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me words no work gud. was brainstorming how Akavir can be alternate kalpa, future tamriel, and a physical place all at once, had a thought: what if they weren't, at least not in the way typically understood by the community
What if time-space in Tamriel, or rather the metaphysical Nirn, worked by different ideas of what are translated to us as cardinal directions? What if, instead of travelling to the future or past by going in a certain physical direction, there were different metaphysical "directions" one could travel on to reach different temporal and physical locations? I drew up some charts, thought myself real clever, and everything was good. Then I huffed a little too much skooma and started wondering if the different time models (kalpas, amaranth, etc) and accompanying philosophical / religious differences of different Tamriellic cultures could also be related to their respective “locations” on these "philosophaxes." (Confirmation bias? Never heard of her) These charts are the result:
Lyg as inverse of the center? As “Not Here” / “Not Now” / “Not Our Place”? The only adjacent-place truly inaccessible and all the more eldritch / strange for it?
Morrowind as Loveborne-Potential-Transcendence as described in C0DA? Alinor as antithesis Hateborne-Denial-Imprisonment where Walk-Brass would call home?
Akha in Khajiit myths going "South" to never return, Alduin the "World-Eater"
Northwesterly High Rock as Loveborne Determinism, (likely unintentional) parallels with Christianity and thus west-european tropes by association? (as opposed to Gnostic Morrowind & Nihilist Alinor?)
Cyrodiil as True Center of Each Axis, thus its metaphysical dominance over all of Tamriel / Talos as the "King of the Gods"?
Hi so what did the Bethesda lore people mean by the Yokudan elves.
i'm still GENUINELY flabbergasted by what bethesda meant by this. Why would you name a group of elves the "left handed elves" when left handed people used to be ostracized, abused, and forced to learn how to write right-handed and even killed by particularly extreme people and then kill them off screen. What. And we don't even know if they were actually elves or if it was just mistranslated and their enemies were just straight up left handed humans?? Were the Yokudans basically the Catholic church because WHAT???? We know so little about them! They could have been such a badass concept but they're just yet another Elven race that Men genocided!! Why even write them into the lore?!
This isn't even in a "cancel them on twitter dot com immediately" mentality it's just. What was GENUINELY going through their head when they wrote that lore
I personally view the lore/writing of the left handed elves akin to the "sea peoples" in real life ancient Egyptian history.
If you dont know who the Sea Peoples were, lemme give a brief rundown. At a point in ancient Egyptian history a bunch of mysterious tribes invaded Egypt and other nearby cultures. They nearly destroyed the Egyptians and did destroy several other cultures. Eventually the Egyptians beat/absorbed these mysteries Sea Peoples and history moved on.
Despite what was a series of massive wars and vast cultural destruction, we know virtually nothing about these "sea peoples". Basically everything we know about them was written by their enemies (the Egyptians). We only have a fragmented and intensely biased account of this major culture that otherwise is lost to history.
To bring it back to the "Left handed elves" and the Yokudans, I view their (fictional) history in a similar manner. These mysterious "elves" lived in this land (tamriel) across the sea from Yokuda. Thru unknown events the "left handed elves" and Yokudans become locked in a prolonged war to try to genocide each other. Millenia go by and the Yokudans and "elves" kept warring with each other. Two cultures a sea apart, and locked in an ages long war. Eventually the Yokudans finally won and beat the "elves" (likely destroying most of the elves recorded history along with them).
The comparison is broad but I hope you can see why I make the analogy between ancient Egypt and the sea peoples and the Yokudans and the "Left handed elves"
Now all we have left of these "elves" is incredibly biased histories written by the same society that wiped them out.
History is written by the victor etc. etc.
‐---------------‐‐------
I also think the vague and confusing lore around the naming of the "left handed elves" (and their scant lore) is extremely intentional.
Also its worth mentioning that *most* lore we have on them isnt actually from Bethesda proper but instead comes from [non canon] Michael Kirkbride writings and ESO lore which is written by Zenimax people (AFAIK)
Like of all things why specially call these elves "left handed"? Its obviously meant to be an archaic and demeaning term. As you know, in many ancient societies IRL, left handed meant unclean or even evil.
Michael Kirkbride draws from all sorts of esoteric cultural, historical, and religious influences (just look at Morrowind) so him naming the elves "left handed" was definitely meant to evoke both the fact that these "elves" existed LOOOONG ago and that the Yokudans mixed their genocide/victory over the elves into a religiohistorical context. To the ancient Yokudans. It wasnt just a victory it was a *righteous* victory over *evil* enemies.
As a student of religious history, Michael was doubtlessly well aware that the "left handed" moniker would exemplify how an ancient self righteous (literally self righteous) culture would describe their ages long enemy.
Bear in mind, for elves and humans alike, a common religious and racial ethos is "we are holy and blessed by the gods but those other races are agents of enemy gods".
In "modern" TES most people/races (Thalmor aside) aren't THAT extreme per se, and can still get along with each other. But in ancient TES history? Yeah folks were **way** more serious about racial supremacy/genocide. The first time Nords encountered a group of Bretons they instantly went into battle mode because they just assumed they were elves and only stood down when a Breton started speaking Nord to them. Most races in modern TES are not *that* hostile to other races (by default).
All this to say i do appreciate when TES gets obscure in ways that IRL history can be. Its always interesting to think about real life ancient history and the thousands of cultures that we know virtually nothing about except for the scant records written about them from *other* ancient cultures.
P.S. I have a feeling were gonna get alot more lore about the "left handed elves in TES VI 🫣
Project Hammerfell concept art for the Abecean Red Armada - a state-sanctioned privateer militia chartered by the Crown to oversee his direct domains of Old Hegathe, Stros M'kai, and Gilane. They were founded during the Simulacrum in response to the decline of the Imperial West Navy and the increasing instability following the War of the Blue Divide. The coronation of Commodore Naffir as Constable of Stros M'kai has invariably given the outfit more power and tighter responsibilities, and the Constable still remains ever vigilant in his war on smuggling.
DrNightstone's blog on all things Elder Scrolls, Glorantha, worldbuilding, and more!
Aliara Mayaadi's Journal: The Yoku Language
I finally have my Yoku conlang at a place where I can make it public. Along with a small in-universe apocrypha, there be a spreadsheet with Yoku IPA, grammar and syntax, various writing scripts, as well as 600+ words and counting. With a potential Hammerfell game, I thought I would use this conlang to give my future Yoku apocryphas some spice. Should you also want to utilise it, go for it! And should there be any confusion, errors, or suggestions, do let me know.
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A son of Skyrim sits on a log far, far away from the snowy shores of his birth. Beside him sit two fellow warriors, one from this land of dragons in the East, and the other from a land of swords even further East than that. When Njorri bellows out his explanation, the Yokudan cracks a small smile, while the Tsaesci's eyes bore into him.
"It's a lovely fine country you have here. It's hot! But not as hot as Morrowind, so it suits me more! And I ain't got any ash in my beard, like my cousin Holf is always complaining about."
"That's why you're interfering with our sacred hunt?" Siek-Shirue asks, eyes sharp like her tongue.
Njorri laughs and waves a massive hand. "Oh, nooo, I wouldn't say 'interfere!' I'm fit to help you! My da use to hunt dragons all the time."
A laugh bubbles up from Ensaf, the third who has merely played the spectator up til now. "Quite the name to live up to."
"Ain't nothin' special. Not like traveling all this way out East-- across that cursed ocean no less!"
The armored Akaviri turns to Ensaf now. "And why are you here?"
The trained fighter can recognize an itchiness about her 'host's sword-arm, the way her hand sits on her opposite thigh, inches from her scabbard; she knows that, even without any apparent weapon, Ensaf could produce one out of thin-air with only a breath.
"Me? Well, I'm looking for a story of my own." She adjusts herself on the log, easing up on her posture to try and relax the other woman. "You see, in the land where I come from, just about every swordsman's done something incredible. There's nothing left to make a name for yourself. But here... I can do something no one else has. At least no one from Yokuda." Leaning back, she tears her eyes away from her host and looks up at the clear skies of the steppe where the day is giving way to nightfall. "I'd heard rumors from sailors about an island full of dragons to the West... wasn't sure they were true until today."
"You've got no dragons back home?" Njorri asks, leaning over Siek to do so.
Ensaf shakes her head. "Afraid not. Plenty of serpents, but none that fly through the air like that... I would've picked a better opening if I had realized how fast they move."
"No dragons??? Skyrim used to be lousy with dragons, and so did this place, I hear, before Sek here and her pals--"
At this junction, Siek shoves the tall Nord back with a sudden burst of force, barking out a single syllable as the thrust of her hand sends him spilling across the grass of the camp. "Siek." She affirms, curling her lip up at the boisterous foreigner. Her fellow blades look over at the commotion, hands at their swords before she waves them off, assuring them things hadn't broken down... at least not yet.
Ensaf narrows her eyes in the split second it takes place, perking an ear and trying to tune in. As Njorri's dusting himself off, she leans forward again and looks to the Tsaesci. "That was the same technique you used to disarm my Shehai, wasn't it?"
Siek turns to face her, but defensive walls are clearly still up. After a moment of eyeing her up, she replies. "Yes. The Kiai is the greatest power we wield as Tsaesci."
"It's a lot like the Thu'um!" Njorri remarks, unbothered as he returns to his seat.
Siek whips her head around to him, riled up by that notion. "NO, it is not!
"You shout, things happen, sounds like Thu'um to me."
"You are a moron and an interloper! Your know nothing of what you say!"
Ensaf interjects. "Care to explain what it is then?"
"Ooh, please! I'd love to hear a story from a Tsaesci!" Njorri enthusiastically chimes in, the two warriors looking to their interrogator with inquisitive eyes.
She stops and takes a breath to center herself, finding it important to tell this story right, even if it's only for the benefit of two strangers who meddled with their hunt.
"Long ago... these lands were ruled by dragons. Our ancestors worshiped them as gods, fearful of their power, but in truth, their power came from the spirits of the world itself. Our arbitrary masters had stolen it with their domineering language. Our Mother, Tserida-Shak, learnt this from the Teacher, Boesha, who taught her the path of Tsaescence and the secret language of creation. Using the world's alphabet, Tserida-Shak spoke the first Kiai into the world, using it to kill the word in the dragon's throat. With our new martial art, we began our hunt to destroy all dragonkind and our duty to defend creation."
Njorri and Ensaf listen intently, poring over the words of this legend.
Predictably, the affable Nord replies first. "Not a bad story, but, it's a little tired, ain't it?"
"What?" Siek asks, disgusted.
Njorri waves his hands to and fro as he talks. "Men ruled by dragons, someone teaches them how to fight back, they do-- I mean, we Nords for example, we learned it from Paarthurnax, since Kyne told him so--"
"'Paarthurnax?'" Siek grows suddenly inquisitively, as well as revolted. "A dragon??? You were taught by a dragon???"
"Well, sure! How else do ya expect a man to learn dragon’s talk?"
Siek suddenly regards Njorri with an odd mixture of pity and loathing, wondering whether his people were still living under a different sort of tyranny, or if they were all-too willing servants who traded their dignity and humanity for power over other mortals.
Ensaf cuts through the tension. "It's actually not too different from how we learned sword-singing..." She offers, successfully distracting Siek from her disgust. With both of the other warriors looking at her, she elaborates. "Our people have always had many enemies, without and within, and many gods of the sword took pity on us. Onsi taught us how to make them, but it was Leki who sang us the secrets of mastery. She made the sword our soul. From there, we learned to make our souls to swords."
The Yokudan stretches out her open hand and begins to speak, or sing, her own language, belting out a few syncopated notes. A bright glow emanates from her whole body before beginning to coalesce, traveling down her arm and taking shape in her hand. With a flash, she now holds a long, curved sword that seems to shimmer like the surface of a pond. Even as Ensaf stops singing, Njorri and Siek can still hear the blade humming the tune.
"That's..." Siek begins, her voice fallen to a hush.
"Shor's Bones! You're doin' that all on your own???" Njorri interjects, leaning in closer to inspect the weapon. "That right there's some clever craft if I've ever seen it! Never thought of usin' the Thu'um for somethin' like that!"
Ensaf laughs, taking the Nord much more lightly. "I'm not sure it's all too similar to what you two do with your voices... I'm not communing with any spirits. Put simply, this is all me." She takes a moment to admire her Shehai, a great point of pride for her as a Sword Saint. Even if the battles she's won or the quests she's gone on pale in comparison to many of her illustrious peers, this sword still stands as her one grand accomplishment, totally unique to herself.
"You're right..." Siek is still quite amazed at the display. "We use our own spirits in the Kiai as well, but we don't... at least, I have never heard of a Blade who could call upon such a well of power from within." She manages to tear her eyes away from the still-singing sword and look Ensaf in the eye. "That aerial slash of yours-- I thought Ilni's winds had carried it for you, yet it was this 'Shehai' of yours?"
Ensaf nods. "Though now that you mention it, I suppose I could've used some help in landing it. Maybe next time I'll ask them." She offers Siek a smile along with this well-meaning jest. In all honesty, the woman's story had piqued her curiosity. It could be interesting to bring a few of her tricks back to Yokuda with her.
Njorri loudly concurs with Siek's observation. "I've heard rumors-- tall tales and all that, not so trustworthy as they are entertaining-- that some Tongues can use the Thu'um to change themselves, the way we can change the Qethsegolle by arguin' with 'em."
"Arguing?" Siek interjects, glancing back at Njorri as he once more leads her to question his morals.
"Aye, arguin'. Y'see, we Nords can't go about it exactly like dragons. With dragons, they just shout so great and loud that the Qethsegolle go 'alright, alright!' and do whatever it is they want. Blast this mountain over there, blow these clouds away, set that man on fire-- that sorta thing." The way he describes the interaction so simply, like a children's game, rubs her entirely the wrong way. Whether Njorri is blissfully ignorant of this or simply affords fellow men the same irreverence as he does the spirits, she does not know, but he continues speaking nonetheless. "We men ain't as loud as dragons by nature, so we've got to be a little more subtle, eh? Persuade the spirits! It's all about spinning the right words with the right tones, making this-do-that or you-go-here or whatever it is you're tryin' for! The Qethsegolle aren't a prickly sort-- 'least most of 'em aren't. They're busy keepin' the house Shor built standin' upright, so they're distracted most of the time. It's easy to slip things by 'em if you say 'em right."
It sounds like just another deceit to Siek, but Njorri, of course, views it all in good fun.
He turns back to Ensaf and guffaws. "Guess your sword-singin' cuts out the middle man, eh?" The Nord bellows out a laugh.
Ensaf joins him, but she also notices Siek still hasn't quite come around to the two strangers just yet, fascinated as she may be by her Shehai. If they were going to have any chance of sticking around and seeing this hunt through, they'd need to find some more common ground.
Her spirit sword still singing, Ensaf looks up at the stars above them. "We have a lot in common... but there's an old saying in Yokuda: 'you can't see the view from atop his feet.'" She gracefully turns the point of her blade down to the ground, resting it against the earth. "No two people can really, truly see the same thing the same way. Right now, we can't see the same stars, because I can't sit where you're sitting. I don't know anything about dragons or earthly spirits because we couldn't be farther apart when we were all children. We could spin yarns all night and we'd still be no closer to understanding it all."
Njorri easily accepts this treatise on subjectivity given his cultural proclivity towards tale-telling, though Siek waits to hear where the Yokudan is going with this.
"But different as we may be, I've always seen two things that all us folk have in common." Ensaf smiles. "We breathe, and we sing."
"Sing?" Siek raises a brow.
"Oh yes! We Nords love to sing! I s'pose I should've guessed Yokudans do, given the sword and all!" Njorri cranes his neck down to look at their captor. "What of you, Siek? Do the Tsaesci sing?"
"Well of course." She replies almost defensively. "But I don't see why that--"
"Go on, share a song with us." Ensaf urges. "All this talk of your great hunts and dragon-slaying, you must have some raucous ballads."
At the continued insistence of these two interlopers, Siek-Shirue relents. She begins to regale them, softly at first, with some anthems of war, rhythmic lyrics that sing to the glories of Tsae and the noble cause of the Tsaesci. Njorri begins to slap his knee to the beat, while Ensaf nods her head and taps her foot. The two even start to pick up some of the words.
Their impromptu and largely unintentional revelry does not escape the attention of the rest of Siek's unit, who become easily gripped by the infectious songs of their people. Before Siek knows what's happened to her, she's leading her whole company plus two foreigners in the devotional ballads of Boesha 1-13.
It's only natural that a Tongue and a Sword-Singer would take to song so easily, learning more, perhaps, from the joint fervor of this merry ritual than they ever could have through idle conversation. As the night wears on and tensions subside, they even share some of the songs of Skyrim and Yokuda with their new fellows, and just as they had learned, now the Tsaesci learn of their new companions through the most expedient method: their breath, and their songs.
"Tried to sail to Yokuda once. A slaughterfish the size of a leviathan swallowed my boat. Nearly starved before I founds a Sea Sload stuck in its guts. Ate like a king and had enough left to fashion a raft and sail out when the great fish … belched."
