The Evolution of Hermaeus Mora: Unveiling the Shifting Realm of The Elder Scrolls

Highlights

The lore of The Elder Scrolls series takes inspiration from a range of mythologies and legends, highlighting the presence of cunning and malevolent divine beings referred to as Daedric Princes, like Hermaeus Mora.

The worship of Daedra differs across the continent, with cults emerging in regions such as Cyrodiil and Skyrim. These cults have occasionally posed a danger to society and have been swayed by Hermaeus Mora to carry out gruesome deeds.

Hermaeus Mora has manifested himself in various eras of the game's lore, imparting knowledge to Dragon Priests and bestowing potent artifacts like the Oghma Infinium. However, his appearance has evolved over time, veering towards aggression as he manipulates heroes and orchestrates the demise of innocent individuals.

The lore of The Elder Scrolls franchise draws inspiration from various mythologies, religious tales, and legends from around the world. The deities worshipped by the inhabitants of this world are not always benevolent or kind. This is evident in the presence of the Daedric Princes, immensely powerful beings who reside in the realm of Oblivion and can be summoned by the people of Tamriel through rituals and spells. However, most of these Daedric Princes are deceitful and cruel, exemplified by the likes of Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge, who is well-known to players of Skyrim.

The practices of Daedra worship differ across the continent, with cults often forming among the Imperial and Nord citizens of Cyrodiil and Skyrim. These cults, although small and isolated, have posed real threats to society at times. Even Hermaeus Mora, who embodies knowledge, has manipulated his followers into committing atrocious acts.

A Look at Hermaeus Mora Throughout the Different Eras

The worship and communication with Hermaeus Mora can be traced back to the ancient Merethic Era, predating the First Era. This era may be familiar to fans who have played Skyrim's Dragonborn DLC. During that time, Miraak, a Dragon Priest, sought a shrine on Solstheim and became a devoted follower of Mora. Under the guidance of the Daedric Prince, Miraak learned to control dragons, becoming the very first Dragonborn. However, his reign was cut short when he was eventually defeated by Vahlok, another Dragon Priest. In order to recover and plan his next attack on Solstheim, Miraak sought refuge in Oblivion.

Although Hermaeus Mora's involvement in major events during the First Era is not extensively recorded, he was called upon by The Vestige during the Second Era. The Vestige refers to the character that players create and control in The Elder Scrolls Online. Their journeys led them to aid Hermaeus Mora in reestablishing his temple in Rootwater Grove. This was a crucial mission to acquire valuable knowledge and thwart the Veiled Heritance's plot to corrupt the Heart of Valenwood.

In The Elder Scrolls 2 Daggerfall, which takes place in the Third Era, players summon Hermaeus Mora to obtain the Oghma Infinium, allowing them to allocate 30 points to their skills. Thirty-three years later, in the events of Oblivion, players journey to one of Mora's shrines in the Jerall Mountains to offer the god one soul from each race in exchange for the Oghma Infinium.

The most recent encounter with Hermaeus Mora in The Elder Scrolls lore occurred during the 201st year of the Fourth Era. The Last Dragonborn meets Septimus Signus during a quest at the College of Winterhold. Signus, a mage, requests the Dragonborn to collect blood samples from various elven races to unlock a Dwemer lockbox believed to contain the Heart of Lorkhan. It is later revealed that Signus was guided by Mora to the lockbox. After completing the quest, Mora kills Signus, appoints the Dragonborn as the new emissary, and grants them the Oghma Infinium. The player can choose to accept or reject the god's offer without any consequences or rewards.

The Dragonborn encounters Mora once again in the Dragonborn DLC, embarking on a quest to defeat Miraak and restore order in Skyrim's Solstheim. Mora commits another act of violence by killing the spiritual leader of the Skaal and absorbing his ancient knowledge. After their victory over Miraak, Mora requests the Dragonborn to serve as his champion once more.

Hermaeus Mora's appearance undergoes changes over time. In the Third Era, he resembled a combination of squids and crabs, with tentacles at the base and numerous pincers and eyes on his torso. In the Second and Fourth Eras, his eyes grow larger and he develops more tentacles. As time progresses, the Daedric Prince becomes increasingly aggressive, evolving from manipulating heroes to expand his cult during his early years to enticing heroes to lead innocent individuals to their demise in more recent times.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available now on the Nintendo Switch, PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.