This one senses a heart of stone. Or is it ice?
Ah, it is the Atronach that guides you. Sturdy, adaptable. Your sign grants you a steady arm and a nimble mind. You can be fire, stone, or ice. Adapt, but remain true to yourself.
—Baandari fortune-telling for those born under the Atronach[1]
The Atronach (sometimes the Golem, known as the Warmachine to the Dwemer)[2] is a constellation of ten stars which is in the night sky during Sun's Dusk.[UOL 1] It is one of the Mage's charges. Those born under the sign of the Atronach are thought to be natural sorcerers with deep reserves of magicka, but that cannot generate their own magicka.[3]
Nedes who followed the Cult of the Stars modeled their weapons and armor after the constellations. Each part of their armaments were crafted in honor of different constellation. Maces were linked to the Atronach, "who bludgeons the sky with magical might" and "rolls like juggernaut twixt night and day". Their maces emulated the Atronach's mighty arm and were designed to "smite thy foes even as rocks that fall from ye sky".[4]
The constellations are present in ancient Yokudan and Redguard poetry.[5] In one of their songs The Golem is "burning through the night."[6]
The Dwemer associate the Atronach with the letter r.[7]
According to the Reachfolk the charges, or the Lesser Stars (the Atronach among them) are protected by the Guardians in the Sky who stand together against the Snake in the Stars.[8]
According to the Baandari fortune tellers, the Atronach is associated with sturdiness and adaptability.[1] The Atronach was also believed to "aid ones with their appointed burden".[9]
In certain circumstances, the Altmer attach significant importance to aligning their landmarks with constellations. A prime example of this practice is Ondil, built in the early First Era to house Kinlady Fiorallelle's extensive collection of ceramic figurines. However, the project was abandoned before completion when it was revealed that its alignment with the constellation of the Atronach deviated by seven percent.[10]
GalleryEdit
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The Warmachine/Atronach (Redguard)
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The Atronach (Morrowind)
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The Atronach (Oblivion)
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The Atronach as shown in the Imperial Orrery (Oblivion)
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The Atronach (ESO)
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Dwemer depiction of the Warmachine (Redguard)
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The Atronach Standing Stone (Skyrim)
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An outline of the Atronach stone (Skyrim)
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Depiction of the Atronach (ESO)
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Depiction of the Atronach (Legends)
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ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b Hanubina-ko's dialogue in ESO
- ^ The Redguard Companion
- ^ The Firmament — Ffoulke
- ^ Crafting Motif 41: Celestial Style — the Guardian of Stars
- ^ The Warrior's Charge
- ^ Coyle's dialogue in Redguard
- ^ The Observatory in Redguard
- ^ Arana's dialogue during Blood of the Reach in ESO: Markarth
- ^ Emperor Uriel Septim's dialogue in Oblivion
- ^ Ondil's loading screen in ESO
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.