17 526
edições
Alterações
m
sem resumo de edição
{{Book Summary
|author=[[Lore:Books by Author#Aicantar of Shimmerene|Aicantar of Shimmerene]]
|description=Chronicles the major events of the Dawn and Merethic Eras
|ONName=Before the Ages of Man
}}
{{Non Book|''Note: A similar but not identical version of this book appeared in [[Oblivion:Oblivion|Oblivion]] and [[Skyrim:Skyrim|Skyrim]]. For that version, see ''{{Lore Link|Before the Ages of Man}}''.''}}
----
<section begin=part1 />
Before {{Lore Link|man}} came to rule {{Lore Link|Tamriel}}, and before the chronicles of the historians recorded the affairs of the rulers of Tamriel, the events of our world are known only through myths and legends, and through the divinely inspired teachings of the {{Lore Link|Eight Divines}}.
For convenience, historians divide the distant ages of prehistory into two broad periods of time: the {{Lore Link|Dawn Era}} and the {{Lore Link|Merethic Era}}.
===The Dawn Era===
The Dawn Era is that period before the beginning of mortal time, when the feats of the {{Lore Link|gods}} take place. The Dawn Era ends with the exodus of the gods and {{Lore Link|magic}} from the World at the founding of the {{Lore Link|Adamantine Tower}}.
The term "Merethic" comes from the {{Lore Link|Nord}}s, literally, "Era of the {{Lore Link|Mer|Elves}}." The Merethic Era is the prehistoric time after the exodus of the gods and magic from the World at the founding of the Adamantine Tower and before the arrival of {{Lore Link|Ysgramor}} the Nord in Tamriel.
The following are the most notable events of the Dawn Era, presented roughly in sequence as it must be understood by creatures of time such as ourselves.
The Cosmos formed from the {{Lore Link|Aurbis}} (chaos, or totality) by {{Lore Link|Anu}} and {{Lore Link|Padomay}}. {{Lore Link|Akatosh}} ({{Lore Link|Auriel}}) formed and Time began. The gods ({{Lore Link|et'Ada}}) formed. {{Lore Link|Lorkhan}} convinced (or tricked) the gods into creating the {{Lore Link|Mundus|mortal plane}}, {{Lore Link|Nirn}}. The mortal plane was at this point highly magical and dangerous. As the gods walked, the physical make-up of the mortal plane and even the timeless continuity of existence itself became unstable.
When Magic ({{Lore Link|Magnus (god)|Magnus}}), architect of the plans for the mortal world, decided to terminate the project, the gods convened at the Adamantine Tower (Direnni Tower, the oldest known structure in Tamriel) and decided what to do. Most left when Magic did. Others sacrificed themselves into other forms so that they might stay (such as the {{Lore Link|Ehlnofey}}). Lorkhan was condemned by the gods to exile in the mortal realms, and his {{Lore Link|Heart of Lorkhan|heart}} was torn out and cast from the tower. Where it landed, a {{Lore Link|Red Mountain|volcano}} formed. With magic (in the Mythic Sense) gone, the cosmos stabilized. Elven history, finally linear, began (ME 2500). <section end=part1 />
===The Merethic Era===
<section begin=part2 />
The {{Lore Link|Merethic Era}} was figured by early {{Lore Link|Nord}} scholars as a series of years numbered in reverse order backward from their "beginning of time": the founding of the {{Lore Link|Camoran Dynasty}}, recorded as {{Year|1E 0|Year Zero of the First Era}}. The prehistoric events of the Merethic Era are listed here with their traditional Nord Merethic dates. The earliest Merethic date cited by King {{Lore Link|Harald}}'s scholars was ME 2500, the Nord reckoning of the first year of time. As such, the Merethic Era extends from ME 2500 in the distant past to ME 1, the year before the founding of the Camoran Dysnasty and the establishment of the {{Lore Link|White-Gold Tower}} as an independent city-state.
According to King Harald's bards, ME 2500 was the date of construction of the {{Lore Link|Adamantine Tower}} on {{Lore Link|Balfiera|Balfiera Island}} in {{Lore Link|High Rock}}, the oldest known structure of {{Lore Link|Tamriel}}. (This corresponds roughly to the earliest historical dates given in various unpublished Elven chronicles.)
During the early Merethic Era, the aboriginal beast-peoples of Tamriel (the ancestors of the {{Lore Link|Khajiit}}, {{Lore Link|Argonians}}, {{Lore Link|Orc}}s, and other {{Lore Link|beastfolk}}) lived in preliterate communities throughout Tamriel.
In the Middle Merethic Era, the {{Lore Link|Aldmer}}i refugees (mortals of Elven origin) left their doomed, now-lost continent of {{Lore Link|Aldmeris}} (also known as "Old Ehlnofey") and settled in southwestern Tamriel. The first colonies were distributed at wide intervals on islands along the entire coast of Tamriel. Later inland settlements were founded primarily in fertile lowlands in southwest and central Tamriel. Wherever the beastfolk encountered the Elves, the sophisticated, literate, technologically advanced Aldmeri cultures displaced the primitive beastfolk into the jungles, marshes, mountains, and wastelands. The Adamantine Tower was rediscovered and captured by the {{Lore Link|Direnni}}, a prominent and powerful Aldmeri clan. They built {{Lore Link|Crystal Tower}} on {{Lore Link|Summerset Isle}} and, later, the White-Gold Tower in {{Lore Link|Cyrodiil}}.
During the Middle Merethic Era, Aldmeri explorers mapped the coasts of {{Lore Link|Vvardenfell}}, building the First Era {{Lore Link|Altmer|High Elven}} wizard towers at {{Lore Link|Ald Redaynia}}, {{Lore Link|Bal Fell}}, {{Lore Link|Tel Aruhn}}, and {{Lore Link|Tel Mora}} in {{Lore Link|Morrowind}}. It was also during this period that {{Lore Link|Ayleid}} (Wild Elven) settlements flourished in the heartland surrounding White-Gold Tower (in present-day Cyrodiil). Wild Elves, also known as the Heartland High Elves, preserved the Dawn Era magics and language of the {{Lore Link|Ehlnofey}}. Ostensibly a tributary to the High King of {{Lore Link|Alinor (place)|Alinor}}, the Heartland's long lines of communication from the Summerset Isles' sovereignty effectively isolated Cyrodiil from the High Kings at Crystal Tower.
The Late Middle Merethic Era is the period of the High {{Lore Link|Veloth}}i Culture. The {{Lore Link|Chimer}}, ancestors of the modern {{Lore Link|Dunmer}}, or Dark Elves, were dynamic, ambitious, long-lived Elven clans devoted to fundamentalist ancestor worship. The Chimer clans followed the Prophet Veloth out of the ancestral Elven homelands in the southwest to settle in the lands now known as Morrowind. Despising the secular culture and profane practices of the {{Lore Link|Dwemer}}, the Chimer also coveted the lands and resources of the Dwemer, and for centuries provoked them with minor raids and territorial disputes. The Dwemer (Dwarves), free-thinking, reclusive Elven clans devoted to the secrets of science, engineering, and alchemy, established underground cities and communities in the mountain range (later the {{Lore Link|Velothi Mountains}}) separating modern {{Lore Link|Skyrim}} and Morrowind.
The Late Merethic Era marks the precipitous decline of Velothi culture. Some Velothi settled in villages near declining and abandoned ancient Velothi towers. During this period, Velothi high culture disappeared on Vvardenfell Island. The earliest Dwemer Freehold colonies date from this period. Degenerate Velothi devolved into tribal cultures which, in time, either evolved into the modern {{Lore Link|Great Houses}} of Morrowind or persisted as the barbarian {{Lore Link|Ashlanders|Ashlander}} tribes. The only surviving traces of this tribal culture are scattered Velothi towers and Ashlander nomads on Vvardenfell Island. The original First Era High Elven wizard towers along the coasts of Tamriel were also abandoned around this time.
In the Late Merethic Era, pre-literate humans, the so-called "{{Lore Link|Nede|Nedic Peoples}}," migrated from the continent of {{Lore Link|Atmora}} (also "Altmora" or "the Elder Wood" in Aldmeris) and settled in northern Tamriel. The Nord culture hero {{Lore Link|Ysgramor}}, leader of a great colonizing fleet to Tamriel, is credited with developing a runic transcription of Nord speech based on Elvish principles, and so Ysgramor is considered the first human historian. Ysgramor's fleet landed at {{Lore Link|Hsaarik Head}} at the extreme northern tip of Skyrim's {{Lore Link|Broken Cape}}. The Nords built the legendary city of {{Lore Link|Saarthal}} there. The Elves drove the Men away during the {{Lore Link|Night of Tears}}, but Ysgramor soon returned with his {{Lore Link|Companions|Five Hundred Companions}}.
Also during the Late Merethic Era, a legendary immortal hero, warrior, sorcerer, and king (variously known as {{Lore Link|Pelinal Whitestrake}}, {{Lore Link|Harrald Hairy Breeks}}, [[Lore:Gods Y#Ysmir|Ysmir]], and {{Lore Link|Hans the Fox}}) wandered Tamriel. He gathered armies, conquered lands, ruled them, and then abandoned his kingdoms so he could wander again.
<section end=part2 />
|author=[[Lore:Books by Author#Aicantar of Shimmerene|Aicantar of Shimmerene]]
|description=Chronicles the major events of the Dawn and Merethic Eras
|ONName=Before the Ages of Man
}}
{{Non Book|''Note: A similar but not identical version of this book appeared in [[Oblivion:Oblivion|Oblivion]] and [[Skyrim:Skyrim|Skyrim]]. For that version, see ''{{Lore Link|Before the Ages of Man}}''.''}}
----
<section begin=part1 />
Before {{Lore Link|man}} came to rule {{Lore Link|Tamriel}}, and before the chronicles of the historians recorded the affairs of the rulers of Tamriel, the events of our world are known only through myths and legends, and through the divinely inspired teachings of the {{Lore Link|Eight Divines}}.
For convenience, historians divide the distant ages of prehistory into two broad periods of time: the {{Lore Link|Dawn Era}} and the {{Lore Link|Merethic Era}}.
===The Dawn Era===
The Dawn Era is that period before the beginning of mortal time, when the feats of the {{Lore Link|gods}} take place. The Dawn Era ends with the exodus of the gods and {{Lore Link|magic}} from the World at the founding of the {{Lore Link|Adamantine Tower}}.
The term "Merethic" comes from the {{Lore Link|Nord}}s, literally, "Era of the {{Lore Link|Mer|Elves}}." The Merethic Era is the prehistoric time after the exodus of the gods and magic from the World at the founding of the Adamantine Tower and before the arrival of {{Lore Link|Ysgramor}} the Nord in Tamriel.
The following are the most notable events of the Dawn Era, presented roughly in sequence as it must be understood by creatures of time such as ourselves.
The Cosmos formed from the {{Lore Link|Aurbis}} (chaos, or totality) by {{Lore Link|Anu}} and {{Lore Link|Padomay}}. {{Lore Link|Akatosh}} ({{Lore Link|Auriel}}) formed and Time began. The gods ({{Lore Link|et'Ada}}) formed. {{Lore Link|Lorkhan}} convinced (or tricked) the gods into creating the {{Lore Link|Mundus|mortal plane}}, {{Lore Link|Nirn}}. The mortal plane was at this point highly magical and dangerous. As the gods walked, the physical make-up of the mortal plane and even the timeless continuity of existence itself became unstable.
When Magic ({{Lore Link|Magnus (god)|Magnus}}), architect of the plans for the mortal world, decided to terminate the project, the gods convened at the Adamantine Tower (Direnni Tower, the oldest known structure in Tamriel) and decided what to do. Most left when Magic did. Others sacrificed themselves into other forms so that they might stay (such as the {{Lore Link|Ehlnofey}}). Lorkhan was condemned by the gods to exile in the mortal realms, and his {{Lore Link|Heart of Lorkhan|heart}} was torn out and cast from the tower. Where it landed, a {{Lore Link|Red Mountain|volcano}} formed. With magic (in the Mythic Sense) gone, the cosmos stabilized. Elven history, finally linear, began (ME 2500). <section end=part1 />
===The Merethic Era===
<section begin=part2 />
The {{Lore Link|Merethic Era}} was figured by early {{Lore Link|Nord}} scholars as a series of years numbered in reverse order backward from their "beginning of time": the founding of the {{Lore Link|Camoran Dynasty}}, recorded as {{Year|1E 0|Year Zero of the First Era}}. The prehistoric events of the Merethic Era are listed here with their traditional Nord Merethic dates. The earliest Merethic date cited by King {{Lore Link|Harald}}'s scholars was ME 2500, the Nord reckoning of the first year of time. As such, the Merethic Era extends from ME 2500 in the distant past to ME 1, the year before the founding of the Camoran Dysnasty and the establishment of the {{Lore Link|White-Gold Tower}} as an independent city-state.
According to King Harald's bards, ME 2500 was the date of construction of the {{Lore Link|Adamantine Tower}} on {{Lore Link|Balfiera|Balfiera Island}} in {{Lore Link|High Rock}}, the oldest known structure of {{Lore Link|Tamriel}}. (This corresponds roughly to the earliest historical dates given in various unpublished Elven chronicles.)
During the early Merethic Era, the aboriginal beast-peoples of Tamriel (the ancestors of the {{Lore Link|Khajiit}}, {{Lore Link|Argonians}}, {{Lore Link|Orc}}s, and other {{Lore Link|beastfolk}}) lived in preliterate communities throughout Tamriel.
In the Middle Merethic Era, the {{Lore Link|Aldmer}}i refugees (mortals of Elven origin) left their doomed, now-lost continent of {{Lore Link|Aldmeris}} (also known as "Old Ehlnofey") and settled in southwestern Tamriel. The first colonies were distributed at wide intervals on islands along the entire coast of Tamriel. Later inland settlements were founded primarily in fertile lowlands in southwest and central Tamriel. Wherever the beastfolk encountered the Elves, the sophisticated, literate, technologically advanced Aldmeri cultures displaced the primitive beastfolk into the jungles, marshes, mountains, and wastelands. The Adamantine Tower was rediscovered and captured by the {{Lore Link|Direnni}}, a prominent and powerful Aldmeri clan. They built {{Lore Link|Crystal Tower}} on {{Lore Link|Summerset Isle}} and, later, the White-Gold Tower in {{Lore Link|Cyrodiil}}.
During the Middle Merethic Era, Aldmeri explorers mapped the coasts of {{Lore Link|Vvardenfell}}, building the First Era {{Lore Link|Altmer|High Elven}} wizard towers at {{Lore Link|Ald Redaynia}}, {{Lore Link|Bal Fell}}, {{Lore Link|Tel Aruhn}}, and {{Lore Link|Tel Mora}} in {{Lore Link|Morrowind}}. It was also during this period that {{Lore Link|Ayleid}} (Wild Elven) settlements flourished in the heartland surrounding White-Gold Tower (in present-day Cyrodiil). Wild Elves, also known as the Heartland High Elves, preserved the Dawn Era magics and language of the {{Lore Link|Ehlnofey}}. Ostensibly a tributary to the High King of {{Lore Link|Alinor (place)|Alinor}}, the Heartland's long lines of communication from the Summerset Isles' sovereignty effectively isolated Cyrodiil from the High Kings at Crystal Tower.
The Late Middle Merethic Era is the period of the High {{Lore Link|Veloth}}i Culture. The {{Lore Link|Chimer}}, ancestors of the modern {{Lore Link|Dunmer}}, or Dark Elves, were dynamic, ambitious, long-lived Elven clans devoted to fundamentalist ancestor worship. The Chimer clans followed the Prophet Veloth out of the ancestral Elven homelands in the southwest to settle in the lands now known as Morrowind. Despising the secular culture and profane practices of the {{Lore Link|Dwemer}}, the Chimer also coveted the lands and resources of the Dwemer, and for centuries provoked them with minor raids and territorial disputes. The Dwemer (Dwarves), free-thinking, reclusive Elven clans devoted to the secrets of science, engineering, and alchemy, established underground cities and communities in the mountain range (later the {{Lore Link|Velothi Mountains}}) separating modern {{Lore Link|Skyrim}} and Morrowind.
The Late Merethic Era marks the precipitous decline of Velothi culture. Some Velothi settled in villages near declining and abandoned ancient Velothi towers. During this period, Velothi high culture disappeared on Vvardenfell Island. The earliest Dwemer Freehold colonies date from this period. Degenerate Velothi devolved into tribal cultures which, in time, either evolved into the modern {{Lore Link|Great Houses}} of Morrowind or persisted as the barbarian {{Lore Link|Ashlanders|Ashlander}} tribes. The only surviving traces of this tribal culture are scattered Velothi towers and Ashlander nomads on Vvardenfell Island. The original First Era High Elven wizard towers along the coasts of Tamriel were also abandoned around this time.
In the Late Merethic Era, pre-literate humans, the so-called "{{Lore Link|Nede|Nedic Peoples}}," migrated from the continent of {{Lore Link|Atmora}} (also "Altmora" or "the Elder Wood" in Aldmeris) and settled in northern Tamriel. The Nord culture hero {{Lore Link|Ysgramor}}, leader of a great colonizing fleet to Tamriel, is credited with developing a runic transcription of Nord speech based on Elvish principles, and so Ysgramor is considered the first human historian. Ysgramor's fleet landed at {{Lore Link|Hsaarik Head}} at the extreme northern tip of Skyrim's {{Lore Link|Broken Cape}}. The Nords built the legendary city of {{Lore Link|Saarthal}} there. The Elves drove the Men away during the {{Lore Link|Night of Tears}}, but Ysgramor soon returned with his {{Lore Link|Companions|Five Hundred Companions}}.
Also during the Late Merethic Era, a legendary immortal hero, warrior, sorcerer, and king (variously known as {{Lore Link|Pelinal Whitestrake}}, {{Lore Link|Harrald Hairy Breeks}}, [[Lore:Gods Y#Ysmir|Ysmir]], and {{Lore Link|Hans the Fox}}) wandered Tamriel. He gathered armies, conquered lands, ruled them, and then abandoned his kingdoms so he could wander again.
<section end=part2 />