Some questions on religion

[UlfrikStormklouk]

Okay so if I get it right the Nordic Pantheon used to be the main religion of the Nords until Skyrim joined the Empire after which Nords accepted the Divines. However, there are still some old-school Nords with traditional beliefs, such as Kyne over Kynareth and such.

 

As I understand, Ulfric Stormcloak is a nationalist who values old Nordic way. He and his men are shown to only rever and talk about Talos, but that's normal since Talos is God of War and they all are warriors.

 

My questions are:

 

1. Are Stormcloaks monotheistic or they worship other Gods rather than just Talos?

 

2. If they are pagan, what Gods do they worship? The traditional Nordic pantheon (Kyne, Shor etc.) or the Divines?

 

3. If Ulfric became high king, would he outlaw the Divines, being that they're Imperial religion?

 

4. Why do the Greybeards worship Kynareth and not Kyne? I thought that Kyne gave Voice to men while Kynareth is a later Imperial invention. So why would Greybeards not worship the original Goddess, being that they're hella old?

[Symbiote4]

Wow i expected something very different based on the title.

[UlfrikStormklouk]

Sorry to fail your expectations.

[saurusmaximus]

The Stormcloaks don't just worship Talos. Talos worship was outlawed by the White-Gold Concordat, which was the document that ended the war between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire. Ulfric Stormcloak wants Skyrim to cede from the Empire so it's people can openly worship Talos again.

 

As far as who they worship, it really seems to depend on who you are talking to. Some Nords are traditionalists, some go for the Divines.

 

Ulfric wouldn't outlaw the Pantheon of the Nine Divines because Talos is part of that pantheon. Also, the Nords believe that Kynareth is just another version of Kyne, who was Shor's widow.

 

In reagards to the Greybeards, I dunno. Maybe they adopted the aspect of Kynareth at some point in the past, or maybe it was just sloppy writing.

[UlfrikStormklouk]

Thanks. Another thing: do Nords worship Arkay? He's the God of Death in the Divines but Nords believe in Sovngarde and Arkay is not part of it.

[saurusmaximus]

Well, being that there is a Hall of the Dead, with a shrine to Arkay, in most of the major cities, I'm going to say yes. I'll be honest, I don't get how the afterlife works in Tamriel myself. Hopefully, Lachdonin will chime in on this one, he seems to be the resident expert on this stuff.

[Gemellus]

1. Are Stormcloaks monotheistic or they worship other Gods rather than just Talos?
Due to the White Gold Concordant, Talos is up and front on a lot of nord's minds but that doesn't mean Shor, Stendarr or Dibella aren't important. I feel like Bethesda went overboard in shoving Talos in your face 24/7 you would have thought they were monotheistic!

 

2. If they are pagan, what Gods do they worship? The traditional Nordic pantheon (Kyne, Shor etc.) or the Divines?
With the hundreds of years of Imperial occupation, the nordic religion has definitely become syncretic (mixing of beliefs) but it is by no means completely Imperial. In Cyrodiil, Mara is depicted smiling with open arms. In TES V, she is crying, which is a nordic concept, being Shor's Tear-Wife. There's temples and shrines to Arkay, but poison bottles have his symbol on them as a Tamrielic Mr Yuk if you believe Orkey=Arkay. Akatosh and Arkay were never referenced in the nordic pantheon before TES V. How could Arkay and Shor logically coexist in the minds of nords? Finally, despite that Shor is the chieftain of the nordic gods, he doesn't get a lot of love in the game (to my disappointment). No temples, no priests, no shrines, no amulets. He's only brought up in curses: "Shor's bones!" "By Shor, what do you want!?" "Shor have mercy on you!" and one town name.

 

However, every nord I've encountered makes references to dying in battle and going to Sovngarde, Shor's hall. They don't talk about going to Aetherius like the Imperials.

 

3. If Ulfric became high king, would he outlaw the Divines, being that they're Imperial religion?
Ulfric, despite being a poster boy for traditional nordic life, isn't completely free of imperial influence either. Doesn't he bless you in the name of the Nine Divines during the Civil War quest line? Nevertheless, I am sure that given time the Nine Divines would become evermore Nordic if Ulfric wins. Expulsion of the Nine Divines isn't exactly something likely.

 

4. Why do the Greybeards worship Kynareth and not Kyne? I thought that Kyne gave Voice to men while Kynareth is a later Imperial invention. So why would Greybeards not worship the original Goddess, being that they're hella old?

This is a tough one. I chalk this up to syncretism or just a mistake on Bethesda's part. Some nords probably don't bother with Kyne and just worship hippie-goddess Kynareth. Most nords (like Stormcloaks and the Greybeards) probably worship a Kynareth that is a weird combination of Kyne and Kynareth. Some awesome dudes stay with balls-to-the-wall Kyne like Froki. This is all my opinion of course. The fact that my favorite gods from TES lore (Shor and Kyne) are largely ripped out and replaced with boring Nine Divines upset me so much I took a break from the game for months. I'm at the point that I want to learn how to create a custom follower as a priest of Kyne who lives out in the wild with a quest to help him set up a congregation at old stone circles.

 

[Mebantiza]

I always got the impression that Ulfric and his merry band have no particular axe to grind against any of the other deities and religions in the province at all. Nothing in the game or dialogue indicates otherwise. Or who worshiped them, and why. IoW, I dont think they care one way or the other. They only thing that got him and many other nords riled up was the banning of their fav, Talos. Afaics, Ulfric and co probably have a worship-as-you-will policy, just don't be banning *our* favorite deity.