I know that Bosmer can shapeshift into animals? Is that true... now I'm doubting myself. But what is the Wild Hunt? Is it voluntary? Cause it sounds like Bosmer are ashamed of it but if it's voluntary than why would they do it? Is their shapeshifting in general voluntary?

It's less shapeshifting into animals and more shapeshifting into slavering monsters permanently. The Bosmer are ashamed of it because it is a necessary evil in times of great stress.

Yup, its true, and by all accounts is pretty horrific, and just about anyone involved in it wind up dead once they start turn to devour each other. I don't believe the shape shifting is voluntary at all, and comes with the package. Why would they do it? I was actually turning the reason why in my head today and came to the conclusion is that its used when pushed passed the point of desperation.

According to a loading screen in Skyrim, the Wild Hunt is something that Hircine calls upon it to punish people who defy him. I have to admit it's a bit confusing that it seems there's two different "Wild Hunt"s. Are they the same? Do the Bosmer have some link with Hircine? The supposed ability of the Bosmer to change into a monster doesn't seem all that unlike lycanthropy, just that it's a one-way deal for them where with lycanthropy you go back and forth.

There are two Wild Hunts. The Daedric Wild Hunt, a ritual I think you get to see in Battlespire and is detailed in the "Posting of the Hunt" in-game book, and the bosmer one.

You don't just see it in battlespire, you're the prey.

Just an FYI, I commissioned a drawing by MK of the Wild Hunt, so maybe we'll see that somewhere in the near future.

Are we so sure they're different? The Posting of the Hunt sounds more like a game, and also not too far off from what happened in Bloodmoon. It doesn't sound like a punishment, per-se, just the way he likes to hunt. How much is known about the Bosmer version?

the bosmer wild humt turns them into monsters...but much much stronger monsters. They eat and consume all enemys in their path and when theres no enemys, they consume each other until one is left. They are ashamed because its a very nasty yet very powerful weappn and like its stated, they cant go back to being normal.
Also they might be ashamed because reverta them back into their original or call it.deevolving where it turns their bodies how they were created long ago and cohldnt keep shape. Where they were always changing shapes and whatnot. So it might be better to say they are ashamed to use it because it exposes their true self or original self.

Also does anyone know if its true that during the wild hunt, do they get stronger each body they eat? I recall reading that the ones whos left is immensely powerful because they absorb all the power from the rest?

Actually, the Posting of the Hunt details events quite different from what we saw in bloodmoon. The daedric Hunt only occurs in a particular place, for example (namely, that level in Battlespire), with the reward being prestige and the ability to draw upon the magical energies enveloping the hunting grounds. The hunt is inaugurated with particular rituals (none of which are seen in bloodmoon), and is governed by a strict set of laws, which designate the methodology of the hunt, the Innocent quarry's right to a means of escape, (traditionally by means of six keys which must be found to activate a teleporter), the use of the spear of Bitter mercy by the Hunstmen, etc. The Ritual of the Hunt also protects the Huntsmen from all damage except for that inflicted by the Spear of Bitter Mercy. Nothing that happened in bloodmoon even resembles that. (edit: oh, and the only time we see the Wild Hunt detailed in the Posting of the Hunt carried out, it's done by servants of Mehrunes Dagon)

Also, the bosmer version is very different, involving the bosmer transforming into wild monsters. It lacks the laws and strictures featured in the Posting of the Hunt. (not to mention it's a mortal affair, whereas the Posting of the Hunt details a Daedric ritual for Daedra)

Still seems odd that there'd be two different events called "The Wild Hunt" with no notes anywhere about them being different. The fact that it's explicitly called a punishment for those that defy him doesn't make me think it's the same thing as in The Posting of the Hunt, or one of his typical Hunts like in Bloodmoon.

Is there anything that describes the Bosmer's Wild Hunt, beyond that some Bosmer change into monsters for it?

Read up a bit on our ol pal, the Atrius company man Decumus Scotti.

http://www.imperial-library.info/content/dance-fire

You're specifically looking for chapter 4.

Seems they perform some sort of ritual beforehand. There's a bright white light, and they all transform into monsters.

Interesting.

I don't think that disproves the idea of the two Wild Hunts being the same, though. Given the line
"When we first came to Vindisi and the Bosmeri all entered that tree, they were furious, whispering something about unleashing an ancient terror on their enemies,"
and if there is a link between the Bosmer and Hircine with the Wild Hunt, it's not that far off from 'a punishment for those that defy him'. Plus, while Jarth's books have some basis in "reality", by http://www.imperial-library.info/content/interviews-3-writers he doesn't put as much research into it as other book-writers

Do we really need a source to say they're not the same though? I mean, we have reasonable material on both. Neither event appears to have any similarities to the other.

Here's our primary source on the Daedric Wild Hunt:

http://www.imperial-library.info/content/posting-hunt

Here's our primary source on the Wild Hunt of the Bosmer

http://www.imperial-library.info/content/pocket-guide-empire-first-edition-aldmeri-dominion

One's a deadly game with strict rules. The other is a ritual transformation that results in an orgy of blood-letting. I don't see similarities.

Man I wish I remember that book I read that explained it. If I remember correctly, the one in power who gave the bosmers the ability to retain a single form also let them keep the ability to revert back to original form. Also if im not mistaken I believe it was hircine that gave them that ability.

But to ask if its the exact same as the other hunt, id say kinda. Look at sheo, hes the daedra of madness and creativity. Both are totally different in the eyes of the beholder and can also be called the same. The both the same as in being great hunts, BC u can say that there are specific rules laid down for each. The daedric straight out tells you for each individual one he does and the bosmers were told once at the very beginning, and their rules were u gain a great power but u lose ur ability to change back and reasoning and also the enemy slays you or u slay the enemy in which u slay ur brothers until one remains.

So they are the same but different all in the eyes of the beholder. One is an individual one with seperate rules each go around and one is the same rules played over and over.

I think Hircines hunt is the great hunt, not the wild hunt.

From http://www.imperial-library.info/content/varieties-faith-empire:


And there's your answer.

thank you, so I guess it nothing to do with hircine. Didnt think so, bit ow wells.

Wild Hunt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShPsD2kKUeg&form=BRAVAV

The Apotheosis of Cpt. Rhodes.

I'll one-up you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3lavVkiFXw

But I do have feeling the reason why they are ashamed of it is not the carnage it creats but the fact that is shows the true or original self. Their deevolved form.

Marukh, who for a time became Borgas, who became King Dead Wolf-Deer.