Mannimarco Mannimarco , also known as the King of Worms or the Worm King was an Altmer necromancer notable for founding the Order of the Black Worm . He began his magical studies as a student of the Psijic Order , and went on to play and manipulate the political powers of Tamriel throughout later parts of his life . He went as far as to control the Cyrodiilic Empire as his puppet state during the Interregnum , and put forward the events that led to Molag Bal ' s invasion of Tamriel called the Planemeld . Mannimarco went on to become a Lich , later ascending to godhood as the " Necromancer ' s Moon " in his undeath , and left a legacy that would last for ages to come . Biography . Early life . It is said that Mannimarco was born to royal blood , but to which line is uncertain . He was said to be present during the Middle Dawn , which lasted between 1E 1200 and 1E 2208 , where the Marukhati Selective s taught him " his mystery " . At some point , he joined the Psijic Order on Artaeum , an island of the Summerset Isles , and gained a reputation for being one of the greatest students who ever joined the order . His skill in magic was rivaled only by Vanus Galerion . Founding the Worm Cult . At some point , Mannimarco began to study Necromancy , and was fascinated by the secrets of necromancers . Eventually , he was seduced into trapping and enslaving souls . After one of his spells caught the notice of Vanus , the latter confronted Mannimarco under the Ceporah Tower , where he told his fellow student to cease his dark ways : But Mannimarco hated the ways of life and peace and continued his research . When the leaders of the order found out about Mannimarco ' s experiments , they exiled him to the mainland . Once there , he began to spread his influence throughout the continent , as dark wizards and witches made their way to him . They gave him magical artifacts from which he absorbed their dark energy , turning him into a living corpse but expanding his life because of it . The Order of the Black Worm began and soon grew a large following . The Planemeld . Mannimarco eventually came under the service of the Daedric Prince Molag Bal , who tasked him with tricking the Five Companions into performing a ritual that would weaken the barriers between Nirn and Oblivion , thus allowing Molag Bal ' s forces to invade Tamriel . Using the Dark Anchors , Molag Bal hoped to merge Nirn with his own plane of Coldharbour . In reality , Mannimarco had no loyalty to the prince and planned to trap him , where over time he would absorb his essence , transforming him into the new lord of domination . To do this , Mannimarco required the Amulet of Kings , and the help of Abnur Tharn , the chancellor of the Elder Council who would later betray Mannimarco . During this time , Mannimarco sacrificed an individual who would later be known as the Vestige to Molag Bal , stealing their soul along with many others . Eventually , the Vestige would escape Coldharbour and continually ruin Mannimarco ' s plan of obtaining the Amulet of Kings . The Vestige would later fight and kill Mannimarco , but his spirit remained , telling the Vestige that death would not slow him down . Just then , Molag Bal appeared , revealing that he had known of Mannimarco ' s intentions all along and dragged his spirit down to Coldharbour , where he would be tortured by the undead . Later , when the Vestige , along with the Five Companions , arrived in Coldharbour to finally end the invasion , they found Mannimarco shackled to a table . The Vestige had a choice ; leave Mannimarco to his fate , or free him . Either way , he eventually escapes Coldharbour and returns to Tamriel . The Great Battle . Vanus Galerion never forgot about Mannimarco , and when the latter resurfaced , Vanus , along with an army of mages and Lamp Knights , prepared to attack Mannimarco ' s army of necromancers . When Galerion and Mannimarco at last met again , Galerion gave his former classmate the chance to surrender , saying , " " Worm King , surrender your artifacts and their power to me , and you shall live as befits the dead , " " to which Mannimarco allegedly replied , with a hollow laugh , " " You die first . " " An epic battle ensued , with " waves of fire and frost " and " lightning arching forth . " During the battle , Mannimarco turned himself into the first ever Lich . Galerion ' s army won the battle , but he was killed in the process , while Mannimarco went into hiding . The King of Worms would continue to manipulate the political infrastructure of the province , granting the necromancer N ' Gasta domain over an island in Stros M ' kai during Thassad II ' s reign . Warp in the West and Godhood . Around 3E 405 , Mannimarco had come to possess a vast knowledge of things that most others did not . The Hero of Daggerfall often sought out Mannimarco to complete tasks or quests for him . In 3E 417 , what is known as the Warp in the West ( the most recent Dragon Break ) occurred , where the region of Iliac Bay was split into several separate but simultaneous timelines . Mannimarco , by this time an immensely powerful lich , gained control of the Totem of Tiber Septim and the Mantella , turning himself into a plane ( t ) called the " Necromancer ' s Moon " or the " Revenant " in one of the timelines . Oblivion Crisis . By 3E 433 , Mannimarco ' s divine celestial form , the Revenant , became patron god of necromancers , shading Arkay and helping with black soul gem creation . However , during Oblivion Crisis , a powerful Altmer necromancer calling himself Mannimarco surfaced to overthrow the Mages Guild and re - establish the Worm Cult . It is believed that this was the mortal part of Mannimarco left behind after the Warp in the West due to a Dragon Break . Mannimarco and his Worm Cult gained a large following , partially due to the Guild Arch - Mage Hannibal Traven ban against necromancy . He led attacks on the Mages Guild and all of Cyrodiil , and is said to have resurrected his arch - rival Vanus Galerion ' s corpse as a thrall . Eventually , Mannimarco ' s plans were foiled by the Hero of Kvatch , who would go on to kill him .