The Four Corners of the House of Troubles serve as antagonists who test the Dunmer for weakness. That`s not hard to grasp.

The 36 Lessons of Vivec, however, imply that they also play a role in the journey to become a ruling king, what with Vivec having a good time with Molag Bal and learning of chim that way.

Then there`s Nerevar`s encounter with the Void Ghost, whom I believe to be Sheogorath. The Void Ghost`s "bargains are only for ruling kings", to quote sermon thirty-three. I interpreted that to mean that Sheogorath offers "things" that only those with chim can deal/cope(?) with, or can otherwise not be understood by or be useful to others. The Shivering Isles dlc confirmed this, for me anyway, by making creativity and genius a part of Sheo`s sphere. Things that chimsters would want in quantities that other people couldn`t handle.

My question is this:

If Molag Bal, or the things he lord over, offer the (upstarting) chimster something which I`m not sure how to call, and Sheogorath offers them the spark of genius, an idea that I′d like to discuss here, too, what is it that Dagon and Malacath can give the ruling king?

If Sheo, who tests the minds of the dunmer, can grant those with chim that special sort of genius that borders on insanity,

what can Mehrunes Dagon, who tests the dunmer with natural disasters, grant him?

Please discuss.

Mehrunes challenges the Dunmer ability to survive in the harsh climate and landscape of Morrowind and Malacath challenges the physical strength of the Dunmer. So Mehrunes Dagon probably tests the ruler's ability to survive in rough situations and times of disaster and clime/landscape changing.

We've heard of Vivec flooding the land to rid it of his enemies. If we consider this as a natural disaster, it might be interpreted as Vivec somehow sharing in Dagon's influence over the land.

Vivec's relationship with Molag Bal was not by accident. From Sermon 31:

The 4 Corners of the House of Troubles "train" a supplicant to survive in the harshest of conditions. This is important because it allows them a better chance of surviving the ultimate test of wills, of knowledge, of ability. They are not the only key to this task, however. Worship of all of the Daedra is advisable, for every Daedra carries a lesson that will be useful. Black Hands Mephala, for example, teaches her worshipers to use Theory and Terror, and to become their masters, so that they may easier cast them aside when facing down God.

Molag Bal is the king of (the R-Word we can't say here) because he is the master of domination. Vivec submitted to Molag Bal's will so that he could learn to serve others. He gained from this humility (or so I'm told, since it's not too apparent by his behavior) and by extension dignity. Mehrunes Dagon is the embodiment of destruction, which is change. Sheogorath can help a worshiper understand the Third Walking Way, which is hysteria without fear. And Malacath teaches self-reliance, self-expulsion, and shifting within one's own skin.

Imagine this: 12 of the Daedra can teach you knowledge and skill. You can use that knowledge and skill so that, when you face the roaring fire that is the Four Corners, you can plunge your hand into the fire and let the fire teach you how not to be burned.

That's so poetic...

Is that to say that the Daedra were not merely unwilling to part with their full powers at Creation (that is, just stand aside), but actually took stances against the Aedra and chose to try to ruin their power in this new world? This seems to indicate that they want (at least some) mortals to achieve CHIM as Lorkhan wished, but did not help Lorkhan themselves. ...I get the feeling that this is something along the same lines as "Aka is Lorkhan and killed himself by killing his enemy," where the Daedra conspired with the Aedra for the same goal, even as the Aedra outwardly turn against the idea of Creation.

Now, tell me how this adds up with On Boethiah's Summoning Day and I'll leave here happy.