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To Blame Meridia or Not?


Caerulean

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~ Firstly, disregard that I am a fan of Meridia and just contribute as you will to the discussion. xD ~

 

There is not much lore if at all that you can find in Skyrim about Meridia. Many of what people would say is that she's bossy, or that her sword reward is awesome.

 

Many who have played Oblivion would blame Meridia for Umaril and the Aurorans under his command for the vindictive destruction and massacre that he did to several Divine temples and worshippers; or just for backing Umaril, the main antagonist of the Knights of the Nine DLC.

 

Here are some information that I know regarding this:

  • Meridia, formerly Merid-Nunda, was highly worshipped by the Ayleids as the representation of their Fourth Element - Light. She, as a deity, had always been one to generously reward her followers.
  • The Ayleids (Wild Elves), in general, were also known for their large-scale worship of Daedric Princes, and would make use of Daedric armies to invade other lands and expand their territories. Soon came the infamous Ayleid enslavery of humans.
  • After the Divines brought Pelinal Whitestrake to champion the Alessian Rebellion against the Ayleids, the elves then pleaded Meridia for her help. Hence, the half-Divine(?), half-Ayleid Umaril the Unfeathered was chosen and made a pact with Meridia. He was given immortality and an army of Aurorans to command.
  • Umaril was however defeated by Pelinal (who was then slain by the Ayleid sorcerer-kings). As he was granted immortality, Umaril's spirit lingered the waters of Oblivion until he could return, during which he plotted revenge on the Divines for having championed Umaril, his enemy.
  • When he finally returned, he and the Aurorans under his command brought ruin to several Divine temples and killed many innocent worshippers.

 

Questions: Is Meridia to blame for what Umaril had done and/or for human slavery by the Ayleids? Why or why not?

 

~ Feel free to correct me if I wrote something incorrectly; or if you have questions, just ask. ~

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I doubt these beings would care a whit for what they'd see as temporary strife between what they consider little better than insects. Just like I'll tolerate a spider if it eats the flies on my deck. Talk is cheap and whatever she says about blah blah anything is underscored by her 'if not you, then another' speech. She's interested in her worldly influence and she'll suffer you if it gets her what she wants.

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There has been speculation that Meridia's sphere is Hope, which involves optimism and determination, and possibly Harmony. This is likely why she does not seem to care if you refuse her, as she is positive that 'if not you, then another' will do her bidding; and says that 'the plant cares not for the sunlight' that brings it life when you say that you will give someone else the Dawnbreaker (I'm paraphrasing). That said, the Daedric Princes, as godlike as they are, are sentient beings who can act and react; and what less would make Meridia be pissed other than a necromancer defiling her own temple, using her own artifact? *shrug*

 

On the subject of Hope and Harmony, she - as one of the Star Orphans who felt abandoned when Magnus left - may have believed that there was indeed hope in Creation and wanted to stay, but Magnus wanted it gone, presumably, and divided the stars. This began a war which Meridia wanted to stop, and she had to 'desperately fashion warriors' of her own for this (which could have also been Daedric or whatever 'illicit spectra' there was). She however lost and was cast out from Aetherius, and now she resides in Oblivion after having created her own Sphere, and involves herself with Mundus every so often. (I am possibly inaccurate with my mythohistory.)

 

Regarding what you said, she never seemed to threaten your life if you refuse her, if that is what you meant, unless perhaps you are undead or false life. lol It's easy to generalize the Daedric Princes, but that does not change how much they differ from one another as well.

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This makes me realize that colleges should offer classes in Tamriel Studies. There is so much to learn and we have barely scratched the surface. We should seek to preserve the oral traditions of the Bethesda developers (beyond the mundane floss, rinse, spit). By the time The Elder Scrolls 7 is released it may be too late and those who once created this lore may be in Sovngarde.

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No, I never thought she threatened. She has no need to threaten or punish. She can use you, or somebody just as insignificant as you. Petty anger over your choice is nothing. Time and space are nothing. She'll get somebody as utterly meaningless and trivial as you. The individuality doesn't matter to her. Transient 'care' for an individual doesn't exist at least as you and I know it.

 

This would be like getting mad at a bee for landing on a flower.... or for not landing on a certain flower. A bee will eventually come. That's what bees do.

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I don't know if we should be so dismissive. Meridia has had been one of the most obscure Daedric Lords. Yes, most of them do not care but I doubt we can say the same for all of them. They are indeed deities that are capable of crushing you in an instant, with an utterly small chance of fighting back, but they are also personified beings given personality, motives, and interests.

 

There is a good chance that she took her place as a Daedric Prince so that she can still intervene in Mundus, after she was cast out for wanting to convince Magnus to come back. On the other hand, and this is a popular notion, she presides as a Daedric Prince simply because there is this giant box full of toys to play with and she wants to have fun along with the other Princes. :3

 

That said, my topic's question doesn't directly have much to do with whether she cares or not. I'm asking not the mortals on Nirn, but the internet community as it is known that they've blamed Meridia, consciously or subconsciously, for the tragedy Umaril and the Aurorans have caused.

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