In Morrowind Main Quest the PC wents into the Cavern of the Incarnate and takes Nerevar's Moon-and-Star Ring which can only be worn by the true reincarnation of the Nerevarine. In the Cavern are ghosts of False Incarnates.

What made the False Incarnates what they were? Which of the seven prophecies did they fulfill in order to be called that? In the end they all failed but they must have fulfilled some part of the Nerevarine's role, otherwise they would be just Azura's servants. Does this mean they were all able to wear the Ring Moon-and-Star? Why else would their mummies be positioned around it?

My opinion (tell me if it makes sense): the Ring recognizes potential Nerevarines, including the PC. As all the failed Nerevarines received the Ring, they went and tried to fulfill their role but failed. Then the Ring was returned to the shrine, awaiting the next candidate. That would make sense, since the failed Incarnates all wore the Ring and are now its guardians.

I think the proper term is "failed incarnates". They were those before You who were other previous manifestations of the Nerevar animus returning to Mundus, but were killed in their attempts to fulfill the prophecy.

Or something like that. Idunno. :shrug:

My mistake: the propper term is "failed Incarnate" not "false Incarnate". The rest of my query remains the same.

I thought the ring killed the failed incarnates when they put it on.

I thought the correct term for the Cavern was of the "False Incarnates"?

Anyway, I agree that they probably were able to wear the ring but failed because they lacked one or another crucial ability. Some were effective warriors but probably weren't spiritual enough, or good enough at court intrigue. Others were like Peakstar, charismatic religious figures who lacked warrior abilities and were innocent when it comes to intrigue.

The player's Nerevarine is the first one who combines all the necessary qualities, not unlike Paul Atreides in the "Dune" series, IMO.

I agree. I assumed that is why they were all in the Cavern of the Incarnate.

However, I wouldn't be surpirsed if they were just transported there after their deaths.

They all speak of their deaths when you talk to them. I don't remember any of them mentioning trying on the ring.

So what differentiates failed incarnates from any Dunmer killed by Ordinators, Legionaries and 6th House monsters?

They all tell you thier story. Only Erur-Dan tells you he died fighting in blight storms or something like that.
The lore of Moon-And-Star states that anyone other than Nerevar who wears the ring shall die. That legend could have been started because of a few of the false incarnates tried, and died.
Although, it wouldn't be surprising at all if most of them never made it to the Cavern of the Incarnate.

I thought it was the Ring that kills those who are not the Incarnate. It was stated simple: if you are Nerevarine, you will live. If not, you will die. I always assumed that the Ring had the ability to take a life of a false carrier.

It probably can/could as they all died in one way or another.

Thats what i got from it
What i find odd is that they were all taken, upon thier death, to the Eye in the Needle, and they were placed on altars. This means someone cares about the Failed Incarnates enough not only to follow them around / trek thru the wilderness to find their rotting corpses, but to also drag said rotting corpse back to the supposedly secret Eye and then build a new altar for thrice mentioned corpse. All this even though its obvious that they failed.

Azura's followers were probably part of each Incarnate's army or entourage, and saw them fall in battle or wherever else (negotiating with the Houses or Telvanni, for one possibility). I wonder if the failed Incarnates really did have Nerevar's soul, or part of it at any rate; the Incarnates must have been highly respected, as you imply. Not only did they take them back to the Cavern, apparently they mummified their bodies. That was always impressive to me, the moment when their spirits appear standing next to their (somewhat pathetic looking) mummies.

The MW Neravarine didn't get a cool posse, and theres no mention of the other Incarnates aside from what you learn at the Eye. The fact that noone could tell you where the Eye was makes me wonder if it wasn't each Incarnates personal Squire that hauled back each mangled corpse and formed the new altar

Although the player doesn't get companions, I picture someone like Peakstar as having disciples, or the warrior False Incarnates having shield bearers. Just my take on it, though.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Peakstar

I think that each new candidate must travel to the Cavern himself/herself. It's not a tourist attraction, it's a goal of a quest. Therefore if someone showed you the way you would put no effort in it therefore no real gain from finding it. They give you all the possible instructions, so the quest is not about looking for the Cavern but to going in it.

Remember what Morpheus said to Neo: "I can only show you the door. You're the one who has to walk through it." I believe the same applies here. The Ashlanders gave the PC all the info he/she needed to find the Cavern. But the journey is his/hers alone, therefore no guide.