Revision 111339510 of "Daedra" on enwiki

<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:TES_Oblivion_Daedroth.jpg|thumb|225px|right|A Daedroth as seen in [[The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion|The Elder Scrolls IV]].]] -->

'''Daedra''' (pronounced {{IPA|['deɪ.drə]}}, more uncommonly {{IPA|['di.drə]}}) are fictional [[divine]] creatures from [[The Elder Scrolls]] universe. They inhabit the plane of [[Oblivion (Elder Scrolls)|Oblivion]] (a dimension of [[Nirn]]), but are also well-known to the inhabitants of [[Tamriel]], where they are feared and hated by some and worshiped as [[god]]s by others. Daedra are very physically diverse, ranging in form from [[humanoid]] to distinctly beastlike. Although they can be killed, they are considered [[immortality|immortal]], as their soul is inevitably resurrected back in Oblivion in the event that their physical body is destroyed.

== Introduction ==
The term "Daedra" is of [[Altmeric]] origin, its literal translation being  "not our [[ancestor]]s" as opposed to [[Aedra]] - "[our] ancestors". Although the singular form of the word is technically ''daedroth'', it has become common practice to refer to these beings in both the singular and plural simply as ''daedra''. Daedra creatures are frequently (though mistakenly) thought to be [[demon|demonic]] in form. This is untrue however, with most Daedric Princes and most of the creatures being non-demonic (at least, in the [[Christian]]ised sense, they are sometimes called demons, as Christianised demons do not exist in The Elder Scrolls, the word has a distinctly non-Christian meaning and should be considered as such). Daedra do wield tremendous destructive power, however, and are frequently associated with death, ruin, and disarray.

A Daedroth's physical form can be destroyed, but they cannot be truly killed; the soul or ''animus'' of a slain Daedroth returns to the void of [[Oblivion (Elder Scrolls)|Oblivion]] until it is able to return to physical form.  The torturous period in the void can last centuries, and is the closest sensation to death that a Daedra can experience.

Daedra are not easily defined within the ordinary bounds of [[good]] or [[evil]], however due to the destructive acts of some Daedric princes they have come to be regarded by most as evil beings. Amongst the majority of Tamriel's populace, the Daedra are seen as naturally evil, as many concepts of evil are directly relative to the mortal world (''i.e. destruction is evil, and chaos is evil''), though the Daedra are simply different in and of themselves, being entities of change. As such, their ''evilness'' is not borne out of malice as such, but out of genuinely conflicting natures (''consider alien beings attempting to terraform the earth by burning off its atmosphere and raising the temperature thousands of degrees''). Similarly, humans who evince Daedric behaviour are commonly thought evil, as that sort of behaviour often directly controverts (''most of the time'') eco-social homeostasis (''the natural order'').

An interesting fact that probably explains Mehrunes Dagon's ambitions to conquer Tamriel, is that Daedra spirits never really die.  In a matter of speaking, Dagon can't do his thing in his own house.  No matter how much the Lord of Destruction destroys Oblivion, it always comes back, as described in "Spirits of the Daedra" (you can find this book in the Mistic Archives).  But in Nirn, if someone dies, they stay dead. No coming back. This can be a problem for the main character.

== Daedric forms, appearances and character ==
Daedra appear in many different forms. The most important are the Daedric Princes, powerful spirits who are believed to have created Oblivion and all the other Daedra. There are also "lesser Daedra" beings known to be in league with these greater powers. Whether all of these constitute actual Daedra or if some are simply equivalents of the mortal realm's tame [[animal]]s is as yet unstated in the game series.

Daedra generally seem to view men and elves as little more than minor amusements, giving some applause whenever a mortal being exceeds certain expectations. They do however take interest in their worshippers, sometimes considering them foolish, but with some Daedra thinking of them as valued servants.
The Daedra see themselves as a superior form of life and feel generally no need for any [[military alliance|alliance]] or [[truce]] with any of the mortal races of Tamriel. Some Daedra may be [[summoning|summoned]] however. There is a popular notion that the summoned Daedra will then give the summoner a [[quest]] or task to fulfill and that the quest's completion will see its participant richly rewarded. Mostly these tasks are merely for the entertainment of the Daedra. This is not always so, as Morian Zenas, author of ''On Oblivion'', claims that he was able to successfully summon and speak with Daedra without ever being asked to complete a task or a quest.
===Daedric princes===
''Main article: [[Daedric Princes]]''

Daedric Princes (sometimes "Daedra Lords") are the most powerful of the Daedra, and thus most commonly worshipped as gods. Each has a particular sphere, which it is said to govern. Although Daedric Princes may assume the form of a [[female]], they have no inherent [[gender]], and are all referred to as princes. In all, there are sixteen princes. Each Daedric Prince has one plane of Oblivion, which total sixteen in all. The most commonly known princes are Azura and [[Mehrunes Dagon]], while Hircine made an appearance in Bloodmoon, the expansion set for [[The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind]].

===Lesser Daedra===
There are many types of lesser Daedra, creatures believed to be created by the Princes as warriors, servants, playthings and worshippers. It should be noted that the descriptions of appearances given here are not necessarily always accurate, as to many Daedra appearance is a matter of choice. Belonging to a particular grouping is however said to shape their bodies and minds, and thus common traits are established.

====Humanoids====
Some Daedra prefer a humanoid shape and appearance. The Daedric Princes and the highly [[Intelligence (trait)|intelligent]] [[Dremora]] are usually among them. Daedra who usually appear in humanoid form are:

*'''Dremora''' are generally servants of Mehrunes Dagon. Featured in Battlespire, Morrowind, Oblivion.
*'''Golden Saints''' appear as golden-skinned women in golden armor, serve Sheogorath (because they are more or less evil, the term 'saint' is contradicted; this is due to Sheogorath's love of madness). Featured in Morrowind, Shivering Isles.
*'''Seducers''' come in several varieties, and again often serve Mehrunes Dagon. Featured in Battlespire, Daggerfall.

====Reptilians====
Daedra have amongst their ranks some reptilian creatures, most of which serve Mehrunes Dagon or Molag Bal. The '''Daedroth''' is somewhat humanoid in its appearance, it walks on two legs and possesses two arms, each with deadly claws in place of hands. Its skin is almost entirely scaled and its head is similar to that of a large crocodile's. The [[teeth]] of the Daedroth can also be used in potions, and are worth a fair amount to merchants. These Daedra breathe fire, and are capable of inflicting much damage in [[combat]]. 
Another reptilian Daedra is the '''Clannfear''', perhaps one of the smaller lizards in the Daedra realm, Clannfear resemble a cross between a [[triceratops]] and a [[Velociraptor]] - representing the upper & lower body respectively, however it is smaller than the former, yet bigger than the latter. Clannfear have small arms, each with extremely sharp claws that it uses to attack in combat. Their skin is heavily scaled, with small spikes cresting their face and forehead. If slain, a Clannfear's claws can be sold for a fair price in stores. There is also a weaker version of the Clannfear; Clannfear Runts. They are visibly smaller, with a much lower attack strength than their larger brethren.  Even though Clannfear are smaller, they are more dangerous than Daedroth due to the innate ability to reflect damage, a high defence, and very quick attacks.

*'''Clannfear''' are featured in Battlespire, Morrowind, Oblivion.
*'''Daedroth''' are featured in Morrowind, Oblivion

====Atronach====
Atronachs are Daedra attached to one particular magical element. There are several varieties of atronach, and they vary greatly in terms of [[physical strength|strength]] and physical appearance. All atronachs are humanoid in appearance. Flame atronachs are roughly human in size, appear female, and are colored black, red and orange. Flame atronachs use fire magic to attack their foes. 
Frost Atronachs are larger in build; in The Elder Scrolls IV they dwarf humans at around 8 feet in height - their bodies are light [[blue]] in hue, they are jaggedly shaped as if hewed from huge blocks of [[ice]]. They reflect [[sunlight]] very heavily. This in itself can be a deterrent during daylight hours, as a combatant dazzled by reflecting light can have difficulty fighting in combat. Storm Atronachs appear to be nothing more than collections of rocks, loosely held together in a humanoid shape by surging arcs of electricity. Their tactics consist of hurling lightning bolts at their foes and crushing them with their rocky bodies when in close combat.  Slaying any of these Atronachs will allow one to scrape elemental salts off of the atronach's remains, which can be used in alchemical mixtures or can be sold.
Atronach have no strong connection to any Prince, serving one or another at will.
Steel and Flesh Atronachs are increasingly rare, and have not been seen on Tamriel since the events of the Warp in the West.
In recent screenshots, however, a creature labeled as a flesh atronach has appeared.

*'''Atronach''' feature in various Elder Scrolls games, in many forms, names often vary.

====Others====
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* '''Winged Twilights''' are the only Daedric creatures capable of flight, they bear some resemblance to [[imp]]s, their skin is a blue color with their skulls being about the same size as a human's, they also possess large tails. They share features with human females, feminine facial features and hair in a ponytail. They are servants of Azura. Featured in Morrowind.

* '''Spider Daedra''' appear as a kind of spider-centaur, a large spider with a human torso in place of a head. They are associated with Mephala, and are so unruly and irrational that not even Mephala's worshippers will often summon them, for fear that they will disobey her orders. Featured in Battlespire, Oblivion.

* '''Ogrim''' are enormous Daedra with very little intellect, but which are chiefly sent into the mortal world to menace living things for the amusement of Daedra Princes. Ogrim are associated with Malacath. Featured in Morrowind.

* '''Hungers''' are powerful and violent warriors with some magic ability, associated with Boethiah. Featured in Morrowind.

*'''Scamps''' are small goblin-like creatures, skittish in nature. They are often associated with Mehrunes Dagon. Featured in Battlespire, Morrowind, Oblivion.

*'''Vermai''' appear similar to scamps, but fairly hardy. Featured in Battlespire, Redguard.

*'''Aurorans''' are golden-skinned and armoured servants of Meridia. Featured in Oblivion (Knights of the Nine DLC)

*'''Herne and Morphoid Daedra''' resemble horned scamps, associated with Mehrunes Dagon and Hircine. Featured in Battlespire.

== Daedra worship ==
Daedra are widely worshipped in the realms of Tamriel with many [[shrine]]s located throughout the Empire. Those who worship Daedra see them as gods, their conceptions of their respective Daedric gods varying widely. Mainstream [[religion|religious]] authorities such as the [[Pantheons of Tamriel|Church of the Nine Divines]] disapprove of the practice. Thus, worshippers are often driven away from various localities in processes resemblant of [[witchhunts]], though during the process many participants are often surprised at the sane (save Mehrunes Dagon and Sheogorath's), down to earth nature many of the Daedric worshippers possess, which contrasts greatly with the common perception of blood-drinking baby-eaters reminiscent of real-world notions of [[Satanic ritual abuse|Satanic Panic]]. Historically, orcs and dark elves were common Daedra worshipers, but that has changed recently.

Towards the end of the [[The Third Era of Tamriel|Third Era]] Daedra worship became increasingly more prevalent across Tamriel, with several new shrines being established in [[Cyrodiil]] and beyond. The popularity of such worship has created some speculation and [[rumor]] amongst citizens of Cyrodiil, some expressing alarm and [[fear]], others curiosity. It is possible for one curious of the practice of worship to visit several Daedra shrines in Cyrodiil (or any other province of Tamriel).

Daedra worshippers often relate that they felt "called" to worship the Daedra, and thus worship by choice. Most times, a worshipper follows a Daedra that most closely parallels their own conscience. For example, a follower of Nocturnal, the Daedric Prince of night, might feel a kinship with the darkness, whereas followers of Mehrunes Dagon have a great hunger for power.

== Conjuring Daedra ==
Worshippers may bind other Daedric servants to this plane through rituals and pacts. Such arrangements result in the Daedric servant remaining on this plane indefinitely - or at least until their bodily manifestations on this plane are destroyed, precipitating their supernatural essences back to Oblivion. Whenever Daedra are encountered at Daedric [[ruin]]s or in [[tomb]]s, they are almost invariably long-term visitors to the mortal plane.

Most Daedric servants can be summoned by sorcerers only for very brief periods, within relatively [[fragile]] frameworks of command and binding.  Another way daedra are summoned is by pacts made, often the daedric artifacts are lesser daedra bound to our realm by such pacts.

==Entering the realm of Oblivion==

The Worshippers of Daedra have also tried to use their conjuring skills to enter their master daedra's realms but this is extremely dangerous even for high level summoners and warlocks. Deep within the Cyrodillic wilderness worshippers of the Daedra Peryite tried to enter his realm of Oblivion only to have it backfire and almost trap them into an eternal purgatory. The Worshippers had their souls trapped on Oblivion and their bodies bound to Nirn. This results in a quest given to the player by Peryite to retrieve their souls from Oblivion. The souls could be found wandering in an eternal void without thought spouting out philosophical quotes as they wandered Oblivion. 

The only safe mode of travel for worshippers of Daedra and travelers otherwise to enter Oblivion is through the stable portal of an Oblivion gate. These portals were constantly seen at the end of the third age of Tamriel as the daedra prince Mehrunes Dagon and his followers planned an invasion of Tamriel. The portals ranged in size from small gates that would open in the wilderness, to the large Great Gates which allowed the daedra to attack two cities directly. These portals were held open by a sigil stone at the top of a large tower inside of the Oblivion world that they linked to. If the sigil stone was taken, the portal would have collapsed, and any beings not native to Oblivion would be sent back to Tamriel.  These gates opened into Mehrunes Dagon's realm; gates to other princes' realms have never been opened. A barrier had existed between Tamriel and Oblivion, kept alive by the dragon fires in the temple in the Imperial City. Part of a new emperor's coronation was to relight the fires, which extinguish upon the death of the old emperor. When, in the events of Oblivion, the emperor died and there was no heir to the throne, Mehrunes Dagon could begin to open Oblivion Gates and start the invasion of Tamriel.

{{spoiler}}
There has been one known exception to the aforementioned rule. This was when the currently deceased emperor to the Septim bloodline, [[Martin Septim]] opened a portal to Camoran's Paradise (a small island in Mehrunes Dagon's plane of Oblivion dedicated and controlled by Mankar Camoran) to get the Amulet of Kings. From accounts of the Blades, Martin spent days contemplating the [[Mysterium Xarxes]], the only book to ever be written in Oblivion itself by Mehrunes Dagon in the deserts of suffering and despair. From this, Martin required four items of almost unbelievable rarity: a Great Sigil Stone, a Great Welkynd Stone, the blood of a Daedric Prince, and the blood of an Aedra. The Champion of Cyrodiil gathered these through perilous journeys to give to Martin. Martin then opened a portal to Camoran's Paradise where the Champion retrieved the Amulet of Kings from the powerful Daedric worshipper, Mankar himself.

==References==
*
The [[Daedric Alphabet]] on wikipedia or follow this link for an illustarted version: http://til.gamingsource.net/daedric/
*[http://til.gamingsource.net/mwbooks/darkest_darkness.shtml Darkest Darkness]
*[http://til.gamingsource.net/mwbooks/onoblivion.shtml On Oblivion]
*http://til.gamingsource.net/book_daedra/index1.shtml
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