his Hunt, as he deemed them worthy hunters.  The four mortals were required to navigate a maze within the glacier, fighting off werewolves and each other, with the survivor earning the right to challenge Hircine.  

The Nerevarine entered the maze and encountered Captain Carius; the two teamed up against the werewolves, and when it came time to venture deeper into the glacier, Carius volunteered to stay behind. Tharsten Heart-Fang was in the next section, and revealed himself to be a werewolf before being slain by the Nerevarine. The Nerevarine slew Karstaag at the heart of the glacier, and was met by Hircine.  The Huntsman then bestowed the "greatest honor" he could give a mortal—the Nerevarine would be his prey. The Huntsman allowed the Nerevarine to choose one of his aspects to battle, to give his prey a sporting chance. 
 
With the Bloodmoon setting, the battle began, and the Nerevarine stood victorious by the time it disappeared.  Hircine was surprised, but vowed to one day return to Solstheim and hunt once again under the Bloodmoon.  The Nerevarine escaped through a portal as Mortrag Glacier collapsed, ending the Hunter's Game until the next era. 

Contemparary with the release of the 3rd Edition of the Pocket Guide to the Empire, around  , the gateway to Hircine's Hunting Grounds was closed on consensus of the Elder Council until further notice. 

The Last Unicorn
thumb|right|The last unicorn
In  , the Champion of Cyrodiil summoned Hircine at a shrine in Cyrodiil's Great Forest. The Prince tasked the Champion with slaying a unicorn in Harcane Grove that was protected by fearsome minotaurs. After offering the unicorn's horn to the Prince's shrine, the Champion was rewarded with the Savior's Hide.  Although unicorns are native to the Hunting Grounds, this hunt is believed to have resulted in the beasts' extinction on Nirn. Despite this, they would remain a favorite subject for poets and artists.  It wasn't until   that a Unicorn would be spotted on Nirn again, with one theory being that the   had transported one of the very last unicorns into the future to prevent their utter extinction. 
 

Fourth Era
Umbriel Crisis
During the Umbriel Crisis, Hircine impeded the journey of Attrebus Mede and his companions as they were passing through his Hunting Grounds to reach their destination. As eternal hunts are the norm within the realm, Mede and his companions became unwilling prey. They were slowly being bottled in by drivers until nighttime, where Hircine would arrive with his pack of werewolves. Nighttime came, two horns blared, and a deep and primal voice was heard upstream that was capable of leading one to a mindless terror. At a glance, they saw an enormous silhouette of a man with the horns of a stag and they knew Hircine had arrived. To ward off Hircine and his pack, the members of the Khajiiti F’aashe clan that accompanied Mede stayed behind to stall them, allowing Mede and his companions to escape the Hunting Grounds. 

The Companions
thumb|right|Freed from Hircine's grasp
Following Harbinger  's founding of   in the late Second Era,  the upper ranks of the Companions became infected with lycanthropy after Harbinger Terrfyg made a bargain with the witches of the Glenmoril Coven.  The terms were that if the Companions were to hunt in the name of Hircine, they would be granted great power, but the Circle was deceived into believing it would not be a permanent affliction. Around 4E 201, some members of the Circle, led by Harbinger Kodlak Whitemane, would eventually conclude it was not a gift, but a curse with serious spiritual implications that would threaten their souls' opportunity to reach Sovngarde, and worked to eliminate it from the Companions.  The heads of the Glenmoril witches who cursed the Companions' Inner Circle were required to cure them. Before he could be cured, Harbinger Kodlak Whitemane was killed by a group of werewolf hunters called the  .  The Companions destroyed the Silver Hand, then used the severed heads of the Glenmoril witches to cleanse their dead Harbinger and themselves of lycanthropy. Kodlak Whitemane's Wolf Spirit was killed by the Companions, allowing his soul to find rest in Sovngarde. 

Kodlak Whitemane was grateful for the chance to join his ancestors in Sovngarde.  However, he hoped that someday, he and other honored warriors could invade the Hunting Grounds and rescue the souls of the Companions who did not have the chance to free themselves from Hircine's grasp before death. He called this imagined battle "The Harrowing of the Hunting Grounds",  but whether or not it is possible to posthumously wrench a werewolf's soul free from the Hunting Grounds through battle is unclear.

Spirit of the Hunt
thumb|left|The Bloodmoon reappears
That same year, a murder occurred in Skyrim, the victim being a young girl from Falkreath.  The Last Dragonborn visited the imprisoned culprit, Sinding, who revealed he was a werewolf.  Sinding had taken the Ring of Hircine to help control his condition—this evidently upset the Prince, who cursed the ring to cause the wearer to transform at random. The girl was merely an innocent bystander. 

Sinding had come to Falkreath to hunt the majestic White Stag, as Hircine would commune with anyone who slayed it, and wished to beg the Prince's forgiveness.  The Dragonborn offered to take the ring to Hircine in Sinding's place, and the werewolf gratefully accepted before escaping his cell. The Dragonborn tracked down and slew the White Stag, and an Aspect of Hircine appeared. The Huntsman agreed to "consider" lifting the ring's curse, but initiated the Great Hunt as he demanded an offering—Sinding's hide. The werewolf was holed up within Bloated Man's Grotto; the Bloodmoon had appeared, and by the time the Dragonborn arrived, one group of hunters had already been slain. Sinding made one last plea, asking the Dragonborn to defy Hircine and fight alongside him. 

Reports conflict on what occurred during the Great Hunt. Some sources claim that the Dragonborn joined the pursuit and was rewarded with the Savior's Hide in exchange for Sinding's pelt. Other accounts affirm that Sinding was saved from the hunters, resulting in the Prince purifying the Ring for the victor's personal use. Regardless of the direction the chase took, Hircine was pleased, and Sinding never appeared in civilized areas again. 
 

Artifacts
 
thumb|right|150px|The Ring of Hircine (Skyrim'')
Ring of Hircine
 
 

thumb|right|150px|Savior's Hide (Skyrim)
Savior's Hide
 
 

thumb|right|150px|Spear of Bitter Mercy (Skyrim)
Spear of Bitter Mercy
 
 

thumb|right|150px|Spear of the Hunter (Bloodmoon)
Spear of the Hunter
 
 

thumb|right|150px|The Totem Of Claw And Fang (Bloodmoon)
Totem of Claw and Fang
 
 

thumb|right|150px|The Totems of Hircine (Skyrim)
Totems of Hircine
 
 

The Hunting Grounds
thumb|right|The Hunting Grounds
 
 

Servants and Creatures
Among some of Hircine's most revered servants are the Huntsman, mysterious humanoid servants from the Hunting Grounds that have Daedric hearts. Indeed, it is not uncommon for worshippers of Hircine to emulate the clothing of a Huntsman as a proxy of worship to Hircine.  The typical lycanthrope is also likely to serve Hircine, who is the progenitor of their divine disease.

Hircine is the creator of the legendary Unicorn, which he occasionally brings from his Hunting Grounds and into Nirn to hunt.  He has also been associated with some legendary pale and white creatures, such as the Pale Senche and the White Stag. The hunting of such creatures has resulted in him granting his favor upon their deaths.  

See Also
For game-specific information, see the Daggerfall, Bloodmoon, Oblivion, Skyrim, ESO, and Legends articles.

Books
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Notes

In The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood - Deadlands and Damnation trailer, Hircine was originally planned to be featured alongside Mehrunes Dagon, perhaps showing scrapped plans of him being included in the Gates of Oblivion story arc.
One of Hircine's titles may be the Stag Prince, if the Glass Bow of the Stag Prince is referring to him.
 bears the Prince's call, forcing were-creatures to reveal their true nature. It belonged to Gloria Fausta, though its origins are never elaborated on.
Hircine's bear and wolf aspects also have two amulets associated with them, the Hunter's Amulet of Strength and Speed.
Hernes, which were previously seen serving Mehrunes Dagon in Battlespire, were originally planned to be a favored Daedra of Hircine in ESO.

Gallery
Humanoid
 

Wolf
 

Deer
 

Bear
 

Miscellaneous
 

References