explain to me what elder scrolls actually aredo?

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:35 am

since i only heard about them,then found one during a certain quest in skyrim (have never heard of them until now.i have played a fair bit of oblivion and never have heard any reference about them in that game?)
from my limited grasp on them,they seem to be some type of creation scroll that live beyond the fabrics of space/time,that the gods used to help create the world/universe that the elder scrolls series is set in.am i sort of along the right lines,or have i got it wrong?
this is one of those make your head hurt thinking about questions isn't it :blink: :swear:
User avatar
Isaiah Burdeau
 
Posts: 3431
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:58 am

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:59 am

Short answer: we're not really sure what they are. We're told that they predate the gods, and we know that they are affected by temporal anomalies (i.e. Dragon Breaks). The your "live beyond the fabrics of space/time" seems pretty accurate to me. These http://imperial-library.info/content/lost-histories-tamriel http://imperial-library.info/content/accounting-elder-scrolls discuss their properties.

What they do is clearer: they record history and predict the future. You can read about how they do so http://imperial-library.info/content/effects-elder-scrolls.
User avatar
Franko AlVarado
 
Posts: 3473
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:49 pm

Post » Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:41 pm

thanks Lady Nerevar,that was most interesting reading (still very confusing also).the annoying thing is that i did venture to the temple of the moth priests,accidentally with one of my previous characters in oblivion (he just stumbled across the place whilst exploring that part of tamriel).but i do not recall seeing any elder scrolls there.somehow i feel that another visit is in order with my new character ;-) they are indeed a mystery?
User avatar
Tiffany Castillo
 
Posts: 3429
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:09 am

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:30 am

The elder scrolls were kept within White Gold Tower during the Third Era, where most Elder Scroll divination takes place. The temple of the moth priests seems more of a training/housing complex for the moth priests, or as a place to conduct experiments away from a large populated area (like the Imperial City).

What we definately know is that the Elder Scrolls show a definite history of any past event, and as a result remain constant even in the case of a Dragon Break or some other past-altering event.
User avatar
Louise Andrew
 
Posts: 3333
Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:01 am

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:17 am

No spoilers, but if you want to actually see an elder Scrolls, join the
Spoiler
Thieves guild
.
User avatar
emma sweeney
 
Posts: 3396
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:02 pm

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:10 am

The elder scrolls were kept within White Gold Tower during the Third Era, where most Elder Scroll divination takes place. The temple of the moth priests seems more of a training/housing complex for the moth priests, or as a place to conduct experiments away from a large populated area (like the Imperial City).

What we definately know is that the Elder Scrolls show a definite history of any past event, and as a result remain constant even in the case of a Dragon Break or some other past-altering event.

They are more then just a book about history though. The scrolls we've seen in action so far have the potential to change the past, the future, the present or all at once. I'd say they are far more then just a book they are a controlling entity of time.
User avatar
Enie van Bied
 
Posts: 3350
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:47 pm

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:16 am

In Skyrim, we learn that reading an Elder Scroll can cause damage such as blindness and can damage one's mind, e.g. Septimus Signus.(he even admits it)

However, I could have sworn that I read a book in Oblivion that said Uriel Septim forced the Moth priests to go blind for some reason? Did I misread something? I felt bad for the priests and was disappointed because I liked Uriel. I hope I read that wrong...
User avatar
Taylah Illies
 
Posts: 3369
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:13 am

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:41 am

join the thieves guildin oblivion or do the main quest or the signus septim quest in skyrim! to see a Elder Scroll
User avatar
Sandeep Khatkar
 
Posts: 3364
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:02 am

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:12 am

In Skyrim, we learn that reading an Elder Scroll can cause damage such as blindness and can damage one's mind, e.g. Septimus Signus.(he even admits it)

However, I could have sworn that I read a book in Oblivion that said Uriel Septim forced the Moth priests to go blind for some reason? Did I misread something? I felt bad for the priests and was disappointed because I liked Uriel. I hope I read that wrong...
i think Uriel made them blind because of the Elder Scroll or something like that, i dont remember it very well
User avatar
Jynx Anthropic
 
Posts: 3352
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:36 pm

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:05 am

You read that wrong. The Elder Scrolls themselves make their readers blind. http://imperial-library.info/content/effects-elder-scrolls (which I linked earlier) explains it further.
User avatar
Jade MacSpade
 
Posts: 3432
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:53 pm

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:25 am

It's because the human/merrish mind cannot grasp what the Elder Scrolls are, and what they record (all possible pasts, presents, and futures, and lots of other stuff we can't understand).

Think Lovecraft, but more incomprehensible.

I'a I'a! I'a Magnus! I'a Auriel! I'a Talos! Hjalti Vivec CHIM FATAGN!

EDIT: Is it just me, or am I dumber than I usually am as of late.
User avatar
Kyra
 
Posts: 3365
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:24 am

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:04 am

When the top level was built, it was and is the maximal apex!
User avatar
priscillaaa
 
Posts: 3309
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:22 pm

Post » Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:32 pm

i should have added in my original post that i currently have an elder scroll (skyrim game).my character has opened it a few times,but just seen strange symbols/blinding light for a few seconds.she doesn't plan on opening it any more. i have returned also to the temple of the moth priests in oblivion,but cannot enter yet (will have to find the skeleton key like last time ;-)
User avatar
Connor Wing
 
Posts: 3465
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:22 am

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:30 am

i should have added in my original post that i currently have an elder scroll (skyrim game).my character has opened it a few times,but just seen strange symbols/blinding light for a few seconds.she doesn't plan on opening it any more. i have returned also to the temple of the moth priests in oblivion,but cannot enter yet (will have to find the skeleton key like last time ;-)

Nothing happens when your Nord character reads the Elder Scroll. My theory is that you don't go blind because you haev no knowledge of the scroll and no way of ever reading it, so the effect is minimal and just gives you a short headache.
User avatar
Sarah Edmunds
 
Posts: 3461
Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:03 pm

Post » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:08 am

Nothing happens when your Nord character reads the Elder Scroll. My theory is that you don't go blind because you haev no knowledge of the scroll and no way of ever reading it, so the effect is minimal and just gives you a short headache.

In part, I believe one has to be able to interpret the Elder Scrolls before getting any effect whatsoever from them. To a complete lummox, it would just look like a pretty picture. To somebody who actually understands a little about reading them, they would receive damage as much as they interpret. To somebody who really understands a lot about them, a mere glimpse would flood their senses with far too much information for a mere mortal to handle.
User avatar
Dylan Markese
 
Posts: 3513
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:58 am


Return to The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion