Clever-Man: Who are you? : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Sun May 13, 2012 1:46 pm

I was reading The 911th Cow and I keep on reading references to "Clever-Men" or "Witch-Wives".

Is "Clever-Man" another term for a Greybeard? A Court Wizard to a High King/King/Jarl? Something completely else?

» Sun May 13, 2012 1:24 pm

Jhunal and his Sons.

» Sun May 13, 2012 9:34 pm

Fight two is a good source as it is literally titled "How Herkel the Fool became a Clever Man". It seems to imply that the Clever Men are the greybeards as Herkel climbs to High Hrothgar at the end and becomes a Clever Man.

It might also just mean a hero that attained that status through cunning rather than martial prowess.

» Sun May 13, 2012 5:39 am

Tsun calls magic the Clever Art.

» Sun May 13, 2012 7:20 am

But in 911th Cow:

And just as she started swirling these new cows (under cover of snow-curtains and in the shadow of the Thaneswall) Aless asked, "But why doesn't the High King know this already? Doesn't he have Clevermen advisors and Witching Wives to tell him? And the Queen, doesn't she have that six-pair of Scrying Eyestalks of Old Man Mora?"

Greybeards don't act as advisers. So I'm guessing perhaps a Clever-Man is like a jhunal-lovin' nordic savant wizard with some knowing the Voice? Commonly in the service of kings and jarls but not necessarily? Town healers and learned men?

» Sun May 13, 2012 7:42 pm

I'd give positive statements to all French Ninja's question. Yeah, subject is little known but based on MK's text

The Five Hundred Mighty Companions or Thereabouts of Ysgramor the Returned

Clever-men seems to be somesort of personal assistants of some people, maybe chieftains and such. Ofcourse that whole text seems to be written with tongue on cheek so i wouldn't draw too drastic conclusions based on it.

» Sun May 13, 2012 9:24 pm

The guy who does the deep thinking for the group.

» Sun May 13, 2012 4:56 pm

The Ancient Nords equivalent of Court Mages.