Loremaster ' s Archive : Introduction To Aedric Studies Loremaster ' s Archive : Introduction to Aedric Studies is part of the " Loremaster ' s Archive " series written by Lawrence Schick , the Loremaster of . This entry was published on 08 / 15 / 2014 . Content . Introduction to Aedric Studies Syllabus for Lectures by Phrastus of Elinhir This lecture series will provide you with thorough edification on the nature and history of Aedric forces , their manifestations and influence on the Mundus , and an overview of prevalent modern theories with regard to controversial topics related thereunto . Provided you complete the required reading prior to each session , you will acquire a clear understanding of these mythogenic forces that will serve as a sufficient base for deeper study in a number of disciplines , from historical inquiry to theoretical aetheroplanar manipulation . Your cultural and personal preceptions will be challenged . Common myths will be dispelled , from crude misinterpretations of the Aedra as powerful creator - beings of “ good ” looking down upon and tinkering with Nirn to the supposition of Aedra and Daedra as locked in perpetual extra - Mundic war . The explorations presented in this course have , in the past , offended certain dogmatic students ( especially in regards to the Divines ) , but I urge you to approach these topics as a scholar and not as a priest . Understanding the Aedra beyond creation mythology and the convention of the Divines will allow you to grow as a scholar . The very approach this series demands will instruct you in the proper methodology of scholarly pursuits : we will study rare and obscure texts , unravel complex symbolic structures , and approach each topic from a critical standpoint . The five primary lecture topics are as follows : Lecture One : Survey of Origination Myths Lecture Two : Anuic - Padomaic Interplay Lecture Three : Aedra v . Daedra Lecture Four : Aedric Energies and Influence Lecture Five : Beyond Mere Divines Outside reading and sedulous note - taking are necessary for full understanding of the lectures . All required outside texts referenced can be found in the fine library on the grounds . Do not wait to the last possible moment to prepare for a lecture ; only a few copies of certain ancient and obscure texts will be available . Naturally , you will be inclined to explore some of the subjects presented further . Your newfound knowledge of Aedric beings , their involvement in creation , a broader understanding of their relationship to the Eight Divines , and exposure to current debates will propel you to additional studies . For additional reading , I recommend works by Brother Hetchfeld , Brother Mikhael Karkuxor , and Aicantar of Shimmerene ( beyond those we will reference through the series ) . Be ever vigilant in your studies , however , and avoid biased or poorly - researched works , such as those scribbled by Cinnabar of Taneth . Always seek refutations and take no one scholar ’ s words for absolute truth . Phrastus of Elinhir answers your questions : “ I have acquired a strong interest in Altmeri religious perspectives . It would be of great interest to me to hear your thoughts on the role Anui - El plays in the Altmeri pantheon . An acolyte of the Temple of Auri - El tells me Anui - El is the Soul of Anu the Everything and the ' soul - father ' of Auri - El . She says the temple was built in Anui - El ' s honor , not Auri - El ' s , and is one of many . I have also read that the Altmer aim to advocate the ‘ will of Anuiel . ’ Is Anui - El , then , a kind of high king , supreme above even Auri - El ? Or is there a conflation of roles going on within Altmeri religion ? Does this perception travel across into the Breton faith , given that it contains Elven influences ? ” – Aythan Uthywyr Phrastus of Elinhir says , “ It is a cardinal error to personify Anuiel , the essence of order , just as it is to personify Sithis , the essence of chaos . It is more useful to think of them as cosmic principles that pervade the Aurbis . Insofar as Anuiel is the orderly essence of all the Aedra , it is fair to say that every Elven temple is dedicated to Anuiel . When a High Elf says that she ‘ advocates the will of Anuiel , ’ this is just a flowery Elvish way of saying that she wants to make up new rules for others to follow . ” “ I still get a little confused by the whole Aedra vs . Daedra thing . Why are there ‘ good ’ Daedra like Azura and Meridia , etc ? They seem to be a lot more complicated than just ‘ demons . ’ " – Rick Phrastus of Elinhir says , “ Insofar as the Daedra are the et ’ Ada of chaos , complexity is part of their very nature . They refused to participate in the creation of the Mundus , and most of them are deliberately or casually inimical to mortals , but the Daedric Princes are beyond such simple categorizations as ‘ good ’ or ‘ evil ’ — with the notable exception of Molag Bal and Mehrunes Dagon , who are especially abominable . ” Do minor Aedric spirits exist ? Can they be summoned / contacted ? Like the opposite of summoning a minor Daedra . Also , if Aedra are all dead and / or currently disabled due to partaking in the creation of Nirn , could someone summon a spirit from Aetherius , perhaps a Magna - Ge ? – Fimmp Phrastus of Elinhir says , “ Minor Aedric spirits definitely exist , but they are rarely encountered , as Mundus is considered off - limits since Magnus withdrew from it at the moment of creation . I know of no successful attempts to contact such spirits , probably because Aedric entities simply do not respond to mortals — at least not since the ages of myth . ” OK , so I know when Mundus was being created that the Aedra sacrificed a large amount of power to solidify the creation of the plane and now they are essentially shells of their original selves . But my question is whether their loss of power is permanent or if they are slowly regaining their power over time . – Captain _ P Phrastus of Elinhir says , “ It seems unlikely , inasmuch as we abide within the reality created by that sacrifice , and restoration of the Aedra would seem to imply a diminishment or weakening of the Mundus . No such diminution has been detected . ” Further Reading : By Phrastus of Elinhir The history of Daedra worship by the Elves once known as the Chimer provides a valuable object lesson in the dangers of traffic with the so - called Lords of Oblivion . It ' s a tale of peril that modern - day apologists for Daedric worship , such as Lady Cinnabar , would do well to heed . Let ' s begin with a few facts that not even the Shrew of Taneth could deny . The Aedra ( the Gods , the Divines ) created Nirn out of the chaos of Oblivion . They assumed physical form within the mortal plane — the Mundus — and according to Elven myth were the direct ancestors of the Aldmeri . The Aedra were the natural objects of holy reverence for the Elves of the Dawn Era , and the first organized religions venerated these Divines . However , after Nirn was born the Aedra withdrew from their creation , becoming distant , aloof , and disinterested in the affairs of mortals . But beyond the Mundus , in the infinite variation of Oblivion , there were other godlike entities of great power known as the Daedra ( literally the " not - Aedra " ) , who began to take a malign interest in the realm the Aedra had created . Some of the more powerful of these entities , the so - called Daedric Princes , who ruled entire Oblivion planes of their own , were nonetheless jealous of the mortals of Nirn — for they had inherited the Aedric capacity of creation . This ability was beyond the Daedra who , though masters of change and metamorphosis , create nothing new that has not been before . However , one quality the Daedric Princes shared with the young mortals of Nirn was a lust for power in all its forms . This corrupting desire is the foundation of all mortal worship of the Daedra : the Princes offer power in return for service and worship . Most often this power comes in the form of knowledge , the most seductive and least perilous - seeming of the Daedric temptations . To show how seductive this temptation can be , reflect upon the early Aldmer of Summerset . Though in their arrogance they considered themselves the lineal descendants of the Aedra , nonetheless the first large - scale religious sect espousing Daedra - worship was born in the heart of Summerset itself . There , in the rainbow shadow of the Crystal Tower , the so - called Prophet Veloth communed with the Daedric Prince Boethiah and agreed to accept her gifts . He inscribed the Velothi Prophecies , which expounded the doctrine of worship of the " Good Daedra " ( Boethiah , Azura , and Mephala ) , along with ways to propitiate and negotiate with the " Bad Daedra " ( Molag Bal , Malacath , Sheogorath , and Mehrunes Dagon ) . To the more foolish of the Summerset Aldmeri , the arts and skills the Good Daedra offered to teach them seemed more useful than the maxims and platitudes of the priests of the Aedra , and a number of Elven clans accepted Veloth as their prophet and guide . When the Sapiarchs of Alinor rightfully prohibited this schism , Veloth led the clans loyal to him out of the Isles and across the seas to the far side of Tamriel , where they colonized the domain now known as Morrowind . The followers of Saint Veloth , who became known as the Chimer , were willing to trade the paradise of golden Summerset for the purgatory of ashen Morrowind , all in return for the illusory " gifts " of the Daedra . The Chimer built mighty temples to Boethiah , Azura , and Mephala , and established the traditions of worship in Morrowind that were later co - opted by the Tribunal . As even the beginning student of history knows , this large - scale dabbling with Daedra led inevitably to warfare and catastrophe . Chimer civilization fell at the Battle of Red Mountain , and the curse of Azura , their erstwhile mistress , transformed the brilliant Chimer into the sullen and haunted Dunmer . After that time Morrowind , under the Tribunal , turned its back on worship of the Daedra — but by then the damage had been done . Today , the Daedra are feared and abhorred across the length and breadth of Tamriel — and rightly so . Yet , despite the clear lessons of history , some misguided souls still insist that traffic with Daedra Lords can be tolerated , even accepted . To those such as you , Lady Cinnabar , I say : beware . What pact with the Daedra ever ended well ?