The origin of Men and the EhlnofeyEdit
Where did Men come from?
Ehlnofey TheoryEdit
Per Wyresses: The Name-Daughters:
- "Then all knew their places except Men and Mer,
- Who plundered and ravaged wherever they were.
- 'I name you the Earth-Bones,' Jephre decreed,
- 'Lords of the forest, rock, root, and seed.'"
Per Crafting Motif 3: Wood Elf Style:
- "The Bosmer believe that all nature was in chaos before Y'ffre gave all plants, animals, and people their names, which defined the permanent form each species would take. Thus each species is depicted by a particular, idealized motif which represents the ur-form it was given by Y'ffre."
Per The Annotated Anuad:
- "Other Ehlnofey arrived on Nirn scattered amid the confused jumble of the shattered worlds, wandering and finding each other over the years. Eventually, the wandering Ehlnofey found the hidden land of Old Ehlnofey, and were amazed and joyful to find their kin living amid the splendor of ages past. The wandering Ehlnofey expected to be welcomed into the peaceful realm, but the Old Ehlnofey looked on them as degenerates, fallen from their former glory. For whatever reason, war broke out, and raged across the whole of Nirn. The Old Ehlnofey retained their ancient power and knowledge, but the Wanderers were more numerous, and toughened by their long struggle to survive on Nirn... On the other continents, the Wandering Ehlnofey became the Men: the Nords of Atmora, the Redguards of Yokuda, and the Tsaesci of Akavir."
Spirits of Lorkhan TheoryEdit
Per The Monomyth - The Heart of the World:
- "As Lorkhan knew, this world contained more limitations than not and was therefore hardly a thing of Anu at all. Mundus was the House of Sithis. As their aspects began to die off, many of the et'Ada vanished completely. Some escaped, like Magnus, and that is why there are no limitations to magic. Others, like Y'ffre, transformed themselves into the Ehlnofey, the Earthbones, so that the whole world might not die. Some had to marry and make children just to last. Each generation was weaker than the last, and soon there were Aldmer. Darkness caved in. Lorkhan made armies out of the weakest souls and named them Men, and they brought Sithis into every quarter."
Per The Monomyth - Shezarr's Song:
- "This was a new thing that Shezarr described to the Gods, becoming mothers and fathers, being responsible, and making great sacrifices, with no guarantee of success, but Shezarr spoke beautifully to them, and moved them beyond mystery and tears. Thus the Aedra gave free birth to the world, the beasts, and the beings, making these things from parts of themselves... Other Aedra looked upon creation, and were well pleased. These Aedra, the Gods of Men and Beast Folk, led by Akatosh, praised and cherished their wards, the Mortal Races. 'We have suffered, and are diminished, for all time, but the mortal world we have made is glorious, filling our hearts and spirits with hope. Let us teach the Mortal Races to live well, to cherish beauty and honor, and to love one another as we love them.' Thus are the Gods of Men tender and patient, and thus are Men and Beast Folk great in heart for joy or suffering, and ambitious for greater wisdom and a better world."
Per Vateshran Eoinola:
- "And unto the mountains they fled, for the world grew dark with shadows which sprung from the heart of Lorkh, who though greatly sundered still believed in the light of Man."
Breath-of-Kyne TheoryEdit
Per Children of the Sky:
- "Nords consider themselves to be the children of the sky. They call Skyrim the Throat of the World, because it is where the sky exhaled on the land and formed them. They see themselves as eternal outsiders and invaders, and even when they conquer and rule another people; they feel no kinship with them."
Per Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition:
- "The Nords believe men were formed on this mountain when the sky breathed onto the land. Hence the Song of Return refers not only to Ysgramor's return to Tamriel after the destruction of Saarthal, but to the Nords' return to what they believe was their original homeland."
Combined TheoryEdit
Can these theories all coexist? I didn't think so, but I found one developer statement which made me reconsider:
Per Anonymous_Monoymous:
- "The term Earth Bone can refer to a few different types of mythical entities. The Ehlnofex term for "Earth Bone" is Ehlnofey. The Ehlnofey were a race of pre-Convention spirits who wrote in Ehlnofex script. Some Ehlnofey sacrificed themselves entirely into Nirn and became the bones of the earth, as eternal laws of nature. Others chose not to completely sacrifice themselves, but they were doomed to live on through their children instead of living eternally. These children became the ancestors of mer and men. Generally, when people say Earth Bones they're referring to the laws of nature, and when people say Ehlnofey, they're referring to the spirits who didn't sacrifice themselves."
Per Michael Kirkbride:
- "Correct."
So, if Ehlnofey don't have to come from one origin, but rather two, maybe all these theories could coexist.
The Mindalithic Dawn TheoryEdit
Chronology
- (Definitive) The creation of the Aurbis takes place, recognized by all pantheons as some version of the Anu-Padomay legend
- (Definitive) The creation of Mundus, recognized by all pantheons as some version of Lorkhan persuading other et'Ada
- (Theory) The Precursor Ehlnofey are breathed into the world at the Throat of the World
- (Theory) The Precursor Ehlnofey spread across the world, forming the subraces of Wandering and Old Ehlnofey
- (Theory) The Ehlnofey War begins, pitting the Wandering and Old Ehlnofey against each other and forming the continents of Nirn
- (Theory) The Ehlnofey make families, forming Elves and Men
- (Definitive) Some version of Lorkhan leads the Men in a war against the Elves, who turn to Auri-El for aid
- (Definitive) Some version of Lorkhan is killed, his heart hidden away
- (Theory) The remaining Ehlnofey become the Earth Bones, establishing the laws of nature
- (Definitive) Linear time and the Merethic Era begin
I'm happy with this conclusion. There's still some sources that don't fit cleanly, such as the one in Wyresses: The Name-Daughters which specifically says Jephre named Men and Elves as Ehlnofey. However, this is to be expected with religious myths that are over six thousand years old and span into a timeless dawn... there's bound to be some inconsistencies. I think this model wraps everything together quite nicely. I look forward to hearing any feedback!
Are Daedric Princes being bound by their sphere?Edit
Evidence suggesting they are notEdit
Per Lord Fa-Nuit-Hen and Tutor Riparius Answer Your Questions 2:
- "I have ambitions, of course, like every Ada, but I keep them within my sphere, lest I suffer the same fate as you-know-who."
Per N'Gasta:
- "Daedra were born before stars, mortal. Do you consider that perhaps such names preceded, hence perhaps inspired, the concepts they connote?"
Evidence suggesting they areEdit
Per Leamon Tuttle:
- "The truth is, Princes are bound to their nature, but the plans evolve."