A random thought occurred, how do you think they work in lore? Do you read some sort of magic words that put the spell in your hand and if so then why can't you remember the words and recite them again? Multiple scrolls of the exact same name and magnitude implies that they contain the same information so what would stop someone from reciting the words more then once?

This may sound stupid but it doesn't make sense to me so I'm curious if someone can make some sense out of it.

Are you referring to "forgotten lore"?

I've always thought you read whatever is one them, at least in Morrowind you could read scrolls and there were a few words in the daedric alphabet. Possibly the power of the spell is imbued/forged into the actual scrolls, which is why you can't just say the words, and the scrolls are destroyed afterwards.

my prayer is that the nest tes crew look at morrowind and realize how much a lot of us loved morrowind's lore and the ability to learn outside the story and through books we picked up over and over and over.

This is what I figured but wouldn't the same words exist on the same scroll? If so then why can't our adventurer simply remember and recite the words at will? It doesn't make sense beyond a gameplay aspect.

I couldn't get into Morrowind but I 2nd this idea.

I guess the power/magicka is in the object, not the words. They use scrolls because papper is cheap and you can write the spell on it, so you know which scroll does what.

^{lol, roll [censored].}

I always assumed that the scrolls are made by those capable or strong with natural magic abilities, and they transfer they're power into the scroll (casting a certain spell) & seal it with letters that create a word which must be read aloud by the person holding the scroll to release it through them. Then it's destroyed after use once the power imbued in it is used.

I've had a similar notion. Basically, I figured the scroll was used as a holding device for an already cast spell, and the seal kept it in check. When you undo the seal, the restriction is lifted, and the spell is unleashed.

Of course, this doesn't quite work considering some scrolls don't have visible seals on them, but it's just the theory I like (partially because I use it in one of my own works).

Not sure how TES handles it or if they ever addressed it. In other books & fantasy games & lore it is explained as follows.

A scroll is made using magically ibued ingredients for the inks & paper. The scroll is prepared by the author using magic. The reader is then allowed to read the incantation to cast the spell without needing to have any magical abilities. The scroll is used up, devoid of magic. Memorizing the words does nothing. The magic is in the making of the scroll to allow another to use it.

This makes sense in TES as you need ingredients to make spider scrolls yet it seems that scrolls aren't used up but rather transformed into a spell or spider by reading the words inscribed on it.

All I know is scrolls are great for the $. I do sometimes wonder what the TC is saying and just go along with the "system".

You have to recite the spell,drawing power from the scroll itself.The scroll,being a piece of paper,is destroyed in the process not being able to handle the intense magicka.