However it worked, whenever whoever last lit the Dragonfires died, the Dragonfires went out and White Gold Tower was deactivated. It seems that to reactivate it, a myth-reinforced heir must use the Amulet to relight the Dragonfires. Seems appropriate that the would-be emperor should be the one in control of White Gold Tower.

Because each each heir needs to assert their legal right to be a Dragonborn, and the ritual is the only way.

"The Missing God" was around long, long before Paravania.

Not in Cyrodiil. When Alessia organized the Eight Divines cult, she changed Shezarr's nature, almost entirely. Ask yourself why, in the first era, he's a blood-thirsty maniac, but in the third era, he welcomes Mer and protects Merish gods.

http://www.imperial-library.info/obbooks/shezzardivines.shtml

Naming a thing can be an assertion of mastery over it, or even creation, and, in a very real sense, that's what Alessia did with Shezarr.

While we're on that tangent, quickly, do you think that we're supposed to infer from http://www.imperial-library.info/nine_divines/ob_akatosh.jpg and the book Amulet of Kings that Shor is somehow merged/hidden behind or within Akatosh in the Cyrodillic religion?

Considering the recently nature of Shezzar/Shor/Lorkhan and Akatosh that has been explored, that very well may be. However, I get the feeling not many people would really understand that both are of the same coin, just different faces, unless they're deep in the metaphysics of this or don't want to admit the ramification this could spell. Pelinal, so far, was the only being I could point to being the manifestation of the two, especially when he madness came and would wipe places from the face of Nirn. Talos is very close, but he's still watered down in some respects.

Yeah, it's Enantiomorph imagery. Talos wasn't as... zealous, perhaps, but he was still the Enantiomorph.

I was actually very pleasantly surprised that any imagery that hinted towards the deeper metaphysical nature of the gods made it into Oblivion at all, outside of the books. That they actually chose to represent the stained glass version of Akatosh as having another figure which may or may not be Lorkhan attached to him was something I overlooked before all the KOTN stuff came out and I read into it more.

Yeah, after replaying OB once again, I'm beginning to pick up on more of the subtle hints. I think the biggest issue were the kick the puppy or the goody goody two shoes quests that interfered with most of everyone taking OB seriously.

It's little wonder why Shezarr went missing, after Alessia's reforms. Once she made Shezarr king, he took the name Akatosh.

Umaril the Unfeathered, Reman Cyrodiill ( who like Alia Atredis already had the self awareness of an advlt even as a newborn - "I am Cryodiil Come") and Morihaus.