The Underking; Battlemage of Draugr?

[Lachdonin]

With the return of the book 'The Arcturian Heresy' and an increasing philosophical debate about the power and divinity of Talos, i came to thinking.

 

In the 'core' story, the Underking was the former Battle Mage of Tiber Septim. He gave his own heart to create an artifact to poer the Numidium after brokering a deal with Vivec for the golems use and an end to the war in Morrowind. Later, after the Numidium gave the Aldmeri Domminion a right smackdown, Talos and Zurin Arctus (Who is the one whose heart powers the golem) dissagree over how best to use the Numidium in an age of peace, and in the end Zurin is obliterated and the Numidium is scattered to the corners of the contenant. Later, under the reign of Uriel VII, the Numidium is recovered and rebuilt, and Zurin reclaims his heart and passes finally into true death. There is some indication, mostly from Mannimarco, that Zurin, as the Underking, continued to protect the Empire for the whole 3rd age, working against the King of Worms.

 

The book, however, indicates that the Underking was actually an emensely powerful Nord Draugr-King named Wulfhearth who was vanquished fighting the Tribunal at Redmountain. He used Talos as a pawn to seek the total distruction of the Elves, and was the (un)living avatar of Lorkhan(Shor). Talos and Zurin betrayed him and tried to capture him in a soulgem, to use his power to fuel the Numidium, but the plan backfired and he was turned to ask while Zurin was imprisoned instead. Talos then claimed that Zurin had tried to assassinate him to cover up the fact that it was the Underking (Whose nickname was Ysmir) who did most of the work in forming the Septim Empire.

 

My question is this... There is an obvious direction with Skyrim, what with talking to the Greybeards, learning about their relationship with Talos and the Septim Empire and such. But at the same time, you have an underlieing content to the game, particularly in the books, which points to the idea that Talos may not have been so great after all, and probably never became a divine. Which story do people beleive more?

 

Personally, I'm torn. One direction is the comfortable truth i've known for years. It also acts as the entire philosophical base for the Empire i know and love (Even if the worship of Talos is illegal at the moment). The other creates more tension, and brings Lorkhan back into the swing of things, creating some rather interesting possibilities which i admit i'm anxious to explore...