I was finding it a pain to search for the original thread, but I found this on the Imperial Library from MK:
On the "most powerful" being:

" Talos.

The HoonDing.

Trinimac.

Vivec.

Leki.

Reman.

Auri-El.

Wulfharth.

Morihaus.

Pelinal.

That's my list, and pretty much in that order. Though Vivec did kill Tiber Septim once...but I mentioned Talos, not the Emperor."

Which immediately confused me. How is Trinimac so high up when he was even eaten by someone not on the list? Vivec is strong, sure, but more so than Auri-El? For that matter, how could Auri-El be below his "descendants" so to speak? Is it just the whole idea of him being in chains or sacrificed as the earth-bones? The HoonDing also seems unnaturally high to me.

I believe I read that it wasn't meant to be taken literally and was done under some 'number crunching' in terms of Dungeons and Dragons. As in if they were to face off in an old school DnD way this is how they would be rated.

It was the exact opposite of what Lord Tidus recalls.

The placement of Trinimac is obviously interesting. Trinimac deserves more of our attention.

I can't fathom why Talos would be at the top.

Care to link me to the reference? Its been bugging me awhile.

The thread has probably disappeared. If I recall correctly, the original poster was coming at it from that sort of silly statistical perspective, but Michael Kirkbride definitely wasn't.

Trinimac was regarded as the great early leader of the Altmer. Then his voice was stolen by Boethia, and he becomes the inspiration of the Chimer exodus. After that he is transformed into Malacath, and now he is the champion of the Orsimer. We can only imagine that, if their opinions were recorded, the other elves would have tied their history to Trinimac as well. Beyond that, Trinimac has been explicitly tied to Tsuhn, an Aedra, which ties him also to Zenithar and Zeht. We don't know much about this god, but we know Zeht renounced his father (that is, Akatosh/Alduin/Auriel) after the creation of the world, fitting tightly with this story of the transformation of Trinimac into Malacath. The exact nature of Trinimac has never been expanded on, but we are clearly circling around it. He seems considerably more important than anyone gives him credit for, and one could imagine "Trinimacheanism" as a relatively standard form of Marukhati heresy.

Could "most powerful" really be referencing the most powerful direct (historically) effects in worldly affairs? Talos could easily hold a lofty position thus, and Trinimac would be no surprise either (especially with his role involving multiple races either as Trinimac, Malacath, or the Boethia interactions). The HoonDing...eh, maybe, but pretty much all of Vivec's actions were of rather hands-on historical importance. This would put Auri-El in place as well since IT may be ancient/powerful but interacts rather indirectly (with the exception of the oblivion crisis and perhaps Skyrim). Most of the other characters were mortal-gods, so their historical "power" is quite evident.

I'd say the HoonDing is quite important/deserving of its place. It was the under the HoonDing in which the Raga routed the Legion and forced Tiber Septim himself to come to negotiate with the Raga. They forced the Empire to recognize the same status Morrowind had to wager for with the Numidium.

Who's HoonDing?

The HoonDing is the Raga God of Makeway and Preserverence over the Infidels. He is Tall Papa's favorite son and traditionally shows up when the Raga people need to 'Makeway' for their people and manifested itself in Cyrus during the events of Redguard.

So he's a redguard god?

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:HoonDing#HoonDing

Through various incarnations, driving a path for the Ra Gada in times of need. The most recent incarnation may have been a crown, a sword, or both.
-Varieties of faith, I think

Granted the game Redguard is old, but when I got up to that part, that quote finally made sense to me. Dayumn :>

I really, really, really want to go to Hammerfell...

The list is also missing Zurin Arctus. And if Vivec's on there, what about Sotha Sil and Almalexia? I wouldn't say Vivec was more powerful than them...

Zurin is Talos, and Vivec had CHIM.

I think it's roughly accurate, and a joke. It basically goes: CHIMers, then other dragon-breakers, and the Dragon himself, followed by other divine beings, with Malacath as a possible oddball.

Anyone else find Leki's inclusion interesting?

Who else do you know who's taken down an entire army on her own, whilst mortally wounded and having to track up a mountain and into a tower to cut down the King of Daggerfall? Leki was a badass chicka.

He might, perhaps, have more significance to events however. In the least, he seemed a bit wiser (conniving, clever, mischievous....).

I *still* can't find the entire original post of that; it feels like the hundredth time I've looked. Driving me crazy.
Context is important!