Azura and the Box Content . Nchylbar had enjoyed an adventurous youth , but had grown to be a very wise , very old Dwemer who spent his life searching for the truth and dispelling superstitions . He invented much and created many theorems and logic structures that bore his name . But much of the world still puzzled him , and nothing was a greater enigma to him that the nature of the Aedra and Daedra . Over the course of his research , he came to the conclusion that many of the Gods were entirely fabricated by man and mer . Nothing , however , was a greater question to Nchylbar than the limits of divine power . Were the Greater Beings the masters of the entire world , or did the humbler creatures have the strength to forge their own destinies ? As Nchylbar found himself nearing the end of his life , he felt he must understand this last basic truth . Among the sage ' s acquaintances was a holy Chimer priest named Athynic . When the priest was visiting Bthalag - Zturamz , Nchylbar told him what he intended to do to find the nature of divine power . Athynic was terrified and pleaded with his friend not to break this great mystery , but Nchylbar was resolute . Finally , the priest agreed to assist out of love for his friend , though he feared the results of this blasphemy . Athynic summoned Azura . After the usual rituals by which the priest declared his faith in her powers and Azura agreed to do no harm to him , Nchylbar and a dozen of his students entered the summoning chamber , carrying with them a large box . “ As we see you in our land , Azura , you are the Goddess of the Dusk and Dawn and all the mysteries therein , ” said Nchylbar , trying to appear as kindly and obsequious as he could be . “ It is said that your knowledge is absolute . ” “ So it is , ” smiled the Daedra . “ You would know , for example , what is in this wooden box , ” said Nchylbar . Azura turned to Athynic , her brow furrowed . The priest was quick to explain , “ Goddess , this Dwemer is a very wise and respected man . Believe me , please , the intention is not to mock your greatness , but to demonstrate it to this scientist and to the rest of his skeptical race . I have tried to explain your power to him , but his philosophy is such that he must see it demonstrated . ” “ If I am to demonstrate my might in a way to bring the Dwemer race to understanding , it might have been a more impressive feat you would have me do , ” growled Azura , and turned to look Nchylbar in the eyes . “ There is a red - petalled flower in the box . ” Nchylbar did not smile or frown . He simply opened the box and revealed to all that it was empty . When the students turned to look to Azura , she was gone . Only Athynic had seen the Goddess ' s expression before she vanished , and he could not speak , he was trembling so . A curse had fallen , he knew that truly , but even crueler was the knowledge of divine power that had been demonstrated . Nchylbar also looked pale , uncertain on his feet , but his face shone with not fear , but bliss . The smile of a Dwemer finding evidence for a truth only suspected . Two of his students supported him , and two more supported the priest as they left the chamber . “ I have studied very much over the years , performed countless experiments , taught myself a thousand languages , and yet the skill that has taught me the finally truth is the one that I learned when I was but a poor , young man , trying only to have enough gold to eat , ” whispered the sage . As he was escorted up the stairs to his bed , a red flower petal fell from the sleeve of his voluminous robe . Nchylbar died that night , a portrait of peace that comes from contented knowledge . Publisher ' s Note This is another tale whose origin is unmistakably Dwemer . Again , the words of some Aldmer is translations are quite different , but the essence of the story is the same . The Dunmer have a similar tale about Nchylbar , but in the Dunmer version , Azura recognizes the trick and refuses to answer the question . She slays the Dwemer present for their skepticism and curses the Dunmer for blasphemy . In the Aldmeris versions , Azura is tricked not by an empty box , but by a box containing a sphere which somehow becomes a flat square . Of course the Aldmeris versions , being a few steps closer to the original Dwemer , are much more difficult to understand . Perhaps this " stage magic " explanation was added by Gor Felim because of Felim ' s own experience with such tricks in his plays when a mage was not available . " Marobar Sul " left even the character of Nchylbar alone , and he represents many " Dwemer " virtues . His skepticism , while not nearly as absolute as in the Aldmeris version , is celebrated even though it brings a curse upon the Dwemer and the unnamed House of the poor priest . Whatever the true nature of the Gods , and how right or wrong the Dwemer were about them , this tale might explain why the dwarves vanished from the face of Tamriel . Though Nchylbar and his kind may not have intended to mock the Aedra and Daedra , their skepticism certainly offended the Divine Orders .