I was reading a book in Morrowind, where a Guar and Kagouti were talking about who was uglier. Then Vivec appears out of no where and says something about how both of them are the ugliest creatures in all of the land, and then smashed their skulls in. This story makes me think he's gone mad like Almalexia. What are your opinions on Vivec and his true personality.

He's definately a capable politician who cares a lot about the Dunmer people, but that's not to say he doesn't love power and will be economical with the truth and use vague descriptions (like about how he can't see the Dwemer) to stop himself appearing as what he really is, or was - a jealous, power-hungry, murdering traitor.

I don't think he's mad, he just has confusing logic at times.

That wasn't how I remember it happening. It was in Homilies of Blessed Almalexia, if I'm not mistaken. The creatures were following Vivec when he was walking somewhere and they kept arguing with each other all the time until he lost his temper with them.

The same book starts with young Sotha Sil throwing rocks at Scribs for fun. I think the creatures represent other things, and are not just "talking creatures". The scribs are weak and helpless, and a lot smaller than Seht, so it means "don't pick on people who are weaker than you" or "what is fun to you may hurt another".

Vivec is an enigma, although his actions seem to revolve around his perception of the greater good for Morrowind, be it murdering a friend to become a god, or to help the reborn Nerevar to destroy the very source of the godhood that Vivec murdered him for.

I've read it again (it was Homilies of Blessed Almalexia) and it was right that Vivec just strolled by and smashed their skulls in. I wouldn't use THIS little story to call him mad when there's 36 Lessons of Vivec. Almalexia becomes insane when she starts to lose her power, but Vivec had this strange logic ever since the beginning. But it's not madness. Probably the duality of the violent and sublime forces within him.

Homilies of Blessed Almalexia is a collection of children's folk tales..ways of teaching some moral code related to Morrowind's culture. I don't think the stories are meant to be literally true, like most of the writings on ALMSIVI these are...embellished stories...lies...propaganda...whatever you want to call them. At least that's my way of looking at it. I don't think we can gauge anything about Vivec from it.

There meant to teach a moral, not to teach history.

I think Vivec is pretty honorable, certainly the most sensible person on Vvardenfell. The 36 Lessons show his darker side though - his violent side, his lustful side, and all too many references to muatra for me to sleep soundly at night again. But even then, I think he's not all that bad.


Exactly. Essentially folk tales. Gosh, at least I hope no poor, wounded Netches died because of their selfish friends.

Vivec is probably a Trickster figure, similar to the mythical Coyote, Raven, and Loki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote_(mythology)#The_culture_hero

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_(mythology)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loki

About this, I disagree. I feel that position goes to Athyn Sarethi, though he would disagree, which is why he should get it.

Also, remember, these books are written by priests, and they're meant to inspire fear and awe in Vivec, so we can't take them as literally as some other sources.

Vivec is generally a contrast of opposites. God / mortal. Man / woman. Chimer / Dunmer. His personality seems to follow the same pattern - the ruthless pragmatist who kills Nerevar / the laughing dervish who duels with Cyrus the Redguard. He's definately 'weird', but I don't think he's mad. Madness is being ruled by irrationality or things that aren't true, and I'd say that's the last thing Vivec is.

Is he honourable? I have no doubts that he'd break his word without hesitation if it suited him.

I think he's a benevolent figure overall, at least as long as you're not a fool or someone who opposes him.



As for the story in the OP, I think there's a clue it's just a story in that it features a talking guar and a talking kagouti.

i always thought vivec was a man who became a godlike figure. so he isnt exactly pure. You can kill him, which means he's a Demigod (mortal god, can be killed by war, violence), so that means he is just a powerful, and very wise man. But any wise man loses there temper sometime. sometimes with violence.

It's a shalk, not a guar, and a kagouti. Couldn't be a guar; guars are cute :wub:

Anyway, the tale is an entirely practical one, instructive to moderators on the subject of console wars and versus threads and how best to put a stop to them

Maybe that's the prime reason why Vivec became a god... so that people would finally take the gibberish he wrote seriously.

That's slightly worrying...

As for Vivec: he's fits his Rogue/Fighter-Poet things he has going on quite nicely. Charming and like-able but very likely to deceive or back stab you if it's for some greater goal he has in mind. At least, that's what I always thought about him.

I'm wondering it anybody's taking into account the fact that nearly every Aedra and Daedra has the same kind of story.

I've always believed that the moderators were lesser Daedra in service to Mephala.

I always believed that the condition of having two distinct personalities was called having a split personality. That condition also called schitsophrenia - and is clinically identifiable as insanity. It makes sense to me that when mortals are suffused by powerfully divine forces their true natures are amplified and Vivec is quite clearly just as nuts by that definition as Almalexia. :shrug:

That's Pelinal you're talking about.

No, schizophrenia is not multiple identity disorder. Though schizophrenia can make you very confused and feel dissociated, which can cause sort of the same thing.

Maybe he's not as good as he seems, the story goes that Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil betrayed Nerevar and used Kagrnac's tools to grasp power.
Besides, when the player, Nerevar, runs around he kills kagoutis too and it's a shalk not a guar ( ya, I like guars too )
Shalks and kagoutis are aggresive so they probably attacked him first, but he should have let them live, talking animals are rare... like Rollie, but he doesn't want to talk.

I never really liked Vivec. He's so.. weird. I think he only pretends to be a nice guy.

I think I'll kill him this run and complete the game without divine aid, permanent health sacrifice or not.

He only pretends to be a lot of things, but I do believe he cares about the people of Morrowind - probably more than the other two, even though he seems to believe Sotha Sil loves them the most. Locking yourself in a clockwork city for a thousand years and not interacting with or helping any of your people at all seems like a strange way to show love, though.

At least Vivec tried to maintain the Ghostfence when the other two gave up on it.

I don't think he pretends to be a caring patriot. He is a caring patriot. But only because it suits him, as the most influential figure in Morrowind, as much as it does the people.

I know what you mean. I've never liked him either and I'm not sure why. The character just seems to give off a "vibe" that rubs me the wrong way and every time I have played the main quest my dislike for Vivec has deepened, even if I believe he really does care about the citizens of Morrowind.