In the http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/lessons.shtml#19, it describes the Cornerstones of the Provisional House where Vivec, if I understand correctly, can literally step outside of time and view it from that perspective. Here is what it says about the 4th:

Cornerstone four has nine bones,
Removed carefully from a black cat,
Arranged in the fashion of this word,
Protecting us from our enemies

Yeah...what does this mean? I half guessed the nine bones from a black cat dealt with Shor and the Aedra, if the black cat deals with creation of Nirn. I haven't quite been able to guess the last part, so help me out, yo.

For the last verse, If I remember right worshipping the Four Corners is a big no-no for the Temple, but when things get real bad they can be called forth and unleashed at an ennemy. Whcih might be what the last verse refers to.

Couldn't that be the foresight of the foundation of Vivec's city? There seems to be a link with the http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/lessons.shtml#24, and this sentence in particular: "Finally the bones of Horde Mountain landed and became the foundation stones for the City of Swords, which Vivec named after his own sigil, and the net fell across it all and between, or became as bridges between bones, and since its segments had been touched by his holy wisdom they became the most perfect of all city streets in the known worlds".

Maybe Vivec took the bones of Horde Mountain, one of the nine monsters he wanted to fight* (that could be the reference to the "nine bones"), and arranged them in the fashion of his name ("this word"), in order to create a city that could protect the heart of Lorkhan against anyone who would prevent ALMSIVI from ruling Resdayn ("our enemies").

Sorry this is all I could find and it may not correspond to what you were looking for.

*See the http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/lessons.shtml#18about the nine monsters: "Vivec entered the Mourning Hold and announced to Ayem that he was going to fight nine monsters that had escaped the Muatra."

This thread: http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?s=&showtopic=744170&view=findpost&p=10763944 talks about the monsters and their "historicity" or reality. It's a subject that still confuses me, but apparently the monsters were symbolic more than corporeal (though in the world of TES, that may be the same thing I guess).

See also MK's post: http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?s=&showtopic=744170&view=findpost&p=10769452

I really shouldn't answer this, but look up voodoo traditions regarding black cat bones.

'Preciate it, holmes. I'll do that. Right now.

Make of your love a defense against the horizon?

Interesting. I assume you mean the spell to return a lost lover, or the spell for rebirth after death and not the invisibility charm.


In which case, the symbolism of 9 bones, is not totally lost to me.


9 bones, for 9 spirits, and 9 limbs given; arranged in the world's structure.

Essentially, the spell would create a mythic binding to the mundus, which would cause the mundus to rebirth Vivec every time he dies.

I wonder if he keeps a voodoo doll of himself too......... That would help to keep anyone from putting any bindings on HIM. (because he has already created one, and placed it in his provincial house.)

Might sound dumb (for more that one reason), but is the word formed by the bones "Love?"

I'm really just chunkin' crap out there...

While you COULD spell the word "Love" if you used a vertebra to make the 'o', and used straight bones (like ribs or leg bones) to make the other letters, I dont think so, as the sermon outright says it is arranged in the order of the world.


EG-- It is arranged wheel-style, with 8 limbs surrounding a spoke in the center. (my guess anyway.)


*edit*

OOps! It says "WORD"--- Given vivec's choices of power words, the word is either "I", or "Love"


The total spell of the 4 corners is probably akin to "I love you all" or "I are all we" but I cant be sure of that. I really dont know.

could the word not be VEHK?

Eh, possibly. But Vehk, for one, has too many lines. Love and whatnot is a constant theme through Vehk's written works, which prompted me to think of that. It's even the only thing that can save Tamriel from Landfall, which is essentially the Apocalypse.

In english letters that would take 12 bones.


It would also take 12 bones in Daedric.

So, No.

Interestingly enough, the tradition also states that if the bone is placed in the mouth, that person becomes invisible. The only thing I could connect this other part to, is the "Trial of Vivec" when a ring of the Wraithmail was placed in someones mouth, and the voice of Alandro Sul was heard. The effect is different, the process is similar.

There is an Ashlander tradition that some of them supposedly wear ringlets from the wraithmail and they hear the whispers of Alandro Sul, or him even speaking. So that occasion has precedence.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Image:MW_Map_Vivec.jpg

Makes hella sense. I apologize to Hashan for being a [censored] and not truly reading his post.

So, with all the stuff that's been presented, I guess we can say this:

Black cat bones in Voodoo are used for invisibility, good luck, romantic sucess, and rebirth. The "word" IS indeed Vehk, or perhaps Vivec, in reference to himself and the city, seeing as he is his own "other," as someone has stated. So I guess you could say the 4th cornerstone is V'vehk himself.

At least, this is my viewpoint on it. Thanks for the help, sirs and ladies.

I'm still unsure about the necessity of the black cat, though. Black cat bones seem to be most popular for invisibility or as part of a charm to return a lost lover. The other part of the line, "removed carefully..." seems to underscore it.

And pardon me if it has been covered before, but what are the other three cornerstones?

I beleive its the Four Corners of the House of Troubles, which is the Four Rebel Daedra, Malacath, Sheogorath, Molag Bal, and Mehrunes Dagon. The Rebel, Insanity, [censored], and Destruction themselves. Malacath is probably the most significant figure of the four, as he was the et'Ada Trinimac, before being swallowed and s***ed out by Boethiah. Trinimac himself was the strongest of the Aldmeri ancestor spirits, the representation of teachings of the Altmer that the Velothi dissidents rebelled against.

Lol, read the OP.

I was right?!

I'M TEH LOARMAZTERZ! :woot:

Lol. Well I DID say it was a guess.

I could be wrong as [censored]....It's definitely possible.