A good fantasy setting will have a good map, history, and magic system building it up. One more example would be a pantheon of deities overseeing the world. The long-running and fleshed-out Elder Scrolls franchise is no exception, as the enigmatic Daedric Princes rule the realm of Mundus. Given how often these figures are mentioned throughout each game, many players are probably curious about who they are. Each of the seventeen princes has its deep lore, domain, and collection of appearances throughout the series. Here is a breakdown of the Daedric Princes and their huge role within the Elder Scrolls games.
The Lore of the Daedric Princes
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In the beginning, two entities warred with one another: the creator Anu and destroyer Padomay. The two destroyed each other as two groups of deities were formed: the benevolent Aedra and the amoral Daedra. Later, the deity Lorkhan united the Aedra in creating the realm Mundus, only for it to be a trap. Elsewhere, the Daedra created their realms known as Oblivion. While the Daedra are more powerful overall, the Aedra (Akatosh, Stendarr) have more direct influence over Tamriel.
Given the many mysteries of The Elder Scrolls lore and numerous religions, there are several possibilities regarding their true nature. Some speculate that the Daedra are their Planes of Oblivion, and some say they are the embodiments of their respective domains or that there are more in hiding. As powerful as the Princes are, many other spirits are below them. These include the humanoid Dremora and the elemental Atronachs at their disposal.
Their Powers and Domains
Like most fantasy pantheons, each of the seventeen Princes governs over specific domains. For example, Boethiah is the Prince of deception, betrayal, and conspiracy. As such, the cults around these deities tend to uphold their ideas, such as the god of the hunt, Hircine, becoming a patron to the werewolves. Furthermore, these figures have differing views from religions across Tamriel. Whereas Boethiah is seen as evil across most of the continent, they are revered by the Dunmer.
As with the Olympians of Greek Myth and other mythologies, the Daedric Princes are numb to the suffering of mortals at best and, at worst, are overtly malicious, with the depraved Molag Bal topping them all. Others, such as Hermaeus Mora, are truly alien in their intentions and characters. However, a few token “good guys” exist among them, such as the wise Azura.
Given the scale of these figures, the presence of one of the Daedric Princes can warrant an entire arc from a game. For example, Mehrunes Dagon and Molag Bal were the main villains of Oblivion and Online, while Sheogorath and Hermaeus Mora served as the leads for an entire DLC. Each of them has routinely gained quests from Online’s constant expansions. Despite their massive role in the series, they first appeared in the second game, Daggerfall.
Oblivion and Artifacts
The Daedric Princes each oversee a realm of Oblivion and possess a powerful relic. Each plane of Oblivion reflects the domain and character of its respective lord. For example, Prince of Destruction Mehrune’s Dagon’s realm is a volcanic hellscape dominated by massive fortresses and demonic armies. Others, such as the Prince of Hedonism Sanguine, possess many smaller realms devoted to individual forms of indulgence.
Furthermore, each Prince possesses at least one “Daedric Artifact.” These are high-level items that players earn by completing quests in the games. For example, Azura’s Star is an infinitely reusable soul gem, and Vaermina’s Skull of Corruption is a staff powered by stolen dreams. In most games, each one can be collected. Finally, while each of the Daedric Princes has its fanbase, few have reached the level of popularity as Sheogorath, the god of insanity. Given his sphere of influence and Wes Johnson’s bombastic performance, he naturally lends himself to comic relief and memes. Furthermore, his relic, the “Wabbajack,” is another source of humor.
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