Given how largeThe Elder Scrollsuniverse is, it wouldn’t be too surprising if even the most hardcore fans didn’t know about the novels which came out beforeSkyrim.They’re set between the series' fourth and fifth installmentsand tell of the Umbriel Crisis, which wiped out a good number of the Tamrielic population. The novels answered some of the questions of what happened afterObliviontoo,such as who became emperor, what happened to Morrowind after the fall of the Tribunal, and other small but still significant events.
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Like everyElder Scrollsgame though, the novels left fans with more questions than answers. While they did do a great job of answering some important questions, they left many fans wonderinghow events might affect the storyin futureElder Scrollsgames. For those who haven’t read the novels, here are some fascinating facts that are hidden in them.
10The Real Reason Why Baar Dau Fell Is Revealed
Shortly after the events ofThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Vivec disappeared. Even if he had been around, he probably wouldn’t have been able to stop the fall of Baar Dau, the giant meteor-like rockfloating above Vivec City.Without his power to hold it, Baar Dau would’ve immediately plummeted to the city. However, the city was temporarily saved when two Dunmer wizards, Ezhmaar Sul and Vuhon, created the Ingenium: a magical device that kept Baar Dau afloat at the cost of souls.
They started off using the souls of prisoners held within Baar Dau, but soon realized that they would need stronger souls in the long run. Vuhon opted to sacrifice Illzheven, Sul’s lover, and the woman Vuhon himself loved, out of jealousy (according to Sul). When Sul found out about this, the two men fought and the Ingenium was destroyed, causing Baar Dau to fall.
9The Mages Guild Is Broken Up Into Factions
After completing the Mages Guild quest inThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,it seemed likethe Mages Guildwas in decline and doomed to fail. This fear is confirmed in the books when readers learn that the Mages Guild dissolved and is now split up into two groups: the Synod and the College of Whispers. They’re fierce rivals and are constantly trying to gain the Elder Council’s favor.
The College of Whispers doesn’t follow the Mages Guild’s rules and lets their people use necromancy as if they want, whereas the Synod continues to ban its use. Both groups have tried repeatedly to make an alliance with the College of Winterhold, but neither have been successful in their attempts thus far.
8The Mede Family Is Now Ruling Over The Empire
After the events inOblivion, there is no one left in the Septim bloodline to rule over the Empire. Following the Oblivion Crisis, the Elder Council was fractured and the Stormcrown Interregnum began after Potentate Ocato’s assassination. If his name sounds familiar, that’s because he appeared inOblivionas the Imperial Battlemage and helped the player reach the Temple of the One during the final battle in the Imperial City.
Following Potentate Ocato’s assassination, many families tried tomake claims to the Ruby Throne. It was Thules the Gibbering who first managed to claim it, although he only ruled for a short time. During his reign, he was not well-liked by most people, and, eventually, Titus Mede I usurped the throne. The Mede family has ruled ever since.
7Azura Continues To Help Dunmer That Worship Her
Azura, the Daedric Prince of Dusk and Dawn, has played major and minor roles throughout history, especially when it comes to the Dunmer/Dark Elves. Azura doesn’t play a major role in the novels, but she gives Sul visions in his dreams to help him on his journey. She doesn’t directly communicate with him, but leaves hints and clues to nudge him in the right direction.
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Though she was the one who was responsible for changing the Chimer into the Dunmer, Azura does actually care about thosewho worship and serve her.Sul once served her, for example, and he does ask her for help from time to time. She’s usually more than happy to oblige, and he thanks her for it whenever she does.
6The Penitus Oculatus Rises
With the Septim Dynasty dead and no Dragonborn Emperors to take over,the Blades opted to become a neutral groupand removed themselves from servicing the Empire. They decided to wait and see if a Dragonborn would ever rise and serve them as well as hunting down and killing dragons. At this time, the Blades are still around, but are more interested in their own goals.
The Penitus Oculatus was formed to become the new guards for the emperors, now serving as the defenders of the Mede Dynasty. Unlike the Blades, the Penitus Oculatus is purely an Imperial organization and has a rather brutal recruitment process by comparison.
5Umbra Is No Ordinary Enchanted Sword
Some fans might be familiar with the sword Umbra, a sword belonging toClavicus Vile, the Daedric Prince of Trickery and Bargains.Since its appearance inMorrowind, the sword has been known to be sentient and take over whoever wields it as its host. Umbra was desperate to get away from Clavicus Vile and was able to cut some of Vile’s power, making a body for itself. The Daedric Prince considers Umbra a nuisance, but keeps it around because it still has his power. Because Clavicus Vile shaped his realm to prevent its escape, Umbra concealed itself by living on the edge of Vile’s realm.
When the Ingenium broke, Sul and Vuhon were sent to the realm. Umbra found them and saw that a rift was open to Nirn, and tossed the Umbra sword through it. Considering that it started off as an enchanted sword, Umbra is far from an ordinary blade. It’s pretty terrifying to think that the Umbra sword has somehow restored itself and is seemingly active once again despite being destroyed.
4Malacath Doesn’t Just Help The Orcs
When it comes to Malacath, the Daedric Prince of Curses and the Bloody Oath, mostElder Scrollsfans know that he isrevered by the Orcsand the only deity they worship. Usually, he’s only been seen interacting with them, very rarely with the other races of Tamriel. DuringThe Lord of Soulsnovel, Prince Attrebus Mede is gravely wounded and is sent to the Ashpit, Malacath’s realm. He is found by an Altmer woman named Silhansa, and she tends to his wounds, asking him about himself and if he knows about Malacath.
Attrebus tells the woman about his journey and what’s happening in Tamriel. Silhansa reveals herself to be Malacath in disguise and shows that he has both Attrebus and Sul in his hands. Sul asks the Daedric Prince to release them, prompting Malacath to ask why he should. Sul simply replies that he wants revenge against Umbriel, which makes Malacath delighted. So delighted, in fact, that he helps the duo out by sending them to Solstheim where the Umbra sword might be.
3The Hist Trees Have Their Own Realm
The Hist are known to be some of the oldest species on Nirn. On Tamriel, theyreside in Black Marsh/Argoniaand play a huge role both in their lives and in death. While it’s unknown just how many there are outside of Tamriel, the books reveal that there are different types of Hist in other realms. The floating island of Umbriel has Hist trees that are considered cousins of the Hist in Argonia. A rogue Hist tree called out to the Hist of Umbriel and was responsible for bringing it to Tamriel, thus starting the Umbriel Crisis.
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Luckily, Umbriel (the being) was stopped and the island of Umbriel was sent to the Realm of the Hist. The fact that the Hist have their own realm in Oblivion is fascinating and almost terrifying to know, showing that they aren’t just sentient trees who help Argonians. Overall, very little is known about the realm itself, so fans can only hope that futureElder Scrollsgames will reveal more about it.
2Umbriel Is Still Out There
Though Umbriel was stopped and destroyed, the island of Umbriel is very much active. After the events ofLord of Souls, the island is sent to the Realm of the Hist and has presumably remained there ever since. Umbriel and its Hist trees aren’t the only ones that went to the realm though.
Mere-Glim, an Argonian who was reborn as an Umbrielan, along with other Umbrielans were brought to the realm too and now call it home. It’s unknown why exactlythe Hist in the realmbrought Umbriel to it, but it doesn’t seem like anything bad will come of it. Mere-Glim and the other Umbrielans have a home of their own, but only time will tell if the Hist have any ulterior motives for bringing Umbriel into the realm.
1The Surviving Characters Don’t Get Any Credit For Ending The Umbriel Crisis
For all the trouble they went through and all the friends they lost, Annaïg Hoïnart,a young Breton womanand one of the main characters, and Prince Attrebus Mede don’t receive any credit for ending the Umbriel Crisis. Though Emperor Titus Mede I said that his son was a hero, Attrebus opted to let the Synod and College of Whispers take all the credit. He didn’t feel like a hero and so was okay with letting others receive the glory.
Despite how serious Umbriel was, it seems hardly anyone knows about it. This could be because Skyrim didn’t appear to be affected by it, however, Ysolda in Whiterun does hint that the Sleeping Tree in the Sleeping Tree Camp was born from a spore that fell from a floating island, strongly implying that Umbriel did float by the province. Even if the Synod or College of Whispers tells people they stopped the Umbriel Crisis, there’s a good chance that people won’t know what they’re talking about.
