Hello everyone, I hope you're all well. It's been awhile since I posted on these forums - I fairly recently got my computer back in working order after it, well, constantly crashed on me due to faulty RAM, but I'm back and my computer is doing well! Just need to update my mods and make sure my games are in working order still. But, I digress...

I have a few questions concerning Nords as a whole and also about Shalidor specifically in regards to magic in general as well as necromancy. I look forward to reading your replies - whatever you have to share either from the lore, your observations, etc. is always appreciated in regards to topics like this.

First question - aside from the Dragon Cult's ties and Potema, are there any other bits of lore or any indications that link Nords and the practice of Necromancy? Was there any known Nord (including those who later became draugr or undead) who practiced necromancy - was there still a stigma concerning the art prior to the 4th Era?

Second question - I'm aware of the fact Shalidor is easily concerned the most powerful mage among the Human races, but I also heard he had rather high standards in Skyrim and is also considered one of the main reasons why less Nords practice the arcane than swordplay or smithing. Was there any mention in the lore or any speculation - aside from, if I remember correctly from the Destruction Mastery quest or Shalidor's Maze in Skyrim, being able to apply magic practically while demonstrating the intellect to learn such spells - on what those standards were? I know it says he didn't want commoners to use magic as opposed to Vanus Galerion's ideas of anyone learning magic, but was there more to it than this?

Third question, and this is a bit important to me - I know the College of Winterhold is perfectly fine with necromancy as long as you don't go raising someone's grandmother in public, and Shalidor is the founder of the College, but does this mean Shalidor himself was alright with the art, or perhaps practiced it as well for the sake of knowledge at least? Or would the College's acceptance of it be simply after years of studying from those who join and deciding that restricting one from researching certain schools of magic to be a bad idea and allowing them to study it freely?

Fourth question, one that I've been curious about for awhile - is there any explanation as to why, in ESO, the Worm Cult is primarily found in Skyrim and considered the main threat to the Ebonheart's side of the Planemeld (aside from the possibility of needing to give the Ebonheart some opposing faction to deal with like the Bloodthorns and Inheritance for DC and AD respectively)? In addition, do you think that throughout the Worm Cult's existence there have been a considerable amount of Nord Necromancers? Did any of those Nordic members of the Order of the Black Worm become Liches? I'll admit here, I never played ESO - although I do wish to play it assuming I can stop being indecisive and/or lazy.

Fifth and final question - In the past, were there specific forms of magic Ancient Nords and Nords from the 1st and 2nd Era excelled at or were known for? I believe the Art of War Magic mentioned something about Nordic shamans (any difference between them and mages?) being able to call upon storms, and the fact Stalhrim is enchanted ice makes me think there's some affinity for iced based magic in addition to a resistance to it in Nords.

Well, if you managed to get through this little wall of text I just want to thank you for your time and say once again, I look forward to reading your responses.

Shalidor I imagine would be fine with the idea of necromancy used as a way to better understand magic and life and death but would probably disagree with how people like Potema used it for her own ambitions to take the throne.

Nords, magic, and necromancy all have a...complicated relationship with one another. The Witch-Warriors of Skyrim, the 500 being aided by a powerful and prolific enchanter, the Nordic Empires conquests, the Dragur, the Clever-Craft...so on and so forth.

Dragur range from being a intentional creation for the purpose of aiding Alduin when he returns, to happy accidents caused by something someone did while still alive. Much like the Dunmer, the Nords are among the few races that actually practice necromancy on a cultural level, though you'd never catch both of them considering it real necromancy. One does wonder about "natural" Dragur who have no ties to either previous necromancers raising them, or being unaffiliated with the Dragon Cult all together. Could it be that if their body remains, failures of Tsun's trial are sent back? That's a unpleasant thought.

Maybe, though we still sort of lack information on Shalidor. Generally speaking, the Nord's tended to use magic for more practical (I.E wartime) applications during their heyday, so its possible that he could be referring to the true study of magic and the acquisition of knowledge.

Well, there is some passing interest, but most of the examples we have are on a individual basis, and not indicative to how Nords feel about it. Generally speaking, I don't think it was ever truly a acceptable practice across the board, since Dragur are usually referred to as cursed and what not. We don't have many records of proper Nordic necromancy, so while the Nords embalm their dead, raising them was always taboo on some level.

Kyne, their primary deity, being the Goddess of the Storm says to me that Shock based spells would be popular among Nords, before anything else, especially those reverent of her. We do have records of non-Thu'um based spells where Nords called down storms during the conquest on Morrowind. Also for what its worth, along side their 100% frost resistance in Morrowind, Nords also had a 25% resistance to shock based spells.