User:The Entity/Sandbox

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"Six are the formulas to heaven by violence, one that you have learned by studying these words."
—36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 6

The Walking Ways are six interrelated means of achieving Apotheosis,[1][UOL 1] allowing for a state of transcendence and freedom from all known laws and mortal limitations of Convention created by the Aedra, as well as the corruptions of the black sea of Oblivion.[UOL 1] They are described as the formulae by which mortal individuals can return to the first brush of Anu and Padomay and experience the pure possibility of the Aurbis first-hand, allowing them a state comparable to the divine power the Gods possessed prior to their Convention at the end of the Dawn Era.[1][2][3][UOL 1][UOL 2] The process of ascension by any Walking Way may destabilize both the Mundus and the Aurbis in relation to it.[4][UOL 3] However, the result of this transcendence is uniquely free of the disaster that troubled the Gods, allowing the individuals who acheive it to remain in the Mundus and exercise their power without threatening the physical make-up of the mortal realm or destabilizing its linear chronology with their presence.[5][UOL 1]

All Walking Ways are said to be Protean values or models possessing an innate and constant aspect of transformation. As such, they all fall under the Psijic Endeavor, each of them representing one of the six fundamental ways that Change is wrought on Nirn.[6][UOL 1] The first goal of the Psijic Endeavor (and thus the purpose of all Walking Ways) is to attain the Tower, which refers to attaining Divinity on Nirn. The second goal is what to do after, once transcendence is reached.[7][8][UOL 1][9]

First Walking Way - The Numidium[edit]

"Ah. I will tell you the truth, because you will believe none of it. The Brass God is Anumidum, the Prime Gestalt. He is also called the divine skin. He was meant to be used many times by our kind to transcend the Gray Maybe."
—Xal, a Human Maruhkati[10]

The First Walking Way is described by Vivec as the "Wrong Walking Path" followed by Dagoth Ur.[11] It is tied to the Divine Blight, its distributors Akulakhan and Numidium, and by extension the source of their Divine power, the Heart of Lorkhan.[11][12][13][UOL 4] Any mortal may attain Apotheosis by these means. Mannimarco is one infamous example of such, as he successfully used a facsimile of the Heart, the Mantella, and the 'Second Numidian Effect' it produced to join the ranks of the Gods as the Revenant.[14][15][3]

Various heretical cults of the Empire, including remnants of the Marukhati Selectives, are especially reverent of this Walking Way. The Marukhati view the Numidium as a great means of transcendence, used again and again to surpass the limitations of the Gray Maybe.[10] According to some sources, Wulfharth attained Apotheosis by this Walking Way.[16][nb 1]

  • Numidium

  • Akulakhan

  • The Heart of Lorkhan

  • The Mantella

  • Dagoth Ur

  • Mannimarco's Apotheosis

Second Walking Way - The Endeavor[edit]

"I give you an ancient road tempered by the second walking way. Your hands must be huge to wield any sword the size of an ancient road, and yet he who is of right stature may irritate the sun with only a stick"
—36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 23

The Second Walking Way is described by Vivec as a "sword the size of an ancient road", which can be thought of as the long journey an enemy puts before you, yet which you walk anyway.[17][UOL 5] It is tied to the trials and adventures of a Hero, which test their character and cut them into better shapes, allowing them to attain Apotheosis.[17] According to Vivec, the Nerevarine and, by extension, Nerevar himself are a direct demonstration of this Walking Way.[18][17]

This Walking Way is held in special esteem by Morrowind, harkening back to the Exodus by Veloth and his establishment of the Psijic Endeavor.[UOL 1][17] It is said Boethiah showed Veloth and his followers the right way to Walk to achieve an Exodus through pain.[19] According to some sources, Hjalti Early-Beard attained Apotheosis by this Walking Way.[nb 1]

  • Nerevar

  • Tiber Septim, also known as Hjalti Early-Beard

Third Walking Way - The Prolix Tower[edit]

"To sing a law, and then Speak into the heart of that law, convincing it of a subtle error and how it must change its own Self. That is how Nature's course—its own Sea—is shaped and reshaped over time. Such changes can affect the whole of Mundus."
—Girnalin, a Spinner[6]

The Third Walking Way is described as Word of Action, exploring hysteria without fear by means of speech and writing.[20][6] It is tied to manipulation of the Earthbones that dictate the natural laws and rules of the Aurbis by various magical forms of Speech and Writing,[21] including Thu'um, Spinning, the Towers, and Tonal Architecture.[20][6][22][UOL 1] Those who attain Apotheosis this way are said to be capable of substituting natural laws for one another, even into incoherence, and still work within method.[20]

The tenets of this Way are held in particular esteem by the Spinners of Valenwood.[6] According to some sources, Ysmir attained Apotheosis by this Walking Way.[nb 1]

  • An Earthbone Spinner

  • A demonstration of the Voice

  • A Dwarven Centurion generating a tonal barrier

Fourth Walking Way - CHIM[edit]

"CHIM. Those who know it can reshape the land. Witness the home of the Red King Once Jungled."
—Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes, Book Three

The Fourth Walking Way is described as the Secret Syllable of Royalty, CHIM. Attaining CHIM is a painful and violent process of reaching an understanding about the truth of the nature of the universe and one's place in it, leading to a simultaneous comprehension of the full scope of existence, at risk of losing one's individuality.[23][UOL 1] This truth is referred to as the "Secret Syllable" contained within the "Secret Triangular Gate", hidden within the "The Center" of the Tower, which metaphorically refers to both Nirn and its Heart. This Triangle is the very same "Tri-Angled Truth" that Boethiah showed the Chimer alongside Mephala and Azura.[19][24][25] One who can maintain their individuality in face of this truth may attain Apotheosis, becoming as immortal as the Secret Syllable itself.[23] The Warrior-Poet Vivec claims to have learned the secret syllable from Molag Bal,[26][27] although some sources claim that the revelation leading to his divinity came from interacting with the Heart of Lorkhan itself.[23][UOL 2]

This Way is held in high esteem within certain Daedric Cults, such as the Mythic Dawn,[4] or the followers of Mephala and Boethiah in Morrowind. According to some sources, Talos attained Apotheosis by this Walking Way.[4][28][UOL 6][nb 1]

  • The Triangular Gate as depicted in Dagon's Mysterium Xarxes

  • The Triangular Gate as depicted in the Oghma Infinium

  • Vivec

  • Talos

Fifth Walking Way - The Enantiomorph[edit]

"And Talos said to the Arctus, "Let us join as one to fortify this throne, this land, these people, each one glorious under heaven!""
—The Prophet[29]

The Fifth Walking Way is described as the lover bereft of a double. Vivec states this is proven by Anu and his double, Padomay.[7] An Enantiomorph is an existence wherein two individuals are due to a catalyst, made part of a merged dichotomy, and thus are metaphysically interchangeable.[18][7][UOL 5] Any Enantiomorph as a whole is based upon the original framework created by Anu and Padomay, within the Anuad and contemporary theologies.[7][30][UOL 5] The victor of the Enantiomorph reaches Apotheosis, and is decided by a Witness whom is blinded or maimed.[18][UOL 5] Vivec claims Nerevarine and Dagoth Ur were an Enantiomorph,[18] of which the Nerevarine was eventually decided the victor, with Vivec serving as the witness.[31] Vivec also claims to have been the victor within his own Enantiomorph with Mephala, wherein his Mother was the blinded Witness.[32][33]

The Enantiomorph is held in esteem by various cults within Cyrodiil, including the Mahrukati Selectives and according to the teachings of "the Prophet". The most famous example of the Enantiomorph is Talos and Zurin Arctus.[34][10][29] According to some sources, the ultimate Victor was Zurin Arctus, who attained Apotheosis by this Walking Way.[35][16][nb 1]

  • Zurin Arctus, victor of the Enantiomorph

  • Talos

Sixth Walking Way - The Scarab[edit]

"Each of the aspects of the ALMSIVI then rose up together, combining as one, and showed the world the sixth path. Ayem took from the star its fire, Seht took from it its mystery, and Vehk took from it its feet, which had been constructed before the gift of Molag Bal and destroyed in the manner of truth: by a great hammering. When the soul of the Dwemer could walk no more, they were removed from this world."
—36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 36

The Sixth Walking Way has never been described. It has been tied to a demonstration by the Tribunal, who joined as one to destroy the soul of the Dwemer.[12]

This way, referred to as the Scarab,[36][33][UOL 1] is of special interest to contemporary astrolothurges (those who study the meaning of stars).[36][UOL 1] According to some sources, Septim, referring to either the Emperor or the Empire and Septim Dynasty, or all of the previous, attained Apotheosis by this Walking Way.[nb 1] Given the demonstration by Tribunal of many joining as one,[12] this may refer to the Oversoul of Emperors, of which Tiber Septim embodied.[10][3][UOL 7][UOL 5]

  • Scarab symbol, associated with Lorkhan

  • Almsivi, the Tribunal

  • Tiber Septim on his throne

  • The banner of the Septim Empire

Notes[edit]

  • ^1  In a discussion about the Six Walking Ways, developer Michael Kirkbride presented the following list. These are all various names or titles associated with Tiber Septim, Zurin Arctus, and Wulfharth.[UOL 5]
    1.Wulfharth L
    2. Hjalti O
    3. Ysmir R
    4. Talos K
    5. Arctus H
    6. Septim A
    N
  • Sermon Six mentions the following; "Six are the guardians of Veloth, three before and they are born again, and they will test you until you have the proper tendencies of the hero.". These Six Guardians represent the Good Daedra, Mephala, Boethiah, and Azura, as well as their successors the Tribunal, Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil. They may yet act as representations of the Ways.[1]
  • The unofficial text "Loveletter From the Fifth Era", written by Michael Kirkbride, describes the Walking Ways plainly as such: "The Numidium. The Endeavor. The Prolix Tower. CHIM. The Enantiomorph. The Scarab that Transforms into the New Man." While not considered a valid source, this instance provides important context for the implications present in the series itself.

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 6 — Vivec
  2. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 18 — Vivec
  3. ^ a b c Where Were You ... Dragon Broke — Various
  4. ^ a b c Mythic Dawn Commentaries — Mankar Camoran
  5. ^ Before the Ages of Man — Aicantar of Shimerene
  6. ^ a b c d e Girnalin's dialogue in ESO
  7. ^ a b c d 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 35 — Vivec
  8. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 37 — Vivec
  9. ^ Spirit of Nirn, God of Mortals
  10. ^ a b c d People of Morrowind — Various
  11. ^ a b 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 15 — Vivec
  12. ^ a b c 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 36 — Vivec
  13. ^ Nerevar at Red Mountain — the Tribunal Temple
  14. ^ Lives of the Emperors — Niso
  15. ^ The King of Worms ending in Daggerfall
  16. ^ a b The Arcturian Heresy — The Underking, Ysmir Kingmaker
  17. ^ a b c d 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 23 — Vivec
  18. ^ a b c d 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 11 — Vivec
  19. ^ a b From Exile to Exodus — Tarvyn Aram
  20. ^ a b c 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 27 — Vivec
  21. ^ Words and Power — Telenger the Artificer
  22. ^ Aurbic Enigma 4: The Elden Tree — Beredalmo the Signifier
  23. ^ a b c 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 31 — Vivec
  24. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 21 — Vivec
  25. ^ The Changed Ones
  26. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 12 — Vivec
  27. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 32 — Vivec
  28. ^ Heimskr's dialogue in Skyrim
  29. ^ a b The Prophet's dialogue in Oblivion: Knights of the Nine
  30. ^ The Annotated Anuad
  31. ^ The Citadels of the Sixth House quest in Morrowind
  32. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2 — Vivec
  33. ^ a b 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 29 — Vivec
  34. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 19 — Vivec
  35. ^ The Underking ending in Daggerfall
  36. ^ a b 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 30 — Vivec

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The Thief Goes to Cyrodiil — Vivec
  2. ^ a b Michael Kirkbride's posts in The Trial of Vivec
  3. ^ Lawrence Shick 2014 interview, time stamp 28:20–29:49
  4. ^ Akulakhan concept art
  5. ^ a b c d e f Michael Kirkbride's Posts
  6. ^ From The Many-Headed Talos
  7. ^ Partial Interview With Vivec — Vivec
Appendices
Arcana and Metaphysics
Culture and Tradition
Symbols
Transportation
Law and Politics
Rituals and Prophecies
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