Tes4Mod:Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul/Psijic Conspiracy

Everyone questions a society that has secrets about it. Even if the existence of an order is known, it will have secrets. If that order is a malign one, the secrets will be questioned only in dark corners, and in the most secure fortresses. Should the order be one of benevolence, the secrets may be spoken of with admiration and respect. The question is why are the secrets kept? Why do these orders work so hard to protect their knowledge? Obviously, knowledge is power and these orders, whether benign or malevolent, want to keep that power. Some knowledge however, is hidden from nearly all. The question is why is this knowledge hidden? Is it hidden because it could get into the hands of one that would abuse it, or would it incriminate? Would that person incriminated be someone well known and powerful, or an introverted recluse no man or mer has ever heard of?

The subject of this work should be obvious now. The powers and the methods of the Psijic Order are not well known. However, the effects of the Psijic Order can be seen quite clearly. Psijic involvement can be obviously seen in 3E 110, during the War of the Isle. The already impressive power of the Psijics was demonstrated once again when an invading armada of Pyandonea was destroyed in a "freak storm". It certainly is possible that an entire armada could be destroyed by nature, but due to certain political agreements at the time and the mercurial power of the Psijics, it is clear what they did for Tamriel.

This act was certainly a positive one for Tamriel, years of war would have resulted in a great loss of life, and a possible failure to defend could have resulted in the loss of the Summerset Isles. Is there a good reason one wouldn’t protect what they are in control of? Acts such as this make the true intention of the Psijic Order clear; they are part of an ongoing battle for power in Tamriel. What is unclear is whether a battle is really going on or not. Are the Psijics really in control of all of Tamriel?

The evidence is irrefutable, and while it is obvious that the Psijic Order has a profound influence on the politics of Tamriel, whether they are currently in control or not remains to be seen. The kings of the Summerset Isles have often looked to the Psijic Order for guidance, as have other kings of Tamriel. When one is considered wise and powerful, they are respected, and when one is respected, they are followed. This gives the Psijics a voice into the politics and social structure of Tamriel. Nevertheless, these advisors may simply be an assistant to a more powerful Psijic who is already in the position of ruling that particular state. Emperors have sought the guidance of the Psijic Order in the past, but the last several emperors have not allowed Psijics within the Imperial City. It could be that the rulers of Tamriel are attempting to truly keep the Psijics away, as they know that they pose a threat, or that it is a ruse. Perhaps the core of the Empire has yet to fall under the sway of the Psijic Order.

Two of the most famous Imperial Battlemages to ever live, Jagar Tharn and Zurin Arctus, both met unenviable fates at the hands of the Empire. It is well known that both attempted a coup, and one even succeeded for a time. Jagar Tharn is most likely not a Psijic, as once he was in power posing as the sovereign Uriel Septim VII he reigned terror and destruction from his obsidian seat in the White-gold tower. That is not the subtle way of the Psijics, for they prefer a much more restrained and silent approach to conquest. We can then rule Jagar Tharn out as an insane traitor. Zurin Arctus on this other hand could have been a Psijic, as the manner of his demise was different. Numidium would have offered the Psijics a less than subtle tool to conquer Tamriel, and would have given the controlling force undisputable power. Was Arctus really in control of Numidium, as Mantella was bound to the life force of the Underking, a being that he seemingly vanquished?

While it is certainly possible that Arctus is dead and gone, legends live on about him. He may still be “alive,” in a sense, as the Underking. What really happened that day will probably never be known, although is seems that Tiber Septim and Zurin Arctus betrayed the Underking and defeated him. Upon the death of the Underking, Zurin is killed, and he becomes the Underking. Mantella was then used to power Numidium, with the life force of the old Underking in it. The true Psijic plan here is unknown, but it would appear that the plan for Zurin to trap the soul of the Underking in Mantella, and then kill Tiber Septim failed. Tiber Septim proclaimed Zurin a traitor for this, and continued on with his conquest of Tamriel, much to the angst of the Order.

For this, the Psijics were forced to destroy Numidium with the power of the Underking. Death is not beyond the power of the Psijic Order, nor Zurin Arctus. The so-called values of the Psijic ancestral worship even support this theory. It is not clear whether or not the Psijic Order is in control of the Empire, although it certainly doesn’t appear that way at the moment.

The true leader of the Psijic Order remains elusive. Currently, the official leader is Celarus the Loremaster, although this seems to be a masquerade. The options of whom or what rules the Psijic Order is nearly limitless – it could truly be Celarus, or an ancient lich from the early Dawn or Merethic Era. It could also be the Underking, or a Daedra Prince. Should Zurin Arctus actually be the Underking as detailed above it is very possible that the Underking rules the Psijics. If Arctus isn’t the Underking, then it could surely be a lich.

If Numidium was a threat to the power of the Psijic Order, it makes sense that it was one of them who destroyed it. Reports indicated that Numidium was destroyed by a rotting, undead wizard, which certainly points to the lich theory. A lich would be able to hide itself well, as Tharn disguised himself as Uriel Septim VII for nearly ten years, and he was alive. Other possible leaders include one the Daedra, and Sotha Sil.

The Daedra are an unnerving, if not terrifying possibility. Several of the Daedra can instantly be ruled out, such as Molag Bal and Mehrunes Dagon, neither of whom possess the subtlety to secretly rule for so long. On the other hand, Daedric Princes such as Boethiah and Herma-mora have the capability, but whether they would have the will to secretly rule Tamriel is uncertain.

Sotha Sil is a possibility, but he seems to be too well known to rule over the Psijic Order. While the living god taught for a while, he never officially ruled over the Psijics. Nevertheless, it cannot be forgotten that he spent time dealing with the Daedra while on the isle of Artaeum, and while this was allegedly done to prevent unnecessary loss of life in the war between Morrowind and Cyrodiil during 1E2920, no one really knows what goes on in Oblivion.

Another possibility yet is that of an ancient Dunmer. In Morrowind, there was a mage that led House Telvanni for some time, although recently he is no longer part of it. It is well known that he is very, very old and powerful, and has connections to the Psijic Order. Allegedly, he is reclusive and very rarely seen, but still continues to perform magickal experiments. Could this Dunmer be the lich that we are looking for?

The Psijic Order claims to give power to good people, and remove it from the bad. If a leader that they have set up becomes corrupted, they claim to remove him. This is perfect evidence that the Psijic Order is in a battle for the control of Tamriel. Why would a society of mages, albeit a powerful one, want to control politics?

Although some magical societies prefer to be involved with mainstream politics, others such as Morrowind’s House Telvanni and High Rock’s Skeffington Coven are reclusive and shy away. The Psijic Order seems to be one that has physically withdrawn itself, given that they are located on the shadowy, shifting isle of Artaeum. They claim that the isle vanishes and reappears according to the needs of Tamriel, but it may just be a way for them to disappear for a while, either to reassess and prepare, or to vanish for a time when they may be secretly hunted. Little indication of the placement of people in power by the Psijic Order exists, so it is safe to assume that if it is done, it is done secretly.

Why would a society wish to hide this? The answer to that is quit simple. It is not simply that the Psijics are putting “good” people in power; it is that they are putting their people in power. It will never be known exactly who or what rules as a Psijic secretly, but some examples are known. In the East, Sotha Sil, one of the three rulers of Morrowind, was a Psijic. Also in Morrowind, the mercurial Dunmer House Telvanni, the only one that is primarily a magicka-wielding House, was at one point under the control of a Psijic.

Admittedly, the theory that the Psijic Order rules the Empire is weak. To counter that theory, it is quite possible that the Psijics are engaged in a power struggle for the control of the Empire. The Psijic Order is certainly capable of waging a secret war with the Empire, most likely even without any difference being known. Something must protect the Emperors, otherwise they would have fallen.

Jagar Tharn didn’t kill Uriel Septim, nor could Zurin Arctus kill Tiber Septim. It is convenient that both of these events occurred within the White-gold tower. Tharn was unable to kill Septim because he had usurped the throne and was ruling as a doppelganger, and if he had killed Uriel Septim the Amulet of Kings would have alerted the Elder Council of the deception. This prevented Tharn from killing Uriel Septim, but it did not work this way for Zurin Arctus.

When Tiber Septim betrayed him, assuring himself that he alone would control Numidium, Zurin was killed by the Underking, and then proceeded to attempt and complete the plan, and kill Tiber Septim. Once dead, Zurin had his powers as the Imperial Battlemage, a Psijic, and the Underking, so he would have decided that his power was sufficient to break the strength of the White-Gold Tower, and Tiber Septim.

The plan failed, Tiber defeats the Underking, and proclaims Arctus a traitor. Due to the great amount of mystery that surrounds the Underking, it is unknown if Tiber Septim killed Arctus, of who was now the Underking, or whether or not he escaped from destruction. The power of the White-Gold Tower, as well as its stone, the Amulet of Kings, is what allowed Tiber Septim to defeat Zurin Arctus as the Underking. Without it, even Tiber Septim should never have prevailed against the incredibly powerful Underking.