![]() The Dunmer do not emphasize the distinction between this world and Oblivion as do the human cultures of Tamriel. "The existence of Oblivion is acknowledged by all Tamriel cultures, but there is little agreement on the nature of that otherworld, other than it is the place where the Aedra and Daedra live, and that communication and travel are possible between this world and Oblivion through magic and ritual. *Just look at this paragraph from Ancestors and the Dunmer: Besides, tian is usually translated as "heaven" and that's hardly Abrahamic. "Heaven" doesn't have the baggage that's associated with Aetherius and Oblivion and given the multicultural nature of the cult of the eight divines, it may well be called "heaven" for that reason. It isn't a huge stretch of the imagination to suggest that the Ayleids might have. The Dunmer were explicitly described as believing that their dead went to Oblivion* and the Psijics believe that at least some do. ![]() There isn't such a consensus in the games. Sheila Reyes Posts: 3386 Joined: Thu 7:40 amįans usually make a very clear distinction between Aetherius and Oblivion. Invoking Sovngarde as a battle cry doesn't necessarily attest to the speaker's belief that they'll wind up there it can just be taken to mean that they'll fight like hell. ![]() I don't recall any Nords boasting about being bound for Sovngarde, so it's possible that you just don't assume you'll make the cut. An execution probably doesn't "count" for going to Sovngarde, though Roggvir seems to think it does. So mentioning Aetherius isn't "imposing Imperial beliefs." Remember that the priestess is also addressing the player, who may not be a Nord. Entry is reserved for Nords who " valiantly in honorable combat," according to. Sovngarde supplements the Eight/Nine Divines to modern Nords. However, considering the full text ( "As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the Eight Divines upon you, for you are the salt and earth of Nirn, our beloved."), it's not surprising the Stormcloaks take offense. The sentiments of the prayer, at least on the priestess' part, seems genuine. And in Skyrim, one Nord mentions how because he's a farmer (or something serf-y) rather than a warrior that "there'll be no Sovngarde for me." If not, where will he go? Will he too go to Aetherius, and Sovngarde is reserved only for the very best of the Nordic people?Ĭould that then be the point of the priestesses' prayer? By insulting the Stormcloaks by saying that they won't go to Sovngarde? Or is there other possibilities? ![]() There's even a few Argonian ghosts in ESO that talk about wanting their spirits released to Aetherius (but I know how people feel about ESO lore so let's not go too far into that). I recall from somewhere in the lore that Aetherius is the believed afterlife of a few other races, such as the Bretons (don't beat me with the book too hard if that's not right). But Sovngarde and Aetherius are entirely different. The Imperials have shown little interest in converting the Nords in the past because, for the most part, they worship the same beings, just under different identities. Is it an oversight in the writing? Or is it showing how the Empire is imposing its religious beliefs on the Nords? In which case, why? Even with Talos worship outlawed currently, ignoring the Nords' afterlife of Sovngarde in place for Aetherius seems unnecessary. I was thinking about the opening to Skyrim, and for some reason it never clicked until now that the priest of Mara performing the last rites for the Stormcloaks seems to be offering their final prayer according to Imperial beliefs.
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