Equally viable is the hypothesis that the "avatar" is an injection of the Prince entering past the Lunar Lattice by force or by a back door. Think of it as sort of like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement, in the sense that the Prince can be in two places at the same time. Or, maybe it is morel like shoving a Play-dough blob through a small opening: most of it stays outside of the Lunar Lattice, but some comes through. It is part of the whole, and is connected in ways not visible to the naked eye (maybe another dimension, or through wormholing).

At least, that's how I think of it. Because a separate entity - the whole "avatar" thing - just seems kind of boring and very cliche and not very rational.

DAMN IT! I sent vile because I didn't think that they'd count the Hoon Ding (not being official lore and all) I even alluded to him in a post!

I didn't say they weren't the same entity, I said a fleeting, illusory projection of the Daedric Prince's will and thought given seperate form. It'[s still the Daedra Prince in personality, action and spirit, but limted by being given a body. but it is a merest fraction of the awesome and terrible truth of a full Daedric Prince's power, which is to say, an entire planet.

I figured the safe bet was to guess that Bethesda didn't know what a god was in their universe. The soul sword sure as [censored] wasn't a god in the game Redguard, but the one line retcon from Morrowind seems to have made it one.

Lamest god ever. It stabs one poorly animated fat guy and his pet elf, then does nothing else. Ius is way better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-y69ELWNyA

the sword itself is not a god, its just a shinny enchanted weapon. However, when the Sword is wielded by Cyrus, a Crown, against the Empire, they become the Hoon Ding. The Hoon Ding is always a dual nature, Sword and Crown, King and Rebel, unity of the Raga peoples against the great Other. Before and after the defeat of Richton (and through him the empire) Cyrus is just a mercenary and the sword is just a sword.

The defeat of Richton is not just the stabbing of a fat dude, it is the ritual murder of the Empire. As Vivec killed Talos through the armistice, so the Hoon Ding killed him through rebellion.

In talking with our designers, Daedric Princes are not considered gods. We sympathize though. This is some complex stuff.

A new question is up. This one should be more straightforward:

http://bethblog.com/index.php/2010/02/12/testing-your-knowledge-volume-5-lack-of-akavir/

Not interested in playing anymore. I woulda sold my copy on ebay anyway.

Well, darn, right answer but not picked. I'm somewhat amazed I actually got it right because my first thought was Clavicus Vile as well until I realized 'everyone's right, that is too easy an answer to be correct.' Still amazed, though.

They were right deadra are not considered gods.

http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/aedra_daedra.shtml

http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/monomyth.shtml

You might try reading through what you link to sometime:

"The Daedra were created at this time also, being spirits and Gods more attuned to Oblivion, or that realm closer to the Void of Padomay."--The Monomyth

Or if you prefer:

"A God's preferred appearance (which is how I'd characterize the archetypes most associated with each Daedra and Tribunal member - the Aedra do not have physical appearances associated with them)..."http://www.imperial-library.info/book_daedra/

Or even more specifically:

"Clavicus Vile, child-god of the Morningstar, bestows a strange tranquility to his lands..."http://www.imperial-library.info/obscure_text/census_daedra.shtml

Or:

"Mehrunes Dagon (God of Destruction)..."http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/varietiesoffaith.shtml

And just for fun:

"The peasants have colorful terms for Daedra: fiends, unclean spirits, the evil ones, the Dark Princes, the gods of torment, the infernal ones, and, most commonly..."http://www.imperial-library.info/bestiaries/bestiarydaggerfall.shtml

I imagine I could go on...

Nick, could you explain in your own words the reasoning of those designers was. Considering what Lugar posted, it looks like both the Library and Bethesda messed up.

As for the newer question, it seems much easier. By it's nature all of TES religion and mythology is open for semantic debate, but history and politics is a lot more straightforward. My answer is sent.

My answer is also just in. And yes, I'm more sure of my answer this time.

From the monomyth:

1.)In any case, from these two beings spring the et'Ada, or Original Spirits. To humans these et'Ada are the Gods and Demons; to the Aldmer, the Aedra/Daedra, or the 'Ancestors'.

From Aedra and Daedra:

2.)The designations of Gods, Demons, Aedra, and Daedra, are universally confusing to the layman.


as we see the aedra being called gods and the daedra are called demons this is what leads me to belive they came up with daedra are not gods. Sorry for the last post i've been out of town and had my girlfriend write it for me but wasn't able to explain it.

Well well, the new question is a lot harder than I thought. Off to research!

New question up:

http://bethblog.com/index.php/2010/02/26/testing-your-knowledge-volume-7-divine-investigation/

I know the answer!!

Huh. I'm either being real clever with my answer, or I'll come off dumb as a post...

Hey, I know that. *Goes off to write email.*

Yannow, not to knock on the signed copy, but a tour of the BGS facilities would be a nice if somewhat fantastical prize for some other future contest campaign.

That would be cool. Whether or not that ever happens, we'll see.

As cool as that would be, I thinking mailing something out is a lot easier than flying someone in.

Hey, I'd be happy to drive there. I'm just 2 hours away.

What if the person who won lives in china.

Maybe that would work for a really i-depth thing like, "write less that 250 words on what you think happened to the Dwe(b)mer"

Yannow, not to knock on the signed copy, but 70-30 partnership with ZeniMax would be a nice if somewhat fantastical prize for some other future contest campaign.

I've been in all but one of the raffles I think. http://bethblog.com/index.php/category/testing-your-knowledge/y!