Is enchanting a bit too dark for good characters?

[Moksha8088]

Do you think that it pushes the boundaries to take an animal or human's life energy?

No bunnies or humanoids are actually injured in the soul mining process. The resulting weapons and armor boost can be quite helpful. If it helps in role playing, pretend you are the Ideal Master of Breezehome.

[Terra Nova]

I have a 'good' character with several enchantments.. 2x 40% one handed damage, 2x 40% bow damage, 46% fire and frost resistance, 40% block damage reduction.

 

It's all in how you enchant.

[SPH1]

Perhaps enchanting might be similar to cooking meat or tanning hides. But black soul gems are completely different.

 

Even with animal gems, it seems "cruel" to entrap their souls. At least when cooking/tanning they are completely dead and their souls are where ever they go.

 

I occasionally use an enchanted weapon when I come across one. Actually prefer regular iron or Nordic swords and greatswords. The rest look too ugly...IMO.

 

I don't even intentionally kill animals by hunting. But I do harvest their already dead meat and pelts...so as not to waste. Kind of like picking-up and using an already enchanted weapon, I suppose.

 

Always a Nord warrior - hack and slash. Not into magic. Alchemy is a bit more palatable, but don't do it much, either.

 

I guess enchanting with conscious creature souls is a bit like abortion: like it or leave it.

Edited March 1, 2016 by SPH1

[Moksha8088]

 

I guess enchanting with conscious creature souls is a bit like abortion: like it or leave it.

Or perhaps like having a firm conviction of a flat earth for those who eschew science. Either believe it or fall off the side when you get beyond "Thar be dragons".

[Shivala]

So I done the start of the Main quest, and they specifically mention it is the power and energy of it's -vital- essence, so no souls are mentioned. Which means you aren't absorbing the soul so much, as its power. Which means these souls remain in existence, but they are stripped from their powers. So a dragon soul would no longer have all of it's powers (ie you take over their shouts / knowledge) Just like the Greybeards do when they train you.

[Rethrain]

Is there any difference though? It's splitting hairs to be honest. I think Miraak says something to the account that you are ripping their souls from them, and if it hurts them ( a taunt, obviously), whenever he steals the soul of the dragon you just killed. The only one you don't absorb and gets away is Alduin's own. If you took the vital essence of the greybeards, I'm pretty sure the poor bastards would die, so I suppose they transfer that knowledge willingly.

 

The dragonborn is part of the "natural" order of things much like dragons, if dragon souls weren't/are not supposed to be absorbed then there really wouldn't be any dragonborns.

[Signette]

Few spoilers won't hurt I guess (otherwise skip it):

Hermaeus Mora was guiding Miraak, as he supposedly was guiding Dragonborn unconsciously too, and since it's Daedric Prince, absorbing souls pretty much could be the "gift" from him, which is supposedly rather dark and unnatural, having ruinous effect on Dragon souls for all we know. So I personally don't buy this "life force" absorbation interpretation. And yes, we weren't absorbing Grey Beards' soul, tho effect my seem the same (lazy devs) but it was more like learning from the Wall.

 

Messing with souls is dark business in Skyrim, performed by Necromancers or some Daedra followers, I think who've been playing prev. games or in for the lore should know ritual to turn white gems into black. Also Azura's quest along with Dawnguard expansion gives pretty broad overview on things about souls and where they end up.

 

Now on good/bad side:

If you roleplay religious fanatic of divines, than probably enchantment is better be avoided completely, but if you roleplay fighter of evil, including Daedra, undead, vampires and etc, than there's conception of lesser evil and using their tools for your advantage against them. It means we can use Conjuration to summon Daedra, bound for ourselves and force them to fight against their kind, or being conscious Vampire killing his own kind and not using humanoids as a cattle, or Werewolf in the same manner, like killing and eating hearts of sinners and evil doers, not touching any innocents. TES world is rather dark and cruel on its own, so RP completely good guy with rainbows and sunshine might be a bit difficult...

[SPH1]

It isn't evil to kill for sustenance, so killing for a soul should have the same concept.​

 

Except Maiq the Liar says that he was once soul-trapped and it wasn't pleasant. Even in a "white gem" the animal apparently is still conscious. Still sounds cruel if I think about it; yet I do use enchanted items if I come across them.

 

But what I really would like to do is play a game without any enchanted items whatsoever*. Would have to get a powerful sword and some tactics. I already don't use armor (most looks like an insect) and use regular clothes...except for now getting into Frostfall then the Hypothermia mods, where fur armor rules for the warmth.

 

 

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*Would still have to absorb dragon souls, as critical to the game. However, I/we are much more passive in that as not setting out to absorb dragon souls. Kill a dragon in self-defense, and its soul is automatic.

 

 

EDIT: Upon further reflextion, and on what Maiq said about once being soul-trapped, I can see that using an enchanted weapon both helps fight a greater evil AND eventually releases the soul upon the weapon's depletion. So I guess using enchanted weapons and picking-up already filled soul gems is a means of releasing trapped souls. I no longer kill animals for souls, or at all except perhaps in self-defense. Yet, I even try to avoid cats, bears and wolves if possible. Even dodged dragons, but usually not looking for a fight at that time. Unless it looks like the dragon will be an immediate danger to others...same with beasts.

 

Heck, I even sometimes think that fighting the Forsworn is not good. They usually don't come looking for me and are just trying to hold onto their native lands. Is there a thread on that? :smile:

Edited March 2, 2016 by SPH1

[skyquest32]

Hey guys, I was planning on making a new character and like many of you, started planning ahead on his skill development. I myself haven't ever attempted to play a "dark" character, preferring to be somewhere in between Good and Neutral. I had decided to go for a Nord battlemage and found myself reaching a brick wall when it came to what profession skill I wanted to spend my time on. I find myself being a bit hesitant on enchanting purely for its "Soul Consumption".

What do you guys think? I would also love to hear more of the process of soul gems. Do you think that it pushes the boundaries to take an animal or human's life energy?

In my view that's just plan silly, you wont be able to sympathize with a lot of complicated people in skyrim, even the whiterun jarl has a court wizard if no real magic himself, and every starting character gets two spells by default.

 

I'm sure the jarl could set someones butt on fire, put them out, then heal them if he really wanted to. The storm cloak guy? Forget about it.

 

If your having problems with this, enchanting, then what about serana?

 

Not being rude, just curios...any moral judgments on her for being a daughter of cold whatever? Prob wont be down loading the marriageable serana mod will you?

 

I know that's assuming much but I don't think a paladin in many games would have a problem enchanting there stuff or wearing stuff that is, same difference really.

[Rethrain]

It was established that being Dragonborn is a gift from Kyne/Kynareth by the Greybeards. Herma-Mora is simply being opportunistic. If it really was an evil power from Squid-Mora, then the Greybeards would be pawns of Daedric Princes. Having said this, yes, it is kinda weird, because it DOES sound evil and not something I would do otherwise. Taking dragon's souls that is. I suppose you can call that a..lazy contradiction? :tongue:

 

Edit#1: I just remembered, it's not necessary to actively hunt dragons with or without the Blades, most of them jump on you, and I really can't remember a time when I ran out of souls when i was battling Dragons out of self defense all the time.