Who are they?

The Eight Divines et al.

et al? Does that include Talos?

Talos is something else entirely, although he sort of stands in for an aedra. The others are the Ehlnofey, who gave themselves entirely to creation. You can call them aedra if you want, but nowadays they are more like the Gas Law and the Periodic Table of Elements.

On strict definitions, "Aedra" are "Our Ancestors".

They are the ones who agreed (or were tricked in) to create the Mundus when Lorkhan made his bid. Within that category, there are the Ehlnofey (the ones that died completely when things went crap), the Plane(t)s, whom we know as 8 of the "Nine Divines" (who lost much power but remained alive), and the Magna-Ge, those who followed Magnus when he went "Screw you guys I'm going home". You know the Magna-Ge as the stars at night, holes in Aetherius they tore open when they fled there. Magnus, being the greatest of them, tore the biggest hole of all, which is so bright that it drowns out all others when it's visible (IE: the sun).

Thank you very much for all your replies. Madcat, do you know where I could read more about that?

Do Magnus and his followers count as "our ancestors?" They left after all, and left little of themselves behind to shape Nirn. Our only connection to Magnus is a big hole in the sky, and his blueprints that others followed.

"Kneel down and pray to the Nine Divines. This is the most important religious order in Cyrodiil. It combines the eight Aedra with the god-hero Tiber Septim."

I got that from the Imperial Library website. How come it says there are only 8 Aedra? Are there different interpretations?

Because Talos isn't et'Ada; he wasn't at the Dawn.

I'm too lazy to explain deeper into the more complex elements of his place in the Divines, such as the fact that he really represents Lorkhan...

I'm not talking about Talos. I'm talking about all those other people that MadCat was talking about.

Oh my apologies.

I'm confident he's referring to the Star Orphans. You can search up on them when TIL stops spazzing...or until someoen else explains them.

So are they Aedra or not? MadCat said they are but the Imperial Library implies that they're not.

Are there any descriptions of Aedric realms?

Aedra means literally the ancestral spirits who created the Mortal races. Beings like Magnus and the star orphans departed pre-convention or were never involved to begin with, and can't be considered 'our stronger, better ancestors.' However, Aedra is often used as a word for 'Anu-aligned et'ada,' which is a much more inclusive term.

No...they aren't. Like MadCat said, Aedra are "Our Ancestors." The Orphans didn't give anything to Creation, that is, Mundus.

Alright thank you

If you go by the strict definition of "Aedra", then no, the Magna-Ge are not Aedra. If you go by the looser definition of "Aedra", as it has managed to become in modern Tamrielic, then it means "anuic et'ada", by which Magnus and his folks fit in. Definitions can get muddy at that point, as Jyggalag seems to be rather anuic, but is considered a Daedroth.

...And the definition of Daedroth is another fine example of modern Tamrielic butchering the ancient elven languages.

Old Mary is the most genius pun I've ever seen. By all means, butcher on! From Lkhan to Eyelid, it's all gold.

The Aedric realm could refer to Nirn itself, or possibly Aetherius.

Ehhh, maybe...but only through channels I think people on Nirn don't even think in.

I'm quite certain "Star Orphans" does not refer to the Magna Ge. If I interpreted the text correctly, they were abandoned by Magnus (and his followers).
That would fit their name much better - orphaned by the stars.

Well what are the Magna Ge then?

I have vague memories of them being described as the ones who FOLLOWED Magnus...or something like that...

don't remember no more...

Yes, they are the ones who followed Magnus. They tore the star-holes in the sky.

I always thought that the aedra wre the good(controversial) deadra?

I never knew they were the nine.

Weren't you just making comments in another thread about people being "noobs"?

Anyway the Aedra are the et'Ada that participated in creation. A bit later when the Imperials developed their religion Allesia borrowed from some of the Aedra the Aldmer worshipped and some of the Aedra the Nords worshipped, mashed them together making the Eight Divines. These later became the Eight and One thanks to Talos, and are now reffered to the Nine Divines. Talos though, is not an Aedra.