Daedric Princes

**Daedric Princes** (sometimes referred to as **Daedra Lords,** or **The Old Gods** by Reachmen) are the most powerful of the Daedra and thus most commonly worshipped by mortals as deities. While Daedra can manifest as either male or female (being in reality genderless), all of these high Daedra are typically referred to as "Princes." In all, there are sixteen widely known Princes, with a "seventeenth" prince, Jyggalag, created following the events of Template:Shivering Isles, at the end of the Third Era. During the Fifth Era, with "eighteenth" prince, Hades were becoming Daedric Prince.

Every Daedric Prince has their own plane of Oblivion, which reflects their nature.

## Origins

The Daedra Princes are those et'ada who, when Lorkhan proposed the creation of Mundus, did not take part but rather created domains out of themselves in Oblivion. There are also accounts of other et'ada becoming Deadric Princes after the creation of Mundus, which also involves the creation of their own realm of Oblivion.

## Mortal Interactions

Throughout Tamriel's history, mortals have frequently summoned Daedric princes, for worship, study or to make deals. These typically involve some sort of bargain with the Prince in question, but not always. It should be noted that dealing with the Princes sometimes causes changes in appearance, such as black dots in the white of eyes or strange eye color.

Each Daedric Prince holds some degree of "patronage" over a physical, philosophical, or metaphysical concept or state of being. The varied and wide range of these aspects has nurtured a devoted following among the mortals that hold them as figures of worship- either in spite of or in reaction to the teaching of the Divines. While some of the Princes are unconcerned for the well being of their followers, with some actively causing harm to them by some means, other Daedric Princes have been known to both reward and actively protect their followers.

## Known Daedric Princes

* Azura – A Prince who maintains/draws power from the balance of night and day, light and dark.
* Boethiah – The Prince of deceit, secrecy, conspiracy, treason, and unlawful overthrow of authority.
* Clavicus Vile – The Prince of deals, pacts, power, bargains, and serenity through wish fulfillment.
* Hades – The Prince of the Dead, death, deceased, the Guardian of Tombs.
* Hermaeus Mora – The formless Daedric Prince of knowledge and memory, seeks to possess all that is knowable.
* Hircine – The Prince of the hunt, sport, the *Great Game*, and *the Chase*.
* Jyggalag – The Prince of logical order and deduction, upholds strict order above all else.
* Malacath – The Prince whose sphere is the patronage of the spurned and ostracized.
* Mehrunes Dagon – The Prince of destruction, violent upheaval, energy, and mortal ambition.
* Mephala – The Prince of unknown plots and obfuscation, a master manipulator, a sewer of discord.
* Meridia – The Prince of the energies of all living things, enemy of the undead and all who disrupt the flow of life.
* Molag Bal – The Prince of domination and spiritual enslavement, seeks to ensnare souls within his domain.
* Namira – The Prince of the "ancient darkness," the patron of all things considered repulsive.
* Nocturnal – The Prince of the night and darkness, the patron of all things secretive.
* Peryite – *The Taskmaster*, the Daedric Prince of Pestilence, desires order in his domain.
* Sanguine – The Prince of hedonism, debauchery, and the further indulgences of one's darker nature.
* Sheogorath – The infamous Prince of Madness, whose motives are unknowable.
* Vaermina – The Prince of dreams and nightmares, a deliverer of evil omens and dark portents.

## Azura

 File:Azuraskyrim.png
*Main article: Azura*
**Azura** is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is dusk and dawn. Azura is always depicted as a female, and is also known as "Mother of the Rose," "Queen of the Night Sky," and the Anticipation of Sotha Sil. Azura has Azura's Star as her artifact. Azura is one of the few Daedra who might be considered "good" by mortal standards, due to her concern for her followers' well-being. Azura's plane is known as Moonshadow, a realm said to be too beautiful for mortals to comprehend. The lesser Daedra Winged Twilights are her messengers.

It was Azura who told Nerevar that Dagoth Ur's knowledge of the Heart of Lorkhan was accurate. This caused a war with the Dwemer, from which the Chimer emerged the victor, and the Dwemer did not emerge at all. Later, when the Tribunal of Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil used the power of the Heart of Lorkhan to make themselves gods and thus breaking their oath to Azura, Azura cursed the Chimer with dark greyish skin and red eyes, thus making them Dunmer. and claimed that she would cause Nerevar to be reborn and that she would make things right again. Later, Azura aided the Nerevarine in defeating Dagoth Ur and toppling the Tribunal Temple. Azura is also credited for making the Khajiit from Bosmer stock in Elsweyr.

She is also thought to be the sister of Nocturnal, but whether this is true or not is yet to be known.

## Boethiah

 File:Boethiah's Shrine.png
*Main article: Boethiah*
**Boethiah** is the Prince of Plots, who rules over deceit, conspiracy, secret plots of murder, assassination, treason, and unlawful overthrow of authority. Boethiah is depicted (often female) as a great caped warrior, often taking a stoic pose and is also known as the Anticipation of Almalexia. Attribution’s Share is the Plane of Boethiah; she frequently holds the Tournament of Ten Bloods in said Plane.

Boethiah is the original god-ancestor of the Dunmer. She guided the Chimer to renounced all ties to the Aldmer and led them, through the prophet Veloth, to the land of Morrowind. She is seen by the Dunmer as the beginning of their civilization, and is credited by them as the fount of inspiration for many cultural achievements.

Boethiah is connected to several Daedric artifacts which have appeared on Tamriel throughout history. These include the Ebony Mail, Goldbrand, and Fearstruck.

## Clavicus Vile

 File:ShrineofClavicusVile.jpg
*Main article: Clavicus Vile*
**Clavicus Vile** is the Daedric prince whose sphere is the granting of power and wishes through ritual invocations and pacts. Clavicus has a companion named Barbas, who may be a distinct part of Vile while being part of his being. While capable of selective shape-shifting, the form it assumes most of the time is that of a dog, among others. Clavicus himself is depicted as a jovial fellow with horns protruding from his forehead. Clavicus Vile is also noted to be one of the patrons of Cyrodiil's clan of vampires.

Vile has also created many Daedric artifacts, among them the Umbra Sword, the possessed quill Feyfolken and the Masque of Clavicus Vile.

## Hades

 File:Hades UW.png
*Main article: Hades*
**Hades** is the Daedric prince of the Dead, whose sphere death, deceased, and he was imfamous the Guardian of the Dead and Tombs. He is also the King of his realm, The Underworld. He is also remains of Atmoran Prince Rasmanl, who are from the Ysgramor's Five Hundred Companions. Nicknamed The "**Unseen One**" and most known as the **Deadgod**. He is frequently depicted as controlling the UnDead and giving mortals curses. Hades is depicted as caped undead king, optic pose, and wielding his spear. He is also the father of his son, Nichelag and his daughter, Malefic.

Hades was known for his duels, while during his Demiprince (demigod) of the Daedra, start rival with Boethiah and Molag Bal during the Second Era even though the two Daedric Princes who at rival with each other, started to made a alliance to destroy and defeated Hades back to his plane of oblivion.

During the Fourth Era, Dragonborn Marcella Septim, went to crusade and travel to Hades's plane of oblivion to deal with Hades. But Hades seriously wounded Marcella Septim which Hades was too powerful. The wounded Marcella then saved by ghostly Rasmanl before Hades about to end her, both Marcella Septim and Rasmanl finally defeated Hades. The rivalry contunines after Marcella becoming an goddess after her death during the Fifth Era.

His artifacts are the Spear of Hades, Hades' personal spear, Witherbrand, and the Staff of Eternal Reign, an symbol of the Underworld.

## Hermaeus Mora

 File:Hermaeus Mora's Shrine.png
*Main article: Hermaeus Mora*
**Hermaeus Mora** is the Daedric Prince of knowledge and memory. His sphere is the scrying of the tides of fate, of the past and future as read in the stars and heaven, and in his dominion are the treasures of knowledge and memory. His realm is known as the Apocrypha, an endless library where all forbidden knowledge may be found.He may be the "*Woodland Man*" of Atmoran myth who nearly persuaded the Nords to become Aldmer; the secondary set of his name, Mora, is one word for "*wood*," "*woodland,*" or "*tree(s)*" in Aldmeris.

Hermaeus Mora most commonly appears as a rotund mass of tentacles with an abundance of eyes and four disproportionately large lobster-like claws, although he also appears as a void out of which tentacles appear.

His artifacts are all books of one form or another. The most well-known of these, the *Oghma Infinium*, was written by Xarxes, and contains "knowledge of the ages".

## Hircine

 File:Hircine's Shrine.png
*Main article: Hircine*
**Hircine** is the Daedric prince whose sphere is the Hunt, the Sport of Daedra, the Great Game, and the Chase; he is known as the Huntsman and the Father of Manbeasts. Hircine created the various lycanthropic diseases which transform mortals into beasts, and is, therefore, the fatherof were-creatures. His plane of Oblivion is known as the Hunting Grounds.

Hircine's statue depicts him as a physically fit man whose whole head is obscured by a deer skull with long antlers. He is armed with a great spear and has a companion wolf. The Reachmen consider that he has five aspects, which relate to a variety of animals and hunters. Hircine communicates directly with were-creatrures, and he has been known to give them tasks and rewards. The lesser Daedra Herne is also affiliated with him.

Hircine's artifacts are all associated with hunting or lycanthropy in some way. The Cuirass of the Savior's Hide was allegedly gifted to a mortal after they escaped Hircine's realm, while the Spear of Bitter Mercy is an artifact used in a Daedric hunting ritual, and is seen by the Reachmen as Hircine's own weapon. Hircine's Ring can be used to temporarily bestow lycanthropy on the wearer.

## Jyggalag

 File:Jyggalag.png
*Main article: Jyggalag*
**Jyggalag** is the Prince of Order and is one of the more obscure princes. He was cursed by the other Daedric Princes, who were allegedly afraid of him, to become Sheogorath, only returning to his original form during the Greymarch. He is depicted as a crystalline knight.

At the end of the Third Era, with the Greymarch occurring, the Hero of Kvatch defeated Jyggalag, releasing him from his curse, allowing him to remain in his true form and return to Oblivion.

## Malacath

 File:Malacath Statue.jpg
*Main article: Malacath*
**Malacath** is the Daedric prince whose sphere is the patronage of the spurned and ostracized, the keeper of the Sworn Oath, and the Bloody Curse. He forms one corner of the House of Troubles in Dunmer religion, as well as being a particular enemy of the Nords. Malacath is also called Malouch by Orcs and Orkey or the Old Knocker by Nords, who blame him for stealing mankind's long lifespans. Malacath spurns physical weakness.

He was created when Boethiah ate the Aedra Trinimac, which also transformed his followers into orcs. Malacath is not recognized as a Daedric Prince by his peers, which fits his sphere perfectly. Some orcs consider him not to be a Daedra but a demon, instead worshipping Trinimac.

The Ashpit is Malacath's realm and is known as to be a harsh place, consisting only of dust, palaces of smoke, and vaporous creatures.

Malacath's Daedric artifacts tend to be subversions of another artifact, or turned against the Daedra themselves. His hammer Volendrung was originally made by the Dwemer, and the Scourge is noted to be particularly effective when used against other Daedra. Some sources also claim that he was the one who forged the Savior's Hide.

## Mehrunes Dagon

 File:Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon Skyrim.jpg
*Main article: Mehrunes Dagon*
**Mehrunes Dagon** is the Daedric Prince of Destruction, Change, Revolution, Energy, and Ambition. He is associated with natural dangers like fire, earthquakes, and floods. He is an especially important deity in Morrowind, where he represents its near-inhospitable terrain, and is part of the House of Troubles. In most cultures, however, Dagon is merely a god of bloodshed and betrayal. Dagon's plane of Oblivion is a place of perpetual torture, and is also said to be a blasted landscape.

Of all the Daedric Princes, Mehrunes Dagon seems to have the most animosity towards Nirn's species. Given his nature (Prince of Destruction), along with the fact that Daedra truly cannot be destroyed, the only entities he can practice destruction on are mortals. He assisted Jagar Tharn in his temporary usurpation of the Imperial throne by invading and seized control of the Battlespire, the purpose of this being to cripple the capacity of the Imperial College of Battlemages, which presented a threat to Tharn's power as Emperor.

 File:Mehrunes Dagon Oblivion.jpg
Mehrunes Dagon was responsible for the destruction of Mournhold at the end of the First Era, and apparently also destroyed Ald Sotha, home of House Sotha and Sotha Sil's birthplace.

Dagon invaded Tamriel at the end of the Third Era, precipitating the Oblivion Crisis, where he materialised fully on Tamriel before ultimately being defeated by the Hero of Kvatch and Martin Septim.

Dagon's most celebrated artifact is his Razor, which was said to have been made in Lyg by the Magna Ge. He is also associated with the Daedric Crescents, used by his forces in the invasion of the Battlespire, after which all but one of them were destroyed.

## Mephala

 File:MephShrine.jpg
*Main article: Mephala*
**Mephala** is a Daedric Prince known by the names Webspinner, Spinner, Spider, and is associated with sex and secret murder by the Dunmer, and is the Anticipation of Vivec. Her realm of Oblivion is known as the Spiral Skein.

The Morag Tong is a cult of assassins that was, at least initially, devoted to her worship. she is also associated with the Spider Daedra, although she may not have complete control over them.

Her artefacts share themes of assassination and stealth. She is associated with the Ring of Khajiit, the Obsidian Husk and the Ebony Blade.

## Meridia

 File:Meridia's Shrine.png
*Main article: Meridia*
**Meridia** is associated with the energies of living things, and bears a special hatred for the undead. Her realm is known as the Colored Rooms. She is associated with a race of lesser Daedra known as Aurorans, and was the patron of Umaril and the Ayleids.

Meridia is mentioned in some sources alongside the Star Orphans, and is considered by some to be formerly of the Magna Ge, but created her own realm of Oblivion by bending the light of Magnus through some form of lens. However, there are accounts which question her association with the Magna Ge.

In addition to her hatred of the undead, Meridia also has an enmity for Molag Bal, and during the Interregnum, she assisted the Five Companions in acting against Bal.

Meridia has been previously associated with the Ring of Khajiit, and gifted her champion with the Dawnbreaker in the Fourth Era.

## Molag Bal

 File:Molag Bal Statue ESO.png
*Main article: Molag Bal*
Molag Bal is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is the domination and enslavement of mortals. His realm is called Coldharbour, a twisted dark imitation of Tamriel. He is associated with many forms of domination, and is known by some as the King of Rape. He forms one corner of the House of Troubles in Dunmeri theology. He also has a rivalry with Boethiah.

Molag Bal is reputed to be the father of vampires, who he created by ravaging a priestess of Arkay. He was also allegedly fathered a race of monsters with Vivec.

His only known artifact is the Mace of Molag Bal, which is also known as the Vampire's Mace.

## Namira

 File:Namira's Shrine.png
*Main article: Namira*
Namira is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is the ancient darkness. She is associated with all things generally considered repulsive, including various creatures such as spiders or slugs and disease that cause any kind of unattractive physical abnormalities. This also includes beggars and their various attributes. According to Khajiit theology, she has a connection to the Heart of Lorkhaj.

Champions of Namira have been known to receive Namira's ring, an artifact that restores health and stamina when "feasting" on slain enemies.

## Nocturnal

 File:Nocturnal real.jpg
*Main article: Nocturnal*
**Nocturnal** is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is the night and darkness, also known as the Night Mistress. She is said to not court worshippers, treating them with indifference, although it also seems that the Nightingales are her sworn servants. In addition to literal darkness, her sphere also encompasses the darkness of mystery and unknowing. She is also on occasion called the sister of Azura.

Her realm of Oblivion is the Evergloam, which has a form of permanent conduit beween Mundus and Oblivion known as the Twilight Sepulcher.

Nocturnal is associated with two artifacts, the Gray Cowl and the Skeleton Key, both of which aid thieves in their work.

## Peryite

 File:Shrine of Peryite Oblivion.png
*Main article: Peryite*
**Peryite**, also known as the Taskmaster, is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is Pestilence, and he is charged with ordering the lowest levels of Oblivion. He is often depicted as a green dragon.

Peryite's artifact is an enchanted shield, the Spell Breaker, which, protects its bearer against the harmful effects of magic.

## Sanguine

 File:Sanguine.jpg
*Main article: Sanguine*
**Sanguine** is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is hedonistic revelry, debauchery, and passionate indulgences of darker natures.

Sanguine rules over the Myriad Realms of Revelry, which are places which Sanguine allows any visitors to customise to their whims.

Sanguine is associated with the Sanguine Rose, and has bestowed it on favored mortals from time to time. He is also associated with a collection of items made for Mephala, known as the Threads of the Webspinner.

## Sheogorath

 File:Sheogorath.png
*Main article: Sheogorath*
**Sheogorath** is the Prince of Madness, whose motives are unknowable. His realm in Oblivion is the Shivering Isles, and is served by the Golden Saints and Dark Seducers. He forms one of the cornes of the House of Troubles in Dunmeri theology. His realm of Oblivion is known as the Shivering Isles. He is frequently depicted as playing tricks on both mortals and other Daedra.

Sheogorath has been called the "Sithis-shaped hole" of the world, created when Lorkhan's heart was torn out. However, other sources indicate he was once Jyggalag, Prince of Order, condemned by the other Daedric Princes to spend most of his existence mad, apart from the time known as the Greymarch where he crusaded against the Shivering Isles. During the late Third Era, the Hero of Kvatch successfullly resisted Jygalagg, and the two princes became separate entities.

## Vaermina

*Main article: Vaermina*
 File:Vaermina's Shrine.png
**Vaermina** is a Daedric Prince whose sphere is the realm of dreams and nightmares, and evil omens. Her plane of Oblivion is Quagmire. It is described as a nightmare realm, where every few minutes reality shifts and becomes ever more horrifying.

She is associated with the artifact the Skull of Corruption. She is also associated with an orb, stolen by the wizard Arkved in the late Third Era, which led to her realm.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *The Monomyth*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Events of *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 *The Doors of Oblivion*
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Template:Shivering Isles
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 *Exegesis of Merid-Nunda* - Phrastus of Elinhir
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 *On Oblivion*
8. ↑ *The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn* - dialogue with Neloth
9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 *The Book of Daedra*
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 *Invocation of Azura*
11. ↑ *Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part XI: Azura and the Box* - Marobar Sul
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 *The Anticipations*
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 *Darkest Darkness*
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 *Nerevar at Red Mountain* - Tribunal Temple
15. ↑ *The Changed Ones*
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 *Words of Clan Mother Ahnissi*
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 *Varieties of Faith in the Empire* - Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 *Tamrielic Lore*
19. ↑ Events of *The Elder Scrolls: Legends*
20. ↑ *The Story of Lyrisius* - Bresne Smythe
21. ↑ *The Vile Truth of Barbas* - Pelagius Habor
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 *Opusculus Lamae Bal ta Mezzamortie*
23. ↑ *Feyfolken II* - Waughin Jarth
24. ↑ *Before the Ages of Man* - Aicantar of Shimerene
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*
26. ↑ *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim* - dialogue with Hermaeus Mora
27. ↑ *An Accounting of Werewolves* - Sage Svari of Fallowstone Hall
28. ↑ *An Accounting of Werewolves* - Sage Svari of Fallowstone Hall
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 *Aspects of Lord Hircine* - Juno Procillus
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Template:Battlespire
31. ↑ *The Posting of the Hunt*
32. ↑ Events of *The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon*
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 *The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles* - dialogue with Jyggalag
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 *The House of Troubles*
35. ↑ *The True Nature of Orcs*
36. ↑ *Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: Orsinium* — Imperial Geographical Society
37. ↑ *What is Volendrung?* - Gurour
38. ↑ *The Legendary Scourge*
39. ↑ *Tal Marog Ker's Researches* - Tal Marog Ker
40. ↑ *To All Who Pass Through* - Dutheil, Artisan of Oblivion
41. ↑ *2920, Sun's Dusk, v11*
42. ↑ *A Brief History of Ald Sotha* - Varlinsi Arandu
43. ↑ *Mythic Dawn Commentaries 4 - Mankar Camoran*
44. ↑ *Vivec and Mephala*
45. ↑ *Rumors of the Spiral Skein* - The Derisive Necromite
46. ↑ *Fire and Darkness*
47. ↑ *The Obsidian Husk*
48. ↑ *With Regards to the Ebony Blade*
49. ↑ *The Song of Pelinal, Book III - On His Enemy*
50. ↑ *Loremaster's Archive: Rituals of the Divines*
51. ↑ *The Library of Dusk: Rare Books*
52. ↑ Events of *The Elder Scrolls: Online*
53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 *The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall*
54. ↑ Loremaster's Archive: Glorious Upheaval
55. ↑ *36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 14*
56. ↑ *A Life Barbaric and Brutal* - Arthenice Belloq
57. ↑ *Beggar Prince*
58. ↑ *Hiding with the Shadow*
59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 *The Nightingales, Vol. 1* - Gallus Desidenius
60. ↑ *Instructions: the Gray Cowl*
61. ↑ *Loremaster's Archive: Maelstrom Arena - Part Two*
62. ↑ Events of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*
63. ↑ *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind* - dialogue with Eno Hlaalu
64. ↑ *Saints and Seducers* - Andoche Marie
65. ↑ *The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles* - dialogue with Haskill
66. ↑ *Sixteen Accords of Madness*

Template:OOG

1. ↑ *Imperial Census of the Daedra Lords*

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