The Daggerfall book Ark'ay, the God of Birth and Death and the Morrowind book Arkay the Enemy claim that Arkay was a mortal before rising to godhood. The former claims Mara turned the mortal Ark'ay into the divine Arkay.

1. Do we know the true story?
2. Who has the power to turn a mortal into a god?

Thank you.

The Yokudans disagree with this story.
Everyone has, within themselves, the ability to become a god.

I have a vague recollection that this was proven to be BS.

It's the Yokudans who complete the story:

"Tu'whacca (Tricky God): Yokudan god of souls. Tu'whacca, before the creation of the world, was the god of Nobody Really Cares. When Tall Papa undertook the creation of the Walkabout, Tu'whacca found a purpose; he became the caretaker of the Far Shores, and continues to help Redguards find their way into the afterlife. His cult is sometimes associated with Arkay in the more cosmopolitan regions of Hammerfell."

Arkay became a god in creation. Before creation he had no purpose, because there was no mortality. With the creation of the world his sphere became of the utmost importance, he became relevant and thus became a god.

As for Mara fitting in, "She is sometimes associated with Nir of the 'Anuad', the female principle of the cosmos that gave birth to creation."

Are you referring to CHIM? This is how Tiber Septim became Talos, yes?

Not just that. Its possible for mortals to just ascend, but that hasn't happened in a long time.

Tu'whacca was a spirit of a concept that didn't exist yet, or rather none of the gods cared because they were immortal. With creation of Mundus, the spirits started to die, including Tu'whacca. But because there was death he found a purpose and became the god of souls.

Ark'ay was a man trying to understand mortality. He died trying to learn it's secrets. Yet in dying he found a purpose, being the god of the cycle of life and death, teaching others about life and death.

It's the same story, told different. The mortal man Ark'ay is (has become) allegorical for the god. Hence a lie from a previous game.

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@MinotaurWarrior, not very helpful.

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@Luagar, I'm getting old and slow.

How are you?

Yes well your reply was more descriptive, I don't know whether I never read Ark'ay the God or just don't remember it. I imagine the latter, I read too much to remember things anymore.

I've been gone a while so I figured I'd best get back to ninja'ing posts (I wrote that from an iPad and am surprised it worked out as well as it did). It doesn't seem I've missed much.

Thanks for the help guys. Fascinating stuff.

Only all the dragon stuff. Dragon this, dragon that, dragin my brow, from the weight of all this dragon nonsense.

Also to add the nords have a more jaded view of him, as he invoked the power of Alduin to shorten their lives. Shor saved the nords and happened to toss the curse at the orsimer.