What Is The Tribunal In TES?

In the realm of The Elder Scrolls, the deities are omnipotent, capricious, and shrouded in enigma, their origins a blend of fact and speculation. Ranging from the Daedric Princes to the Eight (or Nine) Divines, these gods seem distant and inaccessible due to their awe-inspiring might. Yet, among them, there are some who stand out, recognized as the Tribunal.

The Dark Elves, or Dunmer, revered figures known as the Tribunal, who were once ordinary beings that ascended to divinity. Unlike other deities, this trinity is not reticent or hidden; rather, they choose to be approachable to their followers. In our investigation, we will delve into the mysterious backgrounds and final destinies of these three gods.

The Origins Of The Tribunal

Known also as “The Living Deities,” the tribunal comprises Vivec, Sotha Sil, and Almalexia. As previously stated, these three began their journeys when they intersected with the renowned hero and Azura’s Champion, Indoril Nerevar. During the First Era, they acted as trusted counselors to Nerevar while the Dunmer were still recognized as the Chimer (or Velothi).

During the War of the First Council, the loyalty of the Chimer was put to the test when the Dwemer architect Kagrenac unearthed the Heart of Lorkhan within Red Mountain. Kagrenac aimed to exploit Lorkhan’s heart to elevate the Dwemer race to a divine status, which the Chimer found unacceptable. The conflict reached its peak at the Battle of Red Mountain, leading to the vanishing of the Dwemer and leaving Nerevar gravely wounded.

Before the mysterious vanishing of the Dwemer, Kagrenac had crafted a collection of instruments specifically designed to harness the power of Lorkhan’s Heart. Nerevar, with the support of the Tribunal and his confidant, Dagoth Ur, made a solemn promise to Azura never to exploit these tools for personal advantage. However, Dagoth Ur was discovered to be compromised and eventually overthrown, thereby leaving the tools in the custody of the Tribunal.

Although they had sworn otherwise, the Tribunal swiftly employed their tools when Sotha Sil found a method to harness the Heart of Lorkhan’s power for all three members. Now imbued with an unimaginable strength, Sotha Sil proudly declared that they no longer required the worship of the Daedra, as they were the gods the Chimer relied on instead.

Unfortunately, his statement angered Azura so much that she cursed the Chimer people, transforming them into the Dunmer we recognize from the games. Additionally, Azura predicted that an avatar of Indoril Nerevar would arise, signaling the downfall of the Tribunal.

Murder Most Foul?

One of the most intriguing questions has been uncovering the reason behind Indoril Nerevar’s demise. Some stories suggest that Nerevar ultimately perished from his injuries, passing away not much time after compelling his advisors to swear never to use Kagrenac’s instruments. However, as the Ashlanders claim, it was the Tribunal who deceived and took Nerevar’s life in order to obtain the tools.

This allegation initially surfaced from Alandro Sul, a trusted friend and battle comrade of Nerevar. Given that Alandro was there on the field, fighting alongside Nerevar during the Battle of the Red Mountain, he might have witnessed the act of betrayal unfold.

In the Morrowind game, Vivec appears to refute the allegations, yet some of his in-game dialogue may seem inconsistent prior to your ascent to Red Mountain. While expressing regret over breaking his oath to Nerevar, he does not explicitly admit to the murder of Nerevar or his involvement, instead opting for ambiguity on the subject.

It seems that Nerevar may have been in such agony from his injuries that he implored the Tribunal to end his life, or it could be seen as an act of murder. However, given the fate of every member of the Tribunal, it’s improbable we’ll ever find a definitive answer about how Nerevar met his end.

Vivec, The Warrior-Poet

Among the three-part ruling body known as the triumvirate, it is Vivec, the Divine-King of Vvardenfell, who stands out for his public persona. This contributes significantly to his prestige. Not only does Vivec employ his powers to deter the catastrophic surge from Red Mountain threatening Vvardenfell, but he also shields Morrowind from potential external dangers, alongside his fellow Tribunal members.

For over two eras, Vivec skillfully warded off numerous dangers for the Dunmer. This ranged from thwarting an Akaviri incursion to maintaining Morrowind’s autonomy against the Septim Empire. Vivec showcased his extraordinary abilities by averting the catastrophic impact of Baar Dau, a meteor sent by Sheogorath, preventing it from destroying Vivec City and keeping it hovering in the sky. Additionally, he single-handedly defended against Molag Bal’s manifestation and Mehrunes Dagon.

Vivec was famously recognized as both the Warrior Poet and the God-Poet because of his deep affection for poetry and the arts, coupled with his unmatched skills in combat. Throughout his life, he wrote numerous books and composed countless songs.

Sotha Sil, The Clockwork God

Of all the gods, Sotha Sil was the most solitary and yet, before ascending to divinity, he was an impressive sorcerer, passionate about innovation, science, and exploration. Nicknamed the ‘architect of time’, he belonged to the Psijic Order during his mortal life, but even after becoming a god, he would frequently return to Artaeum to guide or impart wisdom to its members.

Sotha Sil was renowned for numerous engineering accomplishments, but his most cherished project was the enchanting Clockwork City. He aspired not only to construct a fresh version of Nirn, but also to eradicate the Daedra. Despite his strong antipathy towards the Daedra, he found it necessary to converse with them on occasion, and even negotiated the Coldharbour Compact with the Daedric Princes to restrict their influence over mortal beings.

Remarkably, Sotha Sil’s dialogue within the game suggests that he doesn’t consider himself a deity. Instead, he harbors a somber belief that all our actions are predetermined, and no one truly possesses free will. However, he demonstrates profound concern for mortals in general, and it appears that the weight of being perceived as a ‘god’ by them is heavy upon him.

Almalexia, The Healing Mother

In her previous life, Almalexia was wedded to Indoril Nerevar and subsequently became Vivec’s partner. Adored by the Dunmer as The Healing Mother and The Mercy-Giver, Almalexia is renowned for her kindness and empathy. Much like Vivec, she chose to be approachable to the masses, primarily serving as a healer.

Beyond serving as a motherly figure to the Dunmer, Almalexia was also an active warrior, teaming up with Sotha Sil to vanquish Mehrunes Dagon in battle. In her divine role, Almalexia authored countless books, many of them being children’s stories, and she was a strong advocate for Morrowind’s autonomy against the constant expansionist threats posed by Tiber Septim.

The Fall Of The Tribunal

In my gaming world, I witnessed the dawning of an ominous chapter, marked by the resurrected figure of Dagoth Ur. This ancient foe, thought vanquished during the Battle of Red Mountain millennia ago, had found a way to awaken and harness the divine power of the Heart of Lorkhan. Much like the Tribunal, he became an immortal entity, making him virtually untouchable unless we were willing to dismantle the Heart of Lorkhan itself – a move that could have catastrophic consequences.

As the Tribunal couldn’t reach the Heart to restore their powers, their influence weakened during the Third Era. Consequently, they experienced a string of defeats, and matters became even more dire when they lost Kagrenac’s tools in combat. It was around this period that the Nerevarine emerged, fulfilling Azura’s prophecy. Eventually, the Nerevarine managed to vanquish Dagoth Ur by destroying the Heart of Lorkhan.

Regrettably, this led to the Tribunal regaining their mortality once more. Although Vivec seemed to come to terms with this, Almalexia and Sotha Sil responded differently. Sotha Sil secluded himself within the Clockwork City, his emotional state deteriorating, but he remained mostly isolated. On the other hand, Almalexia became increasingly unstable and tyrannical, proclaiming herself as the Dunmer’s one true deity. In her insanity, she ended up killing Sotha Sil, but was eventually slain by the Nerevarine.

Following the burial of Sotha Sil and Almalexia, Vivec vanished from recorded history. Whispers suggest he was slain by the Nerevarine, but in truth, their disappearance and the demise of Sotha Sil and Almalexia signaled a dire fate for the Dunmer. With Vivec absent, Baar Dau’s meteor struck Vivec City, and not long after, Red Mountain erupted, rendering Vvardenfell inhospitable.

The trust in the Tribunal significantly decreased, leading many Dunmer back to venerating the ‘Benevolent Deities’ such as Azura, Boethiah, and Mephala.

2025-03-13 09:36