Hey guys, so i'm new to these forums, and this is my first topic, but I am familiar with elder scrolls lore, particularly regarding the Daedric Princes. I have found the daedric princes to be very interesting, but i have been most intrigued by Mephala, whose sphere of influence is obscured to mortals.

I have played both Skyrim and Oblivion, and have completed all the various daedric prince quests, although i've never played the elder scrolls online or morrowind, or any of its predecessors, but i have thoroughly researched the daedra, and while most motivations of these princes i can understand the basics of and their sphere, Mephala seems incomprehensible, and i know this is part of her sphere, but i have a few questions that i was hoping some of you could answer:

1. Firstly, as experienced through skyrim and read in the book of daedra, both boethiah's and mephala's spheres seem to encompass deceit, secret murder and plots of some sort, but in my view i see boethiah as a prince of self-servitude and ambition in mortals, who does not care for mortals who are weak-willed but whom are willing to do anything(not restricted to deceit or murder) for their own cause, which could also be showing compassion if necessary, or being cruel, as long as it advances on station and is not doing in the name of others. Whereas i see Mephala as a prince who expresses interest in the specific acts of deceit and secret killing, would this be correct or am i Mistaken?

2. Another question i have is that what is the difference between Nocturnal's sphere of darkness and acts of secrecy and mephala's sphere of obscurity and also acts that require secrecy and being discreet? Also, Nocturnal has been described as enigmatic and unknowable, which seems to fit well with mephala too, so can someone explain the difference between the two?

3. As seen with other daedric princes, they seem to be referred to a "patron deity," Malacath being the patron of the ostracised, nocturnal the patron of thieves, if you were to decide one for mephala, what would it be? (oh and please don't say spiders)

Thanks guys for reading, and please let me know if you have any ideas on the questions.

This probably belongs in the lore forum rather than the series discussion. You'll get some great answers over there. A mod can probably move it for you

For what it's worth though, Daedric spheres quite often overlap. You've pretty much got it right on point #1 - as far as I can see it, the Dunmer associate Mephala with the art of lying, six and 'secret murder'. She's also the patron of the Morag Tong so murder and secrecy seem to be a big thing for her. It's also noted in several sources that her only consistent trait is toying with mortals, hence the name webspinner - so there's a bit of 'fate' tied up in her as well. I think she's actually considered Hermaeus Moras 'sister'. Boethiah on the other is more about plotting to overthrow power, battle and conspiracy ... i.e influencing the Velothi exodus from the Aldmer, messing with Trinimac/Malacath and just generally being a self centred [censored].

As for Nocturnal - as I already said, Daedric spheres always overlap. But Nocturnals sphere is more about the night, and actual 'darkness', where Mephala I think is more about mysterious happenings and unknowable fate. Does that make sense? I.e Mephala is the patron of assassins, whereas Nocturnal is the patron of thieves. Some similar traits, but not the same. (That should also answer your third question - if you haven't played Morrowind it's understandable you didn't know about her being patron of the Morag Tong - the assassins guild of that province. She's also strongly implied to be the Night Mother for the Dark Brotherhood. Just another case of her messing with mortals).

Thanks for replying, i did not even know of a lore forum, i'll have to check that out, i'll be like a kid in a candyshop there!

Yeah i think i get boethiah, well i think i do. He's more about doing the actions for some revolutionary cause, and i researched some of the morag tong before, but not all of it, but i saw them as taking some teachings from mephala, but not all of them. I read somewhere that mephala integrates contradictory themes somehow, such as murder, seducing, tact, i cant remember what exactly it said.

I understand what you say about nocturnal being about literal darkness, whereas mephala is more about as you say mysterious happenings. I also recall a theory about her being the night mother, which would also fit in with her sphere of deceit.

In any case, in the future of elder scrolls i hope shes get a good amount of storyline, for some reason she is my favourite daedra