This one hears soft chanting, glimpses flickering candles.
You are guided by the Ritual, yes? Allies shall seek you out, for your sign guides you to heal and mend. But beware—not all ills can be repaired.
—Baandari fortune-telling for those born under the Ritual[1]
The Ritual (known as the Laboratory to the Dwemer)[2] is a constellation of seven stars which is in the night sky during Morning Star.[UOL 1] It is one of the Mage's charges. Those born under the sign of the Ritual are thought to have various abilities depending on the aspects of the moons and planets.[3] It is consistently depicted by most cultures as taking the shape of the Aurbic Eye.
Nedes who followed the Cult of the Stars modeled their weapons and armor after the constellations. Each part of their armaments was crafted in honor of a different constellation. Helmets were linked to the Ritual, "who watcheth all with glowing eye in the face of space". They believed that Ritual's eye is seen but the visage is hidden, and their helmets were meant to emulate the Ritual and hide their visages beneath cap and behind the visor, seeing but not seen, unknown until their actions make them known.[4]
The Breton Druids of old praised the Ritual constellation above all.[5] As of 2E 582 megaliths devoted to the Ritual,[6] and charms devoted to the Constellation of Ritual could be found in the Systres, among the modern druidic circles. Seven green beads hung in the shape of the ritual constellations were presumably rubbed for good luck.[7]
The constellations are present in ancient Yokudan and Redguard poetry.[8] In one of their songs The Ritual is "turning through the night."[9]
The Dwemer associate the Ritual with the letter b.[10]
According to the Reachfolk the charges, or the Lesser Stars (the Ritual among them) are protected by the Guardians in the Sky who stand together against the Snake in the Stars.[11]
According to the Baandari fortune tellers, the Ritual is linked to the arcane and Magrus.[1] The Ritual was also believed to "speed ones on their star-patterned path".[12]
GalleryEdit
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The Laboratory/Ritual (Redguard)
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The Ritual (Morrowind)
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The Ritual (Oblivion)
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The Ritual as shown in the Imperial Orrery (Oblivion)
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The Ritual (ESO)
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The Ritual (ESO)
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The Ritual (Legends)
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Dwemer depiction of the Laboratory (Redguard)
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Depiction of the Ritual (Morrowind)
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The Ritual Standing Stone (Skyrim)
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An outline of the Ritual stone (Skyrim)
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Depiction of the Ritual
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Druidic depictions of the Ritual (ESO)
.jpg)
NotesEdit
- It is directly modeled after the wedjat eyes from Egyptian mythology.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b Hanubina-ko's dialogue in ESO
- ^ The Redguard Companion
- ^ The Firmament — Ffoulke
- ^ Crafting Motif 41: Celestial Style — the Guardian of Stars
- ^ Wyrd and Druid — Archdruid Barnabe's Discourse with Mainlanders, 2E 553
- ^ Events of Tournament of the Heart in ESO
- ^ The Ritual Star Charm item description in ESO
- ^ 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
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.