Fairly straightforward, this doesn't fall into the, "Dragonborn can do what ever he wants because he is awesome." category, does it?

I meant to post this in the spoiler section.

This might get a better answer in the lore forum.

My suggestions:

• People in the 4th era are tough, 3rd era (and earlier) folks were wimps.
• All that meat in the Nord diet.
• It's just a fancy replica?

or: Maybe over time the power of the artifact has waned. With it's masters and the heart gone, maybe it just doesn't have the juice anymore.

Why do we always assume the mighty Dragonborn is a nord? A demi-god has to be intelligent.

Perhaps it was changed by the Nerevarine beating it against the Heart?

Are you referring to the meat option? We know the Dragonborn is in Skyrim, which makes them somewhat subject to the Nord diet.

The Heart has been gone for a few centuries, so it's probably lost a lot of its power since it hasn't been exposed to divine essence in a very long time

isn't it the case that you need wraith guard because the heart's energy was detrimental to you when you use Keening without it?

I think it is simply weaker

Or the Dragonborn and/or Arch Mage is freakin awesome like that

"I have read no less than three elder scrolls and I'll have you know my eyesight and mental health are perfect."

Because the legend is more rooted in Nord culture than anywhere else on Tamriel. The Imperials don't even know what a Dragonborn really is.

Besides, plenty of intelligent Nords out there. Kodlak, Brunwulf, Ulfric, Esbern, ect.

Because the Wraithguard is not in the game, they had to make the Mortal Strike enchantment have less of an impact. As for the Lore Reason, blame it on Red Mountain not existing anymore, hence not lending its power to the items.

Doesn't Arnel (sp?) also mention something about it appearing to be damaged?

It may not even be the real Keening. He could have been ripped off with a phony replica, hence the somewhat disasterous results of the experiement (for him)

Because no matter what race you pick the game thinks of you as a nord.

Every spoke to Arcadia in whiterun? she calls you a "hearty Nord" even if you're an Altmer or dunmer or orc or anything really.

As for why you can use Kneening...I'm guessing it's cause it's old and most of it's power is gone? idk, but the dragonborn does read elder scrolls and never gets blind so...