Racism wizard with cancer magic. He's not actually that complicated, basically just the typical evil wizard with a doomsday weapon. He isnt even sure he wants to fight the empire outside of morrowind.
The elderscrolls fandom way over mythologicalizes him compared to what's presented in game and lore
I mean, the lessons of vivec are in game lore. All of the dreamer god head stuff is why he exists and didn't stay dead after the battle at red mountain.
Like he's basically outside of life and death, and then wills himself into existence when he dreams, and then believes that the universe exists because of him.
Nah, he made a connection with the heart of a dead god that allowed him to reincarnate at it. The divine disease is a viral cancer that let's him control his followers and warp their bodies and minds. He absolutely can and does die without the heart to reincarnate at, it was his source of divinity, same as vivek
The justifications outside of all that dont really matter and may not even be true (vivek isnt reliable and has a vested interest in lying for his religion).
Im not saying the godhead stuff isnt "true" but its so far removed as to be pretty unimportant to the context dagoth ur
It's a bit of an oversimplification to say Dagoth Ur is a litch, but it's a good jumping off point. Because anyone who's seen Harry Potter has seen a litch, even if they don't know the word.
He is, as good villains usually are, the narrative mirror opposite of the protagonist. The Nerevarine finds his/her true identity through negotiation-interaction with the world as a living mortal individual, while Dagoth Ur tries to force/conflict upon the world a false immortal gestalt. Their contrast addresses one (if not the most) basic question of philosophy: what is the correct relation between Unity and Multiplicity.
I had a really hard time following the Morrowind lore because it was so unique (and perhaps I didn’t pay very close attention). Anyone else experience that or am I alone in my shame?
A bunch of demigods got together and decided to kill a god that was giving them a hard time. Probably the god had turned evil, but we only have the demigods' word for it, so take it with a grain of salt.
They made super-weapons to kill the god. They went and did it. Then they immediately took to fighting each other for the weapons. Some in the group thought they could use the weapons to ascend to godhood. But at the very least, the weapons were dangerous to them as demigods.
One demigod was killed in the fighting. One was left for dead in the dead god's lair. The others fled with the super-weapons and split them up.
The demigod left behind in the dead god's lair started to absorb the dead god's powers, and it drove him mad. (To be fair, he was a shit to begin with. That's why his companions left him!) The demigod became obsessed with bringing the dead god back to life and merging with it.
After a few hundred years, the mad demigod managed to partially reanimate and merge with the dead god. And he was using the dead god's powers to make his long-dead servants and soldiers into undead minions. And he set about using his minions and powers to lure the surviving demigods back to his / the dead god's lair, to steal back the super-weapons and finish reanimating and merging with the dead god.
While this is a very impressive explanation of the character, without any context, do you believe someone would think you were sane if you said it to them at a bar?
I think if I started talking about a demigod being entombed with the "body" of a just-slain god and being driven mad over hundreds of years of being trapped with the dead god's spirit, they would get that I was talking about something mythological or high fantasy
Oh that is easy. Dagoth Ur someone who went completely insane after being exposed to knowledge and powers which no mortal should ever have access to. That description also applies to the members of the Tribunal to varying extent. Dagoth Ur simply went further into his madness than the other members though Almalexia was well on her way there when the Nerevarine put her down like the rabid dog she was becoming.
He's confused. He categorically misunderstands the universe and thinks everything comes FROM him. The Blight is him trying to "fix" it and make everything him again. And since he has the power of a god, it's a serious problem.
In a way he's a combination of Sauron and Gollum: The two aspects of the psychology of the irresistable craving for supreme power. He's both the ever present immortal powerful danger of god-level weaponry and it's consequences, and the human weakness in recognising the discrepancy between our constant desire for more power and our inability or unwillingness to actually bear the responsibility of such power.
In that sense Dagoth is one aspect of a greater complex involving Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil, with Nerevar/ Nerevarine in the proverbial eye of the storm.
He's the bad guy but he's also kinda hot
Also:
Dagoth Ur is the devil and the enemy.
Dagoth Ur built a weapon to make himself God, realized that he was in a video game, and went fucking nuts about it. Now hes just a murderhobo
Racism wizard with cancer magic. He's not actually that complicated, basically just the typical evil wizard with a doomsday weapon. He isnt even sure he wants to fight the empire outside of morrowind.
The elderscrolls fandom way over mythologicalizes him compared to what's presented in game and lore
I mean, the lessons of vivec are in game lore. All of the dreamer god head stuff is why he exists and didn't stay dead after the battle at red mountain.
Like he's basically outside of life and death, and then wills himself into existence when he dreams, and then believes that the universe exists because of him.
Nah, he made a connection with the heart of a dead god that allowed him to reincarnate at it. The divine disease is a viral cancer that let's him control his followers and warp their bodies and minds. He absolutely can and does die without the heart to reincarnate at, it was his source of divinity, same as vivek
The justifications outside of all that dont really matter and may not even be true (vivek isnt reliable and has a vested interest in lying for his religion).
Im not saying the godhead stuff isnt "true" but its so far removed as to be pretty unimportant to the context dagoth ur
It's a bit of an oversimplification to say Dagoth Ur is a litch, but it's a good jumping off point. Because anyone who's seen Harry Potter has seen a litch, even if they don't know the word.
You know Freddie Mercury? From Queen? He's like that, if the Ring of Power from LOTR was real and he had it.
He is your (Nerevarine ex Nerevar) best friend, still believes in you and protected the heart of Lorkhan until your return.
Sadly, the side effects also made him insane and now he tries to kill everyone.
He is, as good villains usually are, the narrative mirror opposite of the protagonist. The Nerevarine finds his/her true identity through negotiation-interaction with the world as a living mortal individual, while Dagoth Ur tries to force/conflict upon the world a false immortal gestalt. Their contrast addresses one (if not the most) basic question of philosophy: what is the correct relation between Unity and Multiplicity.
Yes.
That was easy, next question please!
He’s a bit of a jerk, to be honest.
I had a really hard time following the Morrowind lore because it was so unique (and perhaps I didn’t pay very close attention). Anyone else experience that or am I alone in my shame?
This Guy found a weird magic thing that brought him back to life, now he thinks he's God 2.
A bunch of demigods got together and decided to kill a god that was giving them a hard time. Probably the god had turned evil, but we only have the demigods' word for it, so take it with a grain of salt.
They made super-weapons to kill the god. They went and did it. Then they immediately took to fighting each other for the weapons. Some in the group thought they could use the weapons to ascend to godhood. But at the very least, the weapons were dangerous to them as demigods.
One demigod was killed in the fighting. One was left for dead in the dead god's lair. The others fled with the super-weapons and split them up.
The demigod left behind in the dead god's lair started to absorb the dead god's powers, and it drove him mad. (To be fair, he was a shit to begin with. That's why his companions left him!) The demigod became obsessed with bringing the dead god back to life and merging with it.
After a few hundred years, the mad demigod managed to partially reanimate and merge with the dead god. And he was using the dead god's powers to make his long-dead servants and soldiers into undead minions. And he set about using his minions and powers to lure the surviving demigods back to his / the dead god's lair, to steal back the super-weapons and finish reanimating and merging with the dead god.
While this is a very impressive explanation of the character, without any context, do you believe someone would think you were sane if you said it to them at a bar?
I think if I started talking about a demigod being entombed with the "body" of a just-slain god and being driven mad over hundreds of years of being trapped with the dead god's spirit, they would get that I was talking about something mythological or high fantasy
Racist ultranationalist god with a sexy voice.
Elf who achieved apotheosis through unconventional means and became an insane demonic diety.
Vindictive ex takes makes everything a you problem
A mad supervillain with an army of mutant monsters, a giant robot, and unique fashion sense.
Oh that is easy. Dagoth Ur someone who went completely insane after being exposed to knowledge and powers which no mortal should ever have access to. That description also applies to the members of the Tribunal to varying extent. Dagoth Ur simply went further into his madness than the other members though Almalexia was well on her way there when the Nerevarine put her down like the rabid dog she was becoming.
Big yellow mask man in mountain. Sexy voice.
my naked hobo ex who lives inside a mountain
He’s an angry ghost
Power-hunhry insane god who makes bad things hiding them behind good reasons.
Applied to tribunal as well.
He's confused. He categorically misunderstands the universe and thinks everything comes FROM him. The Blight is him trying to "fix" it and make everything him again. And since he has the power of a god, it's a serious problem.
In a way he's a combination of Sauron and Gollum: The two aspects of the psychology of the irresistable craving for supreme power. He's both the ever present immortal powerful danger of god-level weaponry and it's consequences, and the human weakness in recognising the discrepancy between our constant desire for more power and our inability or unwillingness to actually bear the responsibility of such power.
In that sense Dagoth is one aspect of a greater complex involving Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil, with Nerevar/ Nerevarine in the proverbial eye of the storm.