The origin of the Skyforge

[eltucu]

Well, first, what we know is that when the original companions of Ysgramor arrived at the place that "today" is Whiterun, the Skyforge was already there. The companions then built the 2nd oldest structure in the city, Jorvaskr. The main feature of the Skyforge, besides the forge itself, is the eagle carved in stone that oversees it.

 

Thats pretty much all the ppl know from its past, but as the player, we discover two interesting things:

 

First, that the Skyforge has an "Underforge". IMO it tells us nothing, just a hole in the rock that has a bowl that the companions use. It may have been built by the Companions since they started the tradition of making werewolves out of the new Circle members (if im not mistaken, Kodlak says that this is a pretty recent tradition that started only a few hundred years ago, whereas the Companions as an organization is way, way older).

 

Second, the Skyforge regains "power" after the remains of Kodlak ("feels more alive" in the words of Eourlund)

 

Thats all the information ingame that i recall bout it. Found this also, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Songs_of_the_Return,_Vol_7 Says that the Skyforge is older than the elves themselves.

 

Now, two facts bout it picked up my curiosity. The eagle and that the forge regained strength when human remains were burned in it. What beloved elven race liked both eagle symbolism and burning humans? Ayleids.

 

The whole Elven armor thing is inspired by eagles, both Oblivion's and Skyrim's elven armors feature golden Eagle themes. We also know that the Ayleids had a sort of connection with the sky, all their magic delved in it, and absorbed magicka directly from it (that said, Skyforge could be something just made up by the Companions rather than the original name of the forge).

 

And finally we know that Ayleid loved to kill humans in creative ways.

 

So, could the Skyforge be a device made by the Ayleids? Or at least like minded Falmer (since we're up in the north) ? It could fit pretty well since it would be completely ironical that after the companions discovered it, it probably fueled the weapons that, in Nords hands, went to wage war against all the elven races in Tamriel, like the White Gold Tower went from being the center of Ayleid power to the main symbol of the first human empire.

 

But, if it isnt an elven creation, if the Songs of the Return tell the truth, it could be an artifact like the Twilight Sepulcher? Why the eagle then? What Aedra or Daedra could be related to an eagle? What force of Nirn could be related to an eagle?

[AurianaValoria1]

You make a great argument. The Ayleids do seem like a logical explanation for the Skyforge.

 

But, in an attempt to answer your question, I'll put this out there: Kyne (Nordic version of Kynareth) is the goddess of the sky. Supposedly, she is also responsible for the Thu'um. In addition, her symbols are often birds. So, if the Skyforge is not an Ayleid creation - if it is indeed older than the elves - then it seems to me that it might be an Aedric artifact of Kynareth (like the Twilight Sepulcher of Nocturnal).

 

After all, what's older than even the elves? Dragons and their Thu'um, servants of Kyne and Akatosh.

 

At least, that's the way I see it. :D

Edited February 4, 2012 by AurianaValoria1

[eltucu]

Huh, a bird overseeing one of the first human settlements? Seems reasonable. After all, we're talking bout the mother of men. That said, i see a forge more like a tool of war, that doesnt fits with the more "peaceful" Kynareth. But, like you said, she did gave the Way of the Voice to the humans, and the humans did use it widely against the elves, so it isnt that far fetched to think of a forge as a gift from Kynareth. The forge as physical gift and the way of the voice as a spiritual gift perhaps?

 

I still like more the idea of the Ayleids (even if its located kinda far for them) cuz i dislike the "Oh, that? Gods did it, don't ask" of some stuff in TES lore :D If it was made out of white rock it would be a dead giveaway :P

[Lachdonin]

Lorkhan built it. And it was from the Skyforge which he forged and tempered the first Men when the Aedra waged war agaisnt him for his betrayl. Because it is the place of their divine creation, the Forge is empowered by the souls of its children whom are burned atop it.

 

Thats my pet hypothesis anyway. Skyrim is full of Lorkhan referances (He is the Nord god Shor) and the 'older than the elves' line about the Skyforge just screams gods. Combined with obvious links to humans (Building Jorvaskr there indicates religious reverance) the whole thing is like a neon sign saying "Lorkhan was here!". As for the Eagle, Eagles are associated with several of the Shezzarines, the avatars of Lorkhan. I don't think its a stretch to think their linked to Lorkhan as well.

[sagitel]

i don't think the eagle has anything to do with ayleids because if you go to windhelm's home quarter you see eagles crafted on the fance and they weren't built by ayleids. so i think lorkhan is a better theory

[eltucu]

  On 2/6/2012 at 5:23 PM, sagitel said:

i don't think the eagle has anything to do with ayleids because if you go to windhelm's home quarter you see eagles crafted on the fance and they weren't built by ayleids

I dont see your point. That the nords built eagle themed stuff proves what? We know for a fact that Windhelm was built by nords (technically, by snow elves, prisoners of their war with the nords), and that nords didnt built the Skyforge. The Skyforge and Windhelm have nothing to do with each other.

  On 2/6/2012 at 2:03 PM, Lachdonin said:

Combined with obvious links to humans (Building Jorvaskr there indicates religious reverance)

Im not sure, the song of return literally says that they built Jorvaskr not out of religious beliefs but cuz the nords wanted to have whatever thing the elves feared. They probably built the Jorvaskr there cuz, as the Song of Return said, there was an artifact that the elves feared there, and cuz it was a very good land to farm.

  On 2/6/2012 at 2:03 PM, Lachdonin said:

I don't think its a stretch to think their linked to Lorkhan as well.

But why the forge would be in Skyrim if that was the case? Humans arent native from there.

 

But as i implied before, it may have played an important role in the war against elves back then. Maybe Lorkhan wanted the humas to be there? It does seems kinda unimpressive for being a forge of a god though :P Nothing that couldnt be replicated with some time and talented ppl.

 

Its location seems to be kinda important. Its on the biggest plain of the province, almost in its center, on top of a hill. You can see the place from almost anywhere in Skyrim (that isnt located behind the Throat of the World that is haha).

[Lachdonin]

Mead Halls are quasi religious structures in Skyrim, intended to emulate the Great Hall of Sovengarde. As such, you would expect to see the construction of Mead Halls, both within towns and in the wilderness, in places which the nords associated with the spiritual archetype.

 

As for Humans not comming from Skyrim, Tamriel was the contenant on which Lorkhan was defeated by the Aedra, and he created and let an army of humans from there. That implies that humans were first on Tamriel, then either relocated after the fall of Lorkhan (and his transformation into Shor) or they were moved by the Aedra before the gods retreated into their own divine realms. Whatever the case, it's generally accepted that all life on Mundus started on Tamriel, spread outwards, and in many cases later returned.

 

Anyway, as the song says, the Elves feared what the Sky Forge represents. There is only one thing the Elven races fear universally, and that is Lorkhan.

[kradus]

The stormcloak captains say that skyrim was the birthplace of humanity by the way.

[caculo105]

i built it

[CaptainPatch]

I think that Eorland sensing greater power in the forge in the forge after cremating Kodlak is entirely psychosomatic on Eorland's part. _He_ senses it because that is what _he_ expects to see.