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Lore:Meteors

< Lore: Astronomy
Baar Dau, a meteor

Meteors, often called shooting stars, are fragments of celestial matter that fall from the sky. This occurs when a piece of Aetherius—the realm of spirits and the source of magic—becomes detached and descends to Nirn. They contain fragments, known as Aetherial Fragments renowned for their magical properties.[1][2]

UsageEdit

MaterialsEdit

"Surely you have seen a shooting star. This occurs when a piece of Aetherius, spirit-plane and source of magic, becomes dislodged and falls to Nirn. Two types of materials, meteoric iron and glass, may be found after such an event. The magical potential of both is extraordinary.""Aetherial Fragments[2]
 
A skyshard
 
Prismatic Sunbird Feather, made of meteoric materials

Various types of materials can be found when celestial events like this occur—primarily meteoric iron and glass. However, other rare substances also exist, such as the material used by the Order of the Sun Birds of Alinor for their vehicles in their attempt to reach Aetherius.[3]

Meteor Slime is a substance renowned for its alchemical properties, particularly for its abilities to cure diseases and poisons, as well as fortify and restore willpower.[4] Its connection to meteors is unclear beyond the shared name, as in some cases, it was even harvested from plants.[5]

The Ayleids extensively used meteoric materials,[1][2] and even aimed to replicate the imagery of shooting stars through magic.[6]

For more detailed information about meteoric materials, see: Aetherial Fragments

Religion and CultureEdit

"Lorkhan's was cracked asunder and his divine spark fell to Nirn as a shooting star "to impregnate it with the measure of its existence and a reasonable amount of selfishness.""The Lunar Lorkhan[7]
 
Cat's Eye Prism
 
Tall Papa Lamp

Among the many meteorites in Tamrielic history, Baar Dau is one of the most recognizable, suspended above the city of Vivec.[8][9] Baan Dau is also mentioned as a shooting star in the Sermons of Vivec.[10]

During Pelinal's attack on Elsweyr, Alkosh's intervention at Sunsprite was likened to a shooting star. The Khajiit believed that, hearing their prayers, Alkosh descended from the heavens like a shooting star.[11] It was speculated that Khajiiti worship of Magrus, the Cat’s Eye, may have involved the use of meteoric ritual object.[12]

Crystalline residue discovered on ancient Yokudan prayer lamps suggests that worshippers of Tall Papa used a form of meteoric fuel to produce light similar to starlight.[13]

The text The Lunar Lorkhan asserts that the Moons represent the two halves of Lorkhan's 'flesh-divinity.' According to the text, Lorkhan, like the other Gods, was a plane(t) involved in the Great Construction. However, while the Eight Gods contributed parts of their heavenly bodies to create the mortal plane(t), Lorkhan's was shattered. His divine essence fell to Nirn as a shooting star, intended to imbue it with a measure of his existence and a degree of selfishness.[7]

Certain horses were named after meteors.[14]

SpellcraftEdit

"Jiid So Daan"Dragons calling upon meteors[15]
 
Calling upon a "meteor"
 
Alduin calling upon meteors

Alduin, along with some of his fellow dragons, can summon meteors from the sky using the power of the Thu'um. Although Alduin's words are unknown, some other dragons used the shout "Jiid So Daan," which roughly translates to "Moon Sorrow Doom," for this purpose.[16][15]

Magical abilities that summon fire, rocks, or other projectiles from the sky are often referred to as "meteors." However, it is unclear whether these spells actually call real meteors.[17][18] Similarly, a piece of magical equipment, such as weapons, armor, or staves could be used for similar purposes.[19][20] Some of these meteors are referred to as "Prime Meteors," while others are called "Coldharbour Meteors."[17][21] Some of those spells claim to summon comets instead.[22] Using magic of that kind for certain mundane tasks was deemed ridiculous by magical experts like Telenger the Artificer.[23] Some Iron Atronach summonings are preceded by a meteoric boom, signaling their arrival.[24]

A Direnni agent of Sinderill proposed the usage of meteoric empowerment theory, which suggests that using this method, along with a set of enchanting tools, could potentially restore skyshards.[25]

For more detailed information about magic involving celestial bodies, see: Varliance

GalleryEdit

NotesEdit

ReferencesEdit

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.

  1. ^ Jonah Lobe's Posts