A kalpa is an epoch of time consisting of the birth, life, and death of a world.[1] The chaos of the Dawn Era is believed to take place between each kalpa in a period of untime that marks the end of the previous world and allows the creation of the next. The moment when time became linear is considered to have been the first day of the Merethic Era and of the current kalpa as a whole.[2][UOL 1] These segments of time are sometimes subject to temporary interruptions called Dragon Breaks, which are momentary returns to the non-linearity and chaos of the Dawn Era.[3][4]
Cultural BeliefsEdit
It is said that both Men and Mer know Tamriel is where the "nexus of creation" took place, as well as where the Last War will happen.[5]
The Nords believe that the current kalpa is a byproduct of its predecessor's destruction at the hands of Alduin the World-Eater, and that this world shall also be destroyed to create a new one.[6] What precedes it is the Final War,[UOL 2] the final doom,[7] the final battle,[8] where the Nords "will show their final, best worth".[UOL 2]
Redguards and Argonians also believe in a cyclical world that is, or at least was, periodically consumed by Satakal and Atakota respectively.[6][9] The Redguards believe that if they do not honor their ancestors, it will bring about a new "Ending Time", worse again than those before.[10]
The spirits of Khajiit whose souls have not been corrupted are taken by Khenarthi to the Sands Behind the Stars, where they await for the "Next Pounce".[11] Pre-ri'Datta myths state that at the end of time, Khenarthi will summon the united spirits of the Khajiiti people to defend creation.[12][13]
The Reachmen believe that at the "end of all days", Hircine will fight alongside them,[14] and the Dark Heart will beat again, reawakened by feeding on the deaths of mortals, and its darkness will spread from its depths to consume everything, sparing only Namira's faithful.[15]
According to some sources, the destruction of Lyg took place in the prior kalpa.[16][UOL 3] It is also said that the "half-Elf" Umaril's divine father hailed from the previous kalpa.[17]
ReferencesEdit
- ^ Paarthurnax's dialogue in Skyrim
- ^ Before the Ages of Man — Aicantar of Shimerene
- ^ Where Were You ... Dragon Broke — Various
- ^ The Nine Coruscations — Star-Queen Varalias
- ^ Mysterious Akavir
- ^ a b Varieties of Faith in Tamriel — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
- ^ Hero of Sovngarde's dialogue in Skyrim
- ^ Stormcloak Soldier's dialogue during Sovngarde in Skyrim
- ^ Children of the Root — Solis Aduro
- ^ Plea for Open Eyes — The Unveiled Azadiyeh
- ^ Litter-Mates of Darkness — Moon-Bishop Hunal
- ^ The Sky Spirits — Amun-dro, the Silent Priest
- ^ All Our Perfect Forms — Amun-dro, the Silent Priest
- ^ High Shaman Glynroch's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Arana's dialogue in ESO
- ^ The Nine Coruscations — Star-Queen Varalias
- ^ The Song of Pelinal, v 7
Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.
