» Mon May 07, 2012 9:31 am I'll probably later regret getting into this, but it's Molag Bal's desire to corrupt and enslave that makes him seen as evil. Yes, Tiber Septim was a prime example of the Dragon's and Dragonborn's drive to dominate others, but unlike Alduin, he didn't brutally enslave or oppress those whom he gained power over. His empire, in fact, banned the practice of enslaving others. Yes, some of them do seem to have alien moralities, but some are less alien than others.
It could be argued that Sheogorath and Peryite also corrupt, but they view madness and disease, respectively, not as curses, but as blessings. Molag Bal, on the other hand, seems to be much more insistent that he's not trying to do anything that he'd consider "good" even if we are going by the idea that he may think of it differently than mortals. He's not trying to make some philosophical statement of how horrible the world is, he's not trying to give people his idea of "help". Whatever his own idea of morality is, it can be classified in mortal terms as "evil". In fact, I imagine most beings that would be considered evil didn't consider themselves to be evil.
It could be argued that Sheogorath and Peryite also corrupt, but they view madness and disease, respectively, not as curses, but as blessings. Molag Bal, on the other hand, seems to be much more insistent that he's not trying to do anything that he'd consider "good" even if we are going by the idea that he may think of it differently than mortals. He's not trying to make some philosophical statement of how horrible the world is, he's not trying to give people his idea of "help". Whatever his own idea of morality is, it can be classified in mortal terms as "evil". In fact, I imagine most beings that would be considered evil didn't consider themselves to be evil.
I wouldnt class Sheogorath or Peryite as corrupt.
Sheogorath is madness, but madness can be a blessing. It can shield you from the horrible truth of reality that would destroy you.
It often happens when someone suffers a terrible loss they will start to act odd. Imagine a woman who couldnt stop cleaning after her husband died. She cleaned everything, the undersides of tables, the ceiling etc. And when she was done, she started over again. This type of madness is a blessing, as she would have been shattered to destruction if forced to stop her busy work and accept reality.
Madness is also very important for the arts, philosophy and the like.
Without a jester to show the wise a funhouse mirror version of themselves, theyll easily get trapped in their own sense of self importance.
Peryite is the cleansing fire.
A fever has the function of killing the disease, like a forest fire can save a languishing forest.
Trial through ordeal, those that survive his sickness are quickened, strengthened, pure.
The order that comes from the destruction of the unclean.
Molag Bal is right through might. Domination and defilement.
While his sphere can be seen as evil from a mortal point of view, it is not something we mortals shun away from.
In Tamriel as well as on Earth there are still many that follow 'right through might'.
Most every war that is fought, most every unjust law enforced on people is an aspect of his sphere.
Since no human thinks of themselves as evil, you can find many philosophical justifications for this kind of behaviour, a small example is the invasion and annexation of Hawai by the US.
Daedra mostly embody concepts of humanity.
It is not the concept in and of itself that is evil, it is what is done with it.
The Daedra are merely acting on their spheres, doing what they are.
This is no more evil than a spider who traps a mouse and svcks it dry, even though to us it looks kinda icky.
What is evil is when a human knows all these things, and still chooses to act that way.
