Is there a lore-reason for ghosts being out there, in ruins or whatever? I want an answer only from oblivion lore standpoint, if possible

There isn't very much lore on ghosts that I can find. I looked at UESP and the Imperial Library and neither site had much to say on the subject. Undead enemies like ghosts and skeletons have a long tradition in fantasy stories. I don't think there's much more to it than that.

does tes lore cover if and what would "usually" happen to people after they die?

if so, i'd say ghostification is what happens when that goes wrong, just like in earth lore

There is probably some talk of ghosts in lore occasionally, but the ghosts we see floating around in lairs are just standard undead, like Wyrd said. All medieval RPGs have ghosts (or some form of floating undead) why not TES 4?

There is one ghost though who is named, and has to do with a quest down in Bravil. I'm not sure if this guy appears in any lore or not.

You should probably ask this question in http://www.gamesas.com/forum/16-elder-scrolls-lore/, if you haven't already. You'll get some people fighting to provide better answers than we have. ha ha.

Occasionally, you'll get spirits who are bound to Tamriel due to unanswered wishes from their past life. In Skyrim, And in one of the novels, a ghost hangs back for his own wishes.


Universally, to my knowledge, these are the only times we see spirits stick around. Someone either takes advantage of your soul (summoning/necromancy/Dwemer weirdness,) or you yourself wish to stay behind because of some deep attraction.


I've always assumed the rando ghost enemies are the same way. Perhaps they are Ayleids, tormented by the thought of losing their civilization. Or maybe they are previous inhabitants of an area who have had misfortune in their past life in another way:

Those are good answers, DK. I forgot all about the haunted mansion in Anvil quest.

There are quite a few named ghost in Oblivion that play a part in the the workings of Cyrodiil: