Ebonarm, the God of WarEdit
Reymon Ebonarm (also called Ebonarm or the Black Knight) is the God of War and the companion and protector of all warriors. He is said to ride a golden stallion named War Master, and is accompanied by a pair of huge ravens. Ebonarm's name refers to the Ebony sword fused to his right arm due to the wounds he suffered in titanic battles of the past, and he is never seen without a full suit of ebony armor. He is described as bearded, tall, muscular, and having flowing reddish blonde hair and steel blue eyes. Emblazoned on his ebony tower shield is the symbol of a red rose, a flower known for blooming on battlefields where he appears. According to legend, he appears on the battlefield to reconcile opposing sides and prevent bloodshed.
Egg MotherEdit
The Egg Mother is an obscure entity venerated by the Lamias.[1]
Ehlnofey, the Earth BonesEdit
The Ehlnofey (sometimes spelled Elhnofey) of the Dawn Era are generally believed to be a group of Aedric pre-Convention spirits who, along with the Hist, are counted among the original inhabitants of Nirn, and are widely considered to be the progenitors of the mortal races. The word "Ehlnofey" translates to Earthbones (or Earth Bone) in Ehlnofex. The terms "Earthbone" or "Ehlnofey" are used to denote more than one type of mythical entity. The term "Ehlnofey" is typically used to refer to the spirits that became ancestors of the various mortal races, whereas the term "Earthbone" is typically used to refer to those spirits who followed the example of Y'ffre and sacrificed themselves to form the rules of nature. The nature of the spirits the term pertains to can vary depending on account.
The concept of the Ehlnofey is of paramount importance within the beliefs of the elves, particularly the Altmer and Bosmer, where the term is used to represent their cultural understanding of the Aedra as ancestor spirits. According to elven myth, the Ehlnofey are considered to be the Aedric spirits who stayed in Nirn after Magnus and the Magna Ge departed in order to keep working on the new world so it'd remain viable. Among those spirits, some, typically referred to from that point on as "Earthbones", are thought to have followed the example of Y'ffre, giving themselves to the Mundus fully to stabilize it and form the foundation of its natural law as the "bones of the earth", eternal laws of nature. While others, typically referred to from that point on as "Ehlnofey", are thought to have chosen not to give themselves fully but to populate Nirn instead, thus becoming the progenitors to mortal life, which arose from their lines and took on its current form due to a phenomenon of gradual diminishment, of each consecutive generation becoming weaker and more removed than its progenitors in stature and might. This understanding forms the basis of the originally elvish term "Aedra" or "ancestor", denoting those spirits which they perceive as being part of their mythic genealogy, including figures such as Auri-El, who most modern Altmer and Bosmer claim direct descent from, Trinimac the "greatest knight of the Ehlnofey", Syrabane and Phynaster. Thus elven religious iconography depicts the Ehlnofey as vaguely Elven in shape, but featureless, similar to how they live on in fading memory,
The Aedra or Ehlnofey are thought to have remained within the world until they vanished . They are thought to primarily reside in Aetherius, having been bound to the Earth Bones as the cornerstones of the Mundus. The terms "spokes", "eight components of chaos", "lent bones of the Aedra", "Bones of the Wheel", "et'Ada-gears" and "Eight gift-limbs" have also been used to refer to them in this capacity, after having transformed into the framework of reality. Some sources present a more negative view of the circumstances of these spirits and their residence in Aetherius, naming Mundus as their "cemetery", calling them "spent ghosts", or even alleging them to have died as part of the creation of the world, having "died in pursuit of an impossible goal". Thus the Aedra are sometimes called the "dead gods" or the "mortal gods", sometimes disparagingly, owing to them having become bound to the laws of mortality.
A direct correlation between the concepts of Ehlnofey and Aedra is not universal among sources. In some accounts, the terms "Ehlnofey" and "Earth Bones" are both described as referring exclusively to the early offspring of the Aedra rather than to those spirits themselves, who were told to populate the world and live on through their children, leading to the gradual emergence of the various races of man and mer. In others the Ehlnofey are described instead as a group of beings who predate the Aedra and Daedra as survivors of a prior world, fragment of which Anu used to create Nirn, whereas the Aedra and Daedra are formed of Anu and Padomay's blood after Nirn's formation and the establishment of the Ehlnofey there, with all groups distinct from the start. The concept of descent from the ancestor spirits is generally viewed as "elven conceit" by the religions of Men who, with the exception of the Redguards, view themselves as creations of those spirits rather than their descendants.
Perhaps because of their association with the land itself, "Old Ehlnofey" became another name for Aldmeris, the mystical homeland of the elves. The language or languages of the Ehlnofey became known as Ehlnofex. It has been found that the "Earth Bones", the laws of nature, can be manipulated to some extent.
Eight DivinesEdit
The original pantheon of Divines under the Alessian Empire, consisting of Akatosh, Arkay, Dibella, Julianos, Kynareth, Mara, Stendarr, and Zenithar. Worship of the Eight Divines was introduced by Alessia at the start of the First Era. It was a carefully designed compromise between the Aldmeri deities that the humans of Cyrodiil were accustomed to worshipping and the deities of Alessia's Nordic allies.[2] Following the deification of Tiber Septim, Talos was added to the pantheon and they became the Nine Divines. In the second century of the Fourth Era, the White-Gold Concordat between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion forbade worship of Talos, which contributed to the Stormcloak Rebellion. Anyone caught worshipping Talos was taken prisoner by the Thalmor Justiciars for punishment. Because of this, the pantheon of the Eight Divines returned to prominence.[3]
The EldestEdit
The Eldest is an ancient Strangler which has been in Valenwood since creation itself. It was the lifeblood, the very essence of Greenshade and the state of its being reflected upon the forest around it.
There are many tales surrounding the Eldest, most of which have never been put to writing. Some speak of a bloodthirsty army which vowed to never make war again upon visiting the Eldest. Others speak of mischievous pranks played upon pilgrims. There's also the tale of the first pilgrims, a couple who watched the Eldest as if it was their own child. These pilgrims eventually became the first Silvenar and Green Lady. During springtime, Bosmer devotees travel to the Eldest's den, offering thanks to Y'ffre but to also read the stories of their home in the strangler's branches. This is followed by a mighty celebration where drinks are had and the aforementioned tales are shared.
Circa 2E 582, the Eldest was tainted by the Veiled Heritance in an attempt to corrupt Valenwood, using the strangler's innate connection to the Green to spread taint throughout the forest. Flora turned to a state of undeath, water became tainted and even Bosmer turned feral. To save the wilds, the Vestige was forced to put down the ancient being and carve out its heart, being presented then with two choices- to use the Eldest's heart to cleanse the forest, or to find another way and use it to grow a replacement Eldest. It's unknown which path the hero took, but whichever one was chosen resulted in most of the taint being cleansed.
Elder GodsEdit
The Elder Gods are obscure entities, whose coming is forewarned, and in their coming Black Marsh is said to burn for its sins.[4]
EphenEdit
Ephen (also called S'ephen) was a Chimer[nb 1] noble that was active during the early First Era. He is the center of an obscure temple-cult who worships him as The God of the Wild that was created in homage by his half-brother, Moraelyn, the Witch-King of Ebonheart. In death, he was given the duty of safeguarding the Horn of Summoning and eventually the Staff of Chaos. Statues of Ephen depicted him wielding a hammer, atop of an anvil of adamantium, and shrines dedicated to him have been active since the late Third Era, as far west as the Iliac Bay.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ Tzik'nith's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Shezarr and the Divines — Faustillus Junius
- ^ The Talos Mistake — Leonora Venatus
- ^ Rumors in Arena